Frequently Asked Questions

You have received a Notice because Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority’s (CMHA) records show that you received treatment at one of its clinics, Atrium Health Urology (AH Urology), between April 1, 2021 and September 22, 2022, were advised to undergo testing as a result of that treatment, and received a negative test result.

The Court sent you a Notice because you have a right to know about a proposed Settlement of a class action lawsuit, and about all of your options, before the Court decides whether to approve the Settlement. If the Court approves it and after objections and appeals are resolved, an administrator appointed by the Court (Settlement Administrator) will make the payments that the Settlement allows. You will be informed of the progress of the Settlement.

This Settlement Website explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, your legal rights, what benefits are available, who is eligible for them, and how to get them.

The Court in charge of the case is the Superior Court Division of the General Court of Justice of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and the case is known as Monica Jackson and Keith Grays, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, Case No. 24CV036383-590. The individuals who sued are called the “Plaintiffs,” and the entity they sued, CMHA , is called the “Defendant.”

The lawsuit claims that AH Urology, one of the clinics of CMHA, failed to keep adequate records for the sterilization or high-level disinfection of reusable instruments and, as a result, was unable to verify that proper procedures were followed. It further alleges that, as a consequence, CMHA decided to contact patients treated at AH Urology to inform them that testing for infectious diseases should take place. Monica Jackson and Keith Grays were each informed of this, underwent testing, and their test results were negative. The lawsuit alleges CMHA or its employees were negligent. CMHA has denied it was negligent or that it or its employees engaged in any wrongdoing.

To obtain more information about the claims in this lawsuit, you can view the complaint and other court documents in this case in the Documents section of this Settlement Website at the link here.

In a class action lawsuit, one or more people called “Named Plaintiffs” or “Class Representatives” (in this case, Monica Jackson and Keith Grays) sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. All these similarly situated people make up a “Class” or “Settlement Class” and those similar people are called “Class Members” or “Settlement Class Members.” A court resolves the issues for all Settlement Class Members, except for those who exclude themselves from the Settlement Class.

The Named Plaintiffs and CMHA have exchanged a significant amount of information in a process called discovery. CMHA argues that it and its employees were not negligent. An expert witness retained by the Plaintiffs disagrees. Instead of going to trial, both sides agreed to a Settlement. That way, they avoid the cost of a trial, the risk to both sides, and Settlement Class Members will be guaranteed compensation. The Named Plaintiffs and their attorneys think the Settlement is preferable to the risks and further costs of trial.

The Named Plaintiffs and CMHA have decided that everyone who fits this description is a Class Member:

All natural persons who (1) received treatment from the CMHA clinic known as “Atrium Health Urology” between April 1, 2021 and September 22, 2022, (2) were notified by CMHA that it was advisable for them to be tested for the purpose of determining whether they were suffering from or contracted any new infections as a result of their treatment, (3) underwent such testing, and (4) were found to have no new infection.

Excluded from the Class are all members of the Board of Commissioners and senior executives at CMHA or its affiliates during 2021-2022, and any and all judges and justices, and chambers’ staff, assigned to hear or adjudicate any aspect of this Litigation.

You are a Settlement Class Member covered by this Settlement if you fall under the definition above and do not request exclusion pursuant to the instructions below.

If you received this Notice mailed to you, it is because you were listed as a potential Settlement Class Member. If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can ask for free help.  You can call 1-833-754-8239 or contact us here.

CMHA has agreed to pay $2.5 million into a Settlement Fund to be divided among all Class Members, after Settlement Administration and Notice Costs, Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses, and Service Awards have been deducted.

The Settlement Fund will be divided equally among all Class Members.

Here’s how it works. The Settlement Administrator will first calculate the Net Settlement Fund amount by subtracting any court-approved award of Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses, Service Awards, and Settlement Administration and Notice Costs. The Net Settlement Fund amount will be shared equally by all Settlement Class Members. The Settlement Administrator will issue checks to the Settlement Class Members.

After reduction of Attorneys’ Fees and the other costs described above, the average amount each Settlement Class Member will receive is approximately $1,000.

You will automatically receive a Settlement Payment unless you take action to timely exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. CMHA will provide the Settlement Administrator with your most recent address to mail you a check. If you would like to confirm that the correct address is on file, you may call the Settlement Administrator at 1-833-754-8239.

The Court will hold a hearing on April 24, 2026, to decide whether to approve the Settlement. If approved, the Settlement becomes final and the Settlement Administrator will be directed to send payments promptly. You may check this Settlement Website, call 1-833-754-8239 or contact us here.

In exchange for receiving a payment under the Settlement, you will not be able to sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against CMHA or any of its employees concerning treatment you received at AH Urology between April 1, 2021 and September 22, 2022, unless you exclude yourself. The “Release” section in the Settlement Agreement describes the legal claims that you give up if you remain in the Settlement Class. The Settlement Agreement can be found in the Documents section of this Settlement Website.

To exclude yourself from the Settlement Class and the Settlement, you must send a letter by mail saying that you want to be excluded from Jackson and Grays v. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, Case No.: 24CV036383-590. Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number or other contact information, signature, approximate date that you received treatment from AH Urology, and a statement that you wish to be excluded from the settlement. You must mail or e-mail your exclusion request postmarked no later than March 23, 2026 to:

Settlement Administrator – 83330 Exclusions

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC

P.O. Box 225391

New York, NY 10150-5391

You cannot exclude yourself (opt out) by telephone. If you ask to be excluded, you will not get any Settlement Payment, and you cannot object to the Settlement. You will not be bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit. You may be able to sue (or continue to sue) CMHA for the allegations in this case in the future with your own lawyer and at your own expense.

No. Unless you exclude yourself, you are a Settlement Class Member and you give up your right to sue CMHA for the claims that this Settlement resolves. If you have a pending lawsuit, speak to your lawyer in that case immediately. You must exclude yourself from this Settlement Class to continue your own lawsuit. Remember, the exclusion deadline is March 23, 2026.

No. If you exclude yourself, you will NOT receive money from this Settlement. But, you may sue, continue to sue, or be part of a different lawsuit against CMHA.

The following law firm and lawyers have been appointed to represent the Settlement Class:

Poulin Willey Anastopoulo, LLC

32 Ann Street

Charleston, South Carolina 29403

Telephone: (803) 222-2222

Facsimile: (843) 494-5536

Website: respectresults.com

This law firm is called “Class Counsel.” If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

You do not need to hire your own lawyer because Class Counsel are working on your behalf. If you want your own lawyer, you may hire one, but you will be responsible for any payment for that lawyer’s services. For example, you may ask your lawyer to appear in Court for you. You may also appear for yourself without a lawyer.

Class Counsel will ask the Court to approve payment of up to 30% of the Settlement Fund to them for Attorneys’ Fees, approximately $35,246.19 in expenses Class Counsel already incurred in prosecuting your claims, and payments of $5,000 to both Monica Jackson and Keith Grays for their services as Named Plaintiffs in this case. The fees would pay Class Counsel for investigating the facts and litigating the case. The Court may award less than these amounts. These amounts will reduce the $2.5 million available for Class Members. CMHA has agreed not to oppose these fees and expenses.

Yes. If you’re a Settlement Class Member, you can object to the Settlement if you disagree with it and do not think it should be approved. You can give reasons why you think the Court should not approve it. The Court will consider your views. To object, you must send a letter saying so. Be sure to identify yourself as a Settlement Class Member and include your full name, address, telephone number, email address (if any), your signature (or that of your lawyer), and the detailed reasons why you object to the Settlement with any legal support you plan to submit. If you have a lawyer, you will need to identify your lawyer in the objections. You will also need to state whether you (or a lawyer) will appear at the Final Approval Hearing (also called a Fairness Hearing) on April, 24, 2026. You are not required to appear or to have a lawyer in order to object. Mail the objection to the following address, postmarked no later than March 23, 2026:

Settlement Administrator – 83330 Objections

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC

P.O. Box 225391

New York, NY 10150-5391

Objecting is simply telling the Court that you don’t like the Settlement. You can object only if you stay in the Settlement Class. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you don’t want to be part of the Settlement Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the case no longer affects you, and you will not receive any payment from the Settlement.

The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing at 10:00 a.m. ET on April 24, 2026 at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, Courtroom 6310, 832 East Fourth Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. At this hearing the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If there are objections, the Court will consider them. The Judge will listen to people who have asked to speak at the hearing. The Court may also decide how much to pay to Class Counsel. After the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement. We do not know how long these decisions will take.

No. Class Counsel will answer questions the Judge may have, but you are welcome to come. If you send an objection, you don’t have to come to Court to talk about it. As long as you submitted your written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You may also hire your own lawyer to attend, but it is not necessary.

You may ask the Court for permission to speak at the Final Approval Hearing if you submitted a written objection and included with your objection a written statement of your intent to appear at the hearing.

If you do nothing, you will automatically receive a Settlement Payment and will release your claims against CMHA. CMHA will provide the Settlement Administrator with your most recent address to mail you a check. If you would like to confirm that the correct address is on file, you may call the Settlement Administrator at 1-833-754-8239.

Yes. This Settlement Website summarizes the proposed Settlement. More details are in a Settlement Agreement. You can get a copy of the Settlement Agreement by visiting the Documents section of this Settlement Website.

You can call 1-833-754-8239; write to the Settlement Administrator, Settlement Administrator - 83330, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391; or review the Frequently Asked Questions on this Settlement Website FAQ, where you will find answers to common questions about the Settlement and other information to help you determine whether you are a Settlement Class Member and whether you are eligible for a payment. You may also contact Class Counsel with questions (see contact information in Question 15, above). You may also seek the advice and counsel of your own attorney at your own expense, if you desire.

If you need to change your contact information, you must contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-833-754-8239.

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT. YOU SHOULD DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS SETTLEMENT WEBSITE OR THE SETTLEMENT TO THE SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR AND/OR TO CLASS COUNSEL.