Almeida Law Group is investigating a data breach at Decatur Diagnostic Laboratory Inc. If you were affected, contact Almeida Law Group.
About Decatur Diagnostic Laboratory Inc.
Decatur Diagnostic Laboratory Inc. is a privately owned clinical medical laboratory located at 2828 Highway 31 South inside the Med-Surg Complex in Decatur, Alabama. The lab has served the Decatur community for over 30 years—established approximately in 1991—and employs around 10 staff. It provides diagnostic services including blood draws, urinalysis, chemistry panels, hematology, microbiology, drug screening, bone density testing, mammography, and respiratory panel testing. Because the lab processes patient specimens and diagnostic orders, it handles sensitive personal and health information as part of routine operations.
What Happened?
Decatur Diagnostic Laboratory Inc. was listed in an HHS Office for Civil Rights breach portal report submitted on June 16th, 2026. The filing describes the incident as a hacking/IT incident involving a network server, with 500 individuals listed as affected and no business associate involved. The specific types of data exposed have not been publicly disclosed.
According to supplemental reporting, the ransomware group LockBit—identified specifically as LockBit 5.0—publicly claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Decatur Diagnostic Laboratory on April 14th, 2026, and threatened to release patient data unless ransom demands were met. As of April 21st, 2026, the lab had not issued a public statement, no HHS OCR breach notification had been filed, and patient notification letters had not been sent. The HHS submission was not made until June 16th, 2026—approximately two months after LockBit’s public claim. It is also worth noting that the 500 individuals figure may be a placeholder, as HIPAA requires covered entities to report breaches affecting 500 or more individuals within 60 days, and some entities initially report exactly 500 when the full count has not yet been determined. No class action lawsuit has been filed as of available reporting, but at least two law firms—Cory Watson Attorneys and Pittman Dutton Hellums Bradley & Mann—have publicly announced investigations into potential legal claims on behalf of affected patients.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Company or Organization: Decatur Diagnostic Laboratory Inc.
- Industry: Healthcare Provider – Clinical Medical Laboratory (Diagnostic Services)
- Location: 2828 Highway 31 South, Decatur, AL 35603 (inside the Med-Surg Complex)
- Incident type: Hacking/IT Incident (ransomware – LockBit 5.0)
- Date of breach: April 14th, 2026 (date LockBit publicly claimed the attack)
- Total persons affected: 500 (may be a placeholder figure)
- Litigation status: No class action filed; investigations announced by Cory Watson Attorneys and Pittman Dutton Hellums Bradley & Mann
- Source: HHS Office for Civil Rights breach portal report; BreachSense; Cory Watson Attorneys; Pittman Dutton Hellums Bradley & Mann
What Should You Do?
If you believe you were affected by this breach, start by placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—to help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name. Request your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and review them carefully for any unfamiliar activity. Because this is a healthcare provider, you should also review your Explanation of Benefits statements and request copies of your medical records to check for any services you did not receive, which could signal medical identity theft. Monitor your financial accounts closely for unusual charges or transactions. If you discover that your information has been misused, report it at IdentityTheft.gov, which provides a personalized recovery plan. If identity theft protection is offered by the lab, consider enrolling promptly and take note of any enrollment deadline.
Your Legal Rights
If your personal or health information was involved in this breach, you may have legal rights depending on the facts of the incident and the law in your state. Almeida Law Group represents consumers in data breach and privacy litigation and can help you evaluate whether you may have a claim. Contact us at (708) 529-5418 or through our contact page for a free case evaluation.
