Northwell Privacy Lawsuit: Criminal Case vs. Civil Claims in 2026

If you were a patient at the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center in Great Neck, New York, or used the restroom at the STARS Rehabilitation clinic in the same building, you may have heard about a Northwell privacy lawsuit and wondered how it relates to the criminal case against a former employee. This guide explains, in plain language, what happened in the criminal court, what people are claiming in the civil courts, and how the two processes are different.

Direct2Attorney is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We are a referral service that connects people with participating law firms, and those firms decide whether they can take a case. The information below is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026.

What Happened at the Great Neck Sleep Center

According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, as reported by local news outlets, a former sleep technician named Sanjai Syamaprasad placed hidden cameras disguised as smoke detectors in bathrooms used by patients at the Northwell Health Sleep Disorders Center in Great Neck. Prosecutors also said cameras were placed in a public bathroom at STARS Rehabilitation, which is located in the same building on Community Drive.

Prosecutors said the recordings were made between at least July 2023 and April 2024. Some civil complaints and news reports describe a longer window, starting as early as 2022. Because dates differ between sources, anyone who visited either location during 2022, 2023 or early 2024 may want to keep their own records of when they were there.

Reports state that Northwell referred the matter to the District Attorney in April 2024 after a co-worker raised concerns, and that the technician was arrested on April 25, 2024. Northwell has said it fired the employee, alerted law enforcement and cooperated with the prosecution.

The Criminal Case: Guilty Plea and Sentence

A criminal case is brought by the government, not by the people who were recorded. Its purpose is to decide whether a person broke the law and what punishment applies. It does not pay compensation to individual patients.

In this case, local reporting shows the following key steps:

• April 2024: Northwell referred the conduct to the Nassau County DA, and the former technician was arrested.
• July 15, 2025: He pleaded guilty to five counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree and two counts of tampering with physical evidence, all class E felonies under New York law.
• November 20, 2025: He was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation. Prosecutors had asked for a much longer prison term.

Unlawful surveillance in the second degree is defined in New York Penal Law section 250.45. Among other things, it covers secretly recording a person in a bathroom or other place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Prosecutors identified five people from the videos for the criminal charges, including a child. However, reports indicate that far more people may have been recorded. A guilty plea covering five victims does not mean only five people were affected.

How a Northwell Privacy Lawsuit Is Different

A Northwell privacy lawsuit is a civil case. It is filed by the people who were harmed, or on their behalf, and it asks a court to decide whether a defendant is legally responsible for that harm and should pay money damages. Civil cases follow different rules than criminal cases.

Who can be sued

In the criminal case, only the former employee was charged. In civil cases, people who were recorded have also named Northwell Health. Their complaints argue that the health system had duties to supervise employees, secure private patient areas and protect patient privacy. Northwell has not been found liable, and these remain allegations.

The burden of proof

A criminal conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Most civil claims use a lower standard, often called a preponderance of the evidence, which asks whether a claim is more likely true than not. That is one reason a Northwell privacy lawsuit can move forward even when the criminal case involved only a handful of named victims.

What a civil case can provide

A criminal sentence punishes the offender. A Northwell privacy lawsuit, if successful, may result in a settlement or a court award. There is no guarantee of either outcome, and every case depends on its own facts.

Where the Civil Cases Stand as of October 2026

CBS New York reported in July 2025 that roughly 250 people had joined a civil lawsuit in Nassau County Supreme Court over the hidden cameras. Since then, additional individual suits have been filed. One law firm announced in February 2026 that it had filed a new case in the same court and stated that authorities estimate more than 13,000 people may have been affected. That figure comes from the firm’s announcement and has not been confirmed by a court.

That same filing alleges that Northwell discovered the cameras in April 2024 but did not notify potential victims until May 2025. Northwell has said it acted quickly to report the employee and cooperate with law enforcement. A court has not ruled on these competing accounts.

As of October 2026, we are not aware of any public settlement or verdict in the civil cases. A Northwell privacy lawsuit, like most cases of this kind, can take years to resolve. Our earlier Northwell hidden camera case update covers earlier developments.

What a Northwell Privacy Lawsuit Typically Claims

Every complaint is different, but civil filings and law firm announcements about the Great Neck recordings describe several common types of claims. These are allegations that a court has not yet decided. In general, a Northwell privacy lawsuit may argue that:

• The health system did not properly screen, supervise or monitor the employee.
• Patient bathrooms and changing areas were not adequately secured or checked.
• Patients were not told promptly once the cameras were discovered.
• The recordings violated patient trust, dignity and confidentiality.

Claims against the former employee himself may rest on the conduct he admitted in criminal court. Claims against Northwell are different, because they focus on what the organization knew, what policies it had and how it responded. Northwell is expected to contest those claims, and a participating attorney can explain how they may apply to you.

Signs You May Want a Free Case Review

You do not need to know whether you appear in a video to ask a question. Many people learned about the cameras only from a notification letter or the news, and they are still eligible to ask whether a Northwell privacy lawsuit makes sense for them. A Northwell privacy lawsuit review may be worth considering if any of the following apply to you:

• You had an overnight sleep study at the Great Neck sleep center between 2022 and April 2024.
• You received treatment or therapy at STARS Rehabilitation on Community Drive in that period.
• You accompanied a patient, such as a child or family member, and used the bathrooms there.
• You received a letter or call from Northwell, the District Attorney or a court about the recordings.
• You have felt anxiety, sleep problems, loss of trust in medical care or other distress since learning about it.

Meeting one of these points does not mean you have a case, and not meeting them does not rule one out. A participating law firm would review the details and decide whether it can help.

Records That Can Help Support a Claim

Gathering records early can make a review of a possible Northwell privacy lawsuit faster and easier. You do not need all of these, and you should never feel pressure to relive painful details. Helpful items may include:

• Appointment confirmations, sleep study reports or discharge papers showing your visit dates.
• Insurance statements, explanation of benefits forms or credit card charges from the visit.
• Any notification letter, email or voicemail you received about the recordings.
• Notes about when you learned of the cameras and how it has affected you.
• Records from a therapist or doctor if you sought care for stress or anxiety afterward.

You can also request a copy of your medical records from Northwell. Under federal law, patients generally have a right to access their health records. If you believe your health privacy rights were violated, you may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. An HHS complaint is separate from a lawsuit and does not provide compensation.

Northwell Privacy Lawsuit Deadlines and Why Timing Matters

Every civil claim in New York has a filing deadline, called a statute of limitations. The deadline that applies can depend on the type of claim, who is being sued, when you learned of the harm and whether you were a minor. Some privacy-related deadlines can be short.

Because these rules are technical and can change, it is wise to speak with a licensed New York attorney soon. Waiting could mean a deadline passes. A participating law firm can explain which deadlines may apply to your situation. Our step-by-step guide to the Northwell sleep center lawsuit walks through what the review process generally looks like.

Taking Care of Yourself

Learning that you may have been recorded in a private moment can be deeply upsetting, even if you never see the footage. Feelings of anger, embarrassment, fear or numbness are common and valid. You do not have to decide anything right away.

If it helps, consider talking with someone you trust or a mental health professional. A Northwell privacy lawsuit is only one option, and choosing not to pursue one is also a valid decision. If you do reach out, a confidential review simply gives you information so you can decide what is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Northwell privacy lawsuit a class action?

Reports describe both a large group case in Nassau County Supreme Court and separate individual lawsuits. Whether a class action is certified is up to the court. A participating firm can explain which path may fit your circumstances.

Can I join a Northwell privacy lawsuit if I was a patient years ago?

Possibly. Eligibility depends on when you visited, what records exist and which deadlines apply. Because some deadlines may run from when you learned about the recordings, a participating firm should review your dates as soon as you can.

Do I have to testify or watch any videos?

Not necessarily. Many civil cases, including privacy claims like a Northwell privacy lawsuit, resolve without a trial. If you speak with a law firm, you can ask how it protects client privacy and whether any video review would be handled by attorneys rather than by you.

Will my name become public?

Courts sometimes allow people in sensitive privacy cases to proceed using initials or a pseudonym. Whether that is available depends on the court and the case. Ask a participating firm about confidentiality before anything is filed.

Does the criminal sentence affect my civil case?

The guilty plea is a public record and may be relevant, but a civil case still has to prove its own claims, including any claims against Northwell. The sentence itself does not award money to victims.

How much does a case review cost?

The review offered through Direct2Attorney is free and confidential. Many participating firms work on a contingency fee basis, but fee terms are set by each firm and should be explained in writing before you sign anything.

Next Steps

If you visited the Great Neck sleep center or STARS Rehabilitation and are unsure about your options, a short, confidential conversation can help you understand whether a Northwell privacy lawsuit may apply to you. There is no obligation, and a participating law firm will decide whether it can take your case.

Think you may qualify? See if you qualify for a free, confidential Northwell Sleep Disorders Lawsuit case review →

This article is general information, not legal or medical advice.