Equifax Sued In a Rare 50 State Class Action Lawsuit

By John Kristensen of Kristensen, LLP posted in Class Action Attorney on Saturday, November 25, 2017.

It has been a rough year for Equifax. But it may be an even more difficult future for those who had their personal information stolen. The consumer credit reporting agency was the subject of a massive cybersecurity attack that affected millions of people around the world. As a result, the company was facing more than 240 individual class action lawsuits, an investigation from the Federal Trade Commission and more than 60 government investigations from federal agencies, the U.S. state attorneys general along with the Canadian and British governments. But the news continues to get worse. A rare 50 state class action lawsuit has now been filed against Equifax from plaintiffs that claim they have suffered various damages due to the security breach.

A Look Back On the Equifax Breach

Cyber thieves are more sophisticated than ever before. Some have been able to outsmart even the biggest companies, corporations and agencies. But perhaps few cyber attacks were more damaging than the Equifax breach. Between May and June of this year, hackers were able to obtain the personal information of millions of people. The attack went completely undetected until July 29. The breach left the personal information of 145.5 million people exposed. Most of the people affected were American along with British and Canadian consumers. Although Equifax representatives claim the agency took greater steps to protect private information back in March, the company overseeing Equifax’s security says the company failed to install security updates in a timely manner. Among the information that was exposed to thieves include:

• Social security numbers
• Birth dates
• Email addresses
• Mailing addresses
• Driver’s license numbers

Details of the 50 State Class Action Suit Against Equifax

According to the latest 50 state class action lawsuit filed against Equifax, the agency is accused of failing to employ a vital software security patch which led to the breach. The plaintiffs claim they suffered irreparable harm due to negligence by Equifax after the breach. The lawsuit claims Equifax did all of the following:

• Waited more than a month to alert customers of the breach after it was discovered.
• Using confusing notices and emails regarding whose personal information was compromised
• Sending customers a link to a fake website to freeze their credit
• Allow hackers to further exploit Equifax’s website
• Allowing several Equifax executives to sell off $1.8 million in stock

Protecting Consumers From Corporate Bullies in Los Angeles

The Equifax breach is a powerful example on how a large company’s negligence can affect millions of people. Class action lawsuits allow multiple individuals the ability to come together and pursue legal action against a large business entity. Over the years, the Los Angeles consumer class action attorneys at Kristensen LLP have utilized an aggressive and comprehensive approach to help place their clients in the best position to succeed. It is part of their commitment to protect the rights of consumers and to always look after their best interests. To learn more, contact their Los Angeles law office today and schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case.