Lynn A. Toops of Cohen & Malad, LLP was named to the executive committee in the class action lawsuit against Excellus Health Plan, Inc. and Lifetime Healthcare, Inc. United States District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford appointed Toops to serve with counsel from three firms in litigation involving a data breach affecting approximately 10.5 million consumers whose personal and medical information was compromised.
On September 9, 2015, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced that computer hackers had accessed its patient data base containing personal information of approximately 10.5 million customers. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, owned by Lifetime Healthcare, stated that personal information including client names, dates of birth, social security numbers, mailing addresses, phone numbers, financial account information, and claim information was compromised during this data breach. Cohen & Malad, LLP filed a class action on behalf of consumers whose personal information was accessed by hackers and has talked to numerous people who are facing personal identity and medical theft concerns as a result of the breach.
“It is unacceptable that Excellus and Lifetime failed to safeguard the sensitive information of its nearly 11 million customers who will have to remain vigilant for the rest of their lives in order to safeguard their identity and medical records. By serving with lead counsel I can help their voices be heard,” stated Lynn Toops.
The litigation against Excellus Health Plan Inc., and Lifetime Healthcare Inc., has been consolidated in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.