When organizations fail to protect the personal information entrusted to them, the consequences can be severe. Data breaches expose sensitive information like Social Security numbers, medical records, and financial data to criminals who exploit it for years to come. At Doyle APC, we represent California residents harmed by data breaches and help them secure compensation for their losses.
The Real Harm of Data Breaches
Data breach victims often face immediate financial harm from fraudulent charges and identity theft that can take months or years to resolve. Beyond the direct financial losses, victims spend countless hours freezing accounts, disputing charges, filing reports, and monitoring for new fraud. The emotional toll is equally significant. Anxiety, stress, and the constant uncertainty of knowing your personal information is in criminal hands represent genuine, compensable harm that courts increasingly recognize.
When medical information is compromised, the consequences can be even more serious. Criminals may use stolen healthcare data to obtain medical services or prescription drugs, corrupting your medical records with false information that can endanger future care.
Data Breach Class Actions
Most data breach lawsuits are pursued as class actions. When a breach affects thousands or millions of people, a class action allows affected individuals to join together in a single case rather than pursuing separate claims. This approach is particularly effective when individual losses may be modest but the collective harm is substantial.
Class actions enable victims to share legal resources and hold organizations accountable for security failures that affect entire communities. These cases often result in compensation for affected individuals along with requirements that the breaching organization improve its data security practices.
Our Data Breach Class Action Experience
Doyle APC has extensive experience in data breach class action litigation. We currently serve as Class Counsel in several significant data breach cases affecting California residents.
In the San Diego Unified School District litigation, we represent students and employees whose personal information was compromised in a 2022 ransomware attack. That case has reached a preliminary settlement providing compensation and credit monitoring to affected class members. We also serve as Class Counsel in data breach class actions against the Clark County School District and the Sweetwater Union High School District, representing families and staff affected by similar security failures.
Our founding attorney, William Doyle, has more than 25 years of experience in internet privacy litigation. As lead counsel in landmark cases including In re Pharmatrak, In re Amazon.com/Alexa Internet Privacy Litigation, and In re DoubleClick Inc. Privacy Litigation, Mr. Doyle helped establish many of the legal precedents that protect consumer privacy today.
Individual Data Breach Claims
While class actions address most data breach situations, some cases warrant individual lawsuits. When a breach causes substantial personal harm, such as significant financial losses, extensive identity theft, or severe emotional distress, an individual claim may provide greater compensation than participation in a class action.
California law provides strong protections for data breach victims. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) establishes statutory damages for breaches resulting from inadequate security. The California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) provides additional protections when healthcare data is compromised. Negligence and breach of contract claims may also apply when organizations fail to meet their duty to protect consumer information.
Affected by a Data Breach?
If you received a data breach notification or discovered unauthorized use of your personal information, we can help you understand your legal options. In a free consultation, we evaluate your situation, explain whether a class action or individual claim makes sense, and outline the next steps.
We handle data breach cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Case evaluations are confidential and carry no obligation. Call (800) 736-9085 or click the button below.