Bienville Orthopaedic, a practice based out of Gautier, Mississippi, experienced a data breach in the spring of 2023. Now, they are facing a lawsuit.
What happened
According to a recent report, Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists confirmed they experienced unauthorized access to some computer systems between February 3rd and March 5th, 2023. Some data was also removed from their computer systems on March 4th. The healthcare company notified affected patients in a letter on September 1st after completing a months-long investigation.
Their investigation revealed that leaked data may have included names, Social Security numbers, medical information, health insurance information, username and password information, financial account information, and driver’s license numbers.
It’s believed that as many as 240,000 individuals had their Social Security number leaked.
What’s new
Now, following the breach letters sent to affected individuals, the organization is facing several lawsuits, including one on behalf of a specific patient and another class action case.
The former, filed by attorney Justin G. Witkin of the law firm under the same name, was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. The lawsuit is on behalf of patient Robert Harris, who alleges that Bienville failed to implement reasonable security measures to protect the privacy of its patients.
The lawsuit also alleges that the company did not follow industry standards for cybersecurity. Harris says he is now experiencing increased spam emails and calls. Harris is seeking compensatory damages and payment for credit monitoring and identity protection, as well as an order from the court for improved data security measures.
The law firm Markovits, Stock & DeMarco is also investigating claims on behalf of victims for a class action lawsuit.
Why it matters
The lawsuit and investigation follow in the footsteps of several other suits against healthcare organizations that have faced data breaches. As threat groups continue to evolve, it can be difficult for healthcare organizations to stay on top of the latest trends.
Nevertheless, when organizations fail to prevent attacks, they may be held accountable for the consequences of the breach. Organizations like the FBI are continuously providing guidance, warnings, and strategies that may prevent cyber attacks.
Lawsuits can have significant financial implications for healthcare organizations and can also lead to operating changes to improve security. By staying on top of cybersecurity trends and protocols, healthcare companies can avoid costly repercussions.
Go deeper:
The big picture
As organizations continue to face lawsuits following data breaches, the results may set a precedent for cases resulting from future breaches.
By focusing on having strong security and staying up to date on cybersecurity trends, organizations can protect themselves against breaches and potential lawsuits.
Related: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide
Abby Grifno
