Keller Rohrback L.L.P. is investigating recent reports of a large data breach of patient information from the Georgia-based Athens Orthopedic Clinic (“AOC”).  Reports indicate that approximately 397,000 current and former patients may have had their information exposed, and that 500 patient records appeared for sale on the black market by a group of web hackers who call themselves the “Dark Overlords”.

According to the company’s press release, AOC experienced a data breach of its electronic medical records.  Personal information of current and former patients, including the names, addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth and telephone numbers have been compromised.  In some cases, patient diagnoses and partial medical histories were also breached.

Athens Orthopedic Clinic is based in Georgia with 17 locations throughout the state, including Anthens, Bethlehem, Commerce, Covington, Greensboro, Jefferson, Loganville, Madison, Monroe, Royston, and Snellville.  AOC locations include Athens Orthopedic Clinics as well as work at the William Mulherin Surgery Center, Sports Performance and Rehabilitation Center (SPARC), and Athens Urgent Care.

“Patients’ Social Security numbers and personal health information should have received greater protection than usernames and passwords maintained in plaintext without encryption.  This highly sensitive and difficult-to-change information is already available for purchase by identity thieves on the black market, and subjects these patients to an increased lifelong risk of identity fraud,” said Keller Rohrback attorney Cari Campen Laufenberg.

If you are concerned that your personal information was breached and would like to know more about your rights, please contact attorney Cari Campen Laufenberg at (800) 315-0177 or via email at [email protected].

Keller Rohrback is a leader in representing patient, consumer and employee victims of data breaches.  Keller Rohrback has a long track-record of success with data breach litigation, including the Ninth Circuit case Krottner v. Starbucks, where the court held that the theft of a laptop containing employees' personally identifiable information sufficed to confer Article III standing on plaintiffs.

The firm serves in leadership roles in the Sony Data Breach case, which recently received final settlement approval in the Central District of California, as well as in the VTech Electronics and Experian data breach cases. In addition, Keller Rohrback also represents plaintiffs in the Target consumer data breach litigation, as well as the data breach cases pending against 21^st Century Oncology, Anthem Inc., Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, and Medical Informatics Engineering.

Keller Rohrback, with offices in New York, Seattle, Phoenix, Oakland, Ronan and Santa Barbara, serves as lead and co-lead counsel in class actions throughout the country. Our Complex Litigation Group is proud to offer its expertise to clients nationwide, and our trial lawyers have obtained judgments and settlements on behalf of clients in excess of seven billion dollars.

Protecting your private information

The Federal Trade Commission provides information and tips on how to protect yourself against fraudulent credit card charges.

For immediate steps to repair identity theft, click here.

For information on how to keep your personal information secure, including securing your social security number, click here.

If you are concerned that your personal information was breached and would like to know more about your rights, please contact attorney Cari Campen Laufenberg at (800) 315-0177 or via email at [email protected].