TAMPA -- Prominent personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan is suing Tampa General Hospital over a data breach earlier this year, representing three anonymous victims.
Last month, TGH announced that an unauthorized third party hacked into their system and stole files between May 12 and May 30, and that the breach was discovered May 31. While the medical record system wasn't accessed, TGH said the hackers had access to privileged information including phone numbers, birthdates, Social Security numbers and health insurance information and other records protected by the HIPAA law.
According to a statement from Morgan & Morgan, the plaintiffs allege that TGH failed to safeguard their information and failed to notify victims until July 19. One of the victims has already reported identity theft.
John Morgan and Ryan McGee, the attorney assigned to this case, issued this statement:
“Our clients’ allegations in this case paint a picture of Tampa General Hospital’s cavalier attitude toward cybersecurity and patient privacy. This is not the first time Tampa General Hospital has allegedly failed to protect its patients’ personal data - this data breach follows a 2014 breach. It is our hope that this lawsuit will not only secure justice and accountability for the patients whose privacy and peace of mind have been irrevocably violated, but also will spur Tampa General Hospital to take additional steps to protect their patients' privacy in a manner appropriate for the current climate of cyberattacks.”
TGH isn't commenting on the pending lawsuit.
Photo: Canva