A recent lawsuit has been filed against a prominent university following a significant data breach that exposed sensitive personal information of over 200,000 individuals. On November 21, 2024, Sara Ames lodged a class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Saint Xavier University. The lawsuit accuses the university of negligence and failing to protect the personally identifiable information (PII) of its students and applicants.
According to the details outlined in the case, Saint Xavier University became aware of suspicious activity within its computer systems in July 2023. The subsequent investigation revealed that an unauthorized actor had accessed and downloaded files containing PII from June 29 to July 18, 2023. This breach compromised sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, financial account information, medical records, and more. Despite becoming aware of this breach over a year ago, the university only began notifying affected individuals on October 30, 2024.
The plaintiff, Sara Ames, who represents herself and others similarly affected by this breach, claims that Saint Xavier University failed to adhere to industry-standard security practices which could have prevented such unauthorized access. She argues that the university's negligence has resulted in severe emotional distress and anxiety among those whose information was compromised. Ames further contends that she and other victims now face an increased risk of identity theft and fraud due to this breach.
In her complaint, Ames accuses Saint Xavier University of violating several laws including Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act which mandates businesses to implement reasonable measures for protecting consumer data. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for the emotional distress caused by the breach as well as injunctive relief requiring the university to enhance its data security measures. Additionally, it demands punitive damages and coverage for future credit monitoring services for those affected.
Representing Ames are attorneys Gary M. Klinger from Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC along with Charles E. Schaffer from Levin Sedran & Berman LLP among others. The case is being overseen by judges at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID: 1:24-cv-12027.