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Investigations

GSP Investigating Data Breach at Athens Orthopedic Clinic

Highly-Sensitive Personal Information of 397,000 Patients Stolen and Offered for Sale

Goldman Scarlato & Penny is investigating a possible claim on behalf of all persons whose private information was compromised as a result of a data breach at Athens Orthopedic Clinic (“Athens”).

On July 25, 2016, the Georgia-based clinic announced that its electronic database was breached “when a hacker used the credentials of an outside contractor who performed certain services for the Clinic.” The personal records of 397,000 patients were stolen.  Athens stated, “Personal information of our current and former patients has been breached, including names, addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth and telephone numbers, and in some cases diagnoses and partial medical history.”  News articles show that Athens first learned of the breach in June, about one month before it made the announcement.

According to Karin Koser of KPK & Co., who is handling public relations for Athens, the company is working with a federal authority investigating the data breach.  Athens is currently notifying its affected patients and is also supplying information on how to obtain a free credit report.

Recent news reports indicate that an underground organization calling itself the “Dark Overlords” has already advertised that stolen records from this breach are for sale on the black market.

When the personal information that is compromised includes social security numbers and other personal information, those affected should be concerned about identity theft.  Such stolen information can also been used to file false tax returns, make fraudulent claims for health care coverage, open credit accounts in the name of the victim, and more.

Athens maintains at least 11 locations throughout Georgia:  Athens, Bethlehem, Commerce, Covington, Greensboro, Jefferson, Loganville, Madison, Monroe, Royston, and Snellville.  It is also associated with the William Mulherin Surgery Center, the Sports Performance and Rehabilitation Center (SPARC), Athens Urgent Care, the Occupational Health & Pain Management Center, a Therapy Center, and an Imaging Center, all located in Athens, GA.

If you receive a notice from Athens Orthopedic Clinic that your personal information was stolen, of if you believe your private information has been compromised or that you are a victim of the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Data Breach, please contact a GSP attorney to learn more about your rights. GSP attorneys are actively litigating data breach actions against Anthem, 21st Century Oncology, Community Health Systems, Premera, Intuit, Medical Informatics, Excellus, United Shore and Target. Please contact Mark Goldman at [email protected] or call (484) 342-0700 with any questions you may have.  Please also check our websites:  www.lawgsp.com and www.anthemdataclassaction.com.

In our legal system, every person is innocent until and unless found guilty by a court of law or a tribunal. Whenever we reference “allegations” or charges that are “alleged,” such allegations or charges have not been proven, and are merely accusations, not findings of fault, as of the date of the blog. We do not have, nor do we undertake, a duty to continue to monitor or follow cases about which we report, and/or to publish subsequent updates regarding various developments that may occur in such cases. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research regarding any such cases and any developments that may or may not have occurred in such cases. Also, the brokercheck report linked to some of our blogs is the up-to-date version as of the date of accessing. Visitors may check the most recent version of each brokercheck report at www.finra.org.

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