WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A federal judge has named Andrew N. Friedman, a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Co-Lead Plaintiffs' Counsel in a high-profile class action lawsuit against Anthem, Inc. one of the nation's largest for-profit managed health care companies. The lawsuit was brought over a massive data breach that compromised the personal identification and health information of millions of insureds.
After reviewing submissions from 18 groups and following a Sept. 10, 2015, hearing, Judge Lucy H. Koh, of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose, selected Friedman, who is co-chair of Cohen Milstein's Consumer Protection and Unsafe Products Practice group, and Eve Cervantez, of Altshuler Berzon LLP, to serve as Co-Lead Counsel in In re: Anthem Data Breach Litigation. In her order, Judge Koh stated that among other attributes the attorneys have "performed considerable work in identifying or investigating potential claims in this action" and "demonstrated experience in handling complex class actions."
In February 2015, Anthem reported that it had incurred a massive data breach that compromised the Personally Identifiable Information and Personal Health Information of approximately 80 million insured consumers. Unlike data breaches involving credit card numbers or other information that individuals can change and monitor for fraud, the Anthem breach exposed data – such as social security numbers, birthdates, home addresses, and employment information – that cannot be changed and cannot be easily monitored for fraud.
The complaints allege that Anthem failed to take adequate and reasonable measures to ensure its data systems were protected, failed to take available steps to prevent and stop the breach from ever happening, and failed to disclose to its customers the material facts that it did not have adequate computer systems and security practices to safeguard customers' financial accounts and personal data. Victims of the Anthem data breach – including children – face a lifetime risk of interference with their business and financial affairs.
For more information about In re: Anthem Data Breach Litigation, visit http://www.cohenmilstein.com/news.php?NewsID=800.
Founded in 1969, Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC is a national leader in plaintiff class action lawsuits and litigation. As one of the premier firms in the country handling major complex cases, including securities fraud actions, Cohen Milstein, with over 80 attorneys, has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Denver, Colo. For more information, visit http://www.cohenmilstein.com or call (202) 408-4600.
Editor's Note: Court Order Available