Defense Dept. hit with $4.9B lawsuit over data breach

14.10.2011
The U.S. Department of Defense has been hit with a $4.9 billion lawsuit over a recently disclosed data breach involving , a healthcare system for active and retired military personnel and their families.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington D.C. this week by four people whose data was allegedly compromised, seeks $1000 in damages for each of the 4.9 million individuals affected by the breach.

The suit charges TRICARE, the Department and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta with failing to adequately protect private data and of "intentional, willful and reckless disregard" for patient privacy rights.

TRICARE did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

In the complaint, the four plaintiffs faulted TRICARE for failing to properly encrypt the private data in its possession and for taking too long to notify victims of the breach.

The four plaintiffs are Virginia Gaffney, a Hampton, Va.-based individual who described herself in court papers as the spouse of a decorated war veteran; her two children; and Adrienne Taylor, a Glendale, Az. Based Air Force veteran.