SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Potter Handy LLP, a leading consumer privacy law firm, today announced that it is representing nearly 5,000 individuals in California and Illinois impacted by the massive data breach at genetic testing company 23andMe (NASDAQ: ME).
In October 2023, 23andMe revealed that an unauthorized third party had gained access to the accounts of approximately seven million customers and put the stolen data up for sale on the dark web. The compromised information included names, email addresses, dates of birth, genders, profile photos, geographic locations, genetic ancestry results, DNA relatives data, and family tree details.
"The 23andMe data breach represents an egregious violation of consumer privacy rights," said Mark Potter, Managing Partner at Potter Handy. "Our clients put their trust in 23andMe to safeguard their most personal data - their genetic blueprints and family histories. This breach betrays that trust and exposes our clients to risks of identity theft, genetic discrimination, and the misuse of their private information."
Potter Handy's clients include both 23andMe subscribers, whose data was directly compromised, as well as non-subscribers who may have had sensitive information about their DNA and family ties exposed through relatives who used 23andMe.
The law firm is pursuing claims against 23andMe for negligence in failing to implement reasonable data security measures, violations of state privacy laws and consumer protection statutes, and breach of contract.
"23andMe had a duty to protect their customers' sensitive genetic data with robust cybersecurity protocols, yet they failed at this critical obligation," said Jim Treglio, a Data Breach attorney at Potter Handy. "We intend to hold 23andMe fully accountable and fight for maximum compensation for our clients whose private lives were laid bare by this reckless data breach."
Impacted individuals in California and Illinois are urged to contact Potter Handy to explore their legal options against 23andMe at no out-of-pocket cost.
About Potter Handy LLP
Potter Handy, LLP is a leading law firm due to its extraordinary record of precedent-setting cases. While Potter Handy’s advocacy has resulted in hundreds of published opinions, there are a score of such cases that wield tremendous influence. These cases—many of first impression—have shaped constitutional standing issues, damages analysis, the proper construction and interpretation of civil rights statutes, and a variety of other hot-topic issues. What is more, many have been cited by trial and appellate courts on more than 10,000 occasions. Potter Handy takes cases to judgment more than once a month (on average). Opposing attorneys should know that if they do not offer a fair settlement to a client of Potter Handy, they are dealing with a law firm that won’t hesitate to seek full recovery for its client in trial and that it will effectively defend any appeal filed by the defendant. Potter Handy challenges any firm to compare its litigation history with Potter Handy’s.
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