DOCSLIB.ORG

MDL Docket No

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
MDL Docket No Case 1:17-md-02800-TWT Document 374 Filed 05/14/18 Page 1 of 575 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ATLANTA DIVISION _____________________________ ) MDL Docket No. 2800 In re: Equifax, Inc. Customer ) Case No.: 1:17-md-2800-TWT Data Security Breach Litigation ) ) CONSUMER ACTIONS _____________________________ ) CONSOLIDATED CONSUMER CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT “We at Equifax clearly understood that the collection of American consumer information and data carries with it enormous responsibility to protect that data. We did not live up to that responsibility.” Richard F. Smith, Equifax’s former Chief Executive Officer October 3, 2017 Amy E. Keller Kenneth S. Canfield DICELLO LEVITT & CASEY LLC DOFFERMYRE SHIELDS Ten North Dearborn Street CANFIELD & KNOWLES, LLC Eleventh Floor 1355 Peachtree Street, N.E. Suite 1900 Chicago, Illinois 60602 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Norman E. Siegel STUEVE SIEGEL HANSON LLP 460 Nichols Road, Suite 200 Kansas City, Missouri 64112 Consumer Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsel Other Counsel Identified on Signature Pages Case 1:17-md-02800-TWT Document 374 Filed 05/14/18 Page 2 of 575 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 JURISDICTION AND VENUE .............................................................................. 4 NAMED PLAINTIFFS ............................................................................................ 5 DEFENDANTS AND THEIR RELEVANT CORPORATE STRUCTURE ... 70 STATEMENT OF FACTS .................................................................................... 75 The Importance of Consumer Credit in the U.S. Economy ............................... 75 Equifax Compiles Massive Amounts of Consumer Information ....................... 78 Equifax Recognized the Importance of Data Security ....................................... 85 Equifax Has a History of Inadequate Data Security Practices ........................... 94 The Equifax Data Breach ..................................................................................102 Equifax Discovers the Data Breach ..................................................................107 Equifax’s Inadequate Data Security Practices ..................................................112 Equifax’s Botched Public Disclosure and Response to the Breach .................119 Equifax Recommends Implementing Credit Freezes .......................................133 Reactions to the Data Breach ............................................................................140 Aftermath of the Breach: Consequences for Consumers and the Economy ....145 CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS ...................................................................152 CHOICE OF LAW FOR NATIONWIDE CLAIMS .......................................159160 CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONWIDE CLASS COUNT 1 ..........................................................................................................161 VIOLATION OF THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681, et seq. COUNT 2 ..........................................................................................................167 NEGLIGENCE i Case 1:17-md-02800-TWT Document 374 Filed 05/14/18 Page 3 of 575 COUNT 3 ..........................................................................................................175 NEGLIGENCE PER SE COUNT 4 ..........................................................................................................176 GEORGIA FAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES ACT COUNT 5 ..........................................................................................................186 UNJUST ENRICHMENT COUNT 6 ..........................................................................................................189 DECLARATORY JUDGMENT CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE EQUIFAX CONTRACT SUBCLASS COUNT 7 ..........................................................................................................192 BREACH OF CONTRACT COUNT 8 ..........................................................................................................194 BREACH OF IMPLIED CONTRACT CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE FCRA DISCLOSURE SUBCLASS COUNT 9 ..........................................................................................................197 VIOLATION OF THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT 15 U.S.C. § 1681g(a) CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE ALABAMA SUBCLASS COUNT 10 ........................................................................................................199 ALABAMA DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT Ala. Code §§ 8-19-1, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE ALASKA SUBCLASS COUNT 11 ........................................................................................................205 PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION ACT Alaska Stat. §§ 45.48.010, et seq. COUNT 12 ........................................................................................................207 ALASKA CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT Alaska Stat. §§ 45.50.471, et seq. ii Case 1:17-md-02800-TWT Document 374 Filed 05/14/18 Page 4 of 575 CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE ARIZONA SUBCLASS COUNT 13 ........................................................................................................212 ARIZONA CONSUMER FRAUD ACT A.R.S. §§ 44-1521, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE ARKANSAS SUBCLASS COUNT 14 ........................................................................................................216 ARKANSAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT A.C.A. §§ 4-88-101, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA SUBCLASS COUNT 15 ........................................................................................................222 CALIFORNIA CUSTOMER RECORDS ACT Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1798.80, et seq. COUNT 16 ........................................................................................................224 CALIFORNIA UNFAIR COMPETITION LAW Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200, et seq. COUNT 17 ........................................................................................................230 CALIFORNIA CONSUMER LEGAL REMEDIES ACT Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1750, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE COLORADO SUBLCASS COUNT 18 ........................................................................................................233 COLORADO SECURITY BREACH NOTIFICATION ACT Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 6-1-716, et seq. COUNT 19 ........................................................................................................235 COLORADO CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 6-1-101, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE CONNECTICUT SUBCLASS COUNT 20 ........................................................................................................240 BREACH OF SECURITY REGARDING COMPUTERIZED DATA C.G.S.A. § 36a-701b iii Case 1:17-md-02800-TWT Document 374 Filed 05/14/18 Page 5 of 575 CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE DELAWARE SUBCLASS COUNT 21 ........................................................................................................242 DELAWARE COMPUTER SECURITY BREACH ACT 6 Del. Code Ann. §§ 12B-102, et seq. COUNT 22 ........................................................................................................243 DELAWARE CONSUMER FRAUD ACT 6 Del. Code §§ 2513, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SUBCLASS COUNT 23 ........................................................................................................248 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CONSUMER SECURITY BREACH NOTIFICATION ACT D.C. Code §§ 28-3851, et seq. COUNT 24 ........................................................................................................250 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CONSUMER PROTECTION PROCEDURES ACT D.C. Code §§ 28-3904, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA SUBCLASS COUNT 25 ........................................................................................................255 FLORIDA DECEPTIVE AND UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES ACT Fla. Stat. §§ 501.201, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE GEORGIA SUBCLASS COUNT 26 ........................................................................................................260259 GEORGIA SECURITY BREACH NOTIFICATION ACT O.C.G.A. §§ 10-1-912, et seq. COUNT 27 ........................................................................................................261 GEORGIA UNIFORM DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT O.C.G.A. §§ 10-1-370, et seq. iv Case 1:17-md-02800-TWT Document 374 Filed 05/14/18 Page 6 of 575 CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE HAWAII SUBCLASS COUNT 28 ........................................................................................................266 HAWAII SECURITY BREACH NOTIFICATION ACT Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 487N-1, et seq. COUNT 29 ........................................................................................................267 HAWAII UNFAIR PRACTICES AND UNFAIR COMPETITION ACT Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 480-1, et seq. COUNT 30 ........................................................................................................271 HAWAII UNIFORM DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE ACT Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 481A-3, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE IDAHO SUBCLASS COUNT 31 ........................................................................................................275 IDAHO CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT Idaho Code §§ 48-601, et seq. CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE ILLINOIS SUBCLASS COUNT 32 ........................................................................................................280279 ILLINOIS PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION ACT 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 530/10(a), et seq. COUNT
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Fall/Winter 2012/2013
    LINCOLN LION FALL / WINTER 2012-13 A MAGAZINE ADVANCING THE LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE ‘Poised For Greatness’ Lincoln’s Newly-Inaugurated 13th President Charts The Course FIRST ANNUAL LION AWARDS Honors Celebrities, Alumni & Friends 11 INAUGURAL ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME HONOREES NU CHAPTER CENTENNIAL: 100 Years Of Distinction & Service BACK TO THE FUTURE: Advancing Lincoln’s Reputation As A Global Institution From the President As the newly-inaugurated 13th President of Lincoln University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I consider myself a member of the Class of 2016. Like those students, I am excited about the prospects of the future, especially since new leadership aff ords the opportunity for an institutional renaissance. I am working diligently to that end. Overall, Lincoln has deep-rooted traditions and a legacy of excellence that is evidenced by the global leaders this institution continues to produce. Few universities, our size or larger, can boast such a record. Aside from our esteemed administration, faculty and staff , our students and our 13,000 plus alumni are our greatest and most valued resource. When those of you achieve, we achieve; and so we will continue to embrace and celebrate those successes. While we always welcome our visiting alumni, we especially encourage you all to return for three signifi cant events. Th ey are our newly-scheduled Founder’s Day Observance in February; Commencement in May, at which all focus should be on our graduates and their full indoctrination as active and supportive alumni; and fi nally, Homecoming in October. Th ese events recognize our history, celebrate our achievements and allow us to reconnect with our extended Lincoln family.
    [Show full text]
  • The Digital-Led New Normal: Revised Labour Market Outlook for 2022
    The Digital-Led New Normal: Research by The Information and Communications Technology Council This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives program Preface ICTC is a not-for-profit, national centre of expertise for strengthening Canada’s digital advantage in a global economy. Through trusted research, practical policy advice, and creative capacity-building programs, ICTC fosters globally competitive Canadian industries enabled by innovative and diverse digital talent. In partnership with a vast network of industry leaders, academic partners, and policy makers from across Canada, ICTC has empowered a robust and inclusive digital economy for over 25 years. To cite this report: Ivus, Maryna; Kotak, Akshay; McLaughlin, Ryan. The Digital-Led New Normal: Revised Labour Market Outlook for 2022. Information and Communications Technology Council (August 2020). Ottawa, Canada. Researched and written by Maryna Ivus (Manager, Labour Market Research), Akshay Kotak (Senior Economist & Research Analyst), and Ryan McLaughlin (Senior Economist & Research Analyst), with generous support from Alexandra Cutean (Senior Director, Research & Policy), Rob Davidson (Director, Data Analytics), Chris Herron (Junior Research Analyst), and the ICTC Research & Policy team. The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada. Abstract This report serves as an update and addendum to ICTC’s Digital Talent Outlook 2023 report released in 2019.
    [Show full text]
  • Individual and Organizational Donors
    INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL Mr. Saumya Nandi and Ms. Martha Delgado Edward & Rose Donnell Foundation Dr. Tim D. Noel and Mrs. Joni L. Noel Mr. and Mrs. John A. Edwardson DONORS Orange Crush, LLC Ms. Amberlynne Farashahi Park Avenue Financial Group Trust Mr. and Mrs. Blair Farwell $100,000 and above Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. Parrell The Field Foundation of Illinois Anonymous (4) The Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation Fortune Brands, Inc. Bank of America Mr. Richard Proulx Franklin Philanthropic Foundation BlackEdge Capital Bruce and Diana Rauner Mr. Philip M. Friedmann The Chicago Community Trust The Regenstein Foundation Futures Industry Association Feeding America Mr. and Mrs. Bradley S. Reid Garvey's Office Products Ms. Susan E. Grabin The Rhoades Foundation GCA Services Group, Inc. Hardison Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. James H. Roth General Iron Industries Charitable Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Raymond L. Harriman Roundy's Foundation Dr. Glenn S. Gerber and Ms. Linda S. Schurman Hillshire Brands Foundation The Satter Family Foundation Gethsemane United Church of Christ Daniel Haerther Living Trust Mr. and Mrs. Travis Schuler Mr. and Mrs. Brent Gledhill Mr. Albert F. Hofeld Mrs. Rose L. Shure Goldberg Kohn, Ltd. Mr. Michael L. Keiser and Mrs. Rosalind Keiser Julie and Brian Simmons Foundation Golub & Company Kraft Foods Group Foundation SmithBucklin Corporation Google, Inc. Ann Lurie Revocable Trust The Smogolski Family 2008 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew M. Gore Polk Bros. Foundation Charitable Lead Trust W.W. Grainger, Inc. Share Our Strength The Telos Group LLC Grand Kids Foundation Mr. William R. Shepard Stanley and Lucy Lopata Charitable Foundation Ms.
    [Show full text]
  • MDL Docket No
    Case 1:17-md-02800-TWT Document 375 Filed 05/14/18 Page 1 of 122 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA ATLANTA DIVISION _____________________________ ) MDL Docket No. 2800 In re: Equifax, Inc. Customer ) Case No.: 1:17-md-2800-TWT Data Security Breach Litigation ) ) ) CONSUMER ACTIONS _____________________________ ) CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR SMALL BUSINESS CLAIMS Amy E. Keller Kenneth S. Canfield DICELLO LEVITT & CASEY LLC DOFFERMYRE SHIELDS Ten North Dearborn Street CANFIELD & KNOWLES, LLC Eleventh Floor 1355 Peachtree Street, N.E. Suite 1900 Chicago, Illinois 60602 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Norman E. Siegel STUEVE SIEGEL HANSON LLP 460 Nichols Road, Suite 200 Kansas City, Missouri 64112 Consumer Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsel Other Counsel Identified on Signature Pages Case 1:17-md-02800-TWT Document 375 Filed 05/14/18 Page 2 of 122 The plaintiffs identified below (collectively, “Business Plaintiffs”), individually and on behalf of the Classes defined below of similarly situated business entities, allege the following against Defendants Equifax Inc., Equifax Information Services LLC (“EIS”), and Equifax Consumer Services LLC (“ECS”) (collectively, “Equifax” or “Defendants”), based upon personal knowledge with respect to themselves and on information and belief derived from, among other things, investigation of counsel and review of public documents as to all other matters. INTRODUCTION 1. Equifax plays a central role in the modern American economy, collecting and selling vast amounts of data about the most important details of consumers’ financial lives. That data―names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, credit card information, drivers’ license numbers, and more―contains the keys that unlock a consumer’s identity and is relied upon by third parties to make major financial decisions affecting almost all Americans.
    [Show full text]
  • Event Transcripts Are Based, Companies May Make Projections Or Other Forward-Looking Statements Regarding a Variety of Items
    THOMSON REUTERS STREETEVENTS EDITED TRANSCRIPT WMT - The 21st Annual Meeting for the Investment Community EVENT DATE/TIME: OCTOBER 15, 2014 / 12:45PM GMT 1 THOMSON REUTERS STREETEVENTS | www.streetevents.com | Contact Us © 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. 'Thomson Reuters' and the Thomson Reuters logo are registered trademarks of Thomson Reuters and its affiliated companies. OCTOBER 15, 2014 / 12:45PM GMT, WMT - The 21st Annual Meeting for the Investment Community CORPORATE PARTICIPAN TS Claire Babineaux-Fontenot Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Treasurer Douglas McMillon Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - President, CEO Greg Foran Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - President and CEO Wal-Mart US Duncan Mac Naughton Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer Wal-Mart US Gisel Ruiz Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Wal-Mart US Judith McKenna Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer Wal-Mart US Rosalind Brewer Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - President & CEO - Sam's Club Charles Redfield Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Sam's Club EVP - Merchandising Shawn Baldwin Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - SVP GMM-Food and Beverage - Sam's Club David Cheesewright Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - President, CEO - Wal-Mart International Brett Biggs Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - CFO - Wal-Mart International Enrique Ostale Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - President, CEO - Wal-Mart Latin America Jay Jorgensen Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Global CCO Shelley Broader Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - President, CEO - Wal-Mart EMEA Neil Ashe Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Matter of Request for Public Comment on the Federal Trade
    Before the Federal Trade Commission Washington, DC 20580 In the Matter of Request for Public Comment on the Docket FTC-2021-0019 Federal Trade Commission’s Request for Comments Regarding Topics to be Discussed at Dark Patterns Workshop COMMENTS OF Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood The Center for Digital Democracy Michael Rosenbloom Communications & Technology Law Clinic Georgetown University Law Center 600 New Jersey Avenue, NW Suite 312 Washington, DC 20001 (202) 662-9535 Counsel for Campaign for a Commercial-Free May 27, 2021 Childhood and Center for Digital Democracy Introduction and summary The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and the Center for Digital Democracy, through their counsel, the Communications & Technology Law Clinic at Georgetown Law, submit these comments in response to the Commission’s request for comments regarding dark patterns.1 Children today constantly face dark patterns when they engage with modern technology. In contexts from entertainment to the ostensibly educational, children use apps that pressure them to spend more time and money on microtransactions. These dark patterns take many forms: timers that inculcate in children a fear of missing out on rare items, menu manipulations and arbitrarily labeled virtual currencies that confuse children about how much money they are spending, and even design practices that abuse their relationships with a game’s characters to encourage spending, or which pressure them to constantly consume advertising. The explosive growth in dark patterns confronting children is easily explained—it is the natural product of current trends in the gaming industry. A family used to purchase a game in a one-time transaction, then bring it home on a cartridge or disk to be played until exhaustion.
    [Show full text]
  • The Long and the Terror, Preview, Pages 1-5 Short of It, Page 27 Page 19
    t*. 'NOT TO BE TAKEN FROM THiS ROOM HuMBER Et Cetera MEN'S SOCCER THE LONG AND THE TERROR, PREVIEW, PAGES 1-5 SHORT OF IT, PAGE 27 PAGE 19 www.etcetera.humberc.on.ca -- Humber College's Newspaper - September 13, 2001 -- Vol. 30 No. 1 AFTER By MARK NONKES Et Cetera Staff Emotions ran high around Humber as students learned about the tragic ter- rorist attack in the U.S. Tuesday morning at the North campus, students in Residence and at Caps hovered around TVs to watch the latest footage of the crash of the World Trade Towers and the fire at the Pentagon. Counsellors roamed the halls of Humber talking with students upset about the disaster. Among them, Yolanta Galazka, face etched with worry, fear and con- cern, was found on her cell phone try- ing to reach relatives in New York. Galazka's brother and sister-in- law work in New York. Her sister, a bank inspector, works in a building close to the site of the crash and some- times works at the World Trade Center. "I can't get through to anyone there. [I'm] worried and devastated. I left messages on every phone possi- ble, hoping that they can get a hold of me," she said. Galazka had been in New York just two weeks ago and visited the World Trade Center. "When you realize how many thousands and thousands are in that building, the carnage, I just can not conceive of it," Galazka said. At Humber's residence, students gathered around watching and listen- ing to the developing tragedy.
    [Show full text]