University of Hawai’i Settles Data Breach Class Action
The University of Hawai’i has settled a class action data breach lawsuit
involving five data breaches between 2009 through 2011. The settlement will
provide class members with two (2) years of credit monitoring and fraud
restoration services. The settlement in Gross v. University of Hawaii will impact
approximately 98,000 UH students, faculty, alumni, UH employees and others who
were part of the five data breaches. The breaches occurred at University of
Hawai‘i at Manoa, University of Hawai‘i at West Oah‘u, Kapio’lani Community
College, and Honolulu Community College.
“We have researched more than forty (40) data breaches at colleges and
universities across the country. In almost every instance, two years of credit
monitoring and fraud restoration was offered to data breach victims,” said Bruce
Sherman, one of the attorneys representing the class. “Offering two years of credit
monitoring and fraud restoration services to breach victims should be the standard
response by any breaching entity in Hawai’i, including government agencies,”
Sherman noted.
“The settlement is significant for several reasons,” said Thomas Grande,
who also represents the class. “This settlement is the first data breach settlement in
Hawai’i and affects almost 100,000 persons,” Grande noted.
“Credit monitoring provides for continuous checking by a credit agency of a
class member’s credit file. If there is suspicious activity, the class member is
notified immediately and is given assistance to resolve the problem,” Sherman
said.
“Credit monitoring services may cost as much as $5 to $15 per month if
purchased individually. We are extremely pleased that the University has
negotiated a settlement package that provides these services to every class member
who wants them,” Grande said.
The settlement, which is still subject to court approval, will be administered
by Kroll Background America, Inc., a firm specializing in providing credit
monitoring and fraud restoration services. Class members will be sent a letter by
March 1, 2012 that will allow them to sign up for the credit monitoring services
online. University faculty, students and alumni will also be sent e-mails to inform
them of the credit monitoring services.
GRANDE LAW OFFICES
1164 BISHOP STREET
SUITE 124-24
HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I 96813
T HO M A S R. G RA N D E
tgr an d e @ G r a n d e L a w O f f i c e s . c o m
TELEPHONE: (808) 521-7500
Fax: (888) 722-5575