Two New Yorkers have filed the first state, class-action lawsuit against Equifax over the massive data breach that exposed 143 million Social Security numbers.
Hackers also gleaned birth dates, addresses, driver’s license numbers and 209,000 credit card numbers in the massive breach that occurred between May and July.
“Although defendant learned of the data breach on July 29, 2017, it did not inform [the public] until Sept. 7,” according to the Queens Supreme Court suit.
Josh Grossberg and Lisa Olivo brought the $5 million-plus suit Friday afternoon, saying that hack has “subjected them to a heightened risk of credit harm, financial harm and identity theft.”
Their attorney, Orin Kurtz, called the cyber attack “severe” and predicted that it could “have long-term effects on millions of people.”
“We intend to hold Equifax accountable,” Kurtz said.
There was a federal court class action filed late Thursday in Oregon federal court. This is the first state action specifically tailored to protecting New Yorkers.
Equifax CEO Richard Smith has apologized to consumers and offering free identity theft protection.