A class action lawsuit over a data breach in 2013 at Bryan, Texas-based St. Joseph Services, which includes a health system and hospital, was dismissed Feb. 11 for lack of standing.
The breach, which occurred in December 2013 and became public in February 2014, affected approximately 405,000 patients, employees and beneficiaries. The plaintiff, Beverly Peters, alleged that the breach violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act and filed the lawsuit in late March 2014.
The Texas judge that dismissed the case wrote in the decision Ms. Peters was not able to prove injury and had no standing to file the case. She had claimed someone tried to use her financial information she provided to St. Joseph, but she was never charged, according to the court documents.
"Even if the above injuries were traceable to St. Joseph's alleged failures under the [Fair Credit Reporting Act], it is not likely that a favorable decision from this Court would redress the harm she has experienced," wrote District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt in the decision. "St. Joseph argues that [Ms.] Peters has not alleged any quantifiable damage or loss she has suffered as a result of the Data Breach. The Court agrees."