CAMC patients sues hospital for Internet security breach

CHARLESTON -- Five Charleston Area Medical Center patients are suing the hospital after their personal information was publicized on the Internet in 2010.

Larry Tabata, Dorothy Elkins, William Wells, Donald R. Holstein Jr. and Kay Kirk's personal information was revealed to be accessible and publicized on the Internet since September 2010 after a relative of one of the Class Action members informed the West Virginia Attorney General's Office of the security breach, according to a complaint filed March 30 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

The plaintiffs claim the hospital wrongfully disclosed their personal information without their consent.

By permitting the unauthorized disclosure of the plaintiffs' confidential and private information within its possession, the hospital was negligent in that it breached the duty of reasonable care that it owed to the plaintiffs as patients, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Sean W. Cook.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James C. Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-524