Hellmuth & Johnson attorneys have been appointed as interim lead counsel in the case against the University of Minnesota related to a data breach affecting millions of Minnesotans, along with attorneys from Chestnut Cambronne; Berger Montague; and Reichert, Wendorf, & Blanchfield.
On July 21, 2023, the University of Minnesota announced it had learned of an individual claiming to have posted sensitive admissions data on the internet. Following an investigation, the University confirmed that a breach of its database occurred in 2021. The incident potentially affects millions of individuals who submitted information to the University as a prospective student, attended the University as a student, worked at the University as an employee, or participated in university programs between 1989 and August 2021. The potentially affected information may include an individual’s full name, address, telephone number, Social Security number, driver’s license or passport information, University identification number, birthdate and demographic information, admissions applications, employment information, as well as other information provided to the University, depending on an individual’s affiliation(s) with the University during this time period.
The complaints have been consolidated before Judge Christian Sande in Hennepin County.