Posted On February 16, 2022 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
February 16, 2022 – Recently, Miller Valentine announced a data security incident in which an unauthorized party gained access to certain documents stored on the company’s system containing sensitive consumer information. As a result of the Miller-Valentine data breach, the names and Social Security numbers of as many as 4,901 consumers were compromised. Those impacted by a data breach should be sure they understand what happened, what their rights are, and how they can pursue them. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are actively investigating this security breach. As a part of the investigative process, our attorneys will be interviewing any victims of the breach to determine what harm was caused and whether they are eligible to bring a data breach class action lawsuit against Miller Valentine Group.
Cyberattacks such as this one are increasingly common in today’s society. Today more than ever, businesses store data electronically. While there are certainly many ways to protect against cyberthreats, hackers have ways of identifying vulnerabilities in data security systems, which they can then exploit.
When a hacker breaches a company’s computer systems, they can steal sensitive consumer information from the compromised systems. While there is no guarantee that this information will be used for criminal purposes, that is not an uncommon occurrence. Thus, as a matter of course, after a company experiences a data breach, they will inform anyone whose information was compromised. Despite the risks data breaches present, many consumers fail to take precautionary measures to protect themselves from identity theft and other frauds.
When you allowed Miller Valentine access to your personal data, you trusted the company to keep your sensitive information safe. However, news of the Miller Valentine data breach raises some very serious questions about the company’s data security measures and whether the company could have done more to prevent this type of cyber-attack.
Regardless of the industry, all businesses have a legal obligation to protect consumer information in their possession. Although creating and maintaining a data security system is costly, this is a necessary expense given the frequency with which cyberattacks occur.
Consumers whose personal, identifying, financial or healthcare-related data was compromised in a data breach can pursue legal action against a company that misused or mishandled their information. However, the investigation into the Miller-Valentine breach is only in its beginning phases. For that reason, it is too early to tell if the company was legally responsible for the breach. However, our data breach attorneys are investigating the Miller Valentine security breach to determine the potential legal remedies of those affected.
If you have questions about your ability to pursue a data breach class action lawsuit against Miller Valentine, contact a data breach attorney as soon as possible.
If you receive a data breach notification from Miller Valentine in the coming weeks, it means your personal data was among that which was compromised in the recent cyberattack. It also means a cybercriminal may have had access to—and may have stolen—your personal data. Given the risks involved, it is important you remain vigilant by taking the following steps:
Miller Valentine (“Miller-Valentine”) is a construction company founded in Dayton, Ohio, in 1963. Originally, the company specialized in the construction of highways and bridges; however, over the years, Miller-Valentine broadened its focus to include industrial buildings, office buildings and multifamily communities. Miller-Valentine maintains four offices in Cincinnati, OH; Dayton, OH; Columbia, SC; and Charleston, SC. To date, the company has constructed more than 100 million square feet of commercial space and 16,000 multifamily units.
According to an official notice filed by the company, on July 28, 2021, Miller Valentine became suspicious of certain activity on some of the company’s servers. Once Miller Valentine learned of the possible cyberattack, it initiated an internal investigation to determine the nature and scope of the data security incident. The investigation confirmed that the company was the victim of a cyberattack and that certain files “could have been subject to unauthorized access” on May 6, 2021 as well as between June 16, 2021 and July 28, 2021.
Upon learning of the extent of the security breach, Miller Valentine then reviewed the affected files to determine what information was compromised. On December 8, 2021, the company confirmed that the information may have included certain consumers’ names and Social Security numbers. However, the company notes that it cannot confirm “which specific data actually was impacted.”
On February 10, 2022, Miller Valentine began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was contained in the affected files.
At Console & Associates, P.C., our consumer privacy lawyers monitor all security and data breaches to help affected consumers pursue their legal remedies. We offer free consultations to victims of data breaches and can explain your rights in clear, understandable terms so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed with your case. If you’ve been affected by the Miller Valentine data breach or any other data security incident, Console & Associates, P.C., will investigate your case at no charge and offer you thorough advice about how to most effectively proceed with your case. If you decide to bring a case, we only get paid if you do. If your claim is successful, any legal fees are either paid by the defendant or come out of the funds recovered from the defendant. If your claim doesn’t result in a recovery, you will pay nothing.
To schedule your free consultation, just call (866) 778-5500 today or fill out our secure contact form.
