Gas South, a prominent natural gas company headquartered in Atlanta, has agreed to pay up to $897,500 to settle a class action lawsuit stemming from a data breach in February 2022. This breach compromised the personal information of nearly 39,000 customers, including sensitive data such as social security numbers, birth dates, and driver’s license numbers. A Cobb County judge approved the settlement, which was negotiated between Gas South and representatives of the affected customers.
The settlement allows each impacted customer to claim up to $3,250 for losses and expenses incurred due to the breach, including those related to fraud and identity theft. Additionally, customers are eligible for up to two years of free credit monitoring and identity protection services.
Why it matters: The settlement of the Gas South data breach case underscores the responsibility of companies to safeguard customer data and the consequences of failing to do so. This case also serves as a precedent for how similar incidents might be handled legally and financially in the future.
- Gas South has expressed its commitment to resolving the issue despite denying any wrongdoing, emphasizing its core belief in treating people, including customers, with utmost importance.
- The case, involving two proposed class action lawsuits, was consolidated before Judge Kimberly A. Childs in the Cobb County Superior Court. Under the terms, Gas South will cap payments to claimants at $590,000 and pay $300,000 in attorney fees and litigation costs.
- This settlement is part of a larger trend of increased data breaches affecting various organizations. It highlights the need for strong cybersecurity measures and the potential legal ramifications for companies failing to protect customer data adequately.
