AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' customers in data breach

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by declan_roberts on Friday July 12, 2024 @04:27PM (#40949096)

I would like to sue AT&T in small claims for this and for leaking my Social Security number. But it's difficult to prove damages in these situations.

Does anybody have any advice? Proving damages means showing actual monetary harm.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by voxic11 on Friday July 12, 2024 @04:55PM (#40949350)

You likely cannot file in small claims and would need to pursue arbitration instead.

> Please read this Agreement carefully. It requires you and AT&T to resolve disputes through arbitration on an individual basis rather than jury trials or class actions.

https://www.att.com/legal/terms.consumerServiceAgreement.htm...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by quercusa on Friday July 12, 2024 @05:21PM (#40949560)

- AT&T will usually pay all of the arbitration fees (with some exceptions).

That could get pretty expensive for them quickly.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by djbusby on Friday July 12, 2024 @04:36PM (#40949165)

And look for Arbitration clause in your contract. Might limit your options.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by declan_roberts on Saturday July 13, 2024 @12:08PM (#40954837)

I was not a customer with AT&T when they leaked my Social Security number.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by josh-sematic on Friday July 12, 2024 @04:29PM (#40949110)

IANAL but this would seem like a “class action” situation.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by voxic11 on Friday July 12, 2024 @04:52PM (#40949314)

At&t customers are bound to individual arbitration so there will be no class action lawsuit for this.

> Please read this Agreement carefully. It requires you and AT&T to resolve disputes through arbitration on an individual basis rather than jury trials or class actions.

https://www.att.com/legal/terms.consumerServiceAgreement.htm...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by declan_roberts on Saturday July 13, 2024 @02:41PM (#40955944)

I was not a customer of AT&T when the leak happened.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by arcimpulse on Friday July 12, 2024 @05:24PM (#40949586)

Very difficult to run these days. Since 2018, federal courts have ground away many of the legal routes needed to run a successful class action suit against a national or multinational corporation.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by vdqtp3 on Friday July 12, 2024 @04:41PM (#40949223)

I also ANAL but if I recall correctly, you can decline to be represented in the class, and file your own lawsuit

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by whalesalad on Friday July 12, 2024 @04:46PM (#40949273)

can't wait to get that check in the mail for $1.32

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by reaperducer on Friday July 12, 2024 @04:53PM (#40949326)

I got a check in the mail last week for 12¢ from Google hoovering up my data. Yes, that's twelve cents!

Google certainly made more off of my data than that.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by whalesalad on Friday July 12, 2024 @05:03PM (#40949430)

costs more to mail a letter

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:AT&T says criminals stole phone records of 'nearly all' c... by josh-sematic on Friday July 12, 2024 @04:56PM (#40949368)

True but personally I also wouldn’t want to go through the time and expense to sue them solo. At least in a class action the company faces some penalty that’s possibly meaningful to them (even if it’s not meaningful to most of the claimants).

[ Parent | on HN ]