Ambry Genetics Data Breach

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in

data-breach-gray-bricksAmbry Genetics, a leader in the laboratory testing industry, announced a potentially massive data security incident involving confidential information of an unknown number of clients.

The California-based biotechnology company identified unauthorized access to an employee’s email account that occurred from January 22-24, 2020. Sensitive information exposed by the data breach includes:

  • Full names
  • Medical information
  • Social Security numbers
  • Information related to customer’s use for Ambry Genetics’ services

Ambry Genetics is in the process of enhancing security measures and is offering identity monitoring services to potentially impacted individuals.

Founded in 1999, the company has performed more than one million genetic tests and identified more than 45,000 mutations in 500 different genes.

Ambry Genetics is an in-network provider for almost 97 percent of Americans who have public or private health insurance and offers a comprehensive genetic testing menu of more than 300 tests for screening and diagnosis for inherited and non-inherited diseases, such as:

  • Hereditary cancer
  • Hereditary cardiovascular disease
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Rare disease
  • Exome

With over 600 employees and an estimated $19.22 million in annual revenues, Ambry Genetics boasts the largest genetic sequencing lab in the world, a 65,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility located in Aliso Viejo, California.

Ambry Genetics maintains an expansive database that continues to grow as a result of 200 ongoing research collaborations with academic, corporate and pharmaceutical partners. Their scope of clients includes some of the world’s most respected academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and leading treatment hospitals.

In 2017, Konica Minolta Precision Medicine, Inc. (KMPM) purchased Ambry Genetics for $800 million.

On April 17, 2020, KMPM announced that Ambry Genetics is shifting their lab to provide COVID-19 testing for essential frontline employees and patients in response to requests from the state government of California and other entities. The lab is in the process of implementing an FDA-approved viral detection test that will be available in a few weeks, allowing them to process several thousands of samples per week.

How Do I Join The Class?

If you received a NOTICE OF DATA BREACH, you will be included automatically in the class unless you opt out and no further action will be required by you. Class members have a passive role throughout class action litigation. If the lawsuit is successful, all class members receive equal compensation, regardless of the amount of harm they suffered.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.