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California Department of Industrial Relations Data Breach

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in

NOTICE: If you received a NOTICE OF DATA BREACH letter from California Department of Industrial Relations, contact the Arnold Law Firm at (916) 777-7777 to discuss your legal options, or submit a confidential Case Evaluation form here.

​​​​​​​​On September 19, 2025, the California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) reported a significant cybersecurity incident to the California Attorney General’s Office. The incident, which occurred from August 26 through September 2, 2025, involved unauthorized access to DIR’s public works contractor registration system (the “Data Breach”). During this time, sensitive personal data of contractors and others who used the system may have been viewed or downloaded by an unauthorized third party.  Recently, DIR has begun sending data breach notification letters to those affected. If you received a Data Breach notification letter from DIR, it confirms that your information was potentially impacted. The California Department of Industrial Relations is a state agency headquartered in Oakland, California, with multiple offices throughout the state. It oversees a broad range of labor and workplace safety programs, including wage and hour enforcement, workers’ compensation, occupational safety, and apprenticeship standards. DIR plays a key role in enforcing labor laws and protecting workers and employers across the state. 

WHAT INFORMATION IS INVOLVED IN THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DATA BREACH?

California Department of Industrial Relations Data BreachThe following types of information may have been compromised in the Data Breach:  
  • Dates of birth
  • Medical/patient record numbers,
  • Social Security numbers,
  • Residential city information,
  • Zip codes,
  • Medical record excerpts. 
This information is called your Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”). It tells others about you and is considered part of your identity. Businesses are required to secure this information or risk facing statutory penalties, among other legal penalties. Stolen PII can be used by identity thieves to engage in fraudulent activity using your identity.  Personal medical information (a specific type of PII) is referred to as Protected Health Information (“PHI”). It is protected under both state and federal law. Healthcare providers and other businesses who handle PHI are required to protect that information. Like stolen PII, stolen PHI can be used by identity thieves to engage in fraudulent activity using your identity. Quite often, PII and PHI are used in conjunction by hackers. The best way to protect yourself after a data breach is to sign up for credit and identity protection services as soon as possible.  California offers extra protections and legal rights to its residents through the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). NOTICE: If you received a NOTICE OF DATA BREACH letter from Union County, Ohio, contact the Arnold Law Firm at (916) 777-7777 to discuss your legal options, or submit a confidential Case Evaluation form here

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.