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Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital Data Breach

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in

NOTICE: If you received a NOTICE OF DATA BREACH letter from Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital, contact the Arnold Law Firm at (916) 777-7777 to discuss your legal options, or submit a confidential Case Evaluation form here.

​​​​​​​​On March 26, 2025, Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital (“Mercer Health”) reported a significant cybersecurity incident to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. The incident, which occurred between April 2 and April 3, 2024, involved unauthorized access to Mercer Health’s computer network (the “Data Breach”). Upon detecting unusual network activity on April 2, 2024, Mercer Health initiated an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity specialists. The investigation concluded that sensitive personal and protected health information had been compromised. Approximately 88,541 individuals have been impacted.  On or about February 21, 2025, Mercer Health began sending data breach notification letters to individuals affected by the Data Breach. These letters include an offer of complimentary identity theft protection services. As of now, Mercer Health has not disclosed any further information about the Data Breach. If you received a data breach notification letter from Mercer Health, it indicates that your information was affected by the Data Breach​.  Founded in 1950, Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital is an acute care hospital located in Coldwater, Ohio. Operating as a joint township hospital district, it is governed by 12 townships within Mercer County. Mercer Health is accredited by The Joint Commission, the Ohio Department of Health, Medicare, and Medicaid. ​Mercer Health reported annual revenue of around $191 million. 

WHAT INFORMATION IS INVOLVED IN THE MERCER COUNTY JOINT TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY HOSPITAL DATA BREACH?

The type of information likely varies by individual but may the following: 
  • Full names, 
  • Social Security numbers, 
  • Dates of birth, 
  • Addresses, 
  • Emails, 
  • Phone numbers, 
  • Driver’s license/State ID numbers, 
  • Medical information, 
  • Health insurance information, 
  • Payment information (e.g. payment card and/or financial account information).
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 Mercer County Joint Township Community Hospital, 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.