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Peterson Holding Company Data Breach

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in

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

blue lights and padlockOn or about August 1, 2024, Peterson Holding Company (“Peterson”) sent a Notice of Data Breach Letter (“Breach Letter”) via mail to victims of the Peterson data breach informing them that their personal information and Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”), and Protected Health Information (“PHI”) was obtained by an unauthorized actor who accessed Peterson’s network (“data breach”) between June 27, 2023, and June 28, 2023. After Peterson became aware of the potential unauthorized access to its network, it launched an investigation. The investigation concluded on May 8, 2024, and determined that an unauthorized user had potentially accessed and removed files from Peterson’s network. As a result of the data breach, hackers obtained from victims their first and last names, dates of birth, social security numbers, medical information, and other PII. Founded in 1936, Peterson operates eight companies that sell machinery, vehicles, and technology used in construction to its customers. Headquartered in San Leandro, CA, Peterson employs more than 3,000 individuals has annual revenue of around $720 million. Specific numbers are not yet known, but it is likely thousands of people in California and possibly throughout the United States were exposed. If you received a Breach Letter from Peterson, then you were impacted by the data breach. Peterson has offered victims of the data breach one year of free credit monitoring and identity protection services through CyEx as a precaution.

WHAT INFORMATION IS INVOLVED?

According to Peterson, the following information was exposed:
  • First and Last Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Driver’s License Number
  • US Military or Other Federally Issued ID Number
  • Passport Number
  • Medical Information
  • 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. Health care 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.

NOTICE: If you received a NOTICE OF DATA BREACH letter from Peterson Holding Company, 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.