An appellate court has cleared charges against Advocate Medical Group stemming from a 2013 data breach that compromised the protected health information of more than 4 million patients, according to The Chicago Tribune.
In July 2013, burglars stole four laptops containing sensitive information from Advocate Medical Group's administrative offices. Such information included names, addresses, Social Security numbers and birth dates. No medical records or financial information was included.
The Downers Grove, Ill.-based medical group faced a class-action lawsuit alleging it failed to encrypt computers, take proper security measures and violated patient privacy laws. Additionally, plaintiffs alleged Advocate Medical Group did not notify patients quick enough, according to The Chicago Tribune report.
Two Illinois trial judges previously dismissed the lawsuit, but plaintiffs filed a consolidated appeal alleging Advocate was negligent with their information. The Illinois Second District Appellate Court upheld the trial judges' original dismissal of the lawsuit, according to the report.
Justice Ann B. Jorgensen of the Second District Appellate Court said in her ruling the lawsuit was "clearly speculative" and was without standing.
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