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Your personal privacy is not merely a concept or an idea, but a right that is protected by federal law. If your privacy has been violated it is possible you may experience very real financial and even reputational harm, and you may have a case against the responsible party. A privacy lawyer from Zimmerman Reed is available to consider how federal laws might apply to your situation and what compensation you could be entitled to when your rights have been violated.

The Privacy Act of 1974

Through 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552(a), the Privacy Act of 1974, a code of fair information practices was established that governs how your personal information is used by the federal government concerning its:

• Collection
• Maintenance
• Use
• Dissemination

The Privacy Act defines a system of records as “a group of records under the control of an agency from which information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifier assigned to the individual.” These records are protected, and cannot be shared, except in specific circumstances.

The Privacy Act Requires Your Consent for the Disclosure of Records

Through the Privacy Act, the federal government is prohibited from disclosing a record about an individual from one of its systems of records without the written consent of the individual. However, there are twelve statutory exceptions that the federal government may seek to apply in defense of disclosing your information. Working with an experienced attorney who understands how the courts have recognized the exceptions in action will support the best outcome in your case.

The Privacy Act Entitles You to Access and Amend Your Records

Through the Privacy Act, you are provided a means through which you can access the records kept of you by the federal government. A part of living in a free society is transparent access to information, and you have a right to know what records are being kept about you. In some instances, you may be able to successfully amend aspects of your records. Determining how federal privacy laws apply in your specific situation can be difficult, and an experienced privacy law attorney can make a sizable difference in your case.

Connect with a Privacy Law Attorney at Zimmerman Reed

When your federal privacy rights have been violated and you’ve experienced financial or other harm due to the violation, you could have a case rooted in federal privacy laws. Your case will also be supported by the privacy laws established in your individual state, which will at a minimum meet the federal standard. In some states, the laws are even more protective regarding the disclosure of personal information.

To discuss your potential claim for violations of your personal privacy with a privacy attorney from Zimmerman Reed, visit our site to schedule a consultation.

The breach of your private data might not only lead to the disclosure of personal information that you would rather not be made public but also financial and reputational harm. According to Consumer Affairs, so far this year some 47% of consumers experienced a data breach of some sort with their personal information. When your private data has been breached, the prospect of harm is real. If you have received a letter from any company noting that your privacy has been breached, working with a privacy lawyer as soon as possible after the breach has been identified will help mitigate the harm and address any related risks.

Notifications of Data Breaches Should Not be Taken Lightly

Receiving a letter in the mail or your email notifying you that your personal information has been compromised and accessed by an unauthorized third party in a data breach may be just the start of your problems. While the access that allowed data breaches may be closed, the information that was stolen can still be used. You might wonder exactly what information was accessed, what the third party could do with your information, and how you can protect yourself.

Determining what information was accessed is important to identify any risks that might be present to your finances, your credit, and even your identity. Bad actors like hackers target email addresses, credit card and social security numbers, social media login data, and a variety of other sorts of information.

Information Theft Can Lead to Long-Term Consequences

The risk of identity theft rises as malicious third parties are able to collect more and more information about you. Identity theft includes the taking out of loans and credit cards in your name which, until rectified, can impact your credit and financial opportunities. In some instances, false identifications have been provided to the police, which means your record may reflect a crime that was actually committed by the identity thief.

Steps to Take After Your Data Breach

If you have received notice that your personal data has been breached, there are some immediate steps that you can take to help minimize the harm that you experience, including:

• Changing all passwords that could be associated with the breach
• Moving finances out of any accounts that could possibly be breached
• Contacting your credit card companies for any cards or accounts associated with the breach to determine if unauthorized charges have occurred and/or to put them on notice of the breach
• Contacting a privacy attorney

The extent of financial and even reputational harm that you may experience can be extensive, therefore prompt action is necessary. Even when harm is minimized, you may still have a legal right to compensation for any costs and damages associated with the data breach.

Connect with a Privacy Law Attorney to Discuss Options

To discuss your potential claim with an attorney from Zimmerman Reed, visit our site and schedule a consultation.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” 

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today’s challenges remind us that the work of justice will never end. At Zimmerman Reed, we honor and will continue to be inspired by the contributions of civil right leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., and countless others. They, and countless others, fought for equality and inclusion in all aspects of our lives and communities. Inspired by these values, we work to bring justice to our communities and to the clients we serve. Today and every day, we hope our efforts help bridge the gap between Dr. King’s vision of what’s possible and the ongoing struggle to make his dream a reality.

“All violations of essential privacy are brutalizing.” 

Katharine Fullerton Gerould
(American writer and essayist 1879 – 1944)

Watch any movie from the 1970s and you can see it was a time of landlines, 8-track tapes, and paper records. So, it may come as a surprise that a law from that era is still one of the primary federal laws that directly covers the protection of your personal data in our digital world.

Your Personal Data has Value and Zimmerman Reed will Help You Defend It.

The Privacy Act of 1974 was passed as a way to deal with how computer databases might impact privacy rights. Many attempts to pass more modern laws have been made and failed at the federal level.

In today’s world, there are new online and digital threats to personal privacy every day. But there are no clear federal law rules to give consequences for a violation of your data privacy. Despite that challenge, ZR values your privacy and knows how to bridge that gap. We use state and federal laws to hold companies accountable when your data privacy is compromised. We have helped clients pursue cases for a variety of data privacy violations. We never let new technologies or new unlawful tactics keep us from finding a way to protect your rights.

Community Impact: T-Mobile $350,000,000 Data Breach Settlement

A 2021 criminal cyberattack against T- Mobile impacted approximately 76 million U.S. consumers. The hackers obtained personal information, including names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, social security numbers, and PINS.

ZR was part of group of attorneys who represented consumers in litigation against T-Mobile for failing to protect their customers’ personal information. Though T-Mobile denied any wrongdoing, it agreed to pay $350 million into a Settlement Fund to pay for losses caused by the data breach that occurred and to pay approximately $150 million more to improve its data security. ZR attorney Rachel Tack served on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, which helped secure the settlement of the case.

ZR helps defend your data privacy rights
Do you know if you or someone you care about might have claim?
Find our more here.

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” 

Arthur Ashe

At ZR, we join with others across the United States in honoring the contributions of the men and women who have served in the military. From our very beginnings, we have fought for the rights of veterans in a wide variety of cases. We work to make sure that veterans—and their families—receive the full protection of the law. We help veterans enforce rights specifically designed for members of the military and pursue litigation for other harms suffered during and after service. Whatever the claim, we believe in taking care of those who’ve taken care of all of us through their service to our country.

Zimmerman Reed: The Law’s Proud Tradition of Service to Veterans

Alexander Hamilton—an attorney and a veteran—used his role as the first Secretary of the U.S. Treasury to establish pensions for veterans of the Revolutionary War. Since then, veterans have repeatedly turned to members of the legal profession to address wrongs suffered during their service and after their return to civilian life. For example, attorneys used class action litigation during the case of In re Agent Orange Product Liability Litigation, to help millions of Vietnam War veterans get compensation for injuries caused by the hazards of modern warfare.

Those efforts continue. The power of class actions is in helping veterans and their families find recovery for wrongs suffered during military service. From faulty hearing protection to exposure to deadly chemicals from burn pits and other sources, class actions offer veterans a way to receive damages for harms they should not have had to face.

Community Impact: Camp LeJeune Water Contamination Representations

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 became law on August 10, 2022. Under its terms, Marines, their families, and other people stationed at Camp Lejeune can seek compensation because of water contamination at the Base. The law applies to the more than one million people who were stationed or worked at Camp Lejeune for no less than thirty days anytime between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. Compensation is available for certain cancers, birth defects, Parkinson’s Disease, and many other health issues.

The new law allows individuals exposed to water contaminants at Camp Lejeune to file a claim with the government for harm from exposure to the contaminated water. Individuals who do not resolve their claim with the government can now file a lawsuit in federal court. ZR is proud to be able to help affected individuals understand their rights and file a claim that accurately reflects everything they have endured.

ZR helps veterans and their families protect their rights. Do you know if you or someone you care about might have claim? Find out more here.

“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.”

Cornel West

At ZR, we each do what we can as individuals to help to our communities. Some of us like hands-on volunteering. Others give their time to non-profit and professional boards. We also honor those who work directly to provide services or donations to a variety of causes. And of course, our firm supports nonprofits that work in our communities to advance justice.

As lawyers, we are inspired by the principles of justice, to help make things better for those we represent. Often, we use the power of the many to overcome wrongs that would be impossible for one person to fight alone. Our work has helped everyone from gig workers who were denied the pay and benefits they deserved to state attorneys general who are dealing with the complex and far-reaching harms caused by the opioid crisis.

Zimmerman Reed’s Commitment

We built our law firm not only to address injustices, but to directly support individuals in need of justice. The cases we take on all share one hope in common: the possibility of applying the law to challenge injustices and achieve a positive change for the clients and communities we serve. Doing work that has that kind of real impact will always guide the way we practice law. We have seen first-hand how delivery of a measure of justice improves both our clients’ lives as well as the places where we live.

Community Impact Case: Opioid Litigation Settlement

Corporate wrongful acts contributed to the opioid addiction crisis that continues to devastate families and communities across America. Those who make and sell the most addicting drugs have misled doctors and patients about their risks and benefits. These problems have often been made worse by the reckless distribution of those opioids.

ZR recently helped achieve a historic $26 billion settlement to help right these wrongs. Representing states in the litigation, ZR efforts were part of the effort that secured recoveries and agreements to stop harmful marketing efforts. The settlement with certain opioid manufacturers and distributors will allow states to fund their efforts to provide treatment and training for abuse recovery and prevention.