Judge OKs settlement in vets data theft case

[unhappycamper]

Judge OKs settlement in vets data theft case
By Hope Yen - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 11, 2009 3:49:24 EST

WASHINGTON — A federal judge Tuesday approved the government’s plans to pay $20 million to veterans exposed to possible identity theft in 2006, calling it a welcome deal to settle lawsuits after a Veterans Affairs employee lost a laptop containing their sensitive personal information.

The payments will range from $75 to $1,500 for up to 26.5 million veterans who incurred out of pocket expenses for credit monitoring or physical symptoms of emotional distress. In exchange, lawyers for the veterans agreed to drop their class-action lawsuit alleging invasion of privacy in a case involving the government’s largest data security breach.

“Thank you, to the government in particular, for the $20 million,” U.S. District Judge James Robertson said. “Everyone has got to like this.”

The judge’s move means that lawyers will now notify veterans of the settlement in newspapers and magazines around the country. Once veterans submit their claims, lawyers for both sides will return to court in July for final approval for the payments.

The lawsuit came after a VA data analyst in 2006 admitted that thieves had taken from his home a laptop and external drive containing the names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of veterans and active-duty troops. The laptop was later recovered intact, but a blistering report by the VA inspector general faulted both the VA employee and his superiors for putting veterans at unreasonable risk.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_va_data_theft_021009/%2e