Primary Location
Torrance Personal Injury Lawyers
2916 W 164th St Second Floor, Torrance, CA 90504
Phone: (424) 622-0812
Call us at (855) 855-8910
Call us at (855) 855-8910
Someone was supposed to protect your personal information. A company. A hospital. A government agency. They promised your data was safe. Then it wasn't.
Data breaches expose millions of people every year. Social Security numbers. Medical records. Bank account details. Credit card numbers. Once that information is out, you can't take it back. But you can hold the responsible parties accountable.
At The Simon Law Group, we represent people whose private data was exposed because someone else cut corners on security. We are a trial firm. Our attorneys have recovered more than $600 million for clients across California and Arizona. When we take your case, the other side knows we won't back down.
If your personal information was leaked in a data breach, you may have a legal claim. We'll review your case for free. You pay nothing unless we win.
A data breach happens when private information gets into the wrong hands. It can happen to any company or agency that stores personal data. And it happens more often than most people realize.
The data that gets exposed varies. It can include your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, home address, phone number, email, medical records, financial account details, or login credentials. Some breaches expose just one type of data. Others expose everything.
Here are the most common ways breaches occur:
The method doesn't matter as much as the result. Your private information was exposed. And the organization that held it had a duty to keep it safe.
In many cases, breaches are preventable. Basic security measures like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular software updates can stop most attacks. When a company skips these steps, they are choosing convenience over your safety. That choice has legal consequences.
Data breaches happen in every industry. We handle cases involving all types of organizations that fail to protect personal information.
Government agencies collect enormous amounts of personal data. Tax records. Law enforcement files. Social services information. When their systems get breached, the exposure can be massive. We are currently investigating claims related to the LAPD data breach, where over 337,000 files were leaked from the LA City Attorney's Office.
Government entities are not immune from data breach liability. However, suing a government agency has different rules and shorter deadlines than suing a private company. You may need to file a tort claim first. Having a lawyer who knows these timelines is critical.
Hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and medical billing firms handle your most sensitive information. Medical records. Diagnoses. Treatment histories. Mental health records. Prescription data. These breaches fall under federal HIPAA protections on top of state laws.
Healthcare breaches are especially harmful because medical information can't be changed like a credit card number. Once your health data is out, it stays out. Victims may face discrimination, embarrassment, or targeted scams based on their medical conditions.
Banks, credit unions, lenders, and financial apps store your Social Security number, account numbers, and transaction history. A breach here puts you at direct risk of financial fraud and identity theft.
Online stores and retailers collect credit card numbers, home addresses, and purchase histories. Large-scale retail breaches have affected millions of consumers at once. Even small online businesses can suffer breaches if they use outdated payment processing systems or store data without proper encryption.
Your employer has your Social Security number, bank routing information, tax records, and sometimes health data. When employer systems get breached, current and former employees are at risk. Payroll data breaches are particularly dangerous because they give criminals everything they need to file fraudulent tax returns or open accounts in your name.
Schools and universities store student records, financial aid details, and sometimes medical information. Breaches in education affect students, parents, faculty, and staff. Student data is particularly valuable to criminals because young people often don't monitor their credit, meaning fraud can go undetected for years.
California has the strongest data privacy protections in the country. If your information was exposed, multiple laws may apply to your case.
The CCPA is one of the most powerful consumer privacy laws in the United States. Under Section 1798.150, you have the right to sue when your personal information is exposed because a company failed to maintain reasonable security.
You can recover:
When thousands of people are affected, these numbers add up fast. A breach affecting 10,000 people could mean millions in statutory damages alone. A CCPA lawyer can help you understand exactly what your claim is worth.
The CCPA applies to businesses that meet certain size thresholds. But even smaller companies can be held liable under California's other privacy and negligence laws. The bottom line: if someone had your data and lost it, there is likely a legal path forward.
Under Civil Code Section 1798.82, any business or agency that suffers a breach must notify affected individuals. The notice must explain what happened, what data was exposed, and what steps you can take. Failure to notify in a timely way is a separate violation.
Depending on the type of data exposed, federal laws may also apply:
Even beyond these specific statutes, organizations have a basic duty to protect your data. When they fail to use reasonable security measures, they can be held liable for negligence. California courts have consistently recognized this duty.
The combination of state and federal laws means most data breach victims have multiple legal theories to pursue. The stronger your legal team, the more effectively these claims can be layered to maximize your recovery.
The damages available in a data breach case depend on what happened to you and what laws apply. Here's what you may be able to recover.
Every case is different. In a data breach settlement, the value depends on the type of data exposed, the number of people affected, and how badly the organization failed in its duty to protect you.
Some breaches involve just email addresses. Others expose Social Security numbers, medical records, and financial data. The more sensitive the data, the higher the potential recovery. Cases involving medical or financial data typically have the highest value because the harm is more severe and harder to undo.
You have two main options when filing a data breach lawsuit: joining a class action or pursuing an individual claim.
A class action groups many affected people into a single case. A few lead plaintiffs represent the whole class. This approach works well when thousands of people suffered similar harm. The cost is shared. The pressure on the defendant is enormous.
An individual lawsuit may make more sense if you suffered unique or severe harm. Identity theft. Large financial losses. Exposure of especially sensitive records. Individual cases can often recover more per person than class actions.
We'll help you decide which path is right for your situation.
Here's what to expect when you file a data breach lawsuit:
Data breach cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years, depending on complexity. We handle everything on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront. No hourly bills. We only get paid when you do.
Data breaches aren't just about hackers stealing credit card numbers anymore. The threats are evolving. And the law is working to catch up.
Some artificial intelligence companies scrape personal data from the internet to train their models. Photos. Social media posts. Public records. Sometimes private records. They do this without asking. California has begun passing laws to address this, but the gap between technology and regulation is wide.
Fingerprints. Facial scans. Voiceprints. More companies are collecting biometric data every year. When this data is breached, you can't change your fingerprints the way you change a password.
Stolen personal photos and biometric data can be used to create deepfakes or fed into facial recognition databases without your consent. These are real and growing invasion of privacy concerns.
California has been at the forefront of passing laws to address these threats. New regulations around biometric data, AI transparency, and consumer privacy rights are being introduced regularly. This area of law is expanding fast.
If your data was used without your permission by an AI system, a tech company, or a biometric data collector, you may have legal options. We stay on top of these developments so our clients are protected as the law evolves.
Sometimes you get a letter in the mail telling you about a breach. Other times, the first sign is something strange happening with your accounts. Watch for these warning signals:
If you see any of these signs, act fast:
We are a trial firm. That's not just a slogan. It changes how the other side treats your case from day one.
Most data breach lawyers will negotiate a settlement and call it a day. But settlement offers are directly tied to what the defendant thinks will happen if they don't settle. When they know your lawyers will take the case to trial, the offers go up.
Our attorneys have recovered more than $600 million for clients. We've tried cases in courtrooms across California and Arizona. That experience gives us leverage that settlement-only firms can't match.
Think your personal information was exposed? Call us or fill out the form. We'll tell you where you stand. Free. Confidential. No obligation.
Get Your Free Case ReviewSources:
[1] California Consumer Privacy Act, Section 1798.150 — Private Right of Action. oag.ca.gov
[2] California Civil Code Section 1798.82 — Data Security Breach Reporting. oag.ca.gov
[3] Federal Trade Commission — Identity Theft Recovery Steps. identitytheft.gov
Our attorneys have handled cases across California and Arizona. We know how to hold companies and government agencies accountable when they fail to protect your data.
That number reflects real results for real families — medical bills paid, lost wages recovered, and futures protected.
You pay nothing upfront. Our fee comes out of your settlement or verdict. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing.
Data breaches don't wait. Neither do we. Call (844) 843-8326 any time — nights, weekends, and holidays.
Our team works out of offices in Torrance, Seal Beach, Santa Ana, and Phoenix. We handle data breach cases statewide.
“After a data breach, you need a team that answers the phone, explains your rights, and fights for every dollar you are owed. That is what we do at The Simon Law Group.”Over 250 years of combined attorney experience
A data breach lawyer helps you hold companies and organizations accountable when they fail to protect your personal information. We investigate what happened, identify which laws were violated, and pursue compensation on your behalf. This can include filing individual lawsuits, joining class actions, or negotiating settlements with the responsible parties.
If you received a breach notification letter, that's a strong starting point. But you may also have a case if you notice signs of identity theft, unauthorized charges, or unfamiliar accounts. The key question is whether an organization failed to use reasonable security to protect your data. A free case review can help you find out.
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you can recover between $100 and $750 per person, per incident in statutory damages. You don't need to prove financial loss to receive this. If you suffered identity theft, fraud, or emotional distress, your actual damages could be much higher. The total depends on what data was exposed and how it affected you.
The California Consumer Privacy Act is one of the strongest privacy laws in the country. It gives you the right to sue when a business fails to maintain reasonable security and your personal information is exposed as a result. You can recover statutory damages without proving you lost any money. The law also requires businesses to tell you what data they collect and give you the right to delete it.
Yes. If a company failed to protect your personal information and that failure led to a breach, you have the right to take legal action. This applies to private companies, government agencies, hospitals, schools, and any other organization that stores your data. Government agencies have additional rules and shorter deadlines, so acting quickly is important.
Deadlines vary depending on the type of claim and who is responsible. Some claims have statutes of limitations as short as one or two years. Claims against government agencies may require a tort claim filing within six months. The safest approach is to talk to a lawyer as soon as you learn about the breach. Waiting too long can eliminate your options entirely.
In a class action, many people with similar claims are grouped into one case. A few lead plaintiffs represent the group. This is common in large breaches affecting thousands of people. An individual lawsuit is filed by one person and may recover more per person, especially if you suffered unique or severe harm like identity theft or large financial losses.
Not under the CCPA. The unauthorized exposure of your personal information is enough to pursue statutory damages. You do not have to wait until someone steals your identity or uses your data against you. The fact that your data was left unprotected and accessed by unauthorized parties gives you standing to file a claim.
At The Simon Law Group, it costs nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid if we recover money for you. There are no hourly fees and no retainer. Our initial case review is always free, with no obligation.
Don't throw it away. That letter is important evidence. Read it carefully to understand what data was exposed. Then freeze your credit with all three bureaus. Set up fraud alerts. Monitor your bank and credit card accounts. Save any documents related to the breach. And talk to a data breach lawyer to understand your legal options. The sooner you act, the stronger your position.
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