Category: Technology
Sterility problems and compensation actions
Anyone who has been adversely affected by sterility problems could be entitled to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation on a No Win, No Fee basis.
As a firm of specialist Group Action Lawyers, we have represented many victims for issues concerning the sterility of equipment and devices, and there have been plenty of regulatory recalls over the years where this has been the issue.
A single event or a prolonged problem where an issue over sterility occurs could lead to thousands of people being put at risk. Anyone who has ever suffered harm in this way could be entitled to pursue a claim for damages.
The wider importance of our emissions actions
Our emissions actions now number at over 30 in terms of the number of carmakers that we are taking legal cases forward for, representing thousands of people on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Whilst action for justice for the consumers is important and is an integral part of what we are doing, it is also incredibly important to recognise the wider importance of the action that we are taking. It is about punishments and deterrents and, given the impact that cheating emissions can have on human health and on our environment, our work is vital.
Eye injury group action claims for compensation
Eye injury group action cases can mean representing some of the most seriously injured people there can be when this vital sense is harmed or adversely affected by a problem.
We have, and still do, represent people claiming in group/multi-party cases for eye injury claims. If you need advice about an ongoing action, or about a potential new action, we are always happy to hear from you.
You can speak to the team for free, no-obligation advice here now.
The priority of protecting consumers from unsafe products
Protecting consumers from unsafe products must always be seen as an absolute priority in the UK and, indeed, around the world.
This is why we were keen to see the results of a recent parliamentary publication. This publication has highlighted a number of flaws and matters to be addressed to ensure that the public is properly protected from harm. We will take a brief look at the headings in terms of the areas of concern, and give our expert take on things.
In terms of action for justice, we remind people that we can represent victims of harm caused by products on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Files on dark web after Stor-A-File cyberattack
It has been reported that tens of thousands of files that were exposed in the recent Stor-A-File cyberattack are now on the dark web and could be exploited by criminals.
We recently reported on the Lister Fertility Clinic data breach, which is one of the organisations affected by the cyberattack that involved services that they outsourced to Stor-A-File. The clinic has written to some 1,700 patients to inform them that their personal and sensitive medical details could be affected by the data breach. This latest development will no doubt come as a further blow now we know that information has been exposed on the dark web.
As leading Group Action Lawyers, we are taking action now and you can speak to the team here for confidential advice on pursuing a data breach compensation claim.
ForHousing and Liberty cyberattack causes data leak
ForHousing and Liberty have recently been subjected to a ransomware attack after ForViva, a social housing group that manages properties in the North West, was targeted. While the impact of the breach has not been fully revealed, it has been stated by the company executive that a small degree of information has been leaked as a result of the event.
Though the attack is said to have begun on 26th July, the incident was first reported on 19th August, at which point ForViva issued assurances that the majority of information had been kept safe. Nevertheless, the incident may have raised concerns among tenants, staff and clients of the company, as ransomware can be one of the most serious cyber threats a company can be subjected to.
Incidents like this need to be carefully assessed to get a sense of the damage. Where data has been compromised, those affected may be eligible to claim compensation as part of a data breach claim. If you have been told that your data has been compromised in the ForHousing cyberattack, you may be entitled to claim, so contact our team today for free, no-obligation advice.
Labour Party data breach event
It is understood that the Labour Party data breach event stemmed from a ransomware cyberattack that was initiated at the end of October 2021.
The Labour Party was forced to write to members at the start of November to confirm that their personal information could be affected by the incident. Recent data shows that Labour Party membership numbers are in the region of half a million, so we could easily be talking about hundreds of thousands of people being affected in the event of any information caught up in the attack is misused or exposed.
We continue to monitor developments of this incident closely, and we are taking on claims for data breach compensation now. If personal information is misused or exposed, victims affected could be entitled to pursue a data breach compensation claim now.
Sky Vegas email promoting services sent to self-excluded customers
It appears that an error has resulted in a Sky Vegas email that was promoting enticing gambling offers was sent out on a mass basis, including to people self-excluding from gambling.
It can be possible for people to self-exclude from gambling using a platform directly or through a service such as GamStop. This can prevent them from using gambling services, and it is a vital tool to protect people who may suffer from gambling addictions and may be losing a significant amount of money. You would not expect such vulnerable people to receive an email with enticing gambling offers, and it seems that Sky Vegas should have excluded those people from their marketing promotion.
Unfortunately, they failed to do so. This may mean that people suffering from addictions could be at risk of relapsing having received the email, and we expect people to be understandably distressed over the event.
Emissions compensation actions
As one of the first law firms to take on claims against Volkswagen in England and Wales, we went on to pioneer car emissions litigation, initiating group actions against a number of other car manufacturers. Now, we have initiated a number of emissions compensation actions against carmakers who have also become embroiled in emissions allegations.
In 2015, it emerged that Volkswagen vehicles may have been emitting far more toxic NOx (nitrous oxide) than was first believed. Carmakers are bound by strict emissions regulations, but it seemed that Volkswagen had been using so-called defeat devices, a type of software installed in engines as a means of disguising the true emissions output of its diesel vehicles.
While Volkswagen has been found guilty of using defeat devices, thus far, we believe there is sufficient information for us to investigate many car manufacturers in respect of emissions cheating. If the allegations are proven, more car manufacturers may not only have broken emissions regulations, but they may also have breached consumer law. If you own or previously owned an affected vehicle, you can register for an emissions compensation claim today to seek the justice you deserve.
Steris data breach
Steris, a US company that provides a range of medical products and services, was hit with a cybersecurity incident in late 2020. The Steris data breach was reportedly part of the collateral damage of the Accellion cyberattack, in which hackers breached the well-known technology company’s systems.
Among Accellion’s products and services is their FTA (File Transfer Appliance), which they sell to business customers to provide them with a secure means of moving digital files. However, the integrity of this application was compromised when it was subjected to an external hack, which has since been linked to the exposure and potentially the publication of private information.
Not only has the error compromised data security, the event could also put a strain on Accellion’s business relationships. The Accellion cyberattack and resultant Steris data breach demonstrate the damage that could be done to a company’s reputation when data protection breaches occur.
French emissions investigations expand to Fiat Chrysler
The French emissions investigations have been ongoing for some time, having their beginnings in the 2015 Volkswagen “dieselgate” scandal, in which the carmaker was found guilty of using illegal defeat devices as a means of cheating emissions tests. Now, following charges against a number of other manufacturers across the globe, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Italy has been added to the list of carmakers under the scrutiny of investigators.
Owned by Stellantis, FCA Italy is suspected of alleged consumer fraud in respect of diesel vehicles being sold in France. The allegations against the brand reflect a trend, as many well-known carmakers have been accused of allegedly misleading customers regarding their compliance with emissions regulations. As things stand, carmakers are strenuously denying that they have done anything wrong.
The legal cases here in the UK are still gradually progressing, but we are investigating several carmakers over alleged breaches of consumer law, including Fiat. If you have recently owned or leased a diesel vehicle produced by one of the suspected manufacturers, you can check your eligibility for a compensation claim with us today.
Allegations against Renault denied by former chief
The former executive of car companies Renault and Nissan has come forward to deny the allegations against Renault, acting as a witness in French investigations that are ongoing into the carmaker. Carlos Ghosn himself became the subject of controversy after he was reportedly arrested in Japan for alleged financial misconduct, which was said to be due to misuse of company money. It was then reported that he later travelled to Lebanon and may have been able to evade the charges against him.
However, in the latest emission scandal news, Ghosn was speaking in relation to the charges against the company that he formerly led, as French prosecutors recently charged Renault with deceit following lengthy investigations. Mirroring the company’s own response to the accusations, Ghosn refuted the claims of any wrongdoing.
Emissions fraud first became a topic of major public discussion when the Volkswagen “dieselgate” scandal broke in 2015. This came with the revelations that the carmaker had been using illegal defeat devices that were designed to cheat emissions tests, something they have continually denied. Our initiation of High Court proceedings against Volkswagen in 2016 has helped to pave the way for the carmaker being held responsible for issues with emissions software, and we are seeking to hold further carmakers accountable for any alleged emissions fraud. If it is found that your vehicle has been affected by emissions irregularities, you may be entitled to claim compensation now.