Sony Hit With Fifth Class-Action Lawsuit Following Cyberattack

“Sony has failed to implement and maintain adequate and advanced data security and data management systems,” plaintiff Jane Doe alleges

Sony Pictures

A fifth class-action lawsuit has been filed by a former employee of Sony Pictures, alleging the Culver City studio failed to protect the personal information of its staff from computer hackers.

In legal papers filed Friday and obtained by TheWrap, the plaintiff identified only as Jane Doe, claimed in Los Angeles Superior Court that her personal information was posted online in November and again this month.

“Sony is frequently the subject of data breaches and despite the known damage such breaches have caused in recent years, Sony has failed to implement and maintain adequate and advanced data security and data management systems and policies,” the lawsuit says.

“Sony, from experience and from express warnings has been made aware that its data security systems are inadequate to protect PII [personally identifiable information] it is legally obligated to keep secure,” the lawsuit also alleges.

That personally identifiable information includes social security numbers, employment records including salary history, human resources records, medical information and financial information, the lawsuit says.

The plaintiff seeks unspecified damages and is not using her real name in the complaint to avoid further invasion of her privacy, according to the suit.

Sony had no comment Sunday when contacted by TheWrap about this latest filing.

It was the second lawsuit to hit the studio in as many days. In papers filed Thursday at the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, two former IT employees claimed the studio failed to adequately prepare for hacks related to the film, “The Interview.”

The plaintiffs, Michael Levine and Lionel Felix, claimed Sony didn’t take adequate precautions to defend itself against hackers.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

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