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Everyone probably knows a veteran affected by this, so please share the info with them. Every affected vet needs to stay updated as possible with this issue and needs to know about the Class Action Suit that is being persued.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13538221/

Judge halts VA from publicizing data offer
Lawyers claim accepting government offer could jeopardize vets’ claims

Updated: 2:18 p.m. ET June 25, 2006
WASHINGTON - A federal judge temporarily has barred the government from publicizing its free credit monitoring offer to veterans whose personal data was stolen and wants to see if they might get a better federal offer.

Lawyers who have filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the 26.5 million veterans and active-duty troops affected contend that accepting the government’s offer could jeopardize their chance of winning more money in the privacy suit.

U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman in Kentucky scheduled a hearing this Friday to determine whether the Veterans Affairs Department should revise its offer. His order on the credit monitoring was issued late last Friday.

The suit seeks free monitoring and other credit protection for an indefinite period as well as $1,000 in damages for each person—or up to $26.5 billion total—in what has become one of the nation’s largest information security breaches.

Last week, the department announced its plan to offer free monitoring for a year to millions of veterans and nearly all active-duty military troops whose names, birthdates and Social Security numbers were stolen May 3 from a VA data analyst’s home in suburban Maryland.

The department said it would send out letters to affected veterans and military personnel in early August—after it solicits bids from contractors—on how to sign up for the free service. It also posted information on the government’s Web site.

But in court papers, lawyers for veterans said the VA’s deal was “incomplete and misleading.” The VA must make clear whether veterans who take the government deal will have to give up their rights in court to a potentially larger payout, lawyer Marc Mezibov wrote.

Last week, a Senate committee approved $160 million to pay for the credit monitoring for veterans. It is one of many expected payments as the government struggles with fallout from data breaches crossing at least six agencies.


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The VA alone has spent more than $14 million so far to notify veterans by letter and set up a call center, and it is spending an additional $200,000 a day to maintain the call center.

Class-action suits filed by veterans alleging privacy violations are pending in Covington, Ky., and Washington, D.C.

The VA alone has spent more than $14 million so far to notify veterans by letter and set up a call center, and it is spending an additional $200,000 a day to maintain the call center.

Save the taxpayers money. That call center is a JOKE. They tell you nothing, they know nothing. They need to pull the plug on that. Really.

And the letter was a waste too...$14 million to tell you the same thing that we have heard on the TV? It didn't say anything we didn't already know.

I just wish they find that darn laptop......

I received a letter from the VA two weeks ago, proving that they always know where we are. (I've moved at least a half-dozen times since I quit cashing Uncle Sam's paychecks.)

The letter indicated that I might be affected and that is the only information that I didn't get from the previous news stories.

Affected veterans have already been offered credit monitoring. The class action suit could cost the government billions and put a lot of money in the pockets of lawyers but would only pay $1,000 to an affected veteran.

The credit montoring is adequate for me. Please take the $1,000 I might "win" in this suit and use it to benefit my brothers and sisters currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Send the lawyers away with nothing.

Elrod wrote:I received a letter from the VA two weeks ago, proving that they always know where we are. (I've moved at least a half-dozen times since I quit cashing Uncle Sam's paychecks.)

They track you down through the IRS?

The letter indicated that I might be affected and that is the only information that I didn't get from the previous news stories.

Affected veterans have already been offered credit monitoring. The class action suit could cost the government billions and put a lot of money in the pockets of lawyers but would only pay $1,000 to an affected veteran.

Not true. They have not notified those yet. They just sent out the blanket form letter...you may still get the other letter, maybe Nov?

The credit montoring is adequate for me. Please take the $1,000 I might "win" in this suit and use it to benefit my brothers and sisters currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Send the lawyers away with nothing.

I agree. I have just went ahead and added a "credit fraud" alert on our credit. We have spent 27 years building it up to what it is. I don't need someone ruining our good name. A $1,000 will never undue any damages if someone plays the ID theft game with us.

I guess a class action suit gues on no matter if we want it or not?