University of Michigan, Regents, and Former Football Staff Sued in Class Action Lawsuit

A comprehensive class-action lawsuit has been initiated against the University of Michigan, the Regents, Keffer Development Services, LLC, and former football coach Matthew Weiss for a significant breach of student privacy rights. The lawsuit, spearheaded by Sommers Schwartz, P.C., and Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers, P.C., represents eleven anonymous Jane Does who were impacted by the breach.

The complaint alleges that from 2015 to 2023, Matthew Weiss illicitly accessed, procured, and exploited private photos, videos, and data belonging to student-athletes through unauthorized channels within the University and affiliated third-party systems. The accusation underlines how Weiss took advantage of lax cybersecurity processes at the University and Keffer Development Services, which maintained critical databases containing athlete information.

Reportedly, Weiss capitalized on his employment status and University-granted access to breach confidential data such as medical records, login credentials, and personal cloud accounts. The Department of Justice has commenced notifying affected parties, including two of the anonymous plaintiffs. Lisa Esser from Sommers Schwartz, P.C., noted that the breach was not random but rather intentional and could have been avoided with proper preventive measures.

The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the University’s administration and the Regents, who failed to supervise Weiss and implement robust cybersecurity protocols. It also implicates Keffer Development Services for its purported inability to secure the data it compiled for over a hundred colleges and universities nationally.

The legal claims mentioned encompass violations of the Stored Communications Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Title IX, and constitutional amendments, with the plaintiffs seeking damages exceeding $50 million and approval for class certification to represent thousands of student-athletes affected by the breach. Megan Bonanni from Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers highlighted the malicious invasion of privacy and the systemic lapses that facilitated such actions.

This recent lawsuit is part of a series of legal actions brought against the University of Michigan concerning privacy and data protection concerns. The lawsuit aims to highlight the school’s internal data procedures and adherence to federal guidelines concerning student privacy.

Sommers Schwartz, P.C., and Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers, P.C., are representing the plaintiffs and invite other affected individuals to come forward. The impacted parties can reach out to Sommers Schwartz for a confidential consultation. The case details are available under the heading “JANE DOE 1-11 vs. THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN; the UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN; KEFFER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, LLC, and MATTHEW WEISS” with a case number of 2:25-cv-10946-JJCG-APP.

Sommers Schwartz, P.C., operates as a formidable litigating entity, advocating for various legal matters ranging from personal injury to commercial regulations with a focus on employee rights. The law firm operates across Michigan and California, ensuring nationwide coverage for its clientele.