Student athlete joins class action lawsuit against former Michigan football coach Matt Weiss

Ex-Michigan football coach Matt Weiss is facing a class-action lawsuit filed by student-athletes from various universities, including the University of Michigan. The lawsuit alleges that Weiss illegally accessed the personal information of over 150,000 athletes across 100 colleges and universities, including stealing private images from students’ accounts.

Among the plaintiffs is McKenzie Johnson, a former Grambling State softball player, who has chosen to come forward using her real name in hopes of inspiring others to speak out. Johnson expressed her anxiety over the breach of her private data, including compromised email and social media accounts, by Weiss. The lawsuit targets not only Weiss but also the University of Michigan Regents and Keffer Development Services, the company that operates the athletic trainee system.

Class action attorney Jon Marko emphasized the fear and distress among the student-athletes involved in the lawsuit, many of whom are choosing to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns. The lawsuit includes 62 student-athletes from various universities, with more expected to come forward. Weiss faces criminal charges of unauthorized access to computers and aggravated identity theft in federal court.

The legal action against Weiss and the University of Michigan raises questions about the protection of students’ personal information and the responsibility of institutions to safeguard their data. The lawsuit brings claims under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Stored Communications Act, and Title IX, alleging violations of civil rights, negligent hiring and supervision, invasion of privacy, gross negligence, and other offenses under Michigan law.

Weiss’s alleged pattern of targeting female students for intimate photos and videos without their consent has raised concerns about the exploitation of college athletes and the breach of their trust. The lawsuit reveals the extent of the breach, with Weiss accused of accessing social media, email, and cloud storage accounts of over 1,300 students nationwide.

The University of Michigan took action upon discovering the concerning activity, placing Weiss on leave and terminating his employment. Despite these measures, the fallout from the breach continues to unfold, with more victims expected to come forward. The legal proceedings shed light on the importance of cybersecurity and data protection in educational institutions, particularly in cases involving sensitive information of student-athletes.

As the lawsuit progresses, the impact on student-athletes and the broader implications for data privacy and security in academic settings remain at the forefront. The case serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of personal information in the digital age and the responsibilities of institutions and individuals to uphold ethical standards and protect their data from unauthorized access.