Simmons University alum accuses former NFL coach of stealing personal photos in lawsuit

A former Simmons University cross-country runner recently initiated a class action lawsuit, alleging that her alma mater did not adequately safeguard her personal information, along with that of numerous other female student-athletes. The graduate, described only as a woman from Plymouth County who attended Simmons University from 2012 to 2016, has claimed to be a victim of former University of Michigan and Baltimore Ravens coach, Matthew Weiss. Indicted by the Department of Justice on March 20, Weiss faces charges of illegally obtaining the medical and personal records of over 150,000 student-athletes from 2015 to January 2023. The allegations came to light after Weiss was terminated from his position as an assistant football coach at the University of Michigan for inappropriate access to computer systems. Weiss was accused of targeting approximately 3,300 female student-athletes across 100 universities, based on their educational institutions, athletic backgrounds, physical features, and personal preferences. He reportedly infiltrated their social media, email accounts, and cloud storage, successfully acquiring intimate photos and videos that were never intended to be disseminated beyond private circles.

The plaintiff, who participated in cross-country at Simmons University, filed the lawsuit in Boston federal court on Monday, claiming that the DOJ informed her on March 31 that she was one of Weiss’s victims. In the lawsuit, Weiss is named as a defendant alongside Simmons University, its trustees, and Pennsylvania-based data firm Keffer Development Services LLC. Keffer is the proprietor of ‘The Athletic Trainer System,’ a software that manages student-athlete health records, including medical histories, injuries, diagnoses, photos, and insurance details. Additionally, it tracks personal information such as height, weight, mental well-being, and demographic details. The plaintiff, identified as “Jane Doe,” asserts that Simmons and Keffer neglected their obligation to safeguard the sensitive data of student-athletes stored within their systems, allowing for significant invasions of privacy to occur.

In response to the litigation, a spokesperson for Simmons University refrained from commenting on the ongoing case but reiterated the institution’s commitment to preserving the privacy and security of its student body. The plaintiff, and other members of the class action, experienced distress, humiliation, and emotional suffering due to the breaches in their privacy. Seeking justice and compensation, the plaintiffs have demanded a trial by jury and a monetary award exceeding $5 million in compensatory, nominal, and punitive damages, as well as reimbursement for legal fees.

This legal action is part of a series of lawsuits brought against Weiss and various educational institutions by former and current college students who have connections to their respective athletic programs. At the end of March, four University of Michigan students initiated class action suits against Weiss.