Chiropractor claims computer hacked, money stolen

A St. Clair County chiropractic organization says $20,000 was stolen from its bank account after two employees allegedly uploaded a software program that allowed private information to be sent to another computer.

Preferred Chiropractic filed a lawsuit Oct. 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Amy Thorn, Heather Weiss and two unknown individuals referred to only as Jane Doe and John Doe.

Preferred Chiropractic claims its two former employees, Thorn and Weiss, installed software called GoToMyPc on one of Preferred Chiropractic's computers.

"The relevant computer stores confidential and trade secret information, included protected patient information such as billing records, doctor's notes, and customer lists," the suit states.

Because of the software Thorn and Weiss loaded, another computer operated by the two unknown defendants was able to access Preferred Chiropractic's hard drive, the complaint says.

"As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's activities, and without authority or justification, an outside computer accessed Professional Chiropractic's confidential and protected computer data," the suit states. "In addition, as a direct and proximate result of the above-described security breach, $20,000 was stolen from a bank account held by Plaintiff."

In the four-count suit, Preferred Chiropractic is seeking an order temporarily and permanently restraining the defendants from making further use of the confidential information taken from its computer. In addition, it is seeking exemplary and punitive damages, attorneys' fees and other relief the court deems appropriate.

Robert W. Schmieder II and Andrew W. Kuhlmann of LakinChapman in Wood River will be representing it.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-582.