BENTON – Former Lewis and Clark Community College student Dennis Lancaster voluntarily dismissed a suit claiming a data breach allowed criminals to steal information about the identities and health of its students.
He dismissed it without prejudice to filing it again.
His counsel, Christopher Byron of Edwardsville, filed the suit at Madison County Circuit Court in April, seeking to certify Lancaster as leader of a class action.
Byron claimed the breach occurred in November 2021, and the school notified current and former students in April 2022.
He claimed the notice didn’t explain who breached the systems or how it occurred.
Byron claimed Lancaster was unsure what happened to his health information and identifying information as Lewis and Clark was unwilling to disclose the true nature of the breach.
He added that stolen health information could be worth up to $1,000.
Lewis and Clark removed the suit to U.S. district court in June.
Lewis and Clark counsel, Amy Lenz of Chicago, moved for an extension of time to answer the complaint, and District Judge Stephen McGlynn granted an extension to July 10.
Lancaster dismissed the suit on July 3.