Complaint (2026-04-30)
- Date
- 2026-04-30
Summary
A class action complaint in Sabrina Marquardt v. Medtronic, Inc., Case 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, filed April 30, 2026 as Doc. 1, with a jury trial demanded. The complaint alleges that Medtronic failed to properly secure personally identifiable information and personal health information exposed in a data breach. It states that on April 17, 2026 a threat actor claimed to have obtained over 9 million records, and that on April 24, 2026 Medtronic stated an unauthorized party accessed data in certain corporate IT systems. It invokes jurisdiction under the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2). The prayer for relief seeks class certification, injunctive relief requiring improved cybersecurity and disclosure, damages, and attorneys' fees. The 42-page complaint is signed by counsel Nicole S. Frank.
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CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 1 of 42
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
SABRINA MARQUARDT, individually
and on behalf of all others similarly Case No. _________________
situated,
Plaintiff, COMPLAINT CLASS ACTION
v.
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
MEDTRONIC, INC.,
Defendant.
Plaintiff Sabrina Marquardt (Plaintiff), individually and on behalf of a class of
similarly situated persons, brings this Class Action Complaint and alleges the following
against defendant Medtronic, Inc. (Medtronic or Defendant), based upon personal
knowledge with respect to Plaintiff and on information and belief derived from, among
other things, investigation of counsel and review of public documents as to all other
matters.
INTRODUCTION
1. Plaintiff brings this class action against Medtronic for its failure to properly
secure Plaintiffs and Class Members personally identifiable information (PII) and
personal health information (PHI). The PII and PHI may have included names,
addresses, medical billing and insurance information, certain medical information such as
diagnoses and medication, and demographic information such as dates of birth and Social
Security numbers.
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 2 of 42
2. Medtronic failed to comply with industry standards to protect information
systems that contain PII. Plaintiff seeks, among other things, orders requiring Defendants
to fully and accurately disclose the nature of the information that has been compromised
and to adopt sufficient security practices and safeguards to prevent incidents like the
disclosure (the Data Breach) in the future.
3. On April 17, 2026, a threat actor known as ShinyHunters posted a claim on
the dark webs Tor network alleging they had breached Medtronic's database. The threat
actor claimed to have obtained over 9 million records containing personally identifiable
information (PII), along with additional terabytes of internal corporate data.
4. On April 24, 2026, Medtronic confirmed that hackers breached Medtronics
network and exfiltrated their data.1
5. As a result of Medtronics failure to implement and follow basic security
procedures, Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI is now in the hands of criminals.
Plaintiff and Class Members face a substantial increased risk of identity theft, both
currently and for the indefinite future. Consequently, Plaintiff and Class Members have
had to spend, and will continue to spend, significant time and money in the future to
protect themselves due to Medtronics failures.
6. Plaintiff seeks to remedy these harms individually and on behalf of all other
similarly situated individuals whose PII was stolen in the Data Breach. Plaintiff seeks
1
Steve Alder, Medical Device Maker Medtronic Announces Data Breach, The
HIPAA Journal (Apr. 28, 2026), https://www.hipaajournal.com/medical-device-maker-
medtronic-data-breach/ (last visited on Apr. 29, 2026).
2
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 3 of 42
remedies including compensation for time spent responding to the Data Breach and other
types of harm, free credit monitoring and identity theft insurance, and injunctive relief
including substantial improvements to Medtronics data security systems.
PARTIES
7. Plaintiff Sabrina Marquardt is a resident of Catheys Valley, California, who
received a Medtronic heart monitor in early 2026.
8. Defendant Medtronic, Inc. is a Minnesota corporation, with its principal
ofce in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
9. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to the Class Action
Fairness Act of 2005, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2), because this is a class action in which the
matter in controversy exceeds the sum of $5,000,000, there are more than 100 proposed
Class Members, and minimal diversity exists as Medtronic is a citizen of a state different
from that of at least one Class Member.
10. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Medtronic because it is a resident
of the State of Minnesota.
11. Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391 because a
substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the conduct alleged herein
occurred in, were directed to, and/or emanated from this District. Venue is additionally
proper because Medtronic transacts business and may be found in this District.
3
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 4 of 42
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
The Data Breach
12. According to Medtronics website Medtronic is the world leader in
medical technology providing life long solutions for people with chronic disease.2
Medtronic has pioneered groundbreaking health tech for the last 75 years.3 From the
worlds smallest pacemaker and advanced neurovascular care to robotic-assisted surgery,
Medtronic transforms the lives of millions worldwide.4
13. Medtronic employs over 13,600 scientists and engineers and has over
41,000 active patents.5 Medtronics reported total revenue was approximately $33.5
billion dollars.6
14. On April 24, 2026, Medtronic stated in a press release that it had
determined that an unauthorized party accessed data in certain Medtronic corporate IT
systems.7
2
Medtronic, U.S. patient privacy principles, https://www.medtronic.com/en-
us/our-company/governance/principles-ethics/us-patient-privacy-principles.html (last
accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
3
Medtronic, Our History, https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/our-
company/history.html (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
4
Medtronic, Who We Are, https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/our-
company.html (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
5
Medtronic, Who We Are, https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/our-
company.html (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
6
Medtronic, Fundamentals,
https://investorrelations.medtronic.com/fundamentals (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
7
Medtronic, Medtronic statement on unauthorized system access, Apr. 24,
2026, https://news.medtronic.com/Medtronic-statement-on-unauthorized-system-access
(last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
4
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 5 of 42
15. In the press release, Medtronic was still investigating whether patient data
was impacted. We are working to identify any personal information that may have been
accessed and will provide notifications and support services as needed. We will continue
to provide updates to any impacted individuals as we learn more.8
16. Medtronic also represented that patient privacy was an important part of
their business, stating Protecting patients and the trust placed in Medtronic is our highest
priority. The privacy and security of all data with which we are entrusted is a vital part of
that.9
17. Medtronic has not yet identified who was impacted by the data breach.
Medtronic also has not explained why PII and PHI were stored on systems without
adequate security, the deficiencies in the security systems that permitted unauthorized
access, whether the data was encrypted or otherwise protected, and whether Medtronic
knows if the data has been further disseminated.
18. Without such disclosure, questions remain as to the full extent of the Data
Breach, the actual data accessed and compromised, and what measures, if any, Medtronic
has taken to secure the PII and PHI still in its possession. Plaintiff seeks to determine the
scope of the Data Breach and the information involved, obtain relief that redresses the
harm to Plaintiffs and Class Members interests, and ensure that Medtronic has proper
measures in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
8
Id.
9
Id.
5
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 6 of 42
Medtronics Privacy Claims
19. Medtronic acknowledges that the protection of patient information is vital
to their business. We obtain the patient information on which our business depends in
accordance with applicable laws for assuring notice and choice to our customer regarding
our data collection, whether our customer is the patient or a hospital, physician or other
healthcare provider. 10 Preservation of, and respect for, our customers trust is critical
to our continued success.11
20. Medtronic further promises to always treat such patient information:
Confidentially, according to applicable laws.
Appropriately, according to the promises we make to our customers.
Respectfully, in honor of our patients willingness to trust us to use
sensitive information to oversee the quality, safety and effectiveness of
the devices that they make part of their daily lives.12
21. Medtronic further claims to maintain appropriate physical, technical and
administrative security standards and procedures to safeguard our patient data and
systems. Our employees are educated on the importance of our privacy and security
policies and must comply with them.
10
Medtronic, U.S. patient privacy principles, https://www.medtronic.com/en-
us/our-company/governance/principles-ethics/us-patient-privacy-principles.html (last
accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
11
Id.
12
Id.
6
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 7 of 42
The Healthcare Sector is a Primary Target for Data Breaches
22. Medtronic was on notice that companies in the healthcare industry are
susceptible targets for data breaches.
23. Medtronic was also on notice that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has
been concerned about data security in the healthcare industry. On April 8, 2014, the
FBIs Cyber Division issued a Private Industry Notification to companies within the
healthcare sector, stating that the health care industry is not technically prepared to
combat against cyber criminals basic cyber intrusion tactics, techniques and procedures
(TTPs), much less against more advanced persistent threats (APTs) and pointed out that
[t]he biggest vulnerability was the perception of IT healthcare professionals beliefs that
their current perimeter defenses and compliance strategies were working when clearly the
data states otherwise. The same warning specifically noted that [t]he FBI has observed
malicious actors targeting healthcare related systems, perhaps for the purpose of
obtaining Protected Health Information (PHI) and/or PII.13
13
Health Care Systems and Medical Devices at Risk for Increased Cyber
Intrusions for Financial Gain (Apr. 8, 2014), FBI Cyber Division Private Industry
Notification, https://info.publicintelligence.net/FBI-HealthCareCyberIntrusions.pdf (last
accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
7
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 8 of 42
24. The number of reported North American data breaches increased by over
50 percent in 2021, from 1,080 in 202014, to 1,638 in 2021.15 As a recent report reflects,
[h]ealthcare has increasingly become a target of run-of-the-mill hacking attacks and the
more impactful ransomware campaigns.16
25. At the end of 2018, the healthcare sector ranked second in the number of
data breaches among measured sectors, and had the highest rate of exposure for each
breach.17 Indeed, when compromised, healthcare-related data is among the most sensitive
and personally consequential. A report focusing on healthcare breaches found that the
average total cost to resolve an identity theft-related incident . . . came to about
$20,000, and that the victims were often forced to pay out-of-pocket costs for healthcare
they did not receive in order to restore coverage.18 Almost 50 percent of the victims lost
their healthcare coverage as a result of the incident, while nearly 30 percent said their
insurance premiums went up after the event. Forty percent of the customers were never
14
See Verizon 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report, at 97,
https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/2021-data-breach-investigations-
report.pdf (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
15
See Verizon 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report, at 83,
https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/2022-data-breach-
investigations-report-dbir.pdf (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
16
Id. at 62.
17
2018 End-of-Year Data Breach Report, Identity Theft Resource Center,
https://www.idtheftcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/ITRC_2018-End-of-Year-
Aftermath_FINALWEB-V2-2.pdf (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
18
Elinor Mills, Study: Medical identity theft is costly for victims, CNET (March 3,
2010), https://www.cnet.com/news/study-medical-identity-theft-is-costly-for-victims/
(last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
8
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 9 of 42
able to resolve their identity theft at all. Data breaches and identity theft have a crippling
effect on individuals and detrimentally impact the economy.19
26. Healthcare-related breaches have persisted because criminals see electronic
patient data as a valuable asset. According to the 2019 HIMSS Cybersecurity Survey, 82
percent of participating hospital information security leaders reported having a significant
security incident in the previous 12 months, with a majority of these known incidents
being caused by bad actors such as cybercriminals.20 Hospitals have emerged as a
primary target because they sit on a gold mine of sensitive personally identifiable
information for thousands of patients at any given time. From social security and
insurance policies, to next of kin and credit cards, no other organization, including credit
bureaus, have so much monetizable information stored in their data centers.21
27. The American Medical Association (AMA) has also warned healthcare
companies about the importance of protecting their patients confidential information:
Cybersecurity is not just a technical issue; its a patient safety issue. AMA
research has revealed that 83% of physicians work in a practice that has
experienced some kind of cyberattack. Unfortunately, practices are learning
that cyberattacks not only threaten the privacy and security of patients health
and financial information, but also patient access to care.22
19
Id.
20
2019 HIMSS Cybersecurity Survey, https://healthsectorcouncil.org/wp-
content/uploads/2019/03/2019_HIMSS_Cybersecurity_Survey_Final_Report.pdf (last
accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
21
Inside Digital Health, How to Safeguard Hospital Data from Email Spoofing
Attacks, Apr. 4, 2019, https://www.idigitalhealth.com/news/how-to-safeguard-hospital-
data-from-email-spoofing-attacks (last accessed Apr. 29 2026).
22
Andis Robeznieks, Cybersecurity: Ransomware attacks shut down clinics,
hospitals, Am. Med. Assn (Oct. 4, 2019), https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-
9
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 10 of 42
28. As a major vendor to healthcare providers, Medtronic knew, or should have
known, the importance of safeguarding Class Members PII and PHI entrusted to it and
of the foreseeable consequences if that data was disclosed. This includes the significant
costs that would be imposed on Class Members in the event of a breach. Medtronic
failed, however, to take adequate cybersecurity measures to prevent the Data Breach.
Medtronic Stores Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI
29. Medtronic obtains and stores a massive amount of PII and PHI. As a
condition of engaging in financial and health services, Medtronics customers require that
their own customers and patients entrust it with highly confidential PII and PHI.
30. By obtaining, collecting, using, and deriving a benefit from Plaintiffs and
Class Members PII and PHI, Medtronic assumed legal and equitable duties and knew or
should have known that it was responsible for protecting Plaintiffs and Class Members
PII and PHI from disclosure.
31. Plaintiff and Class Members have taken reasonable steps to maintain the
confidentiality of their PII and PHI and, as current and former customers and patients of
Medtronics customers, they rely on Medtronic to keep this information confidential and
securely maintained, and to make only authorized disclosures of this information.
management/sustainability/cybersecurity-ransomware-attacks-shut-down-clinics-
hospitals (last visited Apr. 29, 2026).
10
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 11 of 42
PII and PHI are Valuable and Subject to Unauthorized Disclosure
32. Medtronic was aware that the PII and PHI it collects is highly sensitive and
of significant value to those who would use it for wrongful purposes.
33. PII and PHI are valuable commodities to identity thieves. As the FTC
recognizes, identity thieves can use this information to commit an array of crimes
including identify theft, and medical and financial fraud.23 Indeed, a robust illegal market
exists in which criminals openly post stolen PII and PHI on multiple underground
websites, commonly referred to as the dark web. PHI can sell for as much as $363 on
the dark web, according to the Infosec Institute.24
34. PHI is particularly valuable because criminals can use it to target victims
with frauds and swindles that take advantage of the victims medical conditions or victim
settlements. It can be used to create fake insurance claims, allowing for the purchase and
resale of medical equipment, or gain access to prescriptions for illegal use or resale.
35. Medical identify theft can result in inaccuracies in medical records and
costly false claims. It can also have life-threatening consequences. If a victims PHI is
mixed with other records, it can lead to misdiagnosis or mistreatment. Medical identity
theft is a growing and dangerous crime that leaves its victims with little to no recourse for
23
Federal Trade Commission, What To Know About Identity Theft,
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-identity-theft (last accessed Apr. 29,
2026).
24
Center for Internet Security, Data Breaches: In the Healthcare Sector,
https://www.cisecurity.org/blog/data-breaches-in-the-healthcare-sector/ (last accessed
Apr. 29, 2026).
11
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 12 of 42
recovery, reported Pam Dixon, executive director of World Privacy Forum. Victims
often experience financial repercussions and worse yet, they frequently discover
erroneous information has been added to their personal medical files due to the thiefs
activities.25
36. The ramifications of Medtronics failure to keep Class Members PII and
PHI secure are long-lasting and severe. Once PII and PHI is stolen, fraudulent use of that
information and damage to victims may continue for years. Fraudulent activity might not
show up for months or even years thereafter.
37. Further, criminals often trade stolen PII and PHI for years following a
breach. Cybercriminals can post stolen PII and PHI on the internet, thereby making such
information publicly available.
38. Approximately 21% of victims do not realize their identity has been
compromised until more than two years after it has happened. 26 This gives thieves ample
time to seek multiple treatments under the victims name. Forty percent of consumers
found out they were a victim of medical identity theft only when they received collection
letters from creditors for expenses that were incurred in their names.27
25
Michael Ollove, The Rise of Medical Identity Theft in Healthcare, Kaiser
Health News (Feb. 7, 2014), https://khn.org/news/rise-of-indentity-theft/ (last accessed
Apr. 29, 2026).
26
See Medical ID Theft Checklist, https://www.identityforce.com/blog/medical-
id-theft-checklist-2 (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
27
Experian, The Potential Damages and Consequences of Medical Identityy Theft
and Healthcare Data Breaches at p. 2, https://stg1.experian.com/assets/data-breach/white-
papers/consequences-medical-identity-theft.pdf (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
12
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 13 of 42
39. Here, not only PHI, but also Social Security numbers, were compromised.
The Social Security Administration has warned that identity thieves can use an
individuals Social Security number to apply for additional credit lines. Such fraud may
go undetected until debt-collection calls commence months, or even years, later.28 This
time-lag between when harm occurs and when it is discovered, and also between when
PII is stolen and when it is used, compounds an identity theft victims ability to detect
and address the harm.
40. Stolen Social Security numbers also make it possible for thieves to file
fraudulent tax returns, file for unemployment benefits, or apply for a job using a false
identity. Each of these fraudulent activities is difficult to detect. An individual may not
know that his or her Social Security number was used to file for unemployment benefits
until law enforcement notifies the individuals employer of the suspected fraud.
Fraudulent tax returns are typically discovered only when an individuals authentic tax
return is rejected.
41. Changing or cancelling a stolen Social Security number is extremely
difficult. An individual cannot obtain a new Social Security number without significant
paperwork and evidence of actual misuse. In other words, preventive action to defend
against the possibility of misuse of a Social Security number is not permitted; an
individual must show evidence of actual, ongoing fraudulent activity to obtain a new
number.
28
Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number, Social Security Administration,
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10064.pdf (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
13
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 14 of 42
42. Even then, a new Social Security number may not be effective. According
to the Identity Theft Resource Center, The credit bureaus and banks are able to link the
new number very quickly to the old number, so all of that old bad information is quickly
inherited into the new Social Security number.29
43. Medtronic knew, or should have known, the importance of safeguarding
Class Members PII and PHI entrusted to it and of the foreseeable consequences if its
data-security systems were breached. This includes the significant costs that would be
imposed on Class Members because of a breach. Medtronic failed, however, to take
adequate cybersecurity measures to prevent the Data Breach from occurring.
The Data Breach Exposed Plaintiff and Class Members
to Identity Theft and Out-of-Pocket Losses
44. Plaintiff and Class Members now face years of constant surveillance of
their financial and personal records, monitoring, and loss of their rights. They are
incurring and will continue to incur such damages in addition to any fraudulent use of
their PII and PHI.
45. Despite all the publicly available knowledge of the known and foreseeable
consequences of disclosure of PII and PHI, Medtronics policies and practices with
respect to maintaining the security of Class Members PII and PHI were reckless, or, at
the very least, negligent.
29
Bryan Naylor, Victims of Social Security Number Theft Find Its Hard to
Bounce Back, NPR (Feb. 9, 2015), http://www.npr.org/2015/02/09/384875839/data-
stolen-by-anthem-s-hackers-has-millions-worrying-about-identity-theft (last visited Apr.
29, 2026).
14
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 15 of 42
46. In virtually all contexts, the expenditure of time has consistently been
recognized as compensable, and, for many people, it is the basis on which they are
compensated. Plaintiff and Class Members should be compensated for the time they have
expended because of Medtronics misfeasance.
47. Once PII and PHI are stolen, fraudulent use of that information and damage
to victims may continue for years. Consumer victims of data breaches are more likely to
become victims of identity fraud.30
48. As a result of the wide variety of injuries that can be traced to the Data
Breach, Plaintiff and Class Members have and will continue to suffer financial loss and
other actual harm for which they are entitled to damages, including, but not limited to, the
following:
a. losing the inherent value of their PII and PHI;
b. identity theft and fraud resulting from the theft of their PII and PHI;
c. costs associated with the detection and prevention of identity theft;
d. costs associated with purchasing credit monitoring, credit freezes, and
identity theft protection services;
e. lowered credit scores resulting from credit inquiries following fraudulent
activities;
30
2014 LexisNexis True Cost of Fraud Study,
https://www.lexisnexis.com/risk/downloads/assets/true-cost-fraud-2014.pdf (last
accessed Mar. 23, 2023); see also 2025 LexisNexis True Cost of Fraud Study,
https://risk.lexisnexis.com/insights-resources/research/us-ca-true-cost-of-fraud-study (last
accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
15
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 16 of 42
f. costs associated with time spent and the loss of productivity or the
enjoyment of ones life from taking time to address and attempt to mitigate
and address the actual and future consequences of the Data Breach,
including discovering fraudulent charges, cancelling and reissuing cards,
purchasing credit monitoring and identity theft protection services,
imposing withdrawal and purchase limits on compromised accounts, and
the stress, nuisance, and annoyance of dealing with the repercussions of the
Data Breach; and
g. the continued imminent injury flowing from potential fraud and identify
theft posed by their PII and PHI being in the possession of one or more
unauthorized third parties.
Medtronics Lax Security Violates HIPAA
49. Medtronic had a non-delegable duty to ensure that all PHI it collected and
stored was secure.
50. Medtronic is bound by HIPAA (see 45 C.F.R. § 160.102) and, as a result, is
required to comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Security Rule, 45 C.F.R Part 160
and Part 164, Subparts A and E (Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable
Health Information), and Security Rule (Security Standards for the Protection of
Electronic Protected Health Information), 45 C.F.R. Part 160 and Part 164, Subparts A
and C.
51. These rules establish national standards for the protection of patient
information, including protected health information, defined as individually identifiable
16
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 17 of 42
health information which either identifies the individual or where there is a
reasonable basis to believe the information can be used to identify the individual, that
is held or transmitted by a healthcare provider. See 45 C.F.R. § 160.103.
52. HIPAA limits the permissible uses of protected health information and
prohibits unauthorized disclosures of protected health information.
53. HIPAA requires that Medtronic implement appropriate safeguards for this
information.
54. Despite these requirements, Medtronic failed to comply with its duties
under HIPAA and its own Privacy Practices. In particular, Medtronic failed to:
a. maintain an adequate data security system to reduce the risk of data
breaches and cyber-attacks;
b. adequately protect Plaintiffs and Class Members PHI;
c. ensure the confidentiality and integrity of electronic PHI created, received,
maintained, or transmitted, in violation of 45 C.F.R. § 164.306(a)(1);
d. implement technical policies and procedures for electronic information
systems that maintain electronic PHI to allow access only to those persons
or software programs that have been granted access rights, in violation of
45 C.F.R. § 164.312(a)(1);
e. implement adequate policies and procedures to prevent, detect, contain,
and correct security violations, in violation of 45 C.F.R.
§ 164.308(a)(1)(i);
17
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 18 of 42
f. implement adequate procedures to review records of information system
activity regularly, such as audit logs, access reports, and security incident
tracking reports, in violation of 45 C.F.R. § 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(D);
g. protect against reasonably anticipated uses or disclosures of electronic
PHI that are not permitted under the privacy rules regarding individually
identifiable health information, in violation of 45 C.F.R. § 164.306(a)(3);
h. ensure compliance with the electronic PHI security standard rules by its
workforce, in violation of 45 C.F.R. § 164.306(a)(4); and/or
i. train all members of its workforce effectively on the policies and
procedures with respect to PHI as necessary and appropriate for the
members of its workforce to carry out their responsibilities and to maintain
security of PHI, in violation of 45 C.F.R. § 164.530(b)
55. Medtronic failed to comply with its duties under HIPAA despite being
aware of the risks associated with unauthorized access to Plaintiffs and Class Members
PHI.
Medtronic Violated FTC Guidelines
56. The Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act), 15 U.S.C. § 45,
prohibited Medtronic from engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or
affecting commerce. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has concluded that a
companys failure to maintain reasonable and appropriate data security for consumers
PII is an unfair practice in violation of the FTC Act. See, e.g., Fed. Trade Commn v.
Wyndham Worldwide Corp., 799 F.3d 236 (3d Cir. 2015).
18
CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 19 of 42
57. The FTC has promulgated several guides for businesses that reflect the
importance of implementing reasonable data security practices. According to the FTC,
the need for data security should be factored into all business decision-making.31
58. In 2016, the FTC updated its publication, Protecting Personal Information:
A Guide for Business, which established data security guidelines for businesses.32 The
guidelines reflect that businesses should protect the PII that they keep; properly dispose
of PII that is no longer needed; encrypt information stored on computer networks;
understand their networks vulnerabilities; and implement policies to correct any security
problems.
59. The FTC further recommends that companies not maintain PII longer than
is needed for authorization of a transaction; limit access to confidential data; require
complex passwords to be used on networks; use industry-tested methods for security;
monitor for suspicious activity on the network; and verify that third-party service
providers have implemented reasonable security measures.33
60. The FTC has brought enforcement actions against businesses for failing to
adequately and reasonably protect customer data, treating the failure to employ
reasonable and appropriate measures to protect against unauthorized access to
31
Federal Trade Commission, Start With Security: A Guide for Business,
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/plain-language/pdf0205-
startwithsecurity.pdf (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
32
Federal Trade Commission, Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for
Business, https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/plain-language/pdf-
0136_proteting-personal-information.pdf (last accessed Apr. 29, 2026).
33
FTC, Start With Security, supra.
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confidential consumer data as an unfair act or practice prohibited by Section 5 of the FTC
Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45. Orders resulting from these actions further clarify the measures
businesses must take to meet their data-security obligations.
61. Medtronic failed to properly implement basic data-security practices.
Medtronics failure to employ reasonable and appropriate measures to protect against
unauthorized access to Class Members PII and PHI constitutes an unfair act or practice
prohibited by Section 5 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45.
62. Medtronic was at all times fully aware of its obligation to protect Class
Members PII and PHI because of its customers positions as financial institutions and
healthcare providers. Medtronic was also aware of the significant repercussions that
would result from its failure to do so.
Plaintiffs Experience
63. In early 2026, Ms. Marquardt received an implanted Medtronic medical
device.
64. Upon information and belief, Medtronic obtained Plaintiffs PII and PHI in
the course of conducting its regular business operations.
65. At the time of the Data Breach, Medtronic retained Ms. Marquardts PII
and PHI.
66. Ms. Marquardt greatly values her privacy and is very careful about sharing
her sensitive PII and PHI. Ms. Marquardt diligently protects her PII and PHI and takes
proactive steps to ensure her PII and PHI are kept safe and secure and stores any
documents containing PII and PHI in a safe and secure location. She has never knowingly
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transmitted unencrypted sensitive PII or PHI over the Internet or any other unsecured
source.
67. Medtronic obtained and continues to maintain Ms. Marquardts PII and PHI
and has a continuing legal duty and obligation to protect that PII and PHI from
unauthorized access and disclosure.
68. Ms. Marquardt has recently been the recipient of frequent spam calls and
text messages.
69. The Data Breach has caused Ms. Marquardt to suffer imminent and
impending injury arising from the substantially increased risk of additional future fraud,
identity theft, and misuse resulting from her PII and PHI being placed in the hands of
criminals.
70. As a result of the Data Breach, Ms. Marquardt is at a present risk and will
continue to be at increased risk of identity theft and fraud for years to come.
71. Ms. Marquardt has a continuing interest in ensuring that her PII and PHI,
which, upon information and belief, remain backed up in Medtronics possession, are
protected and safeguarded from future breaches.
CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS
72. Pursuant to Rule 23(a), (b)(2), and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, Plaintiff seeks certification of a Class as defined below:
All persons in the United States whose PII and/or PHI was exposed by the
Data Breach that was disclosed by Medtronic on or around April 24, 2026.
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73. Plaintiff further seeks certification of a California Subclass as defined
below:
All persons residing in California whose PII and/or PHI was exposed by the
Data Breach that was disclosed by Medtronic on or around April 24, 2026.
74. Excluded from the Class are Medtronic, any entity in which Medtronic has
a controlling interest, and Medtronics officers, directors, legal representatives,
successors, subsidiaries, and assigns. Also excluded from the Class are any judicial
officer presiding over this matter, members of their immediate family, and members of
their judicial staff.
75. Plaintiff reserves the right to modify or amend the definition of the
proposed Class as additional information becomes available to Plaintiff.
76. Numerosity: The Class Members are so numerous that individual joinder
of all Class Members is impracticable. Medtronic disclosed that over nine million records
and a yet unknown or undisclosed number of its patients were affected by the Data
Breach. All Class Members names and addresses are available from Medtronics and/or
its customers records, and Class Members may be notified of the pendency of this action
by recognized, Court-approved notice-dissemination methods.
77. Commonality: There are questions of law and fact common to the Class,
which predominate over any questions affecting only individual Class Members. These
common questions of law and fact include, without limitation:
a. Whether and to what extent Medtronic had a duty to protect the PII and PHI
of Class Members;
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b. Whether Medtronic was negligent in collecting and storing Plaintiffs and
Class Members PII and PHI;
c. Whether Medtronic had duties not to disclose the PII and PHI of Class
Members to unauthorized third parties;
d. Whether Medtronic took reasonable steps and measures to safeguard
Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI;
e. Whether Medtronic failed to adequately safeguard the PII and PHI of Class
Members;
f. Whether Medtronic failed to implement and maintain reasonable security
policies and practices appropriate to the nature and scope of the PII and PHI
compromised in the Data Breach;
g. Whether Medtronic adequately, promptly, and accurately informed Plaintiff
and Class Members that their PII and PHI had been compromised;
h. Whether Plaintiff and Class Members are entitled to actual damages,
statutory damages, and/or punitive damages because of Medtronics
wrongful conduct;
a. Whether Plaintiff and Class Members are entitled to restitution because of
Medtronics wrongful conduct;
b. Whether Plaintiff and Class Members are entitled to injunctive relief to
redress the imminent and ongoing harm they face because of the Data
Breach; and
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c. Whether Plaintiff and Class Members are entitled to identity-theft
protection for their respective lifetimes.
78. Typicality: Plaintiffs claims are typical of those of other Class Members
because Plaintiffs PII and PHI, like that of every other Class Member, was disclosed by
Medtronic. Plaintiffs claims are typical of those of the other Class Members because,
inter alia, all Class Members were injured through Medtronics common misconduct.
Plaintiff is advancing the same claims and legal theories on behalf of himself and all
other Class Members, and there are no defenses that are unique to Plaintiff. Plaintiffs
claims and Class Members claims arise from the same operative facts and are based on
the same legal theories.
79. Adequacy: Plaintiff is an adequate representative of the Class because
Plaintiff is a member of the Class and is committed to pursuing this matter against
Medtronic to obtain relief for the Class. Plaintiff has no conflicts of interest with the
Class. Plaintiffs counsel are competent and experienced in litigating class actions,
including extensive experience in data-breach litigation. Plaintiff intends to vigorously
prosecute this case and will fairly and adequately protect the Classs interests.
80. Policies Generally Applicable to the Class: This class action is also
appropriate for certification because Medtronic has acted or refused to act on grounds
generally applicable to the Class, thereby requiring the Courts imposition of uniform
relief to ensure compatible standards of conduct toward the Class Members, and making
final injunctive relief appropriate with respect to the Class as a whole. Medtronics
policies challenged herein apply to and affect Class Members uniformly and Plaintiffs
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challenge of these policies hinges on Medtronics conduct with respect to the Class as a
whole, not on facts or law applicable only to Plaintiff.
81. Superiority: Class litigation is an appropriate method for fair and efficient
adjudication of the claims involved. Class-action treatment is superior to all other
available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy alleged herein;
it will permit a large number of Class Members to prosecute their common claims in a
single forum simultaneously, efficiently, and without the unnecessary duplication of
evidence, effort, and expense that hundreds of individual actions would require. Class-
action treatment will permit the adjudication of relatively modest claims by certain class
members, who could not individually afford to litigate a complex claim against large
corporations, like Medtronic. Even for those Class Members who could afford to litigate
such a claim, it would still be economically impractical and impose a burden on the
courts.
82. The nature of this action and the nature of laws available to Plaintiff and
Class Members make the use of the class action device a particularly efficient and
appropriate procedure to afford relief to Plaintiff and Class Members for the wrongs
alleged because Medtronic would necessarily gain an unconscionable advantage in non-
class litigation, since Medtronic would be able to exploit and overwhelm the limited
resources of each individual Class Member with superior financial and legal resources;
the costs of individual suits could unreasonably consume the amounts that would be
recovered; proof of a common course of conduct to which Plaintiff was exposed is
representative of that experienced by Class Members and will establish the right of each
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Class Member to recover on the causes of action alleged; and individual actions would
create a risk of inconsistent results and would be unnecessary and duplicative of this
litigation.
83. The litigation of Plaintiffs claims is manageable. Medtronics uniform
conduct, the consistent provisions of the relevant laws, and the ascertainable identities of
Class Members demonstrate that there would be no significant manageability problems
with maintenance of this lawsuit as a class action.
84. Adequate notice can be given to Class Members directly using information
maintained in Medtronics and/or its customers records.
85. Unless a class-wide injunction is issued, Medtronic may continue to
maintain inadequate security with respect to the PII and PHI of Class Members,
Medtronic may continue to refuse to provide proper notification to Class Members
regarding the Data Breach, and Medtronic may continue to act unlawfully as set forth in
this Complaint.
COUNT I
NEGLIGENCE
(On behalf of Plaintiff and the Class)
86. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference herein all the allegations
contained in the preceding paragraphs.
87. As a condition of their utilizing Medtronics customers services, Class
Members were obligated to provide Medtronic with certain PII and PHI, including their
dates of birth, Social Security numbers, personal medical information, and other PII and
PHI.
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88. Plaintiff and the Class Members entrusted their PII and PHI to Medtronic
on the premise and with the understanding that Medtronic would safeguard their
information and not disclose that information to unauthorized third parties.
89. Medtronic has full knowledge of the sensitivity of PII and PHI and the
types of harm that Plaintiff and Class Members could and would suffer if PII and PHI
were wrongfully disclosed.
90. Medtronic knew or should have known that the failure to exercise due care
in the collection, storage, and use of Class Members PII and PHI involved an
unreasonable risk of harm to Plaintiff and Class Members.
91. Medtronic had a duty to exercise reasonable care in safeguarding, securing,
and protecting Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI from being compromised,
lost, stolen, misused, and/or disclosed to unauthorized parties. This duty includes, among
other things, designing, maintaining, and testing Medtronics security protocols to ensure
that Plaintiffs and Class Members information in Medtronics possession was
adequately secured and protected, and that employees tasked with maintaining such
information were adequately trained as to proper measures regarding the security of Class
Members PII and PHI.
92. Medtronic had a duty to have procedures in place to detect and prevent the
improper access and misuse of Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI.
93. Section 5 of the FTC Act prohibits unfair . . . practices in or affecting
commerce, including, as interpreted and enforced by the FTC, the unfair act or practice
by businesses, such as Medtronic, of failing to use reasonable measures to protect PII and
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PHI. The FTC publications and orders described above also form part of the basis of
Medtronics duty in this regard.
94. Medtronic violated Section 5 of the FTC Act by failing to use reasonable
measures to protect Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI and failing to comply
with relevant industry standards. Medtronics conduct was particularly unreasonable
given the nature and amount of PII and PHI it obtained and stored, and the foreseeable
consequences of a data breach including, specifically, the damages that would result to
Plaintiff and Class Members.
95. A breach of security, unauthorized access, and resulting injury to Plaintiff
and Class Members was reasonably foreseeable, particularly considering the growing
number of data breaches of health-care providers.
96. Plaintiff and Class Members were the foreseeable and probable victims of
any inadequate security practices and procedures. Medtronic knew or should have known
of the inherent risks in collecting and storing Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI,
the importance of providing adequate security for that information, and that Medtronic
had inadequate employee training and education and information technology security
protocols in place to secure Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI.
97. Medtronics misconduct created a foreseeable risk of harm to Plaintiff and
Class Members. Medtronics misconduct included, but was not limited to, its failure to
take the steps necessary to prevent the Data Breach. Medtronics misconduct also
included its decisions not to comply with industry standards for the safekeeping and
disclosure of Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI.
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98. Plaintiff and Class Members had no ability to protect their PII and PHI that
was in Medtronics possession.
99. Medtronic was in a position to protect against the harm that Plaintiff and
Class Members suffered as a result of the Data Breach.
100. Medtronic had and continues to have a duty to adequately disclose that
Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI within Medtronics possession might have
been compromised, how it was compromised, and precisely the types of information that
were compromisedand when it was compromised. Such notice was necessary to allow
Plaintiff and Class Members to take steps to prevent, mitigate, and repair any identity
theft and the fraudulent use of their PHI by unauthorized parties.
101. Medtronic has admitted that Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI
was wrongfully disclosed to unauthorized parties because of the Data Breach.
102. Medtronic, through its actions and/or omissions, unlawfully breached its
duties to Plaintiff and Class Members by failing to implement industry protocols and
exercise reasonable care in protecting and safeguarding Plaintiffs and Class Members
PII and PHI during the period in which that information was within Medtronics
possession or control.
103. Medtronic failed to heed industry warnings and alerts to provide adequate
safeguards to protect Class Members PII and PHI in the face of increased risk of theft.
104. Medtronic, through its actions and/or omissions, unlawfully breached its
duty to Plaintiff and Class Members by failing to have appropriate procedures in place to
detect and prevent dissemination of Class Members PII and PHI.
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105. Medtronic, through its actions and/or omissions, unlawfully breached its
duty to adequately and timely disclose to Plaintiff and Class Members the existence and
scope of the Data Breach.
106. But for Medtronics wrongful and negligent breach of duties owed to
Plaintiff and Class Members, Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI would not have
been compromised.
107. There is a close causal connection between Medtronics failure to
implement security measures to protect Plaintiffs and the Class Members PII and PHI
and the harm suffered or risk of imminent harm suffered by Plaintiff and Class Members.
Unauthorized parties gained access to Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI as the
proximate result of Medtronics failure to exercise reasonable care in safeguarding that
information by adopting, implementing, and maintaining appropriate security measures.
108. As a direct and proximate result of Medtronics negligence, Plaintiff and
Class Members have suffered and will suffer injury, including, but not limited to: (i)
actual identity theft; (ii) the loss of the opportunity to control how their PII and PHI is
used; (iii) the compromise, publication, and/or theft of their PII and PHI; (iv) out-of-
pocket expenses associated with the prevention, detection, and recovery from identity
theft, tax fraud, and/or unauthorized use of their PII and PHI; (v) lost opportunity costs
associated with the effort expended addressing and attempting to mitigate the actual and
future consequences of the Data Breach, including, but not limited to, efforts spent
researching how to prevent, detect, contest, and recover from tax fraud and identity theft;
(vi) costs associated with placing freezes on credit reports; (vii) the continued risk to their
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PII and PHI, which remains in Medtronics possession and is subject to further
unauthorized disclosures so long as Medtronic fails to undertake appropriate and
adequate measures to protect that information; (viii) future costs in terms of time, effort,
and money that will be expended to prevent, detect, contest, and repair the impact of the
Data Breach for the remainder of the lives of Plaintiff and Class Members; and (ix) the
diminished value of Medtronics services that Plaintiff and Class Members received.
109. As a direct and proximate result of Medtronics negligence, Plaintiff and
Class Members have suffered and will continue to suffer other forms of injury and/or
harm, including, but not limited to, anxiety, emotional distress, loss of privacy, and other
economic and non-economic losses.
COUNT II
NEGLIGENCE PER SE
(On behalf of Plaintiff and the Class)
110. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference herein all the allegations
contained in the preceding paragraphs.
111. Pursuant to the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, Medtronic had a duty to provide
adequate data-security practices, including in connection with its sale of its services to
Plaintiffs and Class Members pediatric practices.
112. Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
(HIPAA), 42 U.S.C. § 1302d, et seq., Medtronic had a duty to implement reasonable
safeguards to protect Plaintiffs and Class Members PII/PHI.
113. Medtronic breached its duties to Plaintiff and Class Members under the
FTC Act and HIPAA, among other laws, by failing to provide fair, reasonable, or
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adequate data security in connection with the sale and use of its services, to safeguard
Plaintiffs and Class Members PII/PHI.
114. Medtronics failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations
constitutes negligence per se.
115. But for Medtronics wrongful and negligent breach of its duties owed to
Plaintiff and Class Members, Plaintiff and Class Members would not have been injured.
116. The injury and harm suffered by Plaintiff and Class Members was the
reasonably foreseeable result of Medtronics breach of its duties. Medtronic knew or
should have known that it was failing to meet its duties, and that its breach would cause
Plaintiff and Class Members to experience the foreseeable harms associated with the
exposure of their PII/PHI.
117. As a direct and proximate result of Medtronics negligent conduct, Plaintiff
and Class Members face an increased risk of future harm.
118. As a direct and proximate result of Medtronics negligent conduct, Plaintiff
and Class Members have suffered injury and are entitled to damages in an amount to be
proven at trial.
COUNT III
VIOLATIONS OF CALIFORNIA UNFAIR COMPETITION LAW
CAL. CIV. CODE § 17200, et seq. (CCPA)
(On Behalf of Plaintiff and the California Subclass)
119. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference herein all the allegations
contained in the preceding paragraphs.
120. Medtronic is a person, as defined by Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17201.
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121. Medtronic violated Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200, et seq. (UCL) by
engaging in unlawful, unfair, and deceptive business acts and practices.
122. Medtronics unfair acts and practices include:
a. Failing to implement and maintain reasonable security measures to protect
Plaintiff and California Subclass members PII and PHI from unauthorized
disclosure, release, data breaches, and theft, which was a direct and
proximate cause of the Data Breach. Medtronic failed to identify
foreseeable security risks and remediate identified security risks. This
conduct, with little if any utility, is unfair when weighed against the harm
to Plaintiff and the California Subclass, whose PII and PHI has been
compromised.
b. Failing to implement and maintain reasonable security measures also was
contrary to legislatively-declared public policy that seeks to protect
consumers data and ensure that entities that are trusted with it use
appropriate security measures. These policies are reflected in laws,
including the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, HIPAA, and Californias Consumer
Records Act, Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.81.5.
c. Failing to implement and maintain reasonable security measures also led to
substantial consumer injuries, as described above, that are not outweighed
by any countervailing benefits to consumers or competition. Moreover,
because consumers could not know of Medtronics inadequate security,
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consumers could not have reasonably avoided the harms that Medtronic
caused.
d. Engaging in unlawful business practices by violating Cal. Civ. Code
§ 1798.82.
123. Medtronic has engaged in unlawful business practices by violating
multiple laws, including Californias Consumer Records Act, Cal. Civ. Code
§§ 1798.81.5 (requiring reasonable data-security measures) and 1798.82 (requiring timely
breach notification), Californias Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Cal. Civ. Code
§§ 1780, et seq., the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, HIPAA, and California common law.
124. Medtronics unlawful, unfair, and deceptive acts and practices include:
a. Failing to implement and maintain reasonable security and privacy
measures to protect Plaintiff and California Subclass members PII and
PHI, which was a direct and proximate cause of the Data Breach;
b. Failing to identify foreseeable security and privacy risks and remediate
identified security and privacy risks, which was a direct and proximate
cause of the Data Breach;
c. Failing to comply with common-law and statutory duties pertaining to the
security and privacy of Plaintiffs and California Subclass members PII
and PHI, including duties imposed by the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45,
HIPAA, and Californias Customer Records Act, Cal. Civ. Code
§§ 1798.80, et seq., which was a direct and proximate cause of the Data
Breach;
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d. Misrepresenting that it would protect the privacy and confidentiality of
Plaintiffs and California Subclass members PII and PHI, including by
implementing and maintaining reasonable security measures;
e. Misrepresenting that it would comply with common-law and statutory
duties pertaining to the security and privacy of Plaintiffs and California
Subclass members PII and PHI, including duties imposed by the FTC Act,
15 U.S.C. § 45, HIPAA, and Californias Customer Records Act, Cal. Civ.
Code §§ 1798.80, et seq.;
f. Omitting, suppressing, and concealing the material fact that it did not
reasonably or adequately secure Plaintiffs and California Subclass
members PII and PHI; and
g. Omitting, suppressing, and concealing the material fact that it did not
comply with common-law and statutory duties pertaining to the security
and privacy of Plaintiffs and California Subclass members PII and PHI,
including duties imposed by the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45, HIPAA, and
Californias Customer Records Act, Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1798.80, et seq.
125. Medtronics representations and omissions were material because they were
likely to deceive reasonable consumers about the adequacy of its data security and ability
to protect the confidentiality of consumers PII and PHI.
126. As a direct and proximate result of Medtronics unfair, unlawful, and
fraudulent acts and practices, Plaintiff and California Subclass members were injured and
lost money or property, including: the prices they paid for goods and services to
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Medtronics customers; losses from fraud and identity theft; costs for credit-monitoring
and identity-protection services; time and expenses related to monitoring their financial
accounts for fraudulent activity; loss of value of their PII and PHI; and an increased,
imminent risk of fraud and identity theft.
127. Medtronic acted intentionally, knowingly, and maliciously to violate
Californias Unfair Competition Law, and recklessly disregarded Plaintiffs and
California Subclass members rights. Breaches within the financial and healthcare
industries put Medtronic on notice that its security and privacy protections were
inadequate.
128. Plaintiff and California Subclass members seek all monetary and non-
monetary relief allowed by law, including restitution of all profits stemming from
Medtronics unfair, unlawful, and fraudulent business practices or use of their PII and
PHI; declaratory relief; reasonable attorneys fees and costs under California Code of
Civil Procedure § 1021.5; injunctive relief; and other appropriate equitable relief.
COUNT IV
UNJUST ENRICHMENT
(On behalf of Plaintiff and the Class)
129. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference herein all the allegations
contained in the preceding paragraphs.
130. Plaintiff and Class Members have an interest, both equitable and legal, in
their PHI and PII that was conferred upon, collected by, and maintained by Medtronic
and that was stolen in the Data Breach.
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131. Medtronic benefitted from the conferral upon it of Plaintiffs and Class
Members PII and PHI, and by its ability to retain and use that information. Medtronic
understood that it so benefitted.
132. Medtronic also understood and appreciated that Plaintiffs and Class
Members PHI and PII was private and confidential and that its value depended upon
Medtronic maintaining its privacy and confidentiality.
133. But for Medtronics willingness and commitment to maintain its privacy
and confidentiality, that PHI and PII would not have been transferred to and entrusted
with Medtronic. Further, if Medtronic had disclosed that its data-security measures were
inadequate, Medtronic would not have been permitted to continue in operation by
regulators and the healthcare marketplace.
134. As a result of Medtronics wrongful conduct as alleged in this Complaint
(including, among other things, its utter failure to employ adequate data-security
measures, its continued maintenance and use of Plaintiffs and Class Members PHI
without having adequate data-security measures, and its other conduct facilitating the
theft of that PHI and PII), Medtronic has been unjustly enriched at the expense of, and to
the detriment of, Plaintiff and Class Members.
135. Medtronics unjust enrichment is traceable to, and resulted directly and
proximately from, the conduct alleged herein, including the compilation and use of
Plaintiffs and Class Members sensitive PHI and PII, while at the same time failing to
maintain that information secure from intrusion and theft by hackers.
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136. Under the common law doctrine of unjust enrichment, it is inequitable for
Medtronic to be permitted to retain the benefits it received, and is still receiving, without
justification, from the use of Plaintiffs and Class Members PHI and PII in an unfair and
unconscionable manner. Medtronics retention of such benefits under circumstances
making it inequitable to do so constitutes unjust enrichment.
137. The benefit conferred upon, received, and enjoyed by Medtronic was not
conferred officiously or gratuitously, and it would be inequitable and unjust for
Medtronic to retain the benefit.
COUNT V
INJUNCTIVE/DECLARATORY RELIEF
(On behalf of Plaintiff and the Class)
138. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference herein all the allegations
contained in the preceding paragraphs.
139. Medtronic owes a duty of care to Plaintiff and Class Members requiring it
to adequately secure PII and PHI.
140. Medtronic still stores Plaintiffs and Class Members PII and PHI.
141. Since the Data Breach, Medtronic has announced no specific changes to its
data-security infrastructure, processes, or procedures to fix the vulnerabilities in its
computer systems and/or security practices which permitted the Data Breach to occur
and, thereby, prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
142. Medtronic has not satisfied its legal duties to Plaintiff and Class Members.
143. Actual harm has arisen in the wake of the Data Breach regarding
Medtronics duties of care to provide security measures to Plaintiff and Class Members.
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Further, Plaintiff and Class Members are at risk of additional or further harm due to the
exposure of their PII and PHI, and Medtronics failure to address the security failings that
led to that exposure.
144. Plaintiff, therefore, seeks a declaration: (a) that Medtronics existing
security measures do not comply with its duties of care to provide adequate security; and
(b) that to comply with its duties of care, Medtronic must implement and maintain
reasonable security measures, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. ordering that Medtronic engage third-party security auditors as well as
internal security personnel to conduct testing, including simulated attacks,
penetration tests, and audits on Medtronics systems on a periodic basis,
and ordering Medtronic to promptly correct any problems or issues detected
by such third-party security auditors;
b. ordering that Medtronic engage third-party security auditors and internal
personnel to run automated security monitoring;
c. ordering that Medtronic audit, test, and train its security personnel
regarding any new or modified procedures;
d. ordering that Medtronic segment Plaintiff and Class Member data by,
among other things, creating firewalls and access controls so that if one
area of Medtronics system is compromised, hackers cannot gain access to
other portions of Medtronics systems;
e. ordering that Medtronic purge, delete, and destroy in a secure manner
Plaintiff and Class Member data not necessary for its provision of services;
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f. ordering that Medtronic conduct regular computer-system scanning and
security checks;
g. ordering that Medtronic routinely and continually conduct internal training
and education to inform internal-security personnel how to identify and
contain a breach when it occurs and what to do in response to a breach; and
h. ordering Medtronic to meaningfully educate its current, former, and
prospective customers about the threats their customers and patients face
because of the loss of their PII and PHI to third parties, as well as the steps
they must take to protect themselves.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE Plaintiff, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated,
prays for relief as follows:
a. for an Order certifying the Class as defined herein, and appointing Plaintiff and
his counsel to represent the Class;
b. for equitable relief enjoining Medtronic from engaging in the wrongful conduct
complained of herein pertaining to the misuse and/or disclosure of Plaintiffs
and Class Members PII and PHI, and from refusing to issue prompt, complete,
and accurate disclosures to Plaintiff and Class Members;
c. for equitable relief compelling Medtronic to use appropriate cyber-security
methods and policies with respect to PII and PHI collection, storage, and
protection, and to disclose with specificity to Class Members the types of PII
and PHI compromised;
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CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 41 of 42
d. for an award of damages, including actual, nominal, consequential, enhanced
compensatory, and punitive damages, as allowed by law in an amount to be
determined;
e. for an award of attorneys fees, costs, and litigation expenses, as allowed by
law;
f. for prejudgment interest on all amounts awarded; and
g. such other and further relief as this Court may deem just and proper.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.
Dated: April 29, 2026 Respectfully submitted,
BRADFORD ANDRESEN NORRIE &
CAMAROTTO
/s/ Nicole S. Frank
Nicole S. Frank (#0388822)
3600 American Boulevard West, Ste. 670
Bloomington, MN 55431
(612) 474-1811
nfrank@banclaw.com
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CASE 0:26-cv-02418-DWF-DLM Doc. 1 Filed 04/30/26 Page 42 of 42
BAILEY GLASSER LLP
Bart D. Cohen (pro hac vice forthcoming)
Panida Anderson (pro hac vice
forthcoming)
1055 Thomas Jefferson Street NW
Suite 540
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 463-2101
bcohen@baileyglasser.com
panderson@baileyglasser.com
Attorneys for Plaintiff and the Proposed
Class
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