Colonial Pipeline was hit with a proposed class action suit this week by a resident of North Carolina who alleges that he had to purchase gasoline at inflated prices due to the “unlawfully deficient data security” of Colonial, which allowed a ransomware attack to shut a pipeline down.
According to allegations in the suit, the cyber attack was “catastrophic” to consumers and the attack injured millions of individuals with gas shortages and higher prices. The suit alleges that the pipeline management should have foreseen a cyber-attack as attacks against critical infrastructure are a known risk.
The Complaint alleges negligence and seeks a declaratory judgment, monetary damages, punitive damages, restitution, and disgorgement of revenue.