Bojangles class action alleges restaurant experienced weeks-long cyberattack

Bojangles data breach overview: 

• Who: A North Carolina Bojangles customer is suing the company.
• Why: The plaintiff says the company’s negligence led to its customers’ data being leaked in a cyberattack.
• Where: The Bojangles class action was filed in a North Carolina federal court.

A new class action lawsuit accuses Bojangles — the Southern-inspired fast-food chain known for its fried chicken and biscuits — of failing to protect sensitive customer information during a data breach earlier this year.

Plaintiff Jessie Ruiz-Jacobs filed the class action complaint against Bojangles’ Restaurants Inc. on Nov. 25 in a North Carolina federal court alleging negligence.

The lawsuit alleges that Bojangles’ negligence allowed cybercriminals to access and steal personal information, including Social Security numbers, driver’s license details, financial account data and even medical and health insurance information.

Plaintiff alleges Bojangles data breach was preventable 

According to the lawsuit, hackers infiltrated Bojangles’ computer systems between Feb. 19 and March 12. The company discovered the suspicious activity on March 12, but by then, tens of thousands of individuals’ data had already been compromised, the class action states.

Ruiz-Jacobs claims the breach resulted from Bojangles’ failure to implement reasonable cybersecurity measures and promptly detect the intrusion.

The stolen data, described as “everything needed to commit personal identity theft,” could have long-term impacts on victims’ financial and personal lives, she says, adding that Bojangles customers have already suffered damages, including lost time and money spent addressing the breach’s fallout.

According to the lawsuit, more than 32,000 South Carolina residents reportedly received notifications about their data being exposed. Victims now face the ongoing risk of identity theft and fraud, which could persist for decades, the lawsuit alleges.

As a result, Ruiz-Jacobs is looking to represent a nationwide class of consumers whose data was compromised in the Bojangles data breach.

She’s seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs, a jury trial and injunctive relief forcing Bojangles to implement improved data security practices.

Meanwhile, in November, Amazon confirmed that employee data allegedly compromised during the May 2023 MOVEit file transfer system data breach had been leaked on a hacking forum. 

What do you think of the allegations in this Bojangles class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Scott C. Harris, David K. Lietz and Gary M. Klinger of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC.

The Bojangles class action is Jessie Ruiz-Jacobs v.  Bojangles’ Restaurants Inc, Case No.  5:24-cv-00668-M in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

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