Class action suit filed against local hospitals

Community Health Systems and some of the Alabama hospitals it owns have been hit with a class action lawsuit in the wake of the disclosure that patients’ personal information has been compromised.

Gadsden Regional Medical Center, Riverview Regional Medical Center and Anniston HMA and Foley Hospital Corporation — all owned by CHS — are named in the lawsuit, along with CHS.

The lawsuit alleges that the hospitals failed to properly safeguard patients’ personal information and has put them at risk of identity theft.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Denise B. Alverson, who was treated at Riverview; Janet F. Bearden, who was treated at Gadsden Regional; Bobbie Jean Richard and Dallas W. Richard, who were treated at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center; and Robert Cadle, who was treated at Stringfellow Memorial Hospital and Gadsden Regional.

The lawsuit was filed by Stewart & Stewart of Anniston and Bessemer.

Attorney Donald Stewart said the law firm has already heard from additional people who had information compromised by the security breach. He said some have experienced problems with identity theft.