Recent News

May 17, 2006

Ohio’s new data privacy statute

This February, the Ohio General Assembly joined numerous states in passing a personal electronic data privacy breach disclosure statute. Personal data privacy is the next hot topic in the ever expanding area of workplace privacy. The law requires any entity in possession of personal information to promptly notify the subjects of that information in the event of any breach of that information. This could result from intentional breaches, such as by hackers, or inadvertent breaches resulting from misplaced laptops or a failure of internal computer security.

There have been several highly-publicized breaches in the last year in the consumer and educational settings, but employers, too, are in possession of extensive personal information, and possible data breaches should be a concern. The statute not only establishes the rules for covered breaches, but will also likely come to be viewed as the standard of reasonableness in simple negligence actions, included in data breach situations not covered by the statute.

Amy Ruth Ita and William A. Nolan, attorneys with Squire Sanders & Dempsey, will lead discussion of the legal and practical aspects of this new and increasingly relevant law as part of the CLE “Workplace Privacy” on May 23 from 1:30 to 4:45 p.m. for 3.0 hours of CLE credit.

Also included in the seminar is a review of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act with Gary S. Batke of Bailey Cavalieri; a review of the application of HIPAA to employers with Barbara K. Letcher of Newhouse Prophater & Letcher; and a discussion of the Fair Credit Reporting Act relating to obtaining, using, and disseminating background investigation reports with D. Wesley Newhouse of Newhouse Prophater & Letcher.

This seminar is a must for private employment lawyers who represent either management or the employee; lawyers representing entities with sensitive employee, medical, or consumer information; human resources; and information technology personnel.

Register online at www.cbalaw.org or phone 614/221.4112. The cost is $85 prepaid/$95 day of for members, $115 prepaid/$125 day of for non-members and $55 prepaid/$65 day of for paralegals.