Released on = August 28, 2006, 7:57 pm

Press Release Author = John Zimmerer

Industry = Education

Press Release Summary = Ohio University graduate John Zimmerer plans to file a class
action lawsuit against his alma mater, Ohio University, related to a recent case of
identity theft. Earlier this year, Zimmerer\'s personal information was stolen from
at least one database maintained by the university on its computer network.

\"The university breached its fiduciary responsibility to safeguard my identity by
allowing unauthorized access to its computer systems,\" Zimmerer said. \"I\'m
considering filing a lawsuit to highlight this important issue.\"

Press Release Body = Athens, Ohio, August 29, 2006, 6:04PM -- Ohio University
graduate John Zimmerer plans to file a class action lawsuit against his alma mater,
Ohio University, related to a recent case of identity theft. Earlier this year,
Zimmerer\'s personal information was stolen from at least one database maintained by
the university on its computer network.

\"The university breached its fiduciary responsibility to safeguard my identity by
allowing unauthorized access to its computer systems,\" Zimmerer said. \"I\'m
considering filing a lawsuit to highlight this important issue.\"

Ohio University has determined the breach occurred in March of 2005. University
officials first reported the security breach in April of 2006. On June 20, 2006, the
Akron Beacon Journal posted an Associated Press article on its web site stating that
as many as 173,000 people could be affected by the data theft.

The most recent communication from the school contained the dire news Zimmerer was
hoping never to receive. \"The record associated with the database ID# in the return
address above does contain a Social Security Number.\" The statement was underlined
with portions in bold print.

The letter further states that, of the 300,000 individual biographical business and
individual records that were compromised, 137,000 records were confirmed to have
contained social security numbers.

\"The university recently notified me by U.S. mail that my personal information,
including my social security number, was stolen from at least one university
database,\" Zimmerer said. \"Although I\'m glad to hear officials are taking steps to
ensure this doesn\'t happen again to someone else, that doesn\'t help me, since my
information has already been compromised.\"

According to the letter, and to a university representative who yesterday answered
the toll-free telephone number for questions regarding this incident, the university
is recommending that the 137,000 individuals should \"carefully monitor\" their credit
reports, and place a fraud alert on their credit files. The burden of vigilance is
being placed upon those that have been victimized.

\"That\'s not good enough,\" stated Zimmerer. \"The university created this problem, and
they expect me to do the hard work of cleaning up after them. I don\'t think so.\"
Zimmerer asked the representative if the university would pay for a credit
monitoring service to watch his credit file for him. The representative said the
university would not pay for such a service.

\"The credit monitoring services watch the files in real time. At best, I will only
be able to get two reports per year for free. A lot can happen in six months,\"
Zimmerer offered. Because the university openly acknowledges its fault, Zimmerer
believes the university is responsible for keeping an eye on his credit file, or for
paying a credit-monitoring firm to do so.

In the coming weeks, Zimmerer intends to explore his legal options, including filing
either a state or federal class action lawsuit. Given the letter sent by the
university and prior statements from Ohio University president Roderick McDavis
accepting responsibility for the incident, as well as the number of people affected,
Zimmerer believes class action attorneys should be very interested in the case.

\"Over 100,000 people were affected by this,\" Zimmerer pointed out. \"An institution I
trusted made me vulnerable to financial predators and criminals. They should be held
responsible for that.\"

About John Zimmerer

John Zimmerer graduated from Ohio University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
He now lives in Maryland with his wife and works as a business consultant.

Contact John Zimmerer at 443-803-7432 or ouclassaction@mac.com for more information,
or to offer assistance in bringing the class action lawsuit.


Web Site =

Contact Details = John Zimmerer
443-803-7432
ouclassaction@mac.com