Can you sue a school when they have stolen your identity and used it?

Question

A financial aide adviser recently stole my mother's information from the school I attend and used it to get out credit cards and so on. She is no longer employed by the school, but was at the time. We have contacted the credit agencies and placed a fraud alert on her account and on mine as well, we also have proof that it was her that did it. I never thought the someone from school would be the one to steal my mother's information. Can anyone please help me or guide me toward the right direction on what I can do or if this is something you can sue for?????

Answer 1

If you can prove that the financial aid officer used your mother's information for her own personal gains, then you can sue (and even criminally charge) the officer.

If you can prove that the school did not take adequate measures to prevent this from happening, you can sure the school.

You will need to hire a good lawyer.

Answer 2

uh...the school didn't do it.

Unless you can prove they failed to secure confidential information (and frankly a financial aid officer WOULD HAVE TO have access to that info to do their job), I think you are just hoping to make a buck here and it's probably not happening.

Answer 3

How would you expect the school to protect you against this?  A member pf staff took advantage of their position?  How is it their fault?  They are a victim too.

Maybe your mum should sue you because it was your school.

Answer 4

The school is liable for the actions of its employees.

Sue the woman and the school - the school will pay up.

Get a lawyer - it's a complicated case.

Answer 5

Yes you can sue.

Your Mother was damaged by actions of this individual, and this individual was given access to confidential information by the school. the school must prove that it took every possible step to insure that the employee was trustworthy of this position.

Your case will be a lot simpler if the employee has been arrested, or admitted to the id theft.

The key is what are your economic losses? If you were not liable for any charges, and suffered no monetary loss, the only claims you will have are for the time it took to rectify the problem, and any mental anguish you may have suffered. You can also ask for punitive damages in many states.

Talk to an attorney.

Answer 6

You can't sue the school, since it's the individual who committed the crime, unless you can prove that they didn't take reasonable steps to protect her information.