ST. LOUIS—The Michigan and Georgia credit union leagues, as well as a credit union from Missouri, have now joined a nationwide class action lawsuit against Home Depot following the merchant’s massive data breach in 2014, CUNA reports.
They join CUNA and the California and Nevada CU Leagues, which recently also became plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
A Missouri credit union has joined in the litigation as a named plaintiff, the Missouri Credit Union Association reported on its website. As a result, all Missouri financial institutions, including credit unions, are represented in the lawsuit, the league said.
"We want credit unions to be aware that they are not required to individually sign up as a plaintiff to be represented in the lawsuit, despite inquiries from law firms involved in the case that may have been received," said John Thomas, MCUA SVP of regulatory compliance.
At least two other CUs have already filed suit against Home Depot. In Salamanca, N.Y., Cattaraugus County School Employees FCU filed late last year, and Buffalo-based Southern Chautauqua FCU has also filed suit against the large retailer. At least 21 federal lawsuits have now been filed against Home Depot, with many asking for class action status.
CUNA has said its analysis shows that the Home Depot data breach alone cost credit unions and their members tens of millions of dollars and the merchant has acknowledged that 56-million credit and debit card were compromised in the breach.