Krottner v. Starbucks Corp., No. 09-35823

Action Alleging Violations of Employee Privacy by Starbucks

In Krottner v. Starbucks Corp., No. 09-35823, an action by current or former Starbucks employees whose names, addresses, and social security numbers were stored on a laptop that was stolen from Starbucks claiming violations of Washington law, the court affirmed the dismissal of the complaint where plaintiffs alleged a credible threat of real and immediate harm stemming from the theft of a laptop containing their unencrypted personal data, but their allegations failed to state a claim under Washington law.

As the court wrote:  "Plaintiffs-Appellants Laura Krottner, Ishaya Shamasa, and Joseph Lalli appeal the district court's dismissal of their negligence and breach of contract claims against Starbucks Corporation. Plaintiffs-Appellants are current or former Starbucks employees whose names, addresses, and social security numbers were stored on a laptop that was stolen from Starbucks. Their complaints allege that, in failing to protect Plaintiffs-Appellants' personal data, Starbucks acted negligently and breached an implied contract under Washington law."

Related Resources

• Read the Ninth Circuit's Decision in Krottner v. Starbucks Corp., No. 09-35823