A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed against P.F. Chang's China Bistro Inc. by consumers claiming that the restaurant chain failed to protect their personal financial data.
The suit, filed Thursday by plaintiff John Lewert on behalf of those affected by the recent data breach, alleges that the company failed to be in compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, and that it knowingly violated its obligation to protect the data “in an effort to save money by cutting corners,” according to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court.
Additionally, Lewert claims the breach – while disclosed to customers on June 12 – may have actually taken place as early as September 2013, and could have impacted seven million credit and debit card accounts.
Lewert seeks class certification, punitive and statutory damages, and pre- and post-judgment interest.
