How can I hold liable a government employee who releases private information improperly?
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How can I hold liable a government employee who releases private information improperly?
Someone called in the local tag office and did not verify my information and
was able to obtain the financial status of my tag and registration. How can I
hold the tag office accountable and is there a possible lawsuit?
Asked on May 31, 2016 under Personal Injury, Georgia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Have you suffered an economic loss from this? If you have--e.g. if someone somehow used tag, registration, etc. information to open a fake account in your name or buy something in your name--then you could potentially sue the agency due to the presumed negligence, or unreasonable carelessness, of its employee, in not verifying your information before giving out this data.
But the law only provides compensation for actual, provable losses, not for acts which may be wrong but don't harm you. If you have not suffered some concrete loss traceable to this, you do not have a lawsuit; all you can do is contact higher-ups at the agency and complain, or complain to an elected official.
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