$1.4 Million Verdict Against Walgreens Holds The Company Liable For Employee Violations Of Patient Privacy

On November 14, 2014, an Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that held Walgreen Company responsible for $1.4 million in damages due to the actions of an employed pharmacist who intentionally violated federal patient privacy regulations and company policy. Walgreen later asked for a rehearing, but that request was denied on January 15, 2015.

The case is Walgreen Co. v. Abigail E. Hinchy, which was filed in 2010. As described in the case documents, the pharmacist intentionally viewed personal health data of a pharmacy patient who had once dated the pharmacist’s husband. At the time . . .