SUNY Niagara Faces Class Action Over 2024 Data Breach Exposing 10,000+ Students’ Personal Information A proposed class action lawsuit against the State University of New York at Niagara (SUNY Niagara) will proceed after a federal judge ruled that lead plaintiff Jacob Baggett sufficiently alleged claims of negligence, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and declaratory judgment. The case stems from a 2024 data breach that exposed the personal information of over 10,000 students. U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford of the Western District of New York dismissed the plaintiff’s negligence per se claim but allowed the remaining allegations to move forward. Baggett argued that SUNY Niagara failed to implement adequate data security measures and delayed notifying affected individuals, violating its duty to protect sensitive information. The breach, which occurred earlier this year, has raised concerns about institutional accountability in safeguarding student data. The case highlights ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny over higher education institutions’ cybersecurity practices.