--- description: Marriott International is the target of a large class action lawsuit over its recent data breach affecting more than 300 million guests. CSCS discuss the rights of victims. title: Marriott Faces Class Action Over Data Breach That Exposed Private Information of Millions of Guests --- Marriott Faces Class Action Over Data Breach That Exposed Private Information of Millions of Guests # Marriott Faces Massive Class Action Lawsuit Over Data Breach That Exposed Private Information of Millions of Guests Last Updated: November 20, 2025 Reading Time: 4 minutes Trusted Content Legally Reviewed by Allan Siegel Updated 7 months ago [Home](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) » [Recent Posts](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/) » Marriott Faces Massive Class Action Lawsuit Over Data Breach That Exposed Private Information of Millions of Guests What's On This Page [Case Results](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/case-results/) $35.6 Million Medical Malpractice $18.8 Million Car Crash $17.1 Million Medical Malpractice $15 Million Neck & Spine Injury $14.25 Million Class Action $6 Million Brain Injury [View All Practice Areas](https://chaikinandsherman.com/practice-areas/) [Testimonials](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/testimonials-hub/) I would never worry again if they are on the case. 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"*" indicates required fields Name* First Last Name* Last Email** Phone*Are you a new client?*Are you a new client? *Yes, I'm a potential new client.No, I'm a current existing client.I'm neitherCase TypeCase TypeMotor Vehicle AccidentSlip & FallAssaultMedical MalpracticeAbuseWork InjuryOtherWere You at Fault?Were You At Fault?NoYesUnknownWhere Did The Incident Occur?Where Did The Incident Occur?Washington, D.C.VirginiaMarylandOtherDid The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?Did The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?YesNoShare Brief Description of the Incident* The firm’s four partners discuss their litigation approach and institutional credentials — including over $1 billion recovered, Tier One Best Law Firm recognition, three partners who served as presidents of the DC Trial Lawyers Association, and two Super Lawyers Top 100 honorees. For whistleblower and qui tam clients, the firm brings the same resources, trial readiness, and willingness to confront powerful entities. Video Transcript **Speakers:** Ira Sherman, Joseph Cammarata, Stephen Ollar, Allan Siegel **Joseph Cammarata (00:01):** How do you pick the right personal injury lawyer? How do you know who to trust? This is the most important decision you’re going to make right now. The question is how do you get it right? **Allan Siegel (00:14):** For more than 50 years, we’ve gone to battle for our clients. We represent the victims of car bus and truck collisions, bike wrecks, traumatic brain injuries, and medical malpractice. We fight insurance companies, corporations, and governments at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata and Siegel. We know what it takes to win, and we’re proud of the reputation that we’ve built as advocates for the people. **Ira Sherman (00:45):** Experience matters. That’s just the truth. There’s no other way to excel for our clients other than years of hard work. We’ve dedicated our entire professional careers to this cause and what do we have to show for it? Over $1 billion in compensation for our clients. Named Tier One Best Law Firm in Personal Injury Litigation. Three partners who served as presidents of the metropolitan DC Trial Lawyers Association and justice for tens of thousands of clients. **Stephen Ollar (01:22):** Needing a lawyer and finding one can be a scary and overwhelming process. We strive to take the fear and uncertainty out of that process, unlike other firms. When you call our firm, you will always speak with an attorney about your case. As a former staff sergeant in the United States Army, I know what it means to serve and we serve our clients by providing unmatched representation and the expertise to win cases. **Joseph Cammarata (01:50):** Our firm’s mission has always been to represent people from every walk of life, young, old, rich, poor, large cases. In the small ones that comes from our founder, Donald Chaikin. I will never forget what he would tell people. He would say, we fight for those you love. **Allan Siegel (02:09):** We are local and national leaders in the personal injury field. There are not many law firms that have our combination of awards and achievements. We have two trial lawyers recognized in the Super Lawyer’s Top 100 list. Ira Sherman served on the board of the Brain Injury Association of America for many years. Joe Cammarata is a past chair of the AAJ Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, and I recently served as the chair of AAJ’s bus litigation group. Look, if people come in, the world **Ira Sherman (02:40):** is turned upside down. They don’t know where to turn next. When you hire us, we’re going to be doing all we can to obtain justice on your behalf. You just got one thing to do, which is to get **Allan Siegel (02:53):** better. We are Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata and Siegel. Personal Injury Attorneys in Washington, DC. Marriott International, one of the world’s leading hotel chain operators, is facing a massive class-action lawsuit over a data breach affecting over 300 million guests. The suit, filed in early January in Maryland federal district court, is the most sweeping to date related to the data breach, which experts believe may be the largest of its kind in history. In the [class action](https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/1/11/18178733/marriott-starwood-hack-lawsuit), over 175 plaintiffs from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands claim Marriott and its subsidiary Starwood failed to take the necessary steps to protect them from the breach, and that Marriott failed to notify affected guests in a timely and accurate manner. Here’s a breakdown of what happened: - Marriott initially disclosed the data breach on November 30, 2018, reporting that cyberattacks targeting its Starwood reservation system gained access to the personal information of up to 500 million guests. Marriott later amended that initial estimate to roughly 383 million guest records, which included millions of unencrypted and encrypted passwords, passport numbers, and credit or debit cards. - The data breach affected only the records of guests who stayed at certain properties and hotels since 2014, and specifically those in the company’s Starwood portfolio, which Marriott acquired in 2016. It includes Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis, and W Hotels, among others. - As detailed in the lawsuit, Marriott’s purchase of Starwood is part of the problem. Plaintiffs’ attorneys stated the breach of Starwood’s reservation system had been ongoing since 2014, and that Marriott should have discovered it and taken more action in terms of cybersecurity to protect guests and their confidential information. Instead, the breach continued for an additional two years after the acquisition. What’s more, plaintiffs claim, Marriott waited until the end of November to notify guests, despite having identified the hack in September of 2018. - Cybersecurity experts suggest the breach could have been identified years before it was disclosed, as the Starwood database had known vulnerabilities and had previously been targeted by a different hacking breach in 2015, which lasted for eight months before being discovered. The latest class action may be the most sweeping suit in the data breach case, but it isn’t the only one. A class action filed in December noted similar claims of Marriott’s inexplicable failures to safeguard private information and detect the breach, as well as failures to notify customers about what happened. ### Mega Litigation: Why Major Cases May be the New Norm The Marriott data breach case has many elements, including highly technical concepts of cybersecurity. Though experts say the hospitality industry is often targeted by hackers precisely because of lax security policies, and that the recent leak may signify a need for better protections across the board, the size of the recent class action may also suggest massive cases may very well become the new norm in our justice system. Periodically on our blog, we discuss legal headlines involving major cases and truly massive results. This includes large, unprecedented, and record-setting verdicts and settlements in cases such as: - The $1 billion [NFL concussion settlement](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) - [GM’s faulty ignition switches](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) - Johnson & Johnson’s [$4.7 billion](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/business/johnson-johnson-baby-powder-verdict.html) baby powder verdict (in addition to millions more) - MSU’s $500M settlement for victims of Larry Nassar [sexual abuse](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/sexual-abuse/) - Pfizer’s qui tam (False Claims Act) [$1 billion settlement](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) These are only a few examples of seriously monstrous case results. In the past year alone, for instance we’ve also discussed record-setting verdicts, settlements, and large awards for victims in cases involving a [bicycle accident](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2018/10/california-jury-orders-caltrans-city-of-la-to-pay-9-1m-to-bicyclist-left-with-brain-damage-after-crash/) lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles, a [$100+ million](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2018/08/texas-jury-orders-trucking-company-to-pay-101-million-to-injured-truck-accident-victim/) Texas tractor-trailer verdict, a [hotel stabbing victim](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2018/08/jury-awards-41-million-to-family-of-hotel-stabbing-victim/), and many more. While these particular cases involved only a single victim, it’s become clear larger awards are happening more frequently, something we’ve discussed specifically in personal injury and death cases involving [truck accidents](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2018/11/trucking-accident-cases-increasingly-resolved-through-mega-verdicts/). That trend isn’t only being seen in cases involving single victims; it’s become more pronounced in major litigation involving some of the world’s largest corporations. Since the infamous Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement of 1998 broke new boundaries with its $206 billion settlement against the four largest tobacco manufacturers, mega verdicts are also happening more often. That includes many verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 billion dollars, such as the NFL [concussion](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/brain-injuries/concussions/) case and Johnson & Johnson talcum powder cancer suits, which are still pending. In the near future, it’s possible the pending opioid lawsuits against Big Pharma may set a new record for the country’s largest civil litigation agreement in history. ### Justice & Compensation: Protecting Victims’ Rights While those figures are indeed staggering and nearly unfathomable for many, what they suggest is not just that awards are getting bigger (even though they very well might be), but that the egregiousness and sheer scope of wrongful conduct committed by the largest corporations is becoming worse, or are simply being detected more often. We’ve discussed these trends in our blogs on the American Association for Justice’s annual “Worst Corporate Conduct” lists, and have noted the importance of the [civil justice system](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2018/10/dont-believe-corporations-the-civil-justice-system-protects-people/) when it comes to creating a level playing field upon which victims can fight back against the biggest and most powerful entities responsible for such wrongdoings – whether they do as individuals, [whistleblowers](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/whistleblower-cases/), or groups of individuals banded together in class actions. What’s should not be overlooked is the fact that these cases have real stakes: the talcum powder products implicated in J&J lawsuits have allegedly caused numerous women to develop deadly cancers, GM’s concealment of defective ignition switches is directly linked to many injuries and deaths, and the devastation wrought by the opioid epidemic is all too evident, with opioid overdoses now surpassing auto accidents as the leading cause of death in America. Those types of damages are the same as those addressed by our legal team every day – and they demand justice and compensation for victims. As Marriott’s data breach litigation and other major cases play out, our attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. will continue to keep you apprised – and will always be available to take your call should you have legal needs of your own anywhere in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia. [Contact us](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/contact-us/) to speak with an attorney. ## Get free advice about the compensation you deserve. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our car accident attorneys fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve, handling every aspect of your case to protect your rights. Trust us to stand by you and advocate aggressively on your behalf. Speak to a Specialist Visit Us in Person 1232 17th St NW Washington, DC 20036 The whistleblower and qui tam attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. represent individuals who report fraud against the federal government in cases involving [qui tam False Claims Act actions](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/whistleblower-cases/qui-tam/), [health care fraud](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/whistleblower-cases/health-care-fraud/), [Medicare and Medicaid fraud](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/whistleblower-cases/medicare-medicaid-fraud/), [government contractor fraud](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/whistleblower-cases/government-contractor-fraud/), and [Anti-Kickback Statute violations](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/whistleblower-cases/anti-kickback-statute/), with full guidance on [whistleblower protections](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/whistleblower-cases/whistleblower-protections/) and [retaliation claims](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/whistleblower-cases/can-my-employer-retaliate/) for those considering coming forward. Top 10 Mistakes Made After an Accident Review these common auto accident mistakes to protect your rights. READ OUR E-BOOK Meet Our Team Learn More About Us Ira Sherman Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and New York With over four decades of courtroom experience, **Ira Sherman** is a powerhouse trial lawyer who has won justice for countless victims of serious injury, discrimination, and medical malpractice. Known for his relentless advocacy, compassion, and proven results, he’s the attorney clients trust when everything is on the line. Ira Sherman's Bio Joseph Cammarata Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia A dual board-certified civil trial attorney, **Joseph Cammarata** is nationally recognized for his fierce advocacy, landmark legal victories, and relentless pursuit of justice for victims of serious injury, wrongful death, sexual assault, and civil rights violations. With wins against powerful opponents—including a historic U.S. Supreme Court case securing equal access to justice—he’s the attorney clients trust when they need skill, strength, and results that matter. Joe Cammarata's Bio Allan M. Siegel​ Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Allan M. Siegel** is a board-certified trial attorney and partner at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., known for securing justice in serious personal injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases. Recognized as one of Washington’s *Top 100 Super Lawyers®* and a *Best Lawyer®* in America, he combines strategic precision, courtroom skill, and relentless advocacy to win full and fair compensation for his clients. Allan Siegel's Bio Stephen Ollar Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Stephen Ollar** is an award-winning trial attorney and U.S. Army veteran dedicated to holding negligent individuals and corporations accountable. Recognized as a *Super Lawyers Rising Star* from 2020–2025, he’s known for his tenacity, precision, and unwavering pursuit of justice in personal injury, auto accident, and medical malpractice cases. Stephen Ollar's Bio ## Related Articles Read More Blog Articles Why You Should Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance In DC Why You Should Have Uninsured Motorist Insurance in Maryland Can My Employer Retaliate? Government Contractor Fraud Health Care Fraud Medicare & Medicaid Fraud Whistleblower Protections Anti-Kickback Statute Qui Tam Marriott Faces Massive Class Action Lawsuit Over Data Breach That Exposed Private Information of Millions of Guests Marriott International, one of the world’s leading hotel chain operators, is facing a massive class-action Read More » 02/18/2019 [](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/2016/09/virginia-appeals-court-upholds-medicaid-fraud-conviction/) Uncategorized Virginia Appeals Court Upholds Medicaid Fraud Conviction A federal appeals court in Virginia recently upheld the Medicaid fraud conviction against the married Read More » 09/27/2016 Can Multiple Whistleblowers File a Single Case? The False Claims Act bars duplicate claims filed based on the same information as previous whistleblower Read More » 07/26/2016 Can a Whistleblower Who Filed Bankruptcy Pursue a False Claims Act Case? Whistleblowers (called “relators” in the False Claims Act) may have difficulty in seeking a qui Read More » 04/01/2016