Legal: C-store operator sues over Colonial Pipeline shutdown

摘要

The operator of Colonial Pipeline is facing another classaction lawsuit stemming from the cyberattack that disrupted gasoline supplies in the U.S. Southeast last month. The suit, filed by the operator of a three-pump convenience store in Wilmington, North Carolina, claims that Colonial's failure to guard against the ransomware attack limited its sale of fuel and other products to customers and boosted wholesale gasoline prices, thereby reducing store profits. The owner of EZ Mart 1 says it is bringing the suit on behalf of 11,000 gas stations negatively impacted by the cyberattack. The suit seeks at least $5 million in damages for costs and profits lost by stations due to the attack as well as a court order requiring Colonial to take steps to protect its system against future cyberattacks. The suit claims that such an order is needed because Colonial's insurance will cover the portion of the ransom payment not recovered by authorities while the pipeline company may be able to seek a tax deduction on the ransom payment.