US EditionJudge's Order Denying Blue Cross Blue Shield Motion for TRO
The insurer sought to block a state probe into a data breach exposing sensitive data of over 462,000 customers, but the court refused to halt the investigation.
- On Jan. 29, 2026, Judge Christopher Abbott denied Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana's request for a preliminary injunction during a hearing in Lewis and Clark County District Court, Helena, Montana.
- Commissioner James Brown opened the probe to educate the public, improve insurer regulation and possibly impose a fine, while the state says the Montana Administrative Procedure Act requires exhausting administrative remedies before court relief.
- BCBSMT reported the Conduent cyber incident may have exposed data for more than 462,000 current and former customers, with about two-thirds including Social Security numbers, while Lorraine Salmon said she has had her data stolen five times tied to insurance breaches.
- A hearing examiner took testimony and will begin work on recommendations in the coming weeks, with those recommendations sent to Brown for a final decision; if adverse, BCBSMT may seek judicial review under MAPA, the state says.
- BCBSMT says HB 60 didn't take effect until Oct. 1 and notes it learned of the breach from Conduent on July 1 and completed its analysis on Sept. 23, disputing retroactive application.
12 Articles
12 Articles
ABC FOX Montana
Blue Cross Blue Shield argues state investigation should be halted
Blue Cross Blue Shield fought this week in Lewis and Clark County District Court to stop the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance from moving ahead with an investigation into a massive data breach, affecting more than 460,000 Montanans. Montana’s…
Investigation into data breach involving Blue Cross Blue Shield members could head to court
In October, MTN reported on a major data breach involving customers with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana. Now, as a state investigation into the breach continues, the next steps could be playing out in court.BCBSMT, the largest health insurance provider in Montana, said in October that up to 462,000 of its members data may have been exposed by a cyber incident affecting Conduent, a third-party vendor. The company reported the incident to Monta…
Helena Independent Record
Judge's order denying Blue Cross Blue Shield motion for TRO
District Court Judge Christopher Abbott denied Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana's motion to temporarily bar the state auditor's office from continuing with its investigation following a data breach.
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