Medical Billing Ltd secures injunction against contractor

A web-based medical billing company has secured a High Court injunction against a contractor alleged to have taken some of its material containing sensitive data.

Mr Justice Donald Binchy granted the order to Medical Billing Ltd against Stality Ltd and James Collado, both of Merton Hall, Mount St Annes, Milltown, Dublin 6.

Medical Billing Ltd, which sends bills for doctors and hospitals through its website, had hired Mr Collado and Stality to carry out various works on its website, the court heard.

Ronnie Hudson, for the company, said it contended that, in recent days, the defendants had logged into Medical Billings website and IT system and had unlawfully taken a backup of its database and the code.

It is also alleged the defendants deleted files from Medical Billings’s IT system. Counsel said the defendants were asked in correspondence to return the material allegedly taken but had failed to do so.

Counsel said, after his client obtained a temporary injunction last Tuesday, gardaí called to the defendants premises and “broke down the door” before recovering copies of the material taken.

Counsel said his client is concerned the confidential data could still be circulated or disseminated by the defendants.

Mr Justice Binchy said he would grant the orders sought. The orders, which apply pending the full hearing of the action, direct Mr Collado and Stality Ltd to return data, including the back up of Medical Billing’s database which contains sensitive confidential information and the specific code required to run the website.

Mr Collado was not in court during the application. Counsel said he had been made aware of the proceedings and is believed to be in Barcelona. The judge has also granted both sides liberty to apply to the court.