State Briefs

Hospital receives insurance payment for ransomware attack

GILLETTE (WNE) — Campbell County Health has received an insurance settlement almost a year after a ransomware attack crippled its computer systems and disrupted its operations for months.

After a series of negotiations with multiple insurance companies, CCH has recouped $1 million as part of its insurance settlement, which officials hope marks an end to the cyber incident and fallout that dragged on throughout the past year.

“We obviously continue to look at our systems, but with the payments from the insurance companies we are closing the chapter,” said CCH Chief Financial Officer Mary Lou Tate.

Last September, the ransomware attack shut down more than 1500 computers and servers at Campbell County Memorial Hospital and the Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center.

It took the hospital until December to fully recover its technology infrastructure and return its operations to normal.

Initially, Tate expected an insurance settlement in the neighborhood of $1.5 million, which she said is about how much the attack cost CCH. But after negotiations with the hospital’s three insurers, she realized that number would likely not be reached.

A ransomware attack involves an outside party attaching malicious software to a computer system that locks it up and demands payment in order to receive a key to unlock and restore the system.

Woman pleads not guilty in $363,000 embezzlement

RIVERTON (WNE) — Charged with the largest embezzlement in the county in eight years, Laura Burleson pleaded “not guilty” Sept. 23 in Fremont County District Court. 

District Court Judge Jason Conder decided at the arraignment hearing that Burleson – also known as Laura Veach or Laura Logan – no longer has to wear an ankle monitor while out on bond, especially because she is roughly nine months pregnant. 

Burleson stands accused of four separate felonies, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines – for a total possible 40 years and $40,000 if she is convicted. 

A forensic accounting process and tracking of checks, payments and accounts for M&M Well Service has led authorities to believe that Burleson stole $363,769 from the minerals company, which was formerly her employer. 

“This would actually be 26 felonies if the state wished to charge it as such,” noted Fremont County Attorney deputy Seth Griswold, who is prosecuting the case. “It’s overwhelming – we have a paper trail for everything, and showing that every check was written by her, signed by her.” 

The embezzlements with which she is charged are reported to have started in November of 2014, with the last one dating to February 2018.