Disgruntled Worker Accused of Deleting $2.5 Million of Files - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 01-26-2008, 07:18 PM

Disgruntled Worker Accused of Deleting $2.5 Million of Files

By Grayson Kamm
First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The target may be high-tech, but the emotion involved is as old as humanity. Spite, anger, and revenge. Police say that's what filled a woman's heart after she picked up the classified ads.

When Marie Cooley came across a job that looked like hers in the classifieds, she admits she was certain she was about to be fired.

So police say late Sunday night, she crept into the Mandarin office where she worked at Steven E. Hutchins Architects.

"She decided to go and mess up everything for everybody," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson.

Jefferson says Cooley accessed the company's server with her own account. And with a handful of mouse clicks and keystrokes, he says she deleted seven years' worth of architectural drawings.

Seven years of work -- gone in seconds.

The company put the value of the vaporized files at $2.5 million.

"She decided to be spiteful and go in and sabotage the records. And she did a very good job of that," Jefferson said.

According to police, Cooley confessed to the crime. It's a second degree felony that could lay the blueprints for a five-year prison sentence.

Folks at the architecture firm didn't want to talk on camera about the disastrous deletion.

The owner did tell First Coast News that he's paid good money to recover those files and he says he's now managed to get every deleted drawing back from its digital death.

"The lesson to be learned here is that you can't depend on having just one set of records or files and having your employees have access to them. You've got to have some kind of backup," Jefferson said.

And here's the most sobering part: the owner of the architecture firm says Marie Cooley was not going to be fired. He says the job listing was for his wife's business -- not his.

Ireneparalegal · 01-26-2008, 07:21 PM

I heard this on the radio yesterday. I was like, "WTF?"

And to think, it wasn't even her job that was being advertised. Crazy lady.

And to think the company had no back-up plan implented REGARDLESS!

Oy vey.

Janice · 01-26-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I heard this on the radio yesterday. I was like, "WTF?"

And to think, it wasn't even her job that was being advertised. Crazy lady.

And to think the company had no back-up plan implented REGARDLESS!

Oy vey.

I know, it's nuts. I used to have to back up company files when I worked for an investment firm. My friend now works at a huge company, in the IT Dept., and everything gets backed up.

Ireneparalegal · 01-26-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

I know, it's nuts. I used to have to back up company files when I worked for an investment firm. My friend now works at a huge company, in the IT Dept., and everything gets backed up.

I can't think of any company that wouldn't have any sort of back-up. I mean, it may not be a disgruntled employee, what if the system just malfunctions somehow? That company sure learned a big lesson from this. I guess she knew they didn't have any back-up.

Stormtracker TF · 01-26-2008, 07:38 PM

Well, that was a dumb idea.

Cactus Jack · 01-26-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muppettracker TF

Well, that was a dumb idea.

yeah, talk about paranoid

catlover79 · 01-26-2008, 10:26 PM

Ay Carumba!!!

dawsongirl · 01-26-2008, 10:31 PM

Guess she's fired now.

Ireneparalegal · 01-27-2008, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

Guess she's fired now.

Fired and arrested and facing jail time.

TJL · 01-27-2008, 10:24 AM

Oh, we're sorry Miss Cooley, it appears that your 401k has been mysteriously deleted.

Oops!

80sTrivia · 01-27-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

Oh, we're sorry Miss Cooley, it appears that your 401k has been mysteriously deleted.

Oops!

I'm sure whatever money she did have in her 401K will be levied against the firm's enormous losses... Spite always comes back to bite you in the you-know-where!!!

OH Nuts! · 01-27-2008, 10:38 AM

Of course this is an extreme example, but it never pays to jump to conclusions.

catlover79 · 01-27-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

Oh, we're sorry Miss Cooley, it appears that your 401k has been mysteriously deleted.

Oops!

I think Enron said that too, once upon a time.

Lee · 01-28-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

And here's the most sobering part: the owner of the architecture firm says Marie Cooley was not going to be fired. He says the job listing was for his wife's business -- not his.

I think it is pretty safe to say that she's fired now.

01-26-2008, 07:18 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Disgruntled Worker Accused of Deleting $2.5 Million of Files Disgruntled Worker Accused of Deleting $2.5 Million of Files By Grayson Kamm First Coast News JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The target may be high-tech, but the emotion involved is as old as humanity. Spite, anger, and revenge. Police say that's what filled a woman's heart after she picked up the classified ads. When Marie Cooley came across a job that looked like hers in the classifieds, she admits she was certain she was about to be fired. So police say late Sunday night, she crept into the Mandarin office where she worked at Steven E. Hutchins Architects. "She decided to go and mess up everything for everybody," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson. Jefferson says Cooley accessed the company's server with her own account. And with a handful of mouse clicks and keystrokes, he says she deleted seven years' worth of architectural drawings. Seven years of work -- gone in seconds. The company put the value of the vaporized files at $2.5 million. "She decided to be spiteful and go in and sabotage the records. And she did a very good job of that," Jefferson said. According to police, Cooley confessed to the crime. It's a second degree felony that could lay the blueprints for a five-year prison sentence. Folks at the architecture firm didn't want to talk on camera about the disastrous deletion. The owner did tell First Coast News that he's paid good money to recover those files and he says he's now managed to get every deleted drawing back from its digital death. "The lesson to be learned here is that you can't depend on having just one set of records or files and having your employees have access to them. You've got to have some kind of backup," Jefferson said. And here's the most sobering part: the owner of the architecture firm says Marie Cooley was not going to be fired. He says the job listing was for his wife's business -- not his.

01-26-2008, 07:21 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I heard this on the radio yesterday. I was like, "WTF?" And to think, it wasn't even her job that was being advertised. Crazy lady. And to think the company had no back-up plan implented REGARDLESS! Oy vey.
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01-26-2008, 07:38 PM	#5
Stormtracker TF Happy Easter! Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 102,598	Well, that was a dumb idea.
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01-26-2008, 10:26 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Ay Carumba!!!
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01-27-2008, 10:24 AM	#10
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Oh, we're sorry Miss Cooley, it appears that your 401k has been mysteriously deleted. Oops!
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01-26-2008, 10:31 PM	#8
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Guess she's fired now.

01-27-2008, 10:38 AM	#12
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Of course this is an extreme example, but it never pays to jump to conclusions.