DOD Unblocks Cohen Seglias From Emails Following Lawsuit

By: Rae Ann Varona

Cohen Seglias’ suit against the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding its software system incorrectly flagging the firm’s web domain as malware, which led to a block that prevented DOD officials from accessing the firm’s website, was dropped. In Law360, Michael Payne, the attorney who brought the suit, explained that the case was withdrawn because the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) acknowledged the error and removed the block.

Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC on Thursday dropped its lawsuit against the Defense Information Systems Agency after the agency acknowledged it mistakenly flagged the firm for malware and blocked it from government emails, the firm’s attorney told Law360.

The Philadelphia-based firm’s decision was formally filed in court in the Pennsylvania federal court a week after it alleged DISA — the U.S. Department of Defense agency tasked with managing information technology and communication systems — blocked the firm’s web domain due to an alleged risk on the site that was supposedly detected as recently as March.

Cohen Seglias told the district court that the block, which prevented federal agencies from sending email messages to the firm’s attorneys, was imposed by mistake and caused substantial interruption to the firm’s work. It said that it had never received a single interruption or blockage of its email service in the 15 years since forming its government contracting group, which it said has represented “hundreds of government contractors in matters involving federal agencies.” The firm said it receives “thousands of emails daily.”