Updated
Updated · Bloomberg Law · Jun 26
Federal Court Certifies BIPA Class Action Against Universal Logistics Over Fingerprint Scanner Claims
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg Law · Jun 26

Federal Court Certifies BIPA Class Action Against Universal Logistics Over Fingerprint Scanner Claims

1 articles · Updated · Bloomberg Law · Jun 26

Summary

  • A federal district court let an employee pursue Illinois Biometric Privacy Act claims on a class basis against Universal Intermodal Services, Universal Logistics Holdings and related entities.
  • Rule 23 certification turned on shared allegations that the companies used fingerprint scanners to collect workers' biometric data without the consent and safeguards required by BIPA.
  • The court found commonality and predominance were satisfied, concluding the biometric collection practices and core liability questions were common across the proposed classes.
  • The ruling moves the case from an individual employee dispute toward broader litigation over workplace biometric data practices under Illinois' strict privacy law.

Insights

With massive 'per-scan' damages now gone, have biometric privacy lawsuits in Illinois lost their power?
As federal law threatens to replace BIPA, what is the future of biometric data protection in America?