CHICAGO – A lighting manufacturer has become one of the latest employers hit with a class action lawsuit by employees accusing it of improperly scanning and storing their fingerprints for use with an employee punch clock system, allegedly violating an Illinois biometrics privacy law.
On Sept. 27, plaintiff Linda Kane, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint in Cook County Circuit Court against Conservation Technology of Illinois, doing business as Con-Tech Lighting; Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc.; ADP LLC; and Kronos Inc. over alleged violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff worked for Con-Tech from 2005-September 2018 as an accounts receivable representative. She alleges as condition of her employment, she was required to scan her hand geometry to track her time worked. The suit states her handprint data was stored in an ADP and Kronos database.
The plaintiff holds Conservation Technology of Illinois, Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., ADP LLC and Kronos Inc. responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to properly inform plaintiff and the class in writing of the specific purpose or length of time for which their fingerprints were being collected, stored, used and disseminated. She also alleges that she never signed a written release allowing the collection or dissemination of her biometric data.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for statutory damages of $5,000 per violation, award of injunctive and equitable relief, attorney fees, costs, pre- and post-judgment interest, and such further relief as the court deems just and equitable. She is represented by Ryan F. Stephan, James B. Zouras, Andrew C. Ficzko and Haley R. Jenkins of Stephan Zouras LLP in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 18-CH-12194