CHICAGO — An employee has filed a class action lawsuit against freight transport company Ryder, claiming they violated their workers' rights under an Illinois biometrics privacy law.
Edward Villalobos, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint on Feb. 8 in Cook County Circuit Court against Ryder Integrated Logistics Inc., alleging violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
According to the complaint, Edward Villalobos worked for Ryder through a temporary agency, and was required to scan his fingerprint when punching in and out of shifts.
The complaint said Ryder allegedly stored employees' handprint data in its databases without informing them of the purpose for which it was collected, stored or used. As a result, plaintiff claims they have been continuously and repeatedly been exposed to the risks and harmful conditions allegedly created by defendant.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for damages, injunctive relief, attorney fees, costs, and other relief.
Under the Illinois law, the defendant could face damages of $1,000-$5,000 per violation. A violation could be measured as every time an employee used a biometric time keeping device to punch in and out of a work shift.
Villalobos is represented by attorney David J. Fish, of Naperville.
Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 19-CH-01712.