CHICAGO – Alsip-based food product development company Griffith Foods is facing a class action suit filed by a former machine operator who claims the company illegally collected and stored his biometric data by requiring workers to scan their fingerprints when punching the clock.
Dearlo Terry filed a complaint Nov. 6 in Cook County Circuit Court against Griffith Food Group Inc., alleging violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
According to the suit, Terry worked at Griffith Foods' Alsip location from January 2006 to October 2017, during which time he was required to use a biometric time clock that scanned his fingerprint. He alleges the company never informed him of the purpose or amount of time his biometric data would be stored or disseminated and never obtained written permission to collect his data.
Terry seeks damages of $1,000-$5,000 per violation, plus attorney fees. He is represented by attorneys James Zouras, Ryan Stephan and Catherine Mitchell of Stephan Zouras LLP in Chicago.
Circuit Court of Cook County Case No. 2019CH12910