CHICAGO — Franklin Park-based Bretford Manufacturing is facing a class action filed by a former employee alleging the company violated Illinois law by collecting workers' biometric data.
Eliseo Lara, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint in November in Cook County Circuit Court against Bretford, a company that specializes in charging carts and other charging products. The lawsuit alleges violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
Lara claims he was required to punch in and out of work by scanning his fingerprint in a time clock that would capture, collect, use and store his biometric data. He alleges the information, which was used for identification and authentication, was collected through a third party vendor. He claims Bretford failed to inform him the purposes or length of time they would collect, store and use his biometric data or whether the information will be permantley deleted. He also claims he never gave permission for his data to be collected.
Lara and the putative class seek damages of $1,000-$5,000 per alleged BIPA violation, plus interest and attorney fees. They are represented by Bradon Wise and Paul Lesko of Peiffer Wolf Carr & Kane APLC in St. Louis.
Circuit Court of Cook County case number 2019CH13292