A class action lawsuit accuses people search site Radaris of violating Illinois' Right of Publicity Act (IRPA) by allegedly charging people for access to other people's identifying information.
The company operates a website, Radaris.com, "which provides access to a database containing a vast trove of personal information about untold numbers of individuals," states the lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
Radaris allows visitors to the website to conduct a “free” people search, the suit says.
"Once the search is complete, Radaris presents a preview of a 'report' showing, among other data points, the individual's full name, age, relatives, and city and state of residence," the lawsuit states.
Lead plaintiff Reginald Ducksworth is "among those persons whose names and other personally-identifiable information Radaris used to market its subscription service," the lawsuit alleges.
But neither Ducksworth or any other members of the class of people the suit seeks to represent ever gave the company permission to use their personal information, the suit states.
"As a result, Radaris violated — and continues to violate — the IRPA by reaping a commercial benefit through the unauthorized use of Plaintiff’s and the Class’s demographic information in its advertisements," the lawsuit contends.
The lawsuit seeks $1,000 per violation, plus attorney fees.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Keith J. Keogh and Gregg M. Barbakoff, of Keogh Law Ltd., of Chicago.