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Employee Alleges Workforce Management Firm Violated Biometric Privacy Laws

COOK COUNTY RECORD

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Employee Alleges Workforce Management Firm Violated Biometric Privacy Laws

Federal Court

A class action lawsuit has been filed against a company accused of mishandling sensitive biometric data, potentially putting thousands at risk. On October 14, 2024, Tomas Jones filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Harri (US), LLC. The lawsuit alleges that Harri unlawfully collected, used, stored, and disclosed biometric data without proper consent or adherence to legal guidelines.

The case revolves around Harri's biometric timekeeping software used by various businesses, including Steak 'n Shake, where Jones was employed. According to the complaint, Harri's software requires employees to scan their facial geometry for time tracking purposes. This practice allegedly violates the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) of Illinois by failing to inform employees about the purpose and duration of data collection and not obtaining written consent before collecting or sharing this data. The complaint highlights that biometrics are unique identifiers that cannot be changed if compromised, exposing individuals to severe privacy risks.

Jones claims that Harri did not develop a publicly available retention schedule for destroying biometric data as required by BIPA. Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses Harri of disclosing biometric information to third parties without employee consent. These actions are said to contravene BIPA’s mandates designed to protect citizens from unauthorized use and distribution of their biometric information.

Plaintiff Tomas Jones seeks a court order declaring Harri's practices as violations of BIPA and demands statutory damages for each violation—$5,000 for willful violations or $1,000 for negligent ones. Additionally, Jones requests injunctive relief requiring Harri to comply with BIPA regulations regarding the collection and handling of biometric data.

Representing Tomas Jones in this case are attorneys Ryan F. Stephan, James B. Zouras, and Andrew C. Ficzko from Stephan Zouras LLP based in Chicago. The case is presided over under Case ID 1:24-cv-10181.

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