EDWARDSVILLE — Estel Foods and others are accused of violating state BIPA laws and failing to make proper disclosures to employees about their fingerprint scans.
Amanda Holmes and Tamara Stockton, on behalf of themselves and other persons similarly situated, filed a complaint April 21 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Estel Foods Inc., and James Estel Williams, Jr., alleging violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
According to the plaintiff's complaint, certain employees working for the defendants were required to us their fingerprints to clock in and out of work at their job site. They allege that the defendants violated BIPA regulations by failing to inform them in writing that their biometric information was being collected and stored. The plaintiffs also allege the defendants did not obtain written consent to capture or store fingerprint scans from employees or disclose a "retention schedule and guidelines" for permanently destroying their biometric data. The plaintiffs claim they were also not told about any third parties with whom their biometric data was being "directly or indirectly" shared.
The plaintiffs seek monetary and all other just relief. They are represented by Roberto Costales and William Beaumont of Beaumont Costales LLC in Chicago.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000478