EDWARDSVILLE – A class action lawsuit alleges the employee fingerprint reader system used by Staunton Area Ambulance Service violates the employees' privacy under state law.
Plaintiff Gage Blevins filed a class action lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Staunton Area Ambulance Service, citing negligence and carelessness in violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff is a former employee of the defendant. During his employment, Blevins was allegedly required to use a fingerprint reader system to clock in and out of work.
The lawsuit states that BIPA requires that prior to collecting biometric data including fingerprints, companies must inform employees in writing that biometric data will be collected and stored. It also states that employees must be informed in writing of the specific purpose of why the biometric data is being collected, how long it will be stored, and companies must receive a written release from the employee for the collection of biometric data.
The plaintiff alleges the defendant invades the privacy of its employees by collecting and storing their fingerprints without informed consent. According to Blevins, the defendant has been requiring employees to use a fingerprint reader to clock in and out of work for years. He claims the company never received a release from him allowing them to collect his fingerprints, and he never authorized the company to collect his fingerprints for this use.
Blevins is seeking monetary damages for himself and everyone in his class action lawsuit, plus court costs, attorney fees and any other relief the court deems proper. He is also requesting the court to issue an order requiring the defendant to cease the collection of biometric data without informed written consent.
The plaintiff is represented by the attorneys of Peiffer, Wolf, Carr, Kane, Conway, & Wise, LLP in St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 2022LA001050