IL Supreme Court: Biometrics class actions can include claims over five years, not just one

Illinois’ highest state court has again turned aside an effort by businesses to limit the reach of the state’s biometrics privacy law, a statute that has spawned thousands of class action lawsuits against employers and other businesses, generating a steady windfall of fees for plaintiffs’ lawyers.

On Feb. 2, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled the Biometric Information Privacy Act should be governed by a five-year, rather than one-year statute of limitations. The ruling keeps open the door for plaintiffs to demand much greater financial damages.

The ruling turned aside an effort by trucking and logistics company Black Horse Carriers to significantly reduce its potential payout under a class action lawsuit brought by employees Jorome Tims and Isaac Watson.

Read more of Jonathan Bilyk's report about the ruling on Cook County Record.