Saint Anthony Hospital has agreed to pay approximately $1.46 million, establishing a $1,455,300 settlement fund, to resolve a class action lawsuit that accused the hospital of violating Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by collecting and storing employee fingerprint data without proper consent or legally required disclosures.
The lawsuit represents current and former employees whose biometric information was captured as part of the hospital’s timekeeping system. According to the plaintiffs, Saint Anthony Hospital failed to comply with BIPA’s core requirements, which obligate employers under Illinois law to obtain written consent before collecting biometric data and to inform individuals about how such data is stored, used, and eventually destroyed.
Details of the Settlement and Class Period
The settlement covers individuals whose fingerprints were collected between June 5, 2013, and May 7, 2025. Under the terms of the agreement, eligible class members are expected to receive an estimated net payout of around $539 each, though the exact amount may vary depending on fees, administrative costs, and participation levels. The deadline for class members to object to or opt out of the settlement is July 12, 2025, and a final approval hearing is scheduled for August 19, 2025. Notices will be sent to eligible participants explaining how they can claim their share of the funds.
Although Saint Anthony Hospital has not admitted any wrongdoing, it agreed to the settlement to avoid further litigation costs and the uncertainty of trial. The hospital’s biometric timekeeping practices were consistent with a broader trend in workplace technology that uses fingerprint scans or other biometric systems to track employee attendance. However, such systems have increasingly come under legal scrutiny in Illinois, where BIPA allows individuals to seek damages of $1,000 per negligent violation or $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation.
Growing National Attention on Biometric Privacy
Saint Anthony’s settlement reflects ongoing enforcement of BIPA across Illinois, as similar lawsuits have targeted employers over fingerprint timekeeping and other biometric practices. Earlier this year, lawsuits were filed against other companies for alleged biometric privacy violations, underscoring the risks businesses face if they do not fully comply with the law’s consent and disclosure requirements.
Beyond Illinois, other states are introducing laws to regulate biometric data. For instance, Colorado’s new biometric privacy legislation, HB 24-1130, will take effect on July 1, 2025, adding specific rules about collecting and storing biometric identifiers under the Colorado Privacy Act. These developments suggest that strict privacy standards around biometric technology are becoming a growing concern nationwide.
The Saint Anthony Hospital case highlights the heightened oversight facing employers who deploy fingerprint or facial recognition systems, as regulators and courts increasingly demand transparency and respect for individual privacy rights.
Sources: ClaimDepot, Justice Department, Going Concern
–
By the ID Tech Editorial Team
