CHICAGO — Prep workers have filed a class-action lawsuit against Home Chef, a food company, citing alleged negligence and invasion of privacy.
Annette Wells and Johnnie Tyler, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint on Jan. 24 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Relish Labs LLC, dba Home Chef, alleging violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
According to the complaint, in 2017, Annette Wells and Johnnie Tyler were hired by defendants as prep workers who -- among other classes of employees -- are required to provide their fingerprints to be used for biometrics as a means of identifying and tracking hours worked at all of their facilities.
Defendants subsequently scanned and stored plaintiffs' fingerprint data in its employee database as part of the employee time-clocking process. However, plaintiff claims they were never informed in writing that defendant was capturing, collecting, storing or using their biometric information.
To date, plaintiffs and the class are unaware of the status of their biometric information obtained by defendant, causing them constant and ongoing exposure to severe harm and violation of their rights.
The plaintiffs holds Relish Labs LLC, dba Home Chef, responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to provide a written policy regarding its schedule and guidelines for the retention and permanent destruction of its workforces' biometric information.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek preliminary and permanent injunctive relief; award all damages, costs and expenses incurred; and such further and other relief the Court deems just and appropriate. They are represented by Frank Castiglione and Kasif Khowaja of The Khowaja Law Firm in Chicago.
The Cook County Circuit Court Case No. is 19-CH-00987.
