WASHINGTON — Officials with freight rail company BNSF said they will dole out $75 million to settle a class action lawsuit over the collection of truckers’ fingerprints.
According to court documents, the railroad operator is accused of violating an Illinois state law restricting collection of biometric information, such as fingerprints and eye scans.
The deal requires a judge’s approval.
A Reuters report notes that attorneys for 46,500 truck drivers disclosed the proposed deal in a filing on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Chicago federal court.
BNSF did not admit any liability.
The lawsuit alleged Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF unlawfully collected fingerprint scans without consent from thousands of drivers using automated gate systems at the company’s four facilities in Illinois, violating the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act.
The drivers’ attorneys said the settlement will bring “closure and valuable cash compensation to what has been contentious and costly litigation,” according to Reuters.
Representatives for BNSF and the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In 2023, BNSF lost a jury trial over its liability in the case, and a U.S. district judge said the company owed $228 million in damages for violating the Illinois biometric law.
However, in June 2023 the court overturned the award and said a jury should determine damages.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
when r we gonna pressure FMCSA to cure the REAL safety problems?? lack of training an trainers w/less than 5 years experience?? it’s past time an quit addressing a front door problem by goin in the back door!!!!
great newsletter on BNSF need to know more information
1,600.00 per head…IF the 75mill were going to the drivers,minus the 12-18 mill to the law firm,still,north of a thiusand dollar for no injuries or damages to the drivers.
BNSF was probably just trying to speed up their operation,the law firm is the only one that wins, 10-18 millions for about 80 hrs of work.