06 Sep Employee alleges Gurtler Chemicals broke biometrics law by requiring worker hand scans

• An employee is suing Gurtler Chemicals
• He filed a class action complaint, alleging Gurtler violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
• He is represented by attorneys Brandon M. Wise and Paul Lesko of Peiffer Wolf.

Cook County Records | By Carrie Bradon | Aug 28, 2019

CHICAGO — An employee is suing Gurtler Chemicals, a South Holland-based maker of specialty laundry products, over the company’s policies requiring workers to scan their hand when punching in and out of work shifts.

David Kirby, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a class action complaint Aug. 14 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging Gurtler violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.

According to the complaint, Kirby was employed by Gurtler Chemicals and was required to clock in and out using biometric information by a hand-scanning device. The suit states the defendant did not provide workers with notices required by the Illinois BIPA law, or obtain their express authorization, as allegedly required, before requiring the employees to scan their biometric identifiers to verify their identities when punching the clock.

Kirby seeks damages of $1,000-$5,000 for each violation, plus attorney fees, interest and other relief. He is represented by attorneys Brandon M. Wise and Paul Lesko of Peiffer Wolf Carr & Kane APLC in St. Louis.

Cook County Circuit Court case number 2019-CH-09395

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