BioLife Fingerprint Collection $6M Class Action Settlement

Update:

• The Court granted final approval to this settlement June 6, 2022.
• Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

BioLife agreed to pay nearly $6 million as part of a class action settlement resolving claims it collected fingerprints from donors without complying with Illinois state laws.

The settlement benefits individuals who scanned their fingers at an Illinois BioLife plasma donation facility between Sept. 8, 2015, and Nov. 15, 2021. According to the settlement website, there are an estimated 57,525 Class Members in this group.

The settlement includes two Subclasses. The first Subclass includes Class Members who scanned their finger at an eligible location between Sept. 8, 2015, and March 5, 2020. The second Subclass includes Class Members who scanned their finger between March 6, 2020, and Nov. 15, 2021 after signing a biometric consent form.

BioLife is a plasma collection company that pays donors for their plasma donations. Plasma is a component of blood that contains antibodies, clotting factors, and proteins. Medical treatments for burns, shock, trauma, and autoimmune conditions rely on plasma, making it a valuable donation.

While facilitating life-saving donations, BioLife allegedly violated Illinois biometric privacy law. The company allegedly obtains fingerprint data from donors but fails to store, transfer, or maintain this data in accordance with Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Law (BIPA).

BIPA standardizes disclosures, notices, storage, and destruction of sensitive biometric data such as fingerprints. If a company fails to inform customers how their biometrics are being collected, stored, or shared, they could be forced to pay up to $5,000 for each violation.

According to the BIPA class action lawsuit, BioLife failed to comply with the law by failing to provide BIPA disclosures, obtain informed written consent from consumers, and maintain a public schedule of biometric information retention.

BioLife hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing under BIPA but agreed to resolve this class action lawsuit with a settlement of $5,994,233.

The settlement provides cash payments to BioLife donors based on their Subclass.

Subclass 1, which scanned their fingers between Sept. 8, 2015 and March 5, 2020, are eligible for higher payments from the settlement because they did not sign a biometric consent form.

Subclass 2, which scanned their fingers between March 6, 2020 and Nov. 15, 2021, can still recover payments though these payments will be less than those for Subclass 1.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is April 25, 2022.

The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for June 6, 2022.

In order to receive a payment from the settlement, Class Members must submit a valid claim form by April 25, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits individuals who scanned their fingers at an Illinois BioLife plasma donation facility between Sept. 8, 2015, and Nov. 15, 2021. According to the settlement website, there are an estimated 57,525 Class Members included in this group.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

Claim number and PIN

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

04/25/2022

Case Name

Phillips v. BioLife Plasma, LLC, Case No. 2020 CH 05758 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois

Final Hearing

06/06/2022

Settlement Website

BioLifeILFingerScanSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

BioLife IL Finger Scan Settlement
c/o Analytics Consulting LLC
P.O. Box 2006
Chanhassen, MN 55317-2006
info@BioLifeILFingerScanSettlement.com
855-752-1608

Class Counsel

David Fish
Mara Baltabols
FISH POTTER BOLAÑOS PC

Defense Counsel

Richard H. Tilghman
NIXON PEABODY LLP