C Studio Manufacturing biometric privacy $150K class action settlement

A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit that claimed C Studio Manufacturing violated the law by using its employees’ biometric data in an unauthorized way.

The settlement class is composed of all individuals who utilized their fingerprint or any other biometric identifier to enroll in, clock into or clock out of the C Studio Manufacturing timekeeping system in Illinois between March 9, 2018, and the date of the preliminary approval of the settlement, Nov. 6, 2023.

The plaintiff in the case alleged that within the class period, the defendant collected, used, stored, obtained and disseminated this biometric data, including fingerprints, without seeking written consent from employees and failed to provide guidance to employees regarding the company’s policies on managing biometric data. By doing this, the company allegedly violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). 

C Studio Manufacturing has refuted any wrongdoing in the matter, asserting that the lawsuit lacks merit and that the company did not break any laws.

Eligible class members can receive financial compensation if the settlement is approved and becomes final. C Studio Manufacturing will pay $150,000 into a settlement fund. 

To receive a payment, class members must fill out a paper or online claim form, which can be accessed by entering a notice ID and PIN number that were previously mailed out. The maximum possible payment is $1,250.

If the total claims would result in C Studio Manufacturing paying more than $150,000 into the fund, each class member’s claim will be reduced pro rata. If any money remains in the settlement fund, it will revert in full to C Studio.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Feb. 20, 2024.

A final approval hearing in the C Studio Manufacturing class action lawsuit settlement will take place March 21, 2024.

The claim form submission deadline is Feb. 5, 2024.

Who’s Eligible

All individuals who utilized their fingerprint or any other biometric identifier to enroll in, clock into or clock out of the C Studio Manufacturing timekeeping system in Illinois between March 9, 2018, and the date of the preliminary approval of the settlement, Nov. 6, 2023.

Potential Award

$1,250

Proof of Purchase

N/A

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

02/05/2024

Case Name

Manuel Martinez v. C Studio Manufacturing LLC, Case No. 2023-CH-000053, in the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit, Dupage County, Illinois

Final Hearing

03/21/2024

Settlement Website

CStudioBIPASettlement.com

Claims Administrator

C Studio BIPA Settlement Administrator
PO Box 23459
Jacksonville, FL 32241
info@cstudiobipasettlement.com
888-491-3942

Class Counsel

Daniel Schlade
James Dore
JUSTICIA LABORAL LLC

Defense Counsel

Robert C Collins III
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP