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Publishers Clearing House Mailing Lists Class Action Lawsuits Overview:
- Who: Publishers Clearing House, Inc. is facing multiple class action lawsuits.
- Why: Plaintiffs claim Publishers Clearing House unlawfully sold or rented mailing lists containing their subscribers’ personal information to various third parties, including data miners.
- Where: The class action lawsuits are pending in New York federal court.
Publishers Clearing House sells and rents mailing lists containing subscribers’ personal information to a variety of third parties, including data miners and list brokers, multiple new class action lawsuits allege.
Five plaintiffs have filed separate class action lawsuits against Publishers Clearing House (PCH), with each claiming the publishing company monetizes its subscribers’ private information—including their names and addresses—without consent.
The lead plaintiffs each want to represent a Class of Illinois, South Dakota, Puerto Rico, Ohio, and California residents who had their names appear on a mailing list that was sold, rented, or offered for sale by PCH.
The plaintiff claim PCH never asked for permission before selling or renting their personal information on the open market to data miners, data aggregators, data cooperatives, aggressive marketing companies, list brokers, and others.
Each individual state—or territory, in Puerto Rico’s case—has a right of publicity statute that prohibits the practice of selling or renting mailing lists containing personal identifying transaction data, according to the class action lawsuits.
Further, plaintiffs argue the practice of selling or renting the mailing lists is not only unlawful but also puts the exposed customers’ at risk of identity fraud or of being targeted in some way.
“While PCH profits handsomely from the use of its customers’ names, likenesses, and other personal identifying attributes in this way, it does so at the expense of its customers’ statutory rights of publicity,” the class action lawsuit’s each state.
Publishers Clearing House Violates Multiple State Privacy Laws, Claim Class Actions
Plaintiffs individually argue PCH is in violation of Illinois’ Right of Publicity Act, the California Right of Publicity Law, Ohio’s Right of Publicity Law, Puerto Rico’s Right of Publicity Act, and South Dakota’s Right of Publicity Law.
Plaintiffs are uniformly demanding a jury trial and separately requesting statutory damages ranging from $750 to $100,000 for themselves and each Class Member.
A similar class action lawsuit was filed last month against Hearst Communications by magazine subscribers who claim the company unlawfully sells and rents their personal information to third parties.
Did your name appear on a mailing list sold by PCH to a third party? Sign up to start a class action lawsuit here!
The plaintiffs are represented by Thomas L. Laughlin, IV and Jonathan M. Zimmerman of Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP, and Frank S. Hedin and Arun G. Ravindran of Hedin Hall LLP.
The PCH Mailing Lists Class Action Lawsuits are Kenter v. Publishers Clearing House, Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-06684, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York; Tanenbaum v. Publishers Clearing House, Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-06687, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York; Palmer v. Publishers Clearing House, Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-06686, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York; Green v. Publishers Clearing House, Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-06683, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York; and Fiordirosa v. Publishers Clearing House, Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-06682, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
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111 thoughts onPublishers Clearing House Class Actions Claim Subscribers Didn’t Know Personal Information Sold to Advertisers
When will the ftc or someone address all the other ways pch scams people? They have multiple scams and from what I am seeing NOTHING has changed How come they are allowed to get away with all these scams and cheating and lies that goes on millions of times a day.I have a list of ways they scam people
I was contacted by phone and received a voicemail message that I had won. I was told the number and name of he person I should contact.
The person retuened my call and asked questions, etc [which I would like to share when I talk with a lawyer]
these foreigners keep calling me claiming to be this o that even says there pch to get me to pay taxes on prizes not on.
How will we be informed about this lawsuit. So far nothing has let me add my name to this. Add Me I have been dealing with Pch since 1970 thanks
PCH wrote told me I had won and I did not have buy nothing they lie I did off my credit card been quite while in 2018 never received nothing I want my. Oney back in check they are scam true tell lie to other people like me wrong text me back and 757/776/1162 or email me either one of other than take my case behind them thank your every thing true I am sherry chapman true I saw on my tablet about PCH that why I write to your ok.
name I did
I have been a top customer for several years, they sends notice out like you are going to win, they stated this is not open to the public!
I have been dealing with Pch since the year of 2000, never won anything, They are about selling their product! I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY!
Can you add me to this lawsuit?
I Have Been Playing since 2017. Have bought multiple products and they were garbage. In other words not as described. Had to complain about 4-5 payments being allowed and then receiving a bill total balance due. Had to send back 2 orders and stopped sending orders back because it cost as much to ship back as product cost. On 1 account i did receive a credit. They dont give You credits in games they say Your going to receive and have to many Technical Difficulties. Im hardly playing anymore. Its turned out to be a waste of My Time!
I have been doing this since the early 1970’s, still do
Add me to suit. I was a Top customer for over 10 years. I spent big money in those years