A settlement worth $16.75 million has been reached in a lawsuit brought against Biomat USA, Talecris Plasma, and Interstate Blood Bank over allegations that the Illinois-based blood plasma centers violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by scanning the fingerprints of individuals without their permission.
Blood Plasma Centers’ Settlement
The blood plasma centers, which are under the same parent company, Grifols, had requested the lawsuit be dismissed, but a judge denied the request last year. As a result of the settlement, eligible individuals who scanned their fingers on a finger scanning device during the plasma donation process at either a Biomat USA or Talecris Plasma Resources center in Illinois between June 10, 2015 and June 10, 2022, or at the Interstate Blood Bank plasma donation center in Illinois between April 8, 2016 and July 25, 2022, can claim a one-time payment.
The settlement does not require Grifols to admit any wrongdoing, but it will resolve the allegations. The exact payout amount for each claimant will depend on the number of people who file claims, with payments estimated at around $300 per person if a 55 percent participation rate is achieved, according to a published article in The U.S. Sun.
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How to Claim the Settlement?
Individuals who file a claim can receive an equal share of the net settlement fund. The exact payments will vary based on the number of claims filed. According to Top Class Actions, a 55 percent participation rate would result in payments of around $300 per person. A 30 percent participation rate would result in $550 payments. Meanwhile, it’s estimated a 15 percent participation rate would result in payments of around $1,100.
If you qualify for a settlement payment, you must submit a valid claim by August 4, 2023. The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for that date. The deadline for exclusion and objection is May 22, 2023. You do not need to show proof but you will need a claim number and pin in order to file a claim online.