$4.9M PeopleFinders Right to Publicity Privacy Class Action Settlement

Claim Form Deadline: October 7, 2024

Payout: $89 to $178 Proof Required: No

What Is the $4.9M PeopleFinders.com Confi-Chek Privacy Class Action Settlement?

A $4,896,540 class action settlement has been reached with Confi-Chek, Inc. and PeopleFinders.com concerning privacy issues. The lawsuit alleged that Confi-Chek and PeopleFinders violated the Illinois Right of Publicity Act by displaying the personal information of Illinois residents on their website, PeopleFinders.com, without proper consent. This occurred in connection with subscription offers from November 2, 2021, to January 1, 2023.

What Is the Illinois Right of Publicity Act (IRPA)?

The Illinois Right of Publicity Act (IRPA) grants individuals control over the commercial use of their identity. It covers personally identifiable information, including names, images, and voices.

• Purpose: The IRPA prohibits using someone’s identity for commercial purposes without their explicit written consent.
• Definition of “Identity”: Under IRPA, identity includes attributes like name, signature, photograph, image, likeness, and voice.
• Commercial Purpose: This includes using identity for:
  • Selling products, goods, or services
  • Advertising or promoting products, goods, or services
  • Fundraising
• Consent Requirement: Written consent is needed before using someone’s identity commercially.
• Penalties: Violations can result in damages equal to either actual damages plus profits from unauthorized use or statutory damages of $1,000 per violation.

What Is the Total Settlement Amount?

Confi-Chek has agreed to establish a $4,896,540 settlement fund. From this fund, payments will be made after deducting:

• Notice and administration costs
• Class Representative incentive awards
• Attorneys’ fees
• Other miscellaneous expenses (for details, visit the official administration site)

What Are Confi-Chek and PeopleFinders.com?

Confi-Chek, Inc. owns PeopleFinders.com, a website providing public records search services. Since 1999, PeopleFinders has offered services like people searches, background checks, reverse phone lookups, and address lookups using various personal details. The platform aggregates data from public records to provide information such as contact details, criminal histories, and property records.

How Do I Qualify for a Payout?

To qualify for a payout, you must be a living Illinois resident whose profile was displayed and clicked on PeopleFinders.com between November 2, 2021, and January 1, 2023.

How Much Can I Get Paid?

Settlement payments to eligible class members are estimated to range from $89 to $178 per valid claim. The exact amount may vary based on the total number of valid claims.

How Do I File a Claim?

To file a claim, complete and submit a valid Claim Form either online or by mail before October 7, 2024. You can find and submit the claim form on the settlement website or by mailing the paper form if you received one.

Claim Form Website: ConfiChekRightOfPublicity.com

Do I Need a Notice ID to File a Claim?

If you received a notice with a Notice ID and PIN, use those to submit your claim. If you do not have a Notice ID and PIN, you can still file a claim by confirming your eligibility as a class member.

Filing Class Action Settlement Claims

Ensure your claim form is accurate and free of fraudulent information. Submitting false information will result in claim rejection and could negatively impact others who qualify. For more details or to confirm eligibility, visit the class action administrator’s website.