Americans can claim one-time payment between $300 and $1,100 from $16.75million privacy settlement - see if you qualify

A LAWSUIT stemming from a privacy breach at Illinois blood plasma centers could result in a big payout for Americans.

Eligible individuals can claim a one-time payment from a $16.75million settlement after accusations that the Illinois facilities failed to get permission from people before scanning for fingerprints.

Biomat USA, Talecris Plasma, and Interstate Blood Bank are the donation centers at the center of the suit.

All three are under the same parent company, Grifols, which is based in Barcelona, Spain.

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The settlement claims the blood plasma centers in Chicago and surrounding areas violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by using fingerprint scanning technology to identify and track donors and donations.

Grifols had asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit but a judge denied that request last year.

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Grifols did not admit any wrongdoing but agreed to a $16.75million class action settlement to resolve the allegations.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Anyone 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 can file a claim.

Individuals who scanned their fingers on a finger scanning device during the plasma donation process at the Interstate Blood Bank plasma donation center in Illinois between April 8, 2016 and July 25, 2022 can also file a claim.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU RECEIVE?

People 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.

HOW CAN YOU CLAIM?

If you qualify for a settlement payment, you must submit a valid claim for 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.

TAKING ACTION

Several settlements have allowed Americans to cash in on having their privacy violated.

The Economist magazine agreed to pay $9.5million to resolve claims it shared subscriber information with third parties, without consent, violating Michigan’s Preservation of Personal Privacy Act, according to the settlement.

Meanwhile, finance publisher, Kiplinger, has agreed to pay over $6.8million to resolve claims that it also violated Michigan's privacy laws.

T-Mobile agreed to pay millions of users $350million after settling its consolidated class action lawsuit from the 2021 criminal cyberattack.

The U.S. Sun explains how millions of energy customers may score automatic energy refunds from $15million pot.

Plus, Keurig users are also scoring a payday from the $10million lawsuit.