Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why was a Notice issued?

The Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, authorized a Notice because Class Members have a right to know about the proposed Settlement of this class action lawsuit, and about all of their options before the Court decides whether to grant final approval of the Settlement. The Notice explains the lawsuit, class members legal rights, what benefits are available, and who can receive them.

The lawsuit is captioned Shimi, et al. v. Central Clinical Labs, Inc., Case No. 2022-CH-02416, pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The people that filed this lawsuit are called the “Plaintiffs” (or “Class Representatives”) and the entity they sued, CCL, is called the “Defendant.”

2. What is this lawsuit about?

This lawsuit alleges that CCL violated a law called the Biometric Information Privacy Act, commonly called BIPA. This law requires that companies provide certain specific disclosures, and receive written consent when they collect employees’ fingerprints, and the lawsuit claims that CCL did not follow these legal requirements.

3. What is a class action?

In a class action, one or more individuals sue on behalf of other people with similar claims. These individuals are known as “Plaintiffs” or “Class Representatives.” Together, the people included in the class action are called a “class” or “class members.” One court resolves the lawsuit for all class members, except for those who opt out from a settlement. In this Settlement, the Class Representatives are Samih Shimi, Tina Gowers, and Byron Wiggins. Everyone included in this Action is a Class Member.

4. Why is there a Settlement?

The Court did not decide in favor of the Plaintiff or the Defendant. Plaintiff and the Defendant have agreed to a Settlement to avoid the costs and risks of a trial, and to allow the Class Members to receive benefits from the Settlement. The Plaintiffs and their attorney think the Settlement is best for all Class Members.

5. Who is included in the Settlement?

The Settlement Class includes: all persons whose fingerprints were taken as part of their employment with CCL any time since March 18, 2017.

6. Are there exceptions to being included?

Yes. Excluded from the Settlement Class are: the Judge assigned to the Action, and that Judge’s immediate family and Court staff; Defendant and Defendant’s subsidiaries, parent companies, successors, predecessors, and any entity in which Defendant or its parents have a controlling interest; and people who timely opt out of the settlement and their legal representatives and family members.

If you are not sure whether you are included in the Settlement Class, you can ask for free help by contacting the Settlement Administrator at:

CCL BIPA Settlement,
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Anna, CA, 92799
1-888-369-3780
info@CCLFingerPrintSettlement.com

7. What does the Settlement provide?

CCL has agreed to provide a Settlement Fund of $300,000.00. After reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, service awards for the Class Representatives, and costs of administration are paid, the net amount of the Settlement Fund will be equally distributed to all Settlement Class Members.

Settlement Class Members do not need to do anything to receive payment. You will automatically be mailed a settlement payment by check if the court grants final approval to this Settlement (see Question 19).

If you prefer to get your payment electronically through Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or a virtual prepaid card, please click here to update your payment preferences. If you prefer to get your settlement payment as a check, you do not need to do anything.

If you have questions about receiving your settlement payment, you can contact the Settlement Administrator at:

CCL BIPA Settlement,
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Anna, CA, 92799
1-888-369-3780
info@CCLFingerPrintSettlement.com

8. What claims am I releasing if I stay in the Settlement Class?

Unless you opt out of the Settlement, you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendant about any of the legal claims this Settlement resolves. The “Release” section of the Settlement Agreement describes the legal claims that you give up if you remain in the Settlement Class.

9. Do I need to submit a claim to receive a settlement payment?

No, there is no claim to submit. You will receive a settlement payment automatically. By default, you will get your settlement payment by check, but if you prefer to get paid through Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or a virtual prepaid card, please click here to update your payment preference.

10. Are there any deadlines I need to know about?

If you want to stay in the Settlement Class and get a payment, then there is nothing more to do, and no deadlines.

11. When will the Settlement benefits be issued?

The Court will hold a final approval hearing on March 31, 2025. If the Court approves the Settlement, there may be appeals. It is always uncertain whether appeals will be filed and, if so, how long it will take to resolve them.

Settlement benefits will be distributed if the Court grants final approval of the Settlement and after any appeals are resolved, or after the period to seek an appeal has expired.

12. Do I have a lawyer in the case?

Yes, the Court has appointed attorney Ruth Major of The Law Offices of Ruth I. Major, P.C., to represent you and other Class Members (“Class Counsel”).

13. Should I get my own lawyer?

You will not be charged for Class Counsel’s services. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

14. How will Class Counsel be paid?

Class Counsel will seek Court approval for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses not to exceed $99,000.00. A service award of $6,000.00 will be paid to each of the three Class Representatives for bringing this Action on behalf of the Class. These fees and costs, as well as the costs of administration, will be paid for from the Settlement Fund.

15. How do I opt out of the Settlement?

If you do not want to receive a settlement payment, and you want to keep your right, if any, to separately sue the Defendant about the legal issues in this case, there are steps that you must take to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. This is called requesting an exclusion from, or “opting out” of the Settlement Class. The deadline to submit a request for exclusion from the Settlement is April 14, 2025.

To exclude yourself from the Settlement, you must submit a written request for exclusion that includes the following information:

• the name of the Action: Shimi, et al. v. Central Clinical Labs, Inc., Case No. 2022-CH-02416, pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois


• your full name;


• current address;


• personal signature; and


• the words “Request for Exclusion” or a clear and similar statement that you do not wish to participate in the Settlement.

Your request for exclusion must be mailed to the Settlement Administrator at the address below, postmarked no later than April 14, 2025.

CCL BIPA Settlement
ATTN: Exclusion Request
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799

If you exclude yourself, you are telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement. You will not receive a settlement payment if you exclude yourself. You may only exclude yourself, not any other person.

16. How do I tell the Court if I like or do not like the Settlement?

If you are a Class Member and do not like a portion or all of the Settlement, you can object to it, if you choose. You can give reasons why you think the Court should not approve it. The Court will consider your views.

For an objection to be considered by the Court, the objection must include:

1. the name of the Action: Shimi, et al. v. Central Clinical Labs, Inc., Case No. 2022-CH-02416, pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois


2. your full name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if any);


3. information identifying you as a Class Member;


4. a written statement of all grounds for the objection, accompanied by any legal support for the objection you believe is applicable;


5. the identity of any and all counsel representing you in connection with the objection;


6. a statement as to whether you and/or your counsel will appear at the Final Fairness Hearing; and


7. your signature and the signature of your duly authorized attorney or other duly authorized representative, if any (along with documentation setting forth such representation).

To be timely, a written notice of an objection containing the above information must be filed with the Clerk of the Court, with copies served on Class Counsel and counsel for CCL, no later than April 14, 2025.

If you do not comply with the requirements for objecting you will waive and forfeit any and all rights you may have to appear separately and/or to object to the Settlement and will be bound by all the terms of the Settlement and by all proceedings, orders and judgments in the Litigation.

17. What is the difference between objecting and excluding?

Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can object to the Settlement only if you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement. Excluding yourself from the Settlement is opting out and stating to the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement. If you opt out of the Settlement, you cannot object to it because the Settlement no longer affects you.

18. When is the Court’s Final Approval Hearing?

The Court will hold a final approval hearing on March 31, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, in Room 2408 of the Cook County Circuit Court, at 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602, courtroom 2408, also appearances permitted by Zoom, Meeting ID Number: 974 531 3798, Password: 501494.

At the final approval hearing, the Court will consider whether to approve the Settlement, how much attorneys’ fees and costs to award to Class Counsel for representing the Settlement Class, and whether to award a Service Award the Class Representative who brought this Action on behalf of the Settlement Class. The Court will also consider any objections to the Settlement.

If you are a Class Member, you or your attorney may ask permission to speak at the hearing at your own cost (see Question 19).

The date and time of this hearing may change without further notice.

19. Do I have to come to the Final Approval Hearing?

No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. You may attend at your own expense if you wish. If you file an objection, you do not have to come to the Final Approval Hearing to talk about it. If you file your written objection on time, the Court will consider it. You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but such attendance is not necessary for the Court to consider an objection that was filed on time.

20. How do I get more information?

This website and the Notice summarize the proposed Settlement. Complete details are provided in the Settlement Agreement, which along with other court documents, is available on the Important Documents page.

If you have additional questions, you may contact the Settlement Administrator by email, phone, or mail:

CCL BIPA Settlement,
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Anna, CA, 92799
1-888-369-3780
info@CCLFingerPrintSettlement.com

Publicly filed documents can also be obtained by visiting the office of the Clerk of the Court, Brower County Circuit Court, Brower County Circuit Court, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602..