Lawyers hail 'superb result' in Facebook biometric privacy battle: They'll get 25% of $550m, Illinois gets the rest

The lawyers who successfully sued Facebook for breaking Illinois’s biometric privacy law on behalf of citizens in the US state have hailed the “superb result” that will see them receive a quarter of the settlement. "From any angle, the proposed settlement is a superb result for the certified class, and represents a fair, …

[Shadow Systems]

Fucking lawyers...

The people actually wronged get essentially squat while the lawyers laugh all the way to the bank.

If 400M people got the max 5K per person the law allowed, FB would be out a whopping *Two Trillion* for the illegal act.

It'll never happen. Why? Fucking lawyers.

Can we _PLEASE_ build the B Ark to pack them all into & then launch it into a blackhole?

[Mike 137]

Re: Fucking lawyers...

How about F***ing Facebook? Who actually committed the offence? It must be recognised that behemoth corporations on this scale are essentially extra-judicial as they can wheel, deal and bargain with resources that outstrip all other interested parties. This is the real problem, and until we have internationally consistent laws to prevent such abuses of position, no legal action against these corporations can really be made to stick.

[Mike Lewis]

Re: Fucking lawyers...

The laws won't stick until people are sent to jail. Otherwise, the fines become just another cost of doing business.

[hoola]

Re: Fucking lawyers...

Why is the award not plus costs?

Of is this just the way it works because otherwise the legal eagles that have spent so much of their time wearing their brains out would get less?

[lglethal]

Re: Fucking lawyers...

I think you missed the part where it clearly states this is an Illinois State law, not US federal law. And Illinois has only 6 million inhabitants not 400 million. So the numbers in the article are right....

What i dont understand is why lawyers are involved. If the law was broken, why is it not the state of Illinois going after them?

[Dan Wilkie]

Re: Fucking lawyers...

It's a civil matter, not a criminal one. And if the State of Illinois went after them for the offence, I'm guessing they'd probably send lawyers rather than the sandwich lady to argue the case in court still ;)

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Fucking lawyers...

And can we please have the B-ark built by Boeing?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why the surprise? That's how they do things in the USA. It works for them. It's a cultural issue as much as a legal or political one. Just make damn sure your own country never end up like that - there are plenty of evangelical hotshot layers ready to export this madness to the rest of the world.

[General Purpose]

It works for them.^{[Citation needed] [Clarify for whom]}

[Jamie Jones]

Shamless....

"Finally, given the context of a global pandemic, the timely distribution of settlement funds is also a benefit to the class."

Yes, I'm sure $70 to the people affected by Covid-19 will be a lifesaver.

Calling the covid sympathy card... Fuck-off. It actually shows you're unsympathetic sociopaths.

If you want to help people in a pandemic, how about sharing the $137 million with them, and, I don't know.. taking $70 for yourself.. Not that you don't have millions already.

Tossers

[macjules]

Trust the lawyers

Undoubtedly there is a $75 handling fee to be able to send you the $70 check.

[Pascal Monett]

"From any the lawyer's angle, the proposed settlement is a superb result for the certified class lawyers, and represents a fair, reasonable, and adequate resolution of the case, for the lawyers"

There FTFY.

[Anonymous Coward]

Ambulance Chasers, the lot of them

I don't care if they're a lawyer advertising on late night TV to victims of personal injury or the most prestigious lawyers from the most prestigious law firms, They are all ambulance chasers. And evil. Elon was right when he said too many smart people go into law for the lure of the money.

While they are a necessary evil, given our legal system, we desperately need limits on their awards.

We should limit awards to 200% of actual costs or 50% of the total settlement, whichever is LESS.

Unfortunately it will never happen because they can buy politicians, many of whom are also lawyers.

[stiine]

Re: Ambulance Chasers, the lot of them

Laywers bill by the hour. 5 minute phone call - bill for 1 hour. read a memo for 1 minute - bill for 1 hour.

[Anonymous Coward]

"While they are a necessary evil"

They are a relic of the Greek/Roman requirement that someone accused of anything should be allowed an "orator" to plead their case. We have Emperor Claudius to thank for allowing them to charge fees. Worst still were notaries, who charged by the line for legal contracts but frequently were proven illiterate when the contracts were examined.

[Someone Else]

After all, Facebook only made $18.5 billion in profit last year on revenues of $71bn. If it had to pay $1,000 per person in Illinois, that would be $6bn and it would see its profits cut by a third. No one wants that.

That depends entirely on whom you ask.

[Anonymous Coward]

I think that (and the whole story) was said sarcastically..