Google Gmail Privacy Lawsuit

A lawsuit has been filed against Google seeking damages under privacy statutes for people who never used Gmail but emailed people who did. If you’ve never had a Google account and didn’t know that Google was intercepting your emails to Gmail users and processing them for advertising purposes, you may have strong claims under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA). Each qualifying email could be worth $5,000.

The case is supported by the California Invasion of Privacy Act and other state laws that prohibit electronic communications from being intercepted without the consent of all parties involved in the communication (anti-wiretapping statutes).

The lawsuit, Santa Clara Superior Court Case No. 18CV324895, was filed by the law firm Gallo LLP. Plaintiffs allege that they never consented to Google intercepting the contents of their emails.

According to the complaint, Google first said that it collected and maintained user data solely to make its services work better, but subsequently began collecting and combining user data for ad targeting and other commercial purposes.

By obtaining users’ personal information Google dominated online advertising. By delivering ads targeted to susceptible buyers, Google can sell more advertising and command higher prices for ads. Google generated advertising revenue of $95.4 billion in 2017, accounting for 87% of Google’s total revenue that year.

875 similar damages claims against Google were settled by Gallo LLP in 2016, according to federal court records.

In a class action settlement filed by Gallo LLP in September 2015 (Matera v. Google United States District Court Northern District of California, Case No. 15-CV-04062-LHK ), Google agreed to stop intercepting emails sent to Gmail users for advertising purposes and the federal court issues an injunction pursuant to which Google has changed Gmail’s architecture and no longer intercepts emails for advertising purposes. Matera sought only injunctive and declaratory relief because the court previously found that monetary damages claims raise individualized questions of consent.

If you reside in California (and a few other states), have never had a Gmail account (i.e., you use an email provider other than Gmail such as Yahoo, Microsoft or AOL), and you sent an email to an @gmail.com email address you may be owed $5,000.

The California Invasion of Privacy act provides for a court to award $5,000 per violation. That potentially means $5,000 per email sent and illegally intercepted by Google, money that is owed by Google, to each person who never actually or implicitly consented to Gmail intercepting his or her emails sent to Gmail users.

Although this case is about privacy, an experienced attorney suggests that you submit your claim with an email that you would not mind others reading, since it will be used in the litigation and may become a public document. Also, to make things simpler, choose an email that was sent to just one person. Make sure that the email was received by a @gmail.com email address and was sent no later than September 27, 2017.

Seek legal help now because all claims expire soon. All California claims expire in September, and attorneys need time to file your lawsuit.

You only need one email to qualify, so sign up today.

GOOGLE GMAIL PRIVACY LAWSUIT LEGAL HELP

If you or a loved one has suffered damages in this case, please fill in our form and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Last updated on Sep-13-18