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Google Mail California Claims Expire end of September: File Now, Attorney Urges

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If you never used Gmail but emailed people who did, Attorney Ray Gallo says you have until the end of Sept 2018 to qualify for damages under California law.

Santa Clara, CAAttorney Ray Gallo has filed a lawsuit against Google on behalf of individuals seeking compensation for invasion of privacy. Gallo says that if you do not use Gmail but sent an email to a Gmail user, Google intercepted it and processed it for advertising purposes, and you may be owed $5,000 under the California Invasion of Privacy Act.

“Google made money by intercepting and processing emails you sent to Gmail users. My firm has been fighting Google in Court for three years,” says Gallo. “We've seen the evidence and gotten the court rulings. Now, it's time to collect on people’s claims for damages.”

Google Gmail Lawsuit


Gallo filed a lawsuit in Santa Clara Superior Court (Case No. 18CV324895), alleging that plaintiffs (non-Gmail users) never consented to Google’s intercepting, scanning, analyzing and cataloging the contents of their emails for advertising purposes. Google’s alleged actions violate state laws that prohibit electronic communications from being intercepted without the consent of all parties involved in the communication.

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 has dominated online advertising. By delivering ads targeted to susceptible buyers, Google can sell more advertising and command higher prices for ads, to the tune of $95.4 billion of advertising revenue in 2017, accounting for 87 percent of Google’s total revenue that year.

Google Email-Scanning Settlement


According to federal court records, 875 similar damages claims against Google were settled by Gallo LLP in 2016. In a separate class action settlement filed by the law firm 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, but Matera sought only injunctive and declaratory relief, not damages. Until now…

Google Gmail Litigation Background


For the past three years Gallo has been prosecuting civil privacy cases against Google. “Gmail's architecture was designed to intercept emails before they reached the inbox and process them to extract and create data for advertising uses. Without consent, this is wiretapping,” says Gallo. Federal law requires only one party to consent, while some states' laws require that all parties (sender and receiver) consent.

Google reported to Gallo and his law firm that it stopped intercepting and processing emails for advertising purposes in late September 2017. The ,Matera v. Google settlement was final, and the federal court's injunction issued, in February of 2018. One month later Gallo filed new litigation seeking damages for certain non-Gmail users who emailed Gmail users.

“The claims arise under state statutes that require two party consent to intercept electronic communications, much like the statutes that require both parties to a phone call to consent to it being recorded,” Gallo explains. “The California Invasion of Privacy Act provides for a court to award $5,000 per violation—that means $5,000 per email sent and illegally intercepted by Google. It is 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.”

In the course of these lawsuits, Gallo and his team has reviewed 130,000 documents, and obtained Google's representatives testimony.

Do You Qualify?


If you reside in California (or one of 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.

Although this case is about privacy, Gallo 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.

Qualifying non-Gmail users in California and a few other states can sign up at https://emailprivacy.gallo.law. The site automates consumers getting lawyers and access to their statutory remedies easily. Gallo urges you to seek legal help now because all claims expire soon. All California claims expire this month (September 2018), and attorneys need time to file your lawsuit.

READ ABOUT GMAIL PRIVACY LAWSUIT LAWSUITS

Gmail Privacy Lawsuit Legal Help

If you or a loved one have suffered losses in this case, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to an internet/technology lawyer who may evaluate your Gmail Privacy Lawsuit claim at no cost or obligation.

READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
The e-mails would be under one of my last email addresses. What do we have to do to get paid?

Posted by

on
I've been scammed several times to get personal information for employment offers and today a Mr David Ellis from the U. N. Texted me via Gmail asking for personal information to release 4million dollars.
I used Gmail a few times.

Posted by

on
I have solo much info on google and howthuggery do it. Ave howGoogle can take over an iPhone 123... By phishing emails through open source licenses. I didn't know anything about privacy practiced. But I can tell you what emails are real account what are not ABC you should NEVER have to use cookies order java with an authentic google site

Posted by

on
I've got a gmail account and have been experiencing a lot of spam mails. I also had a google plus account.

Posted by

on
Why have I not seen this before the September 30, 2018 deadline? I am on the Lawyers and Settlements email list and get weekly updates, but have not seen this particular suit before today (October 7, 2018). I frequently email people who have g-mail addresses from any of 3 non-g-mail accounts. I live in Georgia, so I may, or may not have qualified, but it would have been nice to know!

Posted by

on
Add me please.

Posted by

on
How is the wrong doing proven ? Do I just forwarded the constant daily unwanted emails to someone else ?
Thank you

Posted by

on
Never had gmail but did email someone with gmail and I want to be part of whatever.

Posted by

on
Yes I am Edward Collins I am deaf and I had an aol account and Yahoo account when I live in California and I got sick and was move back tomississipi at. Which time my identity was stolen and use my email address pass was changed and I am still fighting to clear my name

Posted by

on
Use gmail for 15 or so years

Posted by

on
I have gmail account

Posted by

on
Is this only for CA resident s ???

Posted by

on
I live in the state of Montana, which also is a both party permission state. I am an AOL'er. I email Gmail users in California and other states as well. How can I join this or another action?

Tank you very much!

Posted by

on
I've had yahoo email account for many years and have sent emails to gmail users. My privacy was most likely violated by Google for a long time. I relocated from California to Texas in 2000. I signed up for my own Google gmail account around 2015.

Let me know if I qualify for compensation from Google.

Thank You,

Sheila Lewis

Posted by

on
I have gotten a lot of spam advertising most of which even when I unsubscribe I then get double the emails and it won’t unsubscribe me

Posted by

on
Do Not have gmail account but send emails to gmail accounts.

Posted by

on
Hello..
just wanted to know if we live in Newmarket,Ontario -Canada
are we eglible for this too..
kindly advise
thank you
pat

Posted by

on
never consented to Google intercepting the contents of my emails.

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