Insurer’s Biometric Win Alarms Companies Facing Privacy Claims

A closely watched battle between businesses and insurers over alleged violations of Illinois’ landmark biometric privacy law is heating up, with state and federal appeals courts staking out conflicting positions over who pays for the legal defense costs.

The issue will be at the forefront on Wednesday when the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit hears Illinois car accessory company Thermoflex Corp.'s biometric insurance dispute against an MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc. unit. The hearing will allow the appeals court to consider an Illinois state court’s ruling that left companies that purchased liability insurance with a larger risk ...