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Supreme Court bars lawyers from accessing drivers' database
Source: Reuters
Supreme Court bars lawyers from accessing drivers' database
By Lawrence Hurley
WASHINGTON | Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:53am EDT
(Reuters) - The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that lawyers cannot gather personal information about drivers from state databases when seeking plaintiffs for potential lawsuits.
The court held in a narrow 5-4 vote that the federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act of 1994 does not allow lawyers to seek the information.
The case hinged on language in the law that allows access to the data for lawyers pursuing an "investigation in anticipation of litigation."
A group of drivers sued lawyers who had sought the personal information from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. The lawyers, including the firm Lewis & Babcock LLP, were seeking to file a lawsuit on behalf of customers against car dealerships over alleged unlawful administrative fees.
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By Lawrence Hurley
WASHINGTON | Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:53am EDT
(Reuters) - The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that lawyers cannot gather personal information about drivers from state databases when seeking plaintiffs for potential lawsuits.
The court held in a narrow 5-4 vote that the federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act of 1994 does not allow lawyers to seek the information.
The case hinged on language in the law that allows access to the data for lawyers pursuing an "investigation in anticipation of litigation."
A group of drivers sued lawyers who had sought the personal information from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. The lawyers, including the firm Lewis & Babcock LLP, were seeking to file a lawsuit on behalf of customers against car dealerships over alleged unlawful administrative fees.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/17/us-usa-court-drivers-idUSBRE95G0Q220130617
