NTN $1.4275 Million Settlement Over Genetic Info Collected in Job Preemployment Exams

This class action centers on allegations that NTN Bearing Corp. of America and related NTN entities in Illinois collected applicants’ genetic or family medical information during required preemployment medical or physical examinations. The lawsuit covers job seekers who were examined between June 19, 2019 and Dec. 20, 2024, and whose medical staff allegedly obtained details such as family medical history—information that can be considered “genetic information” under Illinois law. Under a proposed $1.4275 million settlement, about 550 eligible class members may receive at least $1,500 each, with the final amount depending on how many people participate and on standard settlement deductions for attorneys’ fees, costs, administration, and service awards. The case was filed because it claims NTN violated the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) by effectively requiring disclosure of sensitive genetic-related data as part of the hiring process. While NTN denies wrongdoing, it agreed to settle to avoid the time, uncertainty, and expense of continued litigation—making the settlement significant as a concrete enforcement outcome for job applicants’ privacy rights. More broadly, similar disputes have emerged across the U.S. as employers use medical screenings in hiring and must navigate evolving privacy and anti-discrimination rules; in industry terms, employers are expected to handle health data carefully and generally limit collection of genetic information, consistent with regulations like Illinois GIPA and the federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which together shape what can be asked, how it’s used, and how it’s protected. For eligible Illinois applicants, the settlement provides a practical avenue for compensation without requiring a claim, and checks are expected to be mailed shortly after final court approval.