Nearly a dozen real estate companies have been named as defendants in 118 data privacy lawsuits filed in New Jersey Superior Court over the past 10 days. Atlas Data Privacy Corporation
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants, known as “data brokers,” violated laws that prohibit the disclosure of home addresses and unpublished home phone numbers of judges, law enforcement officials, prosecutors and their families.
Co-star, Jiro, RE/MAX, first american finance, core logic, atomic data, Black Knight, Remaine, property radar, Yardi and new jersey property records Recently, they all found themselves on the defense in a lawsuit for violating Daniel's Law.
The law is named after Daniel Anderl, the son of a federal judge. In July 2020, Anderle was shot dead by a gunman who had personal and political grievances with Anderle's father. The gunman was able to find the federal judge's home address through an online company that collects personal information. Daniel's Law has both federal and state versions.
Each nearly identical complaint alleges that Atlas, an online platform that provides email and other services to law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and others covered by the Daniel Act, claims that approximately 1 It says it is suing both companies on behalf of 9,469 individuals. Daniel's Law.
According to the complaint, law enforcement officials used the Atlas platform to send written notices to defendants requesting that they cease disclosing personal information on one or more of defendants' sites. The plaintiffs allege that the defendants' failure to respond gave them reason to file the lawsuit.
“This complaint aims to protect these important rights against companies that intermediate data and choose profit and personal gain over important public interests and clear obligations of law. ” the complaint states.
“For too long, companies in the business of disclosing this protected information have evaded accountability and failed to fully consider the risks and consequences posed to individuals in important judicial and law enforcement roles. , have provided such information, including their home address and undisclosed home phone number.”
Courts are authorized to award actual damages of up to $1,000 for each violation of Daniel's Law. Additionally, if the plaintiff can prove that the violation was intentional or reckless, the court can award punitive damages.
In addition to Atlas, the complaint names law enforcement officers and their families as plaintiffs. The complaint alleges that the plaintiffs received threatening phone calls and text messages after their phone numbers and addresses were shared through a link to a data broker site.
In one case, the leader of a criminal organization was reportedly found to have images of the home of a police officer investigating the organization, as well as images of her children's bedroom and playroom windows.
In another example, the New Jersey gang the plaintiff was investigating, Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13), tried to set fire to her home while she was inside, but accidentally set an adjoining building on fire. The plaintiff alleges that.
RE/MAX declined an opportunity to comment, and the other defendants did not respond to requests for comment.
