The employers of Illinois want to tell lawyers and plaintiffs … the gravy train is coming to an end.

This is about BIPA, the Biometric Information Privacy Act, a 2008 law meant to protect employees but now, thanks to the Illinois Supreme Court, appears to some to tilt too much toward those employees.

“These rulings, along with a multitude of other class action lawsuits which have been filed to capitalize on the loophole that no actual harm needs to occur,” said Illinois Health and Hospital Association general counsel Karen Harris, “has created an environment where a hospital could quickly and easily accrue millions – if not billions – of dollars in fines due to BIPA violations, when all the hospital was trying to do is to ensure that the appropriate health care workers could quickly access lifesaving medications that patients need.”

Brad Tietz of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce says there’s a lot riding on this: “If the General Assembly does nothing else this session to support the Illinois business community and acknowledge our current uncertain business climate, reforming and updating BIPA would go a long way toward signaling to the employers across this state that the General Assembly hears them.”

Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, referred to the current practice as “jackpot justice,” and the businesses represented at a statehouse news conference Thursday want the General Assembly to turn off the cash spigot.