Abbott Labs Allegedly Violated Illinois Law Forcing Employee to Submit Genetic Data
Medical device company Abbott Laboratories was hit with a suit Tuesday when a former employee alleged genetic information he was required to submit as a condition of employment violated the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA).
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Plaintiff Quentin Nixon-Cobb worked for Abbott twice, assembling at-home COVID testing kits.
"Believing that he would not be hired unless he completed all of the paperwork, including the family medical history information, Mr. Nixon-Cobb disclosed genetic information about his family members’ medical histories," though he "would not have provided the genetic information" if Abbott had told him it was optional, his complaint said.
"On both occasions, Mr. Nixon-Cobb was not directed ... either verbally or in writing, not to disclose the solicited genetic information."
Case 25-06980 was filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois.