ST. LOUIS — Subscribers have filed a class-action lawsuit against a telecommunications company for alleged rights to privacy and publicity for their personally identifiable information.

A. Michael, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, filed a complaint on April 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against Charter Communications Inc., alleging that the defendant violated the Missouri's Merchandising Practices Act.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that between July 2011 and 2013, personally identifiable information, specifically names and addresses, were sold or disclosed to numerous unknown companies without consent. Michael claims he was not provided with a copy of the company's privacy policy as required by law at the time of installation or when he entered into agreements.

The plaintiffs allege that the defendant failed to obtain written consent prior to the disclosure and sale of personally identifiable information, failed to provide the opt-out provision in which the company prohibits or limits the sale of disclosure of the customers' personally identifiable information and failed to provide notice in the form of a separate written statement regarding the company's privacy policies.

The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment for statutory and punitive damages, attorney fees, costs, pre- and post-judgment interest and for such other relief as the court deems just and reasonable in the circumstances. They are represented by Ryan P. Horace and Stephanie L. Gold of SWMK Law LLC in St. Louis and Steven J. Stolze of Holland Law Firm in St. Louis.

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U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Case number 4:17-cv-01242-JMB