Vrdolyak Law Group Secretly Recorded Staff Calls, Lawsuit Says

Vrdolyak Law Group faces a proposed class action in federal court in Illinois by a personal injury attorney who says that the law firm recorded employee phone calls and meetings without their consent.

Daniel Alholm sued VLG on Thursday, claiming that in addition to making unethical management and financial decisions, the law firm violated the Wiretap Act and various state laws when it surveilled employees in both its Chicago and Nashville offices.

Alholm says that VLG managing partner Eddie Vrdolyak monitored a network of audio and video surveillance cameras in his office, routinely instructed subordinate employees to monitor each others’ conversations, and regularly directed them to conduct “voicemail audits” of other employees’ phone voicemail messages.

Additionally, Vrdolyak recorded conference calls and employee phone calls without their knowledge or consent and took active steps to conceal the unlawful activities, the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleges.

Alholm claims that he suffered reputational harm, invasion of privacy, and forced resignation because of VLG’s actions.

Causes of Action: Fraud; Federal Wiretap Act; Tennessee Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Act; Illinois Eavesdropping Act; misappropriation of likeness in violation of the Tennessee Personal Rights Protection Act of 1984; misappropriation of likeness in violation of the Illinois Rights of Publicity Act.

Relief: Injunctive relief, actual damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, litigation costs.

Potential Class Size: More than 100 class members.

Response: Vrdolyak didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Attorneys: Alholm is represented by Spragens Law PLC.

The case is Alholm v. Vrdolyak Law Group, N.D. Ill., No. 1:22-cv-01820, 4/7/22.