The State of Florida recently settled a lawsuit alleging that the state illegally sold drivers' personal information to marketing firms over a four-year period in violation of a federal law barring the practice.  The settlement results in a $1.00 credit to each driver who renews a license, car registration or state-issued ID between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010.

The four Florida residents who brought the suit will each get $3,000.  And what about the five law firms that pursued the case?  Well, they'll divide up $2.85 million in legal fees.

The anticipated $10.4 million payout to settle the lawsuit spells bad news for Florida, which already faces a $3.5 billion deficit.  Governor Charlie Crist and the Cabinet approved the agreement last summer; the Legislature now must appropriate the money.  The state formally denied any wrongdoing.

According to news reports, Senator Carey Baker (R-Eustis) said it looks to him as though consumers should have gotten more.  “The victim really doesn't benefit very much, and the attorneys make out on attorneys' fees,” he said.

—Source:  St. Petersburg Times