Indiana Law Journal Volume 94 Issue 2 Article 7 Spring 2019 Privacy Remedies Lauren H. Scholz Florida State University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj Part of the Privacy Law Commons, Property Law and Real Estate Commons, and the Torts Commons Recommended Citation Scholz, Lauren H. (2019) "Privacy Remedies," Indiana Law Journal: Vol. 94 : Iss. 2 , Article 7. Available at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol94/iss2/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law School Journals at Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Indiana Law Journal by an authorized editor of Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. PRIVACY REMEDIES LAUREN HENRY SCHOLZ* When consumers sue companies for privacy-intrusive practices, they are often unsuccessful. Many cases fail in federal court at the motion to dismiss phase because the plaintiff has not shown the privacy infringement has caused her concrete harm. This is a symptom of a broader issue: the failure of courts and commentators to describe the relationship between privacy rights and privacy remedies. This Article contends that restitution is the normal measure of privacy remedies. Restitution measures relief by economic gain to the defendant. If a plaintiff can show the likely ability to recover in restitution, that should be sufficient to pass muster at the motion to dismiss phase even if the court is unconvinced that the plaintiff could show a case for compensatory damages flowing from harm.