A Jupiter man in the rare coin industry is accusing Google of invading his privacy and causing emotional distress for incorrectly posting his home address instead of listing the location for his Stuart-based company.In a lawsuit he filed Monday in Martin County Circuit court against Google Inc., Jonathan Harris claimed that having his home address associated with the sale of rare coins leaves him and his family members targets for a home invasion, or worse.
Google “publicly disclosed that the plaintiff’s family home is where rare coins can be found, and conveniently provided a map,” wrote Harris, who is acting as his own attorney.
“A reasonable person who is in the rare coin business would find this objectionable and highly offensive,” he added, “even if the person did not have a family.”
In his suit, Harris claimed Google ignored its own policy to remove sensitive information within 48 hours of a written request. He wants a judge to issue a permanent injunction to prevent Google from posting information about his personal residency.
Officials from Google couldn’t be reached Monday for comment.
Harris claimed he first learned in 2007 that his Jupiter home address was showing up in the results of Google searches for anyone seeking information about local rare coin dealers.
He alerted Google in writing, and his home address was removed, he noted in court papers. But in November 2009, he realized Google was again listing his home address as the site for his rare coin business, prompting him to write four more letters. And a letter from attorney Mitchell Sens threatened legal action.
He suggested their inaction was “causing an inherently dangerous situation.
“Criminals who are willing to engage in burglary or home invasion may assume that the owner of a rare coin business keeps valuables or a safe at home,” Sens wrote to Google Nov. 9. “You have provided a convenient map. The only thing missing is a link to safe-cracking tools and firearms.”
Source: tcpalm.com
