STARNES v. THREDUP INC

**What Happened** An employee named Starnes sued their former employer, Skin Worx Inc., and supervisor Ashcraft for invasion of privacy. Starnes claimed the company inappropriately used their likeness or identity for commercial purposes without permission, which falls under a legal concept called "commercial appropriation." **What the Court Decided** The court ruled in favor of the employer and supervisor, dismissing the case. While the judge acknowledged that Starnes had presented a valid claim for commercial appropriation, the court determined that Alabama law only allows workers to recover money damages when their property rights are violated in a way that causes actual financial harm. Since Starnes could only show psychological or emotional harm rather than concrete economic losses, they weren't entitled to compensation under Alabama's invasion of privacy laws. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling limits workers' ability to sue employers for misusing their image or identity in Alabama. Even if an employer inappropriately uses a worker's likeness for business purposes, employees may not be able to recover damages unless they can prove specific financial losses rather than just emotional distress. Workers in Alabama should be aware that privacy violations need to result in measurable economic harm to be legally actionable.