Flock Safety Lawsuits: Where the Main License-Plate Camera Cases Stand
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Flock Safety's license-plate cameras are now the target of several lawsuits: a consolidated class action in California, two proposed nationwide class actions filed in Georgia in August and September 2026, and a constitutional challenge to Norfolk, Virginia's Flock cameras that is on appeal. As of September 28, 2026, none of them has settled, no class has been certified, and there is no claim form.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Lawsuits Claim
- California (class action against Flock): the consolidated complaint claims Flock violated California's ALPR law (Civil Code § 1798.90.5 et seq., known as SB 34) by posting an inadequate usage and privacy policy, allowing California plate data to be accessed by out-of-state and federal agencies, failing to keep reasonable security and proper audit records, and violating the privacy right in California's Constitution.
- Georgia (two nationwide class actions against Flock): the plaintiffs argue Flock is responsible when officers misuse the system for personal tracking. The complaints cite the arrests of five former Albany, Georgia officers after an audit in July 2026, a former Braselton police chief who reportedly searched plates tied to an ex-girlfriend and her daughter roughly 600 times, and a former Richmond County deputy who reportedly ran one woman's plate 1,639 times. They also argue that, at Flock's stated volume of about 20 billion reads a month, a 93% accuracy rate would mean roughly 1.4 billion wrong reads a month. Claims include negligence, negligent design, failure to warn, intrusion upon seclusion and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- Virginia (lawsuit against a city, not Flock): two plaintiffs claim the City of Norfolk's network of 176 Flock cameras amounts to warrantless surveillance in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
Case Details
- In re Flock Group Inc. Automated License Plate Reader Litigation, No. 3:26-cv-02375-VC, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Judge Vince Chhabria. Removed by Flock from Contra Costa County Superior Court on March 18, 2026; consolidated May 29, 2026. Interim class counsel: Edelson PC and Bursor & Fisher, P.A.
- Schulte v. Flock Group Inc., No. 1:26-cv-04843-MLB, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Judge Michael L. Brown. Filed August 25, 2026 by a Dahlonega, Georgia resident; counsel Herman Jones LLP.
- Whitson v. Flock Group, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-05256-MLB, same court and judge. Filed September 11, 2026 by a Tennessee resident; counsel Herman Jones LLP, with Levi & Korsinsky lawyers applying to appear. (Some news reports list a temporary intake number, 1:26-mi-99999.)
- Schmidt v. City of Norfolk, No. 2:24-cv-00621, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Judge Mark S. Davis; appeal No. 26-1227, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Status of Each Case (September 28, 2026)
Georgia: in Schulte, Flock was served September 1 and the judge extended its deadline to answer or otherwise respond to October 30, 2026. Whitson was filed September 11; the public docket copy we checked shows the summons issued but no proof of service yet.
Virginia: on January 27, 2026, Judge Davis granted Norfolk summary judgment, finding the city's cameras do not capture "the whole" of people's movements. The plaintiffs appealed; briefing is finished and the Fourth Circuit tentatively calendared oral argument for its December 8-11, 2026 session; a September 15 filing by Norfolk's counsel lists no available days that week, so the date may move.
Home Depot: the Flock cameras in Home Depot parking lots are the subject of separate suits against the retailer; see our Home Depot Flock camera lawsuit tracker.
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There's no claim deadline yet. We'll email you if a settlement opens a claim period.
Latest From the Court Docket
Recent entries in the federal case behind this page, taken from the court's own docket. We check it at least once a day; this list is as of Oct 10, 2026.
Case: Schulte v. Flock Group Inc., No. 1:26-cv-04843 (N.D. Ga.)
Oct 8, 2026
Order
ECF No. 13
Sep 25, 2026
MOTION to Consolidate Cases and Appoint Interim Class Counsel with Brief In Support
ECF No. 10
Aug 27, 2026
Order
ECF No. 2
Aug 25, 2026
Complaint
ECF No. 1
A docket entry is a step in the case, not a decision on who wins. Sources: the courts' PACER feeds and CourtListener (Free Law Project). Not legal advice.
Who Could Be Covered
California case: the proposed class is "All California residents whose license plate data was collected by Flock in the State of California using an automated license plate recognition system operated by Flock."
Georgia cases: both seek nationwide classes. Schulte covers "All individuals in the United States whose license plate data was collected by Flock using an automated license plate recognition system operated by Flock since January 1, 2024." Whitson covers every person whose plate was read, recorded and retained by any Flock camera in the United States during the class period.
Virginia case: not a class action; it is brought by two individuals against the city.
None of these classes has been certified. If one is certified or a settlement is reached, notice would go out; you do not have to sign up anywhere to be part of a proposed class.
Is There Money in It?
The Georgia complaints ask for compensatory and punitive damages with no dollar figure; Whitson also asks for court orders requiring Flock to detect and stop misuse. The Virginia case is about whether Norfolk's camera program is constitutional; it is not a class action and would not create a fund for the public. Any site quoting a "Flock settlement payout" is making it up.
Flock Litigation Timeline
- 1
October 21, 2024 — Norfolk Challenge Filed
Two individuals sue the City of Norfolk in federal court in Virginia, claiming its Flock camera network violates the Fourth Amendment.
- 2
January 27, 2026 — Norfolk Wins; Appeal Follows
The court grants the city summary judgment; the plaintiffs appeal to the Fourth Circuit (No. 26-1227) on February 25, 2026.
- 3
March 18 - May 29, 2026 — California Case Moves to Federal Court
Flock removes a California class action to federal court in San Francisco, where related suits are consolidated before Judge Vince Chhabria.
- 4
August 25 and September 11, 2026 — Georgia Class Actions
Schulte and Whitson are filed in Atlanta federal court, both seeking nationwide classes over police misuse of Flock data.
- 5
September 24 - December 2026 — Next Steps
California ruling on Flock's motion to dismiss (at the Sept. 24 hearing the judge tentatively found no federal standing; written ruling pending), Flock's Schulte response due October 30, Fourth Circuit argument tentatively December 8-11.
Watch Out For
Three things that trip people up on this search:
"Flock settlement" claim pages
There is no settlement in any Flock case and no official claim form. Do not pay a fee or hand over your driver's license or plate details to "register" for a payout.
Mixing up Flock with Home Depot
The California lawsuit over license-plate cameras in Home Depot parking lots (In re Home Depot ALPR Litigation, which absorbed Schmierer v. Home Depot in June 2026) is a separate case against Home Depot; Flock is not a named defendant there.
"Join the Flock lawsuit" forms
Many sign-up forms pass your details to law firms for advertising. That is not joining a case; proposed classes already include everyone who fits the definition.
Flock Safety Lawsuit — FAQ
Is there a Flock Safety settlement?
No. As of September 28, 2026, no Flock case has settled, and the courts have not certified any class.
How do I join the Flock lawsuit? Is there a claim form?
There is no claim form. If your plate was captured by a Flock camera, you may fall within one of the proposed classes as written; nothing needs to be filed now. Hiring your own lawyer is optional.
Can I get money from a Flock lawsuit?
Possibly someday, but not now. The California case seeks at least $2,500 per violation under state law, and Flock argues most drivers cannot show the harm needed to sue. The Georgia cases name no amount. Any payment would require a win or settlement that has not happened.
What is the Flock lawsuit in California about?
A consolidated class action in San Francisco federal court claims Flock broke California's ALPR law, including by letting out-of-state and federal agencies access California plate data. At the September 24, 2026 hearing on Flock's motion to dismiss, the judge said he had tentatively concluded the plaintiffs lack Article III standing, which would likely send the case back to state court; no written ruling had been posted as of September 28.
What happened in the Virginia Flock lawsuit?
In Schmidt v. City of Norfolk, a federal judge ruled for the city in January 2026. The plaintiffs appealed, and the Fourth Circuit may hear argument in December 2026. Flock itself is not a defendant.
Is there a Flock case at the Supreme Court?
None of the cases on this page has produced a U.S. Supreme Court decision. On June 29, 2026, the Court held in Chatrie v. United States that police conducted a Fourth Amendment search when they obtained a person's cell-phone location data from Google. That case was about geofence data, not license-plate cameras, and the opinion does not mention them.
What about the Ohio and Washington state Flock cases?
In Ohio, Smith v. Flock Safety was an individual, self-represented lawsuit; the Sixth Circuit affirmed the judgment against him in February 2026 and denied rehearing in March 2026. In Washington, a Skagit County judge ruled, in a dispute brought by two cities against a records requester, that Flock camera images are public records (as reported by the Electronic Frontier Foundation on November 12, 2025). Neither is a class action with money for drivers.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.