Michaels v. Google, Inc.

Filing 1

COMPLAINT against Google, Inc. ( Filing fee $ 350 receipt number 0540-2924433.), filed by Kelly Michaels. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet)(Findlay, Eric)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
TYLER DIVISION
KELLY MICHAELS, as an individual and
representative of a class of similarly
situated persons and/or entities,
Plaintiffs,
v.
GOOGLE, INC, a DELAWARE
CORPORATION,
Defendant,

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:11-CV-107

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

COMPLAINT
PLAINTIFF, KELLY MICHAELS, as an individual and representatives of the class
described herein, ("Plaintiff"), brings this CLASS ACTION against Defendant, Google, Inc.,
("Google"), and states the following in support of this complaint:
PARTIES
1.

PLAINTIFF, KELLY MICHAELS, is a citizen of the State of Texas and resides

in Smith County, Texas which is within the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division.
2.

Plaintiff is representative of a class of persons, and/or entities, within and

throughout the State of Texas, and the entire United States, who use, or have used, the web based
email program provided by Google, known in the United States as "Gmail", between the time of
April 1, 2004 and the present.

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3.

Google is a Delaware corporation with corporate headquarters and principal place

of business at 1600 Amphitheater, Parkway, Mountain View, California, 94043.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
4.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, et seq., this Court has jurisdiction over this matter

based on diversity of citizenship of the Plaintiff and Google, and there being an amount in
controversy that exceeds $75,000.00, exclusive of interest and costs.
5.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, et seq., this Court also has jurisdiction over this

matter based on the presumption that there are over 100 members in the Class of persons and/or
entities represented by the Plaintiff; that Plaintiff’s claims involve an aggregate amount in
controversy that exceeds $5 million, exclusive of interest and costs; and the diversity of
citizenship of the Plaintiff and Google.
6.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 this Court has jurisdiction over this matter based on

the Plaintiff’s claims arising from Google's violation of the Federal Wiretap Act, 18 U.S.C. §
2510 et seq.
7.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391, venue is proper in the Eastern District of Texas due

to Google being subject to personal jurisdiction in this District and due to the fact that a
substantial part of the events giving rise to the claim occurred within this District.
NATURE OF SUIT
8.

This is a Class Action brought pursuant to Rule 23 of Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure against Google for invading the privacy of its users by scanning and capturing the
contents of every email sent and received through Google’s web based email program known as
"Gmail". Google offers Gmail to anyone with access to the internet. Google does not charge
users of Gmail a fee; however it does require users to open a "Gmail Account". In order to open
2

a Gmail Account a user must provide personally identifying information including their name, a
desired login name, a password, a security question and answer, a recovery email address, the
users location, and the user's birth date. (See screen captures below)

3

In order to use Gmail users are asked to click on a button that says, "I accept. Create my
account.", and purports to be an electronic acknowledgment that they are agreeing to Google's
Terms of Service. Gmail users are not required to open, navigate to, read or understand the

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Terms of Service, (See Exhibit A), Program Policy, (See Exhibit B), and Privacy Policy, (See
Exhibit C). If users want to read the Terms of Service they must scroll through a small text box
containing the approximately 92 paragraphs that apparently comprise the Terms of Service, or
click on a link to a 15 page "Printable Version". If users want to read the Program Policy and
Privacy Policy they are required to navigate to two separate web pages. The web page that users
are taken to when they click the link for the Privacy Policy contains an additional 55 external
links. None of the multiple pages or links provides an opportunity for a user to inquire about the
meaning of any of the terms used or negotiate the addition or deletion of the terms of the
documents the user is supposed to be accepting. Google fails to inform users of Gmail that it
regularly and routinely scans, captures and disseminates the content of every email sent or
received through Gmail. Google also fails to inform users of Gmail that after scanning and
capturing the content of every email sent or received through Gmail, Google uses the contents of
those emails to attract advertisers, who in turn pay Google to place advertisements, specifically
tailored and directed to individual users based on the content of the emails they have sent and
received. For example, if a user sends a private email through a Gmail account requesting input
from a friend or family member regarding a recommendation for cowboy boots and the user
receives a reply, the next time the screen is refreshed in the user's Gmail program advertisements
for cowboy boots appear on the users screen. (The following three pages are screen captures1
from a Gmail account that was opened solely and expressly for testing purposes and to
demonstrate that the contents of users' emails, sent and received through Gmail, are
intentionally scanned and analyzed for the purpose of specifically tailoring advertisements and
targeting them to individual users.)

1

These screen captures have been enlarged for easier viewing but are otherwise unaltered.

5

Screen capture of newly opened Gmail account - no targeted advertisements.

6

Contents of first email, before sending from new Gmail account - no targeted advertisements.

7

Screen capture of user screen after sending email and receiving reply - targeted advertisements.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS
9.

Google is a for-profit, publically traded corporation that owns and operates the

world's most popular Internet search engine along with a multitude of other Internet services,
including the web based email program Gmail.
10.

Google's business model is based in large part, if not exclusively, from generating

advertising revenue based on the number of users of its Internet services. Included in that
business model is the practice of seeking, acquiring, storing and then selling information
collected from the users of its Internet services.
11.

Google has a reputation for being aggressive about expanding its data collection

and obtaining monetary benefit for the data it captures in total disregard for the privacy of the
unsuspecting users of its ubiquitous software. According to the consumer advocacy group
Consumer Watchdog, Google has a history of pushing the (privacy) envelope and then
apologizing after their over reach is discovered.
12.

In May of 2007, Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, ("Schmidt"), told the Financial

Times: "We are very early in the total information we have within Google …. The algorithms
will get better and we will get better at personalization. ... The goal is to enable Google users to
be able to ask the question such as ‘What shall I do tomorrow?’ and ‘What job shall I take?’ ...
We cannot even answer the most basic questions because we don’t know enough about you. That
is the most important aspect of Google’s expansion.”
13.

In September of 2008, in an interview with McKinsey Quarterly, Schmidt said:

"When people have infinitely powerful personal devices, connected to infinitely fast networks
and servers with lots and lots of content, what will they do? There will be a new kind of
application and it will be personal. It will run on the equivalent of your mobile phone. It will

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know where you are via GPS, and you will use it as your personal and social assistant. It will
know who your friends are and when they show up near you. It will remind you of their
birthdays. ... When you go to school it will help you learn, since this device knows far more than
you ever will.”
14.

On or about September 15, 2010, Schmidt said: "But there is a new opportunity

for monetization of social networks which I would call the yellow pages. You can see this in
what Facebook is doing and you can see this in Google Places. There are physical things in
social networks, stores for example. You can advertise against those objects and it looks like
classifieds or like yellow pages. My guess is that there is a lot of revenue going to be. Location
based services will be a big business for Facebook, Google or others."

See: http://faz-

community.faz.net/blogs/netzkonom/archive/2010/09/15/google-ceo-eric-schmidt-we-don-t-payfor-traffic.aspx
15.

It is against this backdrop, and within this corporate culture, as set forth above,

that Google implemented its web based email program Gmail.
16.
2004

Upon information and belief Google's Gmail program was started in April of
and

offered

to

employees

of

Google.

(See

http://www.google.com/press/pressrel/gmail.html)
17.

Upon information and belief the availability of Gmail was expanded over time

through the use of invitations allotted to users to give to friends and family.
18.

Upon information and belief Gmail registration was open to the public at large on

February 8, 2007.
19.

Upon information and belief Gmail remained in "beta" status until July, 7, 2009.

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20.
reportedly

On or about July 7, 2009 Google announced that Gmail was "out of beta",
in

an

effort

to

make

it

more

attractive

to

business.

(see

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/google-apps-is-out-of-beta-yes-really.html),
21.
total

Google does not release official figures for the number of Gmail users but the

number

of

users

is

estimated

to

be

around

200

million.

(see

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110301/tc_afp/usitcompanyinternetgmailgoogle)
22.

Google has not released the technical details of how users' private emails are

scanned and content extracted.
23.

Google creates, operates and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms for

the purpose of intercepting, collecting, scanning and analyzing every email, (both incoming and
outgoing), of every Gmail user for the purpose "monetizing" every Gmail users' data.
24.

Google creates, operates and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms to

intercept, collect, scan, and analyze every email, (both incoming and outgoing), of every Gmail
user for the purpose of delivering targeted ads and other information to Gmail users.
25.

Google creates, operates and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms to

intercept, collect, scan, and analyze every email, (both incoming and outgoing), of every Gmail
user and examines the entire content of every Gmail user's email including the header, subject
line, addressing information and the internal text of the email.
26.

Google creates, operates and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms to

intercept, collect, scan, and analyze every email, (both incoming and outgoing), of every Gmail
user, in a process referred to as "content extraction."

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27.

After conducting the content extraction on an email of an individual Gmail user,

Google places ads in the Gmail window on the individual Gmail user's monitor screen that are
targeted to that individual user based on the contents that were extracted from his or her email.
28.

Both "internal email information", the actual data contained in an email message,

and "external email information", the data Google derives by applying its proprietary technology
and algorithms to the internal email information, of every email, (both incoming and outgoing),
of every Gmail user is intercepted, collected, scanned and analyzed by Google.
29.

Both the "internal email information" and "external email information" of every

email of every Gmail user that is intercepted, collected, scanned and analyzed by Google, is
analyzed to derive the "concepts" contained in each email.
30.

Google derives income from selling advertisements, based on the concepts

derived from every email of every Gmail user, and targeted to individual Gmail users based on
such concepts.
31.

Both the "internal email information" and "external email information" of every

email of every Gmail user that is intercepted, collected, scanned and analyzed by Google is
analyzed to identify "keywords" contained in each email.
32.

Google derives income from Gmail by selling keywords to advertisers in order to

allow advertisers to tailor and target their advertisements to individual Gmail users based on the
keywords contained in each emails.
33.

Google derives income from Gmail by marketing their ability to target

advertisements to individual Gmail users based on the scan of such users' email and the concepts
derived from the analysis of users' email contents.

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34.

Google's Terms of Service for Gmail cover 15 pages of text that in a language

best described as "legalese".
35.

Google's Terms of Service for Gmail use the term "Services" extensively

throughout its 15 pages.

However, the term "Services" is undefined and has no readily

discernable specific meaning.
36.

Google's Terms of Service for Gmail do not disclose that the fact that it creates,

operates and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and
analyze the content of every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives.
37.

Google's Terms of Service for Gmail do not disclose that the fact that it creates,

operates and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and
analyze the content of every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives, or that it uses that
content to increase advertising revenue.
38.

Google's Program Policy for Gmail does not disclose the fact it creates, operates

and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and analyze the
content of every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives.
39.

Google's Program Policy for Gmail does not disclose the fact it creates, operates

and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and analyze the
content of every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives, or that it uses that content to
increase advertising revenue.
40.

Google does not adequately reveal and explain the essential nature of the fact that

it creates, operates and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms to intercept, collect,
scan, and analyze the content of every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives.

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41.

Upon information and belief the vast majority of users of Gmail have not read,

and/or understood, the over 20 pages, not including multiple external links to additional
documents, that make up the Terms of Service, Program Policy and Privacy Policy.
42.

In fact, Chief Justice John Roberts of the United States Supreme Court has

admitted he doesn't usually read the "fine print" that is a condition for accessing some websites.
(See:http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/chief_justice_roberts_admits_he_doesnt_read_the_
computer_fine_print/)
43.

Google does not include the fact that it scans the content of private emails,

collects the data and uses that data to increase advertising revenue in the marketing material it
publishes for Gmail. (See below)

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44.

As shown above, Google does include the fact that it blocks "spam" in the

marketing material it publishes for Gmail.
45.

By failing to disclose the fact that it creates, operates and maintains proprietary

technology and algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and analyze the content of every private
email that a Gmail user sends or receives, Google has concealed from, or failed to disclose
certain facts to the Plaintiff and Class members.
46.

By failing to disclose the fact that it intercepts, collects, scans, and analyzes the

content of every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives for the purpose of discovering
the "concepts" contained in those emails, Google has concealed from, or failed to disclose certain
facts to the Plaintiff and Class members.
47.

By failing to disclose the fact that it intercepts, collects, scans, and analyzes the

content of every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives for the purpose of identifying
keywords in those emails, Google has concealed from, or failed to disclose certain facts to the
Plaintiff and Class members.
48.

By failing to disclose the fact that it discovers the "concepts" and identifies

keywords in every private email that every Gmail user sends or receives in order to market and
target advertisements to individual Gmail users Google has concealed from, or failed to disclose
certain facts to the Plaintiff and Class members.
49.

By failing to disclose the fact that it markets and targets advertisements to

individual Gmail users, based on such concepts and keywords, in order to derive a profit, Google
has concealed from, or failed to disclose certain facts to the Plaintiff and Class members.

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50.

Google has/had a duty to disclose the fact it creates operates and maintains

proprietary technology and algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and analyze the content of
every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives to Plaintiff and Class members.
51.

Google has/had a duty to disclose the fact that it intercepts, collects, scans, and

analyzes the content of every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives for the purpose of
discovering the "concepts" contained in those emails.
52.

Google has/ had a duty to disclose the fact that it intercepts, collects, scans, and

analyzes the content of every private email that a Gmail user sends or receives for the purpose of
identifying keywords in those emails.
53.

Google has/ had a duty to disclose the fact that it discovers the "concepts" and

identifies keywords in every private email that every Gmail user sends or receives in order to
market and target advertisements to individual Gmail.
54.

Google has/ had a duty to disclose the fact that it markets and targets

advertisements to individual Gmail users, based on such concepts and keywords, in order to
derive a profit.
55.

The facts that Google creates, operates and maintains proprietary technology and

algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and analyze the content of every private email that a Gmail
user sends or receives; for the purpose of discovering the "concepts" and indentifying the
keywords in those emails; in order to make a profit are all material facts.
56.

Google knew, or should have known, that Plaintiff and the Class members were

ignorant of those facts.
57.

Google knew, or should have known, that Plaintiff and the Class members did not

have an equal opportunity to discover those material facts.

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58.

Google has been and continues to remain deliberately silent regarding those facts

while it has had a duty to disclose same.
59.

By failing to disclose those facts Google intended to induce Plaintiff and the Class

members to use Gmail.
60.

The Plaintiff and the Class members relied on Google's nondisclosure of those

facts when opening a Gmail account and using Gmail.
61.

The Plaintiff and the Class members have been injured and their privacy violated

as a result of opening Gmail accounts and using Gmail without the knowledge of those facts that
Google intentionally failed to disclose.
62.

PLAINTIFF, KELLY MICHAELS is a Gmail user and has had a Gmail account

between February, 2007 and March 4, 2011.
63.

Upon information and belief, Google has used its proprietary technology and

algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and analyze every email that PLAINTIFF KELLY
MICHAELS has sent or received through her Gmail account.
64.

PLAINTIFF, KELLY MICHAELS did not consent to the interception, collection,

scanning, and analyzing of every email she has sent through her Gmail account.
65.

Google did not adequately reveal and explain the essential nature of the fact that it

creates, operates and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms to intercept, collect, scan,
and analyze the content of every private email PLAINTIFF KELLY MICHAELS has sent or
received through her Gmail account.
66.

PLAINTIFF KELLY MICHAELS is a representative of a much larger class of

persons residing in the United States, and are, or have been, a Gmail user, and has, or had, a
Gmail account between February, 2007 and March 4, 2011.

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CLASS ALLEGATIONS
67.

PLAINTIFF bring this nationwide class action pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure, as an individual and on behalf of all members of the following class:
68.

All persons located within the United States and are, or have been, Gmail users,

and have, or have had, a Gmail account between February, 2007 and February, 2011.
69.

Excluded from the Class are Google, including subsidiaries and affiliates, federal

governmental entities and instrumentalities, and the court and court personnel.
70.

The Class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable.

Ultimately, the precise number of Class members must be the subject of discovery, but Plaintiff
alleges that the number of Class members is in the millions.
71.

There are questions of law and fact common to the Class, including whether and

to what extent Google's conduct was a violation of the laws set forth in the Causes of Action
below, and to what remedies the Class members are entitled to as a result of Google's conduct.
72.

Plaintiff’s claims are typical of the claims of all Class members in that they all

are, or have been, Gmail users, and have, or have had, a Gmail account between February, 2007
and February, 2011.
73.

Plaintiff will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the Class members and

is not in conflict with the interests of Class members. Further, Plaintiff has retained competent
counsel and counsel will fairly and adequately protect and represent the interests of the Class
members.
74.

Plaintiff asserts that, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(2), Google's actions apply

generally to the Class and that, if necessary, final injunctive or declaratory relief is appropriate
for the Class as a whole.

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75.

Plaintiff asserts that, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3), the questions of law

and/or fact common to the Class members predominate over the question of individual members,
and that this class action is a superior method for the fair and efficient adjudication of these
claims.
CAUSES OF ACTION
Federal Wiretap Act 18 U.S.C. § 2510, et seq.
76.

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2510(12), the content of Plaintiff's emails and Class

members' emails amount to an "electronic communication."
77.

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2510(6), Google, as a corporation, is a person.

78.

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2510(4), Google intercepts Plaintiff's emails and Class

members' emails when it creates, operates and maintains proprietary technology and algorithms
to intercept, collect, scan, and analyze the content of every private email that a Gmail user sends
or receives.
79.

Google intentionally intercepted and continues to intercept Plaintiff's emails and

Class members' emails in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2510, et seq., known as the Federal Wiretap
Act.
80.

Google intentionally used a device, its proprietary technology and algorithms, to

intercept Plaintiff’s and Class members’ electronic communications in violation of the Federal
Wiretap Act.
81.

Google intentionally discloses, or endeavors to disclose to other parties the

contents of Plaintiff’s emails and Class members’ emails, knowing or having reason to know that
the information was obtained through the interception of an electronic communication in
violation of the Federal Wiretap Act.

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82.

Google intentionally used and continues to use the contents of Plaintiff’s emails

and Class members’ emails, knowing or having reason to know that the information was
obtained through the interception of email in violation of the Federal Wiretap Act.
83.

Google's creation, operation and maintenance of proprietary technology and

algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and analyze the content of every private email that a Gmail
user sends or receives for the purpose of targeting advertisements to individual Gmail users is
not in the normal course of business while engaged in an activity which is a necessary incident to
the rendition of services, or the protection of rights or property of Google.
84.

Google's creation, operation and maintenance of proprietary technology and

algorithms to intercept, collect, scan, and analyze the content of every private email that a Gmail
user sends or receives, for the purpose of securing a profit from targeted advertisements to
individual Gmail users, is not in the normal course of business while engaged in an activity
which is a necessary incident to the rendition of services, or the protection of rights or property
of Google.
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 123.001 et seq.
85.

Google intentionally intercepted Plaintiff’s and Class members’ electronic

communications in violation of Texas' Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 123.001 et seq.
Texas Penal Code § 16.02 et seq.
86.

Google intentionally intercepted, or acquired, Plaintiff’s and Class members’

electronic communications in violation of Texas Penal Code § 16.02 et seq. Texas Code of
Criminal Procedure, Article 18.20 creates a private remedy for the violation of Texas Penal Code
§ 16.02 et seq.

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Invasion of Privacy
87.

Google’s conduct, as set forth in this complaint, was an intentional invasion of

privacy; specifically, an intrusion on Plaintiff’s and Class members’ solitude, seclusion and/or
private affairs. Invasion of Privacy is a well recognized and established cause of action under
Texas Common Law. Invasion of Privacy encompasses the tort of Intrusion on Seclusion.
Billings v. Atkinson, 489 S.W.2d 858 (Tex. 1973).
88.

Invasion of Privacy, Intrusion on Seclusion is a recognized claim of action by

Restatement (Second) of Torts §652B (1977,) and in the majority of states in the United States.
Fraud
89.

Google's conduct, as set forth in this complaint, constitutes Fraud by

Nondisclosure, a subcategory of Fraud and a well recognized and established cause of action
under Texas Common Law. Schlumberger Tech. v Swanson, 959 S.W.2nd 171 (Tex. 1997)
90.

Fraud, including Fraud by Nondisclosure, is a claim of action recognized in many

states in the United States.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Plaintiffs hereby demand a jury for all issues so triable.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, on behalf of herself, and as representatives of the Class, prays
judgment be entered against Google and that this Court grant all relief allowable by Federal or
Texas State Law, including but not limited to the following:
1.

An order certifying the Class and appointing Plaintiff and her counsel to represent

the Class;
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2.

A judgment against Google for Plaintiff's and the Class' asserted causes of action;

3.

To the extent necessary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against

Google;
4.

A judgment and order requiring Google to pay Plaintiff and each Class member

$100 a day for each violation or $10,000, whichever is greater, for the violation of 18 U.S.C. §
2510 et seq., along with an appropriate award of punitive damages;
5.

A judgment and order awarding Plaintiff and each Class member $10,000 for

each occurrence, and actual damages in excess of $10,000 for a violation of Texas Civil Practice
and Remedies Code § 123,001 et seq., along with an appropriate award of punitive damages;
6.

A judgment and order awarding Plaintiff and each Class member of $100 a day,

up to $1,000, for a violation of Texas Penal Code § 16.02 et seq., along with an appropriate
award of punitive damages;
7.

A judgment and order awarding Plaintiff and each Class member actual damages

including those for personal injury such as mental anguish for the Invasion of Privacy
encompassing intrusion on Plaintiff's, and each Class members', seclusion, along with an
appropriate award of punitive damages;
8.

A judgment and order awarding Plaintiff and each Class member damages based

on the benefit of the bargain that Google derived from Plaintiff and each Class members' use of
Gmail.
9.

A judgment and order awarding exemplary damages against Google.

10.

A judgment and order requiring Google to pay Plaintiff and Class members the

cost of this action, including all disbursements, and an award of attorneys' fees as authorized by
law;

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11.

Any and all other relief to which Plaintiff and Class members may be entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: March 8, 2011

/s/ Eric H. Findlay
Eric H. Findlay
State Bar No. 00789886
Brian Craft
State Bar No. 04972020
Findlay Craft, L.L.P.
6760 Old Jacksonville Highway,
Suite101
Tyler, TX 75703
[phone]
[phone] FAX
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF
KELLY MICHAELS, AS AN
INDIVIDUAL AND
REPRESENTATIVE OF A CLASS OF
SIMILARLY SITUATED PERSONS
AND/OR ENTITIES

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