In Kent v. TransUnion, plaintiff Rowdy Kent sued multiple consumer reporting agencies and the United States Defense Finance and Accounting Services for alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. DFAS moved to dismiss Kent’s claims, arguing that it possesses sovereign immunity from claims under the FCRA. On August 25, the District Court for
Indiana Becomes First State to Prohibit Ban-the-Box Ordinances
Countering a nationwide trend of “ban the box” ordinances that prohibit employers from asking about an individual’s criminal history at the initial application stage, Indiana has become the first state to ensure through legislation that employers can inquire into applicants’ criminal histories. The legislation prohibits localities from implementing “ban the box” ordinances. The measure has
Courier Service Settles Lawsuit Challenging Background Check Disclosure Form and Notices
The recent matter of Nesbitt, et al. v. Postmates Inc., Case No. CGC15547146 in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco, demonstrates the continuing trend of litigation regarding the content of background disclosure forms, as well as ongoing issues regarding the failure of employers to provide notice of adverse
Defendant Seeks To Stymie Plaintiff’s ‘False Pretense’ Claim Under the FCRA
In Patel v. Comcast Corporation, plaintiff consumer Mounang Patel brought a purported class action lawsuit against defendant Comcast Corporation, arguing that Comcast unlawfully obtains background checks (also referred to as consumer reports) on consumers under false pretenses. On July 17, Comcast moved to dismiss this class claim on the ground that Patel failed
Indiana Governor Issues Executive Order “Banning the Box”
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has issued an executive order “banning the box” for jobs within the executive branch. Effective July 1, applicants for employment in the executive branch will no longer be subject to inquiries about their criminal history at the initial application stage, unless the conviction for a specific crime would
Arbitration Rule Compliance Date Set for March 19, 2018
Financial institutions with arbitration clauses in consumer contracts are on the clock. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new Arbitration Rule was published in the Federal Register today, with an effective date of September 18, 2017 and a compliance date of March 19, 2018. Absent congressional action or successful litigation challenge, those financial institutions
CFPB Issues Rule Banning Class Action Waivers In Arbitration Provisions
On July 10, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued its long-awaited final rule banning class action waivers in arbitration provisions for covered entities, as well as requiring the covered entities to provide information to the CFPB regarding any efforts to compel arbitration. This rule is of significance to any financial services company that utilizes
Court Certifies FCRA Background Check Disclosure Claim Against Employer That Relied on Vendor’s Disclosure Form
A new Florida federal district court case is yet another reminder of the minefield of federal and state regulations governing employer criminal background check forms. In Graham v. Pyramid Healthcare Solutions, the Court certified a class action against the employer under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and ruled that whether the employer willfully
Supreme Court Declines to Weigh in on Spokeo in FACTA Lawsuit
The United States Supreme Court has denied a petition seeking review of a Seventh Circuit decision holding that a consumer lacked Article III standing to challenge an alleged violation of the Fair and Accurate Transactions Act where the defendant retailer printed more than the last five digits of his credit card number and the expiration
Employer Seeks Supreme Court Review of Ninth Circuit Finding of Willful FCRA Violation
On January 20, 2017, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision of first impression in Syed v. M-I, LLC, a putative class action, when it held that a prospective employer willfully violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by including a liability waiver in its FCRA background check disclosure form.
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