Lawsuits under the Fair Credit Reporting Act resulting from allegedly inaccurate background checks do not appear to be going away. Just last week, plaintiff Michelle Petry filed a class action against IDE Management d/b/a Cathedral Health Care Centers, in the Southern District of Indiana, claiming that she was denied a job as a
FTC and NHTSA to Hold Workshop on Connected Vehicles
The Federal Trade Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are teaming up to hold a workshop on June 28, 2017 related to privacy and security issues posed by connected vehicles. The FTC has requested that comments related to this issue be submitted online or by mail by May 1.
“Connected vehicles” include most
Supreme Court Wavers During Oral Arguments in FDCPA Case That May Upend Entire Industry
On April 18, the United States Supreme Court heard long-awaited oral arguments in a case that addresses the fundamental issue of the definition of a “debt collector” under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The Supreme Court’s decision will resolve an existing Circuit split on whether an entity that purchases defaulted debts and then attempts
North Carolina House Votes Overwhelmingly to “Ban the Box”
The North Carolina House of Representatives recently voted 98-14 to “ban the box” for state agency hiring. The bill would not apply to private employers or to state positions that “involve direct interaction with minors or the elderly.”
House Bill 409 would prevent state agencies from inquiring into an employment applicant’s criminal history at
Favorable Spokeo Decision Handed Down in Eastern District of Virginia
On April 17, the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed sua sponte a suit against a collection agency alleging that the debt collector failed to properly update the plaintiff consumer’s credit report, thereby violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Relying on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in
Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument Involving Rule 23(f) Interlocutory Appeals
The United States Supreme Court recently heard oral argument in the case of Microsoft Corp. v. Baker, where the Court is set to determine whether a plaintiff can tactically circumvent Rule 23(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Rule 23(f) provides for an interlocutory appeal of a district court’s denial of class
CFPB Cracks Down on Collection Firm for Alleged Misrepresentation of Attorney Involvement
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is continuing its pursuit of third–party collection law firms it believes misrepresent to consumers the level of attorney involvement in their collection practices.
On April 17, the CFPB filed suit in the Northern District of Ohio against Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., L.P.A., for allegedly misrepresenting in millions
CFPB Publishes Guide to Prepaid Card Rule, Delays Rule’s Effective Date
At the end of January, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published its Prepaid Rule – Small Entity Compliance Guide. The Bureau intends for the Guide to provide a user-friendly summary of the Prepaid Rule, issued in October, but cautions that the Guide is not a substitute for reviewing the Rule, Regulation E, or
Multistate Coalition of AGs Calls on Congress to Support Consumer Protections for Prepaid Debit Cards
A multistate coalition of attorneys general led by District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine is opposing three resolutions before Congress (S.J. Res. 19, H.J. Res. 62, and H.J. Res. 73) that would block a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau final rule intended to give users of prepaid cards some of the same protections given
$5.3M Settlement of TCPA Class Action Against Taxi Cab Companies Preliminarily Approved
The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington preliminarily approved a $5.3 million settlement of a Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action against taxi cab companies Orange Cab Company, Inc. and RideCharge, Inc.
According to the complaint, the defendants worked together to develop an app, known as “Taxi Magic,” for cell