Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced this month that he will “ban the box” for some applicants applying for certain state government positions, and that he will do so by executive order, which would take effect as of July 1, 2017. The executive order would affect hiring in nearly 70,000 state jobs within the executive branch
Spokeo Strikes Again: Fourth Circuit Reverses and Dismisses $12 Million FCRA Class Action on Spokeo Grounds
In one of the most significant post-Spokeo decisions to date, the Fourth Circuit unanimously reversed and dismissed a nearly $12 million Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) class action judgment, finding plaintiff, Michael T. Dreher, lacked Article III standing to bring his claims. The decision provides much needed clarity from the Fourth Circuit on the
FTC Issues Guidance for Employment Background Screening
On April 28, the Federal Trade Commission published a blog entitled “Background Checks on Prospective Employees: Keep Required Disclosures Simple.” In this online publication, the FTC issued guidance to employers on how to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act if they intend to use a consumer report (commonly referred to as a background check)
California Approves New Regulations Regarding Consideration of Criminal History in Employment Decisions
On March 27, the Office of Administrative Law for the State of California announced new regulations that even further limit employers’ ability to consider a job applicant’s criminal history when making hiring decisions.
Except if otherwise permitted by law, employers are prohibited from taking into consideration during the hiring process a number of enumerated offenses,
Health Care Management Company Sued in FCRA Class Action
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
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
Join Us for a Complimentary Webinar – Post-Spokeo Survey – An Analysis of Trends and Developments in the Courts
On Wednesday, April 19 from 12-1 p.m. ET, Troutman Sanders attorneys Mary Zinsner and Jon Hubbard will present a survey of consumer protection decisions from across the country interpreting and applying the Supreme Court’s ruling in Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins. The decisions from the federal circuits are conflicting and some “no-injury” class action proceedings
Virginia Federal Court Dismisses FCRA Permissible Purpose Claim on Standing Grounds
On March 29, 2017, a judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed a Fair Credit Reporting Act claim against Equifax Information Services, LLC alleging that Equifax provided the plaintiff’s consumer report to a third party without an FCRA permissible purpose. Dilday v. DIRECTV, LLC et al., No.
Court Rejects FCRA Background Check Settlement As Providing Insufficient Recovery For Class Members In Light Of Ninth Circuit Ruling
This past week, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California declined to preliminarily approve a class action settlement of a Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) claim because the payment to class members was unreasonably low. In the Court’s view, the class members deserved more in light of the strengths of the plaintiff’s
California’s Regulation Regarding Consideration of Criminal History in Employment Decisions
The Fair Employment and Housing Council published the final text for the “Consideration of Criminal History in Employment Decisions” regulation on March 27, 2017. This regulation, effective July 1, 2017, impacts employers’ consideration of criminal history information for employment purposes, including those related to layoffs. Employers are well-advised to take a fresh look