Recently, a district judge in California granted a defendant’s motion to dismiss in Koeut v. Navient Corp., ruling that the plaintiff failed to specifically allege facts to support an inference that Navient Corporation and Navient Solutions LLC violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act (CCRAA). The
Background Screening
CDIA & PBSA Amicus Brief Advocates Landlords’ First Amendment Right to Conduct Criminal Background Checks
In November, the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) and the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) joined forces to submit an amicus brief in support of landlords’ First Amendment right to conduct criminal record background checks. The case is Yim v. City of Seattle, on appeal before the Ninth Circuit, challenging a Seattle ordinance that…
DOJ Issues Final Rule on Sex Offender Registration Requirements
On December 8, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) adopted a rule specifying the minimum national requirements for registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The rule, which takes effect on January 7, 2022, “provides a concise and comprehensive statement of what sex offenders must do to comply with SORNA’s requirements.” The…
CFPB Reports Consumers in Minority Neighborhoods More Likely to Have Disputes on Credit Report
In a report released on November 2, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) found that credit report disputes more commonly occur among consumers in majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods than consumers in majority white neighborhoods. New CFPB Director Rohit Chopra attributed this disparity to alleged “[e]rror-ridden credit reports” that “are far too prevalent and may…
DC Circuit Found Waiver of Sovereign Immunity Under FCRA and FMCSA Is Not a CRA
In Mowrer v. United States Department of Transportation, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia held that government immunity is waived under the FCRA, but also found that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) does not act as a consumer reporting agency (CRA) in distributing safety records of commercial truck…
Illinois, We Have a Problem: Judge Refuses to Dismiss IRPA Privacy Claim Against RocketReach
A U.S. district judge in Illinois recently denied a motion to dismiss in a class action involving an alleged violation of the Illinois’ Right of Publicity Act (IRPA). The court determined that the defendant’s arguments were more suitable for an affirmative defense and was unpersuaded by any of the arguments.
In Krause v. RocketReach LLC…
District Court’s FCRA Decision Offers Guidance for Employers on “Clear and Conspicuous” Disclosures and Willfulness
After the District Court for the District of Oregon dismissed a Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) suit filed against Fred Meyer, Inc., the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals partially reversed, holding Fred Meyer had failed to comply with FCRA’s “standalone” requirement by providing, in good faith, an extraneous explanation of the applicant’s rights…
Complimentary Webinar: Background Screening – Recent Hot Litigation and Compliance Issues
August 26, 2021
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET
In the past year, the tenant screening industry has received renewed focus from both plaintiffs’ counsel and government regulators. This focus has taken the form of multiple class action lawsuits, slews of individual cases, and regulatory guidance and enforcement. This webinar will explore some of the recent…
California Federal Magistrate Judge Approves $175,000 Class Action Settlement for Employer’s Alleged Violation of FCRA’s Stand-Alone Disclosure Requirement
A federal magistrate judge in the Northern District of California approved a class settlement of nearly $175,000 for an alleged violation of the FCRA’s stand-alone disclosure requirement. The class was comprised of over 1,000 job applicants who signed a standard form as part of their application, which included both a consumer report disclosure and a…
Professional Background Screening Association Wins Freedom of Information Appeal Against Arkansas Clerk of Court
The Supreme Court of Arkansas ruled in favor of the Professional Background Screening Association (“PBSA”) against the Clerk of the Court of Benton County, Arkansas, Bentonville Division, holding that background screeners’ record requests are not requests for compiled information for purposes of Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order Number 19 (“Order 19”), and therefore not subject…