California Complaint Against Experian for Violating the FCRA by Mixing Public Judgment of Another

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

 

JOHN DOE Plaintiff, v.  EXPERIAN INFORMATION SOLUTIONS, INC.  Defendant.

Civil Action No.                                   Complaint for Violations of Fair Credit Reporting Act   Demand for Jury Trial

Preliminary Statement

1. This is an action for damages brought by an individual consumer against the Defendant for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681, et seq., as amended.

Jurisdiction and Venue

2. Jurisdiction of this Court arises under 15 U.S.C. § 1681p and 28 U.S.C. § 1331.

3. Venue lies properly in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b).

Parties     

4.  Plaintiff  is an adult individual who resides in Michigan.

5.  Defendant Experian Information Solutions, Inc. is a business entity and consumer reporting agency that regularly conducts business in the Central District of California, and which has its headquarters and a principal place of business located at 475 Anton Boulevard, Costa Mesa, CA.

Factual Allegations

6. Defendant has been reporting derogatory and inaccurate statements and information relating to Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s credit history to third parties (“inaccurate information”)from at least March 2012 through present. The inaccurate information includes a public record of a civil judgment taken by Mecosta Medical Center, as well as identifying personal information.

7.  The inaccurate information negatively reflects upon the Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s credit repayment history, Plaintiff’s financial responsibility as a debtor and Plaintiff’s creditworthiness.  The inaccurate information consists of a public record that does not belong to the Plaintiff, and that actually belong to at least one other consumer.  Due to Defendant’s faulty procedures, Defendant mixed the credit file of Plaintiff and that of at least another consumer with respect to the inaccurate information and other personal identifying information.

8. Defendant has been reporting the inaccurate information through the issuance of false and inaccurate credit information and consumer credit reports that it has disseminated to various persons and credit grantors, both known and unknown.  Defendant has repeatedly published and disseminated consumer reports to such third parties from at least March 2012 through the present.

9. Plaintiff’s credit report and file has been obtained from Defendant and has been reviewed by prospective and existing credit grantors and extenders of credit, and the inaccurate information has been a substantial factor in precluding Plaintiff from receiving different credit offers and opportunities, known and unknown.  Plaintiff’s credit reports have been obtained from Defendant by such third parties from at least March 2012 through the present.

10. As a result of Defendant’s conduct, Plaintiff has suffered actual damages in the form of credit denial or loss of credit opportunity, credit defamation and emotional distress, including anxiety, frustration, embarrassment and, humiliation.

11. At all times pertinent hereto, Defendant was acting by and through its agents, servants and/or employees who were acting within the course and scope of their agency or employment, and under the direct supervision and control of the Defendant herein.

12. At all times pertinent hereto, the conduct of the Defendant, as well as that of its agents, servants and/or employees, was intentional, willful, reckless, and in grossly negligent disregard for federal law and the rights of the Plaintiff herein.

Count One- Violations of the FCRA

(Plaintiff v. Defendant)

13. Plaintiff incorporates the foregoing paragraphs as though the same were set forth at length herein.

14. At all times pertinent hereto, Defendant was a “person” and “consumer reporting agency” as those terms are defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(b) and (f).

15. At all times pertinent hereto, the Plaintiff was a “consumer” as that term is defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(c).

16. At all times pertinent hereto, the above-mentioned credit reports were “consumer reports” as that term is defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(d).

17.Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681n and 15 U.S.C. § 1681o, Defendant is liable to the Plaintiff for willfully and negligently failing to comply with the requirements imposed on a consumer reporting agency of information pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b).

Jury Trial Demanded    

18.  Plaintiff demands trial by jury.

Prayer for Relief

          WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks judgment in Plaintiff’s favor and damages against the Defendant, based on the following requested relief:

(a) Statutory damages;

(b) Actual damages;

(c) Punitive damages;

(d) Costs and reasonable attorney’s fees; and

(e) Other and further relief as may be just and proper.

 

Respectfully submitted,                     

Respectfully Submitted by:

THE TATAR LAW FIRM

Stephanie Tatar

Attorney for Plaintiff