Spokeo Roundup

Posted By: John Albanese February 17, 2017

In May 2016, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins, 136 S. Ct. 1540 (2016). In Spokeo, the Court held that an alleged “bare procedural violation” of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) without more was insufficient to state a concrete injury necessary to have Article III standing. Since Spokeo, various courts have been grappling with whether particular claims under the FCRA constitute concrete injuries. In general, courts have found that most violations of the FCRA constitute concrete injuries. Below are citations to cases where courts have found standing. If you are a consumer attorney facing a Spokeo motion, hopefully these citations will help.

15 U.S.C. § 1681b(f) – Impermissible pull of credit report: In re Horizon Healthcare Servs. Inc. Data Breach Litig., No. 15-2309, 2017 WL 242554 (3d Cir. Jan. 20, 2017); Burke v. Fed. Nat’l Mortg. Ass’n, No. 3:16CV153-HEH, 2016 WL 4249496, at *2 (E.D. Va. Aug. 9, 2016), vacated pursuant to stipulation, 2016 WL 7451624 (E.D. Va. Dec. 6, 2016); Green v. RentGrow, Inc., No. 2:16CV421, 2016 WL 7018564 (E.D. Va. Nov. 10, 2016), report and recommendation adopted, 2016 WL 7031287 (E.D. Va. Nov. 30, 2016); Witt v. Corelogic Saferent, LLC, No. 3:15-CV-386, 2016 WL 4424955 (E.D. Va. Aug. 18, 2016); Santangelo v. Comcast Corp., 162 F. Supp. 3d 691 (N.D. Ill. 2016); Perrill v. Equifax Info. Servs., LLC, No. A–14–CA–612–SS, 2016 WL 4572212 (W.D. Tex. Aug. 31, 2016); Adams v. Fifth Third Bank, No. 3:16-CV-00218-TBR, 2017 WL 561336 (W.D. Ky. Feb. 10, 2017); Firneno v. Radner Law Grp., PLLC, No. 2:13-CV-10135, 2016 WL 5899762 (E.D. Mich. Sept. 28, 2016); Griffin v. Bank of Am., N.A., No. 1:16 CV 1259, 2016 WL 7487724 (N.D. Ohio Dec. 28, 2016)

15 U.S.C. § 1681(c) – Reporting of obsolete information: Gambles, v. Sterling Infosystems, Inc., No. 15 CIV. 9746 (PAE), 2017 WL 589130 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 13, 2017); Hawkins v. S2Verify, No. C 15-03502 WHA, 2016 WL 3999458 (N.D. Cal. July 26, 2016)

15 U.S.C. §1681e(b) – Failure to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy Courts have found that the reporting of inacurrate criminal nad other information was sufficent to state a concrete harm: Patel v. Trans Union, LLC, No. 14-CV-00522-LB, 2016 WL 6143191 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 21, 2016); Gambles, v. Sterling Infosystems, Inc., No. 15 CIV. 9746 (PAE), 2017 WL 589130 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 13, 2017); Keller v. Experian Info. Sols., Inc., No. 16-CV-04643-LHK, 2017 WL 130285 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 13, 2017); Ramirez v. Trans Union, LLC, No. 12-CV-00632-JSC, 2016 WL 6070490 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2016)

15 U.S.C. §1681k – Failure to follow strict procedure to insure that report is complete and up to date: Witt v. Corelogic Saferent, LLC, No. 3:15-CV-386, 2016 WL 4424955 (E.D. Va. Aug. 18, 2016)

15 U.S.C. §1681g – Failure to provide summary of rights or source of information: Clark v. Trans Union, LLC, No. 3:15CV391, 2016 WL 7197391 (E.D. Va. Dec. 9, 2016); Patel v. Trans Union, LLC, No. 14-CV-00522-LB, 2016 WL 6143191 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 21, 2016); Larson v. Trans Union, LLC, No. 12-CV-05726-WHO, 2016 WL 4367253 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 11, 2016); Ramirez v. Trans Union, LLC, No. 12-CV-00632-JSC, 2016 WL 6070490 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2016); Stokes v. Realpage, Inc., No. CV 15–1520, 2016 WL 6095810, (E.D. Pa. Oct. 19, 2016).

15 U.S.C. § 1681b(b)2 – Failure to provide stand-alone disclosure: Syed v. M-I, LLC, No. 14-17186, 2017 WL 242559 (9th Cir. Jan. 20, 2017); Hargrett v. Amazon.com DEDC LLC, No. 8:15-CV-2456-T-26EAJ, 2017 WL 416427 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 30, 2017); Graham v. Pyramid Healthcare Solutions, Inc., 2016 WL 6248309 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 26, 2016), Moody v. Ascenda USA Inc., No. 16-CV-60364-WPD, 2016 WL 5900216, at *1 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 5, 2016); Rodriguez v. El Toro Med. Inv’rs Ltd. P’ship, No. SACV1600059JLSKES, 2016 WL 6804394 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 16, 2016); Meza v. Verizon Commc’ns, Inc., No. 1:16-CV-0739 AWI MJS, 2016 WL 4721475 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 9, 2016); Thomas v. FTS USA, LLC, 193 F. Supp. 3d 623 (E.D. Va. 2016)

15 U.S.C. § 1681b(b)3 – Failure to provide pre-adverse action notice: Moody v. Ascenda USA Inc., No. 16-CV-60364-WPD, 2016 WL 4702681 (S.D. Fla. July 1, 2016); Thomas v. FTS USA, LLC, 193 F. Supp. 3d 623 (E.D. Va. 2016)