Pennsylvania Complaint Against Experian for Mixing Consumer Credit Files Causing Reporting of Derogatory and Inaccurate Information
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
___________________________
Jane Doe )
)
Plaintiff, ) Civil Action No.
vs. )
)
EXPERIAN INFORMATION )
SOLUTIONS, INC. )
)
Defendant. )
)_________________________
COMPLAINT
I. 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 (hereafter the “FCRA”), 15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., as amended.
II. Jurisdiction and Venue
2. Jurisdiction of this Court arises under 15 U.S.C. § 1681p, 28 U.S.C. §1331, 1337, and supplemental jurisdiction exists for the state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1367.
3. Venue lies properly in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391(b).
III. Parties
4. Plaintiff is an adult individual and citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who resides Emlenton, PA.
5. Defendant Experian Information Systems, Inc. (hereafter “Experian”) is a business entity that regularly conducts business in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and which has a principal place of business located at 5 Century Drive, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054.
IV. Factual Allegations
6. Defendant has been reporting derogatory and inaccurate statements and information relating to Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s credit history to third parties (hereafter the “inaccurate information”) from at least July 2011 through the present.
7. The inaccurate information includes, but is not limited accounts with Beaver Valley FCU, Capital One, Chase, GE/JC Penny and personal identifying information.
8. The inaccurate information negatively reflects upon the Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s credit repayment history, Plaintiff’s financial responsibility as a debtor and Plaintiff’s credit worthiness. The inaccurate information consists of accounts and/or tradelines that do not belong to the Plaintiff. Due to Defendant’s faulty procedures, Defendant Experian mixed the credit file of Plaintiff with respect to the inaccurate information and other personal identifying information.
9. Defendant has been reporting the inaccurate information through the issuance of false and inaccurate credit information and consumer credit reports that they have disseminated to various persons and credit grantors, both known and unknown from at least July 2011 through the present.
10. Plaintiff’s credit reports and file have been obtained from Defendant Experian and have 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 credit offers and opportunities, known and unknown from at least July 2011 through the present.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. At all times pertinent hereto, the conduct of the Defendant, as well as that of their agents, servants and/or employees, was malicious, intentional, willful, reckless, and in grossly negligent disregard for federal and state laws and the rights of the Plaintiff herein.
V. CLAIMS
COUNT ONE – FCRA
(Plaintiff v. Experian
14. Plaintiff incorporates the foregoing paragraphs as though the same were set forth at length herein.
15. 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).
16. At all times pertinent hereto, Plaintiff was a “consumer” as that term is defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(c).
17. 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).
18. Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §1681n and 15 U.S.C. §1681o, Experian 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).
19. The conduct of Experian was a direct and proximate cause, as well as a substantial factor, in bringing about the serious injuries, actual damages and harm to Plaintiff that are outlined more fully above and, as a result, Experian is liable to Plaintiff for the full amount of statutory, actual and punitive damages, along with the attorneys’ fees and the costs of litigation, as well as such further relief, as may be permitted by law.
VI. JURY TRIAL DEMAND
20. Plaintiff demands trial by jury on all issues so triable.
VII. PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs seek judgment in Plaintiff’s favor and damages against the Defendant, based on the following requested relief:
(a) Actual damages;
(b) Statutory damages;
(c) Punitive damages;
(d) Costs and reasonable attorney’s fees pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §§1681n and 1681o;
(e) An order directing that Defendant immediately delete all of the inaccurate information from Plaintiff’s credit reports and files and cease reporting the inaccurate information to any and all persons and entities to whom they report consumer credit information;
(f) An order directing that Defendant send to all persons and entities to whom they have reported Plaintiff’s inaccurate information within the last three years Plaintiff’s updated and corrected credit report information; and
(g) Such other and further relief as may be necessary, just and proper.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS & MAILMAN, P.C.
BY: _/s/ Mark D. Mailman___________________
MARK D. MAILMAN, ESQUIRE
JOHN SOUMILAS, ESQUIRE
GEOFFREY H. BASKERVILLE, ESQUIRE
Land Title Building, 19th Floor
100 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19110
(215) 735-8600
Attorneys for Plaintiff