Georgia Complaint Against Equifax for Mixing Credit File of One Consumer to Another Consumer

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

ATLANTA DIVISION

 

JOHN DOE              Plaintiff,             v.   EQUIFAX INFORMATION SERVICES LLC             Defendant.

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Civil Action File   No. _____________   JURY TRIAL DEMANDED   COMPLAINT

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

1. Jurisdiction of this Court arises under 15 U.S.C. § 1681p and 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
2. Venue lies properly in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b).

 

PARTIES

1. Plaintiff  is an adult individual residing in Anderson, Indiana.
2. Defendant Equifax Information Services LLC (“Equifax”) is a consumer reporting agency, which regularly conducts business in the Northern District of Georgia, and which has a place of business located at 1550 Peachtree Street Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30309-2468.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

1. 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 August 2012 through present. The inaccurate information includes numerous tradelines, including, but not limited to, an account with Onewest Bank and Federated Employee Credit Union, as well as identifying personal information.  
2. 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 accounts and/or tradelines that do 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.
3. 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 August 2012 through the present.
4. 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 August 2012 through the present.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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 I – VIOLATIONS OF THE FCRA

(Plaintiff v. Defendant)

1. Plaintiff incorporates the foregoing paragraphs as though the same were set forth at length herein.
2. At all times pertinent hereto, Defendant was a “person” and a “consumer reporting agency” as those terms are defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(b) and (f).
3. At all times pertinent hereto, Plaintiff was a “consumer” as that term is defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(c).
4. 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).
5. 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 employ and follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of Plaintiff’s credit report, information and file, in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b).
6. The conduct of Defendant 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, Defendant is liable to Plaintiff for the full amount of statutory, actual and punitive damages, along with the attorney’s fees and the costs of litigation.

JURY DEMAND

1. Plaintiff demands trial by jury on all issues so triable.

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) Such other and further relief as may be necessary, just and proper.

 

Respectfully submitted,

/s/      James Feagle

James Feagle, Esq.

Georgia Bar No.

Skaar & Feagle, LLP

108 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue

Suite 204

Decatur, Georgia 30030

Telephone: (404) 373-1970

Facsimile: (404) 601-1855

 

Erin A. Novak, Esq.

(pro hac vice motion forthcoming)

Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C.

Land Title Building, 19^th Floor

100 South Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA  19110

Telephone:  (215) 735-8600

Facsimile: (215) 940-8000

Attorneys for Plaintiff