FCRA Credit Report Dispute Complaint

COMPLAINT / PETITION FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT AND THE LOUISIANA UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES ACT

OPTION A — FEDERAL FORUM

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE [EASTERN / MIDDLE / WESTERN] DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

Civil Action No. [____________]

OPTION B — STATE FORUM

[__________] JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF [________________________________]
STATE OF LOUISIANA

Docket No. [____________]

COMPLAINT / PETITION AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL (FEDERAL FORUM)

Plaintiff/Petitioner [PLAINTIFF FULL LEGAL NAME] ("Plaintiff"), by and through undersigned counsel, brings this action against Defendant [CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY] (the "CRA Defendant") and Defendant [FURNISHER NAME] (the "Furnisher Defendant") (collectively, "Defendants"), and alleges as follows:

I. NATURE OF THE ACTION

1. This is an action for damages brought by an individual consumer against a consumer reporting agency and a furnisher of information arising under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. ("FCRA"), and, in the alternative, the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, La. R.S. § 51:1401 et seq. ("LUTPA").

2. The CRA Defendant prepared and disseminated consumer credit reports containing inaccurate information concerning Plaintiff and, after Plaintiff disputed that information, failed to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy and failed to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation, in violation of 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681e(b) and 1681i.

3. The Furnisher Defendant, after receiving notice of Plaintiff's dispute from the CRA Defendant, failed to conduct a reasonable investigation and continued to report inaccurate information, in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(b).

II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

4. Subject-Matter Jurisdiction (Federal Forum). This Court has federal-question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 15 U.S.C. § 1681p, which provides that an action to enforce liability under the FCRA may be brought in "any appropriate United States district court ... or in any other court of competent jurisdiction." This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over the LUTPA claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1367.

5. Subject-Matter Jurisdiction (State Forum). Alternatively, the Louisiana District Court has jurisdiction because 15 U.S.C. § 1681p confers concurrent jurisdiction on any court of competent jurisdiction, and La. R.S. § 51:1409 authorizes a private action to recover actual damages.

6. Personal Jurisdiction. Each Defendant regularly conducts business in Louisiana and committed the acts and omissions complained of in Louisiana, and therefore is subject to the jurisdiction of this Court.

7. Venue. Venue is proper because a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claims occurred in this District/Parish, Plaintiff resides here, and/or Defendants transact business here. (Federal forum: 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b); state forum: La. C.C.P. arts. 42, 74.)

III. PARTIES

8. Plaintiff. Plaintiff is a natural person residing in [CITY], Parish of [________________________________], Louisiana, and is a "consumer" as defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(c) and a "person" who suffered an ascertainable loss within the meaning of La. R.S. § 51:1409(A).

9. CRA Defendant. Defendant [CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY] is a [corporation/LLC] organized under the laws of [STATE] with its principal place of business at [ADDRESS]. It is a "consumer reporting agency" as defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(f) because, for monetary fees, it regularly assembles and evaluates consumer credit information for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties.

10. Furnisher Defendant. Defendant [FURNISHER NAME] is a [corporation/LLC/bank/collection agency] with its principal place of business at [ADDRESS]. It is a "furnisher" of information that regularly provides information about consumers, including Plaintiff, to one or more consumer reporting agencies for inclusion in consumer reports.

IV. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

11. The Inaccurate Item. Plaintiff's consumer file maintained by the CRA Defendant contains the following inaccurate item of information (the "Disputed Item"):
    - Creditor/Furnisher Name: [________________________________]
    - Account Number (last 4): [____]
    - What the report inaccurately states: [DESCRIBE — e.g., account reported as charged-off/late/open with balance of $[AMOUNT]]
    - What is true and accurate: [DESCRIBE — e.g., account was paid in full / never belonged to Plaintiff / discharged in bankruptcy]

12. Type of inaccuracy (check all that apply):
    ☐ Account does not belong to Plaintiff (mixed file / identity theft)
    ☐ Balance, payment history, or account status is incorrect
    ☐ Account was paid, settled, or discharged in bankruptcy and is reported otherwise
    ☐ Obsolete information being reported beyond the period allowed by 15 U.S.C. § 1681c
    ☐ Duplicate reporting of the same debt
    ☐ Other: [________________________________]

13. The Written Dispute to the CRA. On or about [__/__/____], Plaintiff sent a written dispute to the CRA Defendant identifying the Disputed Item, explaining why it is inaccurate, and enclosing supporting documentation. The dispute was sent by [certified mail / the CRA's online portal] and received by the CRA Defendant on or about [__/__/____].

14. The CRA's Failed Reinvestigation. Upon receiving Plaintiff's dispute, the CRA Defendant was required by 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(1) to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation, free of charge, within the statutory period. The CRA Defendant failed to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and instead [parroted the furnisher's verification / "verified" the item without meaningful review / failed to forward all relevant information to the furnisher / failed to respond]. The CRA Defendant continued to report the Disputed Item as accurate.

15. Notice to and Failure by the Furnisher. Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(2), the CRA Defendant forwarded notice of Plaintiff's dispute to the Furnisher Defendant. Upon receiving that notice, the Furnisher Defendant was required by 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(b) to conduct its own investigation, review all relevant information provided by the CRA, report the results, and correct or delete information found to be inaccurate or incomplete. The Furnisher Defendant failed to do so and continued to furnish the inaccurate Disputed Item.

16. Harm to Plaintiff. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' conduct, Plaintiff suffered harm, including: ☐ denial of credit, ☐ a higher interest rate or less favorable credit terms, ☐ denial of [employment/housing/insurance], ☐ damage to credit score and creditworthiness, ☐ out-of-pocket costs, and ☐ emotional distress, humiliation, frustration, and lost time spent disputing the inaccuracy.

V. CAUSES OF ACTION

COUNT I — Violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b) (CRA Defendant)

Failure to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy

17. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs 1–16.

18. Section 1681e(b) provides: "Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares a consumer report it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates."

19. The CRA Defendant prepared and published consumer reports concerning Plaintiff that contained the inaccurate Disputed Item and failed to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy.

20. The CRA Defendant's violation was willful (15 U.S.C. § 1681n) or, in the alternative, negligent (15 U.S.C. § 1681o), entitling Plaintiff to the damages set forth below.

COUNT II — Violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1681i (CRA Defendant)

Failure to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation

21. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs 1–16.

22. Upon receiving Plaintiff's dispute, the CRA Defendant was required by 15 U.S.C. § 1681i to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation, to forward all relevant information to the Furnisher Defendant, and to delete or modify information that could not be verified.

23. The CRA Defendant failed to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and failed to delete or correct the inaccurate Disputed Item, in willful or negligent violation of § 1681i.

COUNT III — Violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(b) (Furnisher Defendant)

Failure to investigate after notice of dispute

24. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs 1–16.

25. After receiving notice of Plaintiff's dispute from the CRA Defendant pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(2), the Furnisher Defendant was required by 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(b) to investigate, review all relevant information, report the results, and correct or delete inaccurate or incomplete information.

26. The Furnisher Defendant failed to conduct a reasonable investigation and continued to furnish the inaccurate Disputed Item, in willful or negligent violation of § 1681s-2(b).

COUNT IV — Violation of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act, La. R.S. §§ 51:1405, 51:1409 (Both Defendants) — Pleaded in the Alternative

27. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates paragraphs 1–16.

28. La. R.S. § 51:1405(A) declares unlawful "[u]nfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce." To the extent Defendants' reporting and continued furnishing of the inaccurate Disputed Item constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the conduct of trade or commerce, Defendants violated La. R.S. § 51:1405.

29. As a result of Defendants' unfair or deceptive acts or practices, Plaintiff suffered an "ascertainable loss of money or movable property, corporeal or incorporeal," within the meaning of La. R.S. § 51:1409(A).

30. Pursuant to La. R.S. § 51:1409(A), Plaintiff is entitled to recover actual damages and, where damages are awarded, reasonable attorney fees and costs. If the court finds the unfair or deceptive act or practice was knowingly used after Defendants were put on notice by the Attorney General, Plaintiff is entitled to three times the actual damages sustained.

31. Pursuant to La. R.S. § 51:1409(B), Plaintiff's counsel shall mail a copy of this petition to the Louisiana Attorney General and, upon entry of any judgment or decree, shall mail a copy thereof to the Attorney General.

VI. DAMAGES

32. As a result of the willful FCRA violations, Plaintiff is entitled under 15 U.S.C. § 1681n to actual damages or statutory damages of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 per violation, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

33. In the alternative, for negligent FCRA violations, Plaintiff is entitled under 15 U.S.C. § 1681o to actual damages and reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

34. Under LUTPA, Plaintiff is entitled to actual damages, treble damages where the practice was knowingly used after Attorney General notice, and mandatory reasonable attorney fees and costs upon an award of damages (La. R.S. § 51:1409).

35. This action is timely under 15 U.S.C. § 1681p (the earlier of two years after discovery or five years after the violation). The LUTPA count is subject to the one-year liberative prescription of La. R.S. § 51:1409(E), running from the transaction or act giving rise to the claim.

VII. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff/Petitioner respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment against Defendants and award:

A. Actual damages in an amount to be proven at trial;
B. Statutory damages of $100 to $1,000 per violation under 15 U.S.C. § 1681n;
C. Punitive damages under 15 U.S.C. § 1681n; and treble damages under La. R.S. § 51:1409(A) where the practice was knowingly used after Attorney General notice;
D. Injunctive or equitable relief directing deletion or correction of the inaccurate Disputed Item;
E. Reasonable attorney's fees and costs under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681n and 1681o and La. R.S. § 51:1409(A);
F. Judicial interest from the date of judicial demand and post-judgment interest as allowed by law; and
G. Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

VIII. DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Pursuant to the Seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution and Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Plaintiff demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable (federal forum).

IX. SIGNATURE

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: [__/__/____]

________________________________
[ATTORNEY NAME], Louisiana Bar Roll No. [____________]
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]
Counsel for Plaintiff/Petitioner

X. VERIFICATION

I, [PLAINTIFF FULL LEGAL NAME], declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States and the State of Louisiana that I have read the foregoing Complaint/Petition and that the factual allegations contained therein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Executed on [__/__/____] at [CITY], Louisiana.

________________________________
[PLAINTIFF FULL LEGAL NAME]

Sources and References

• 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b) — Compliance procedures / accuracy of report: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681e
• 15 U.S.C. § 1681i — Procedure in case of disputed accuracy: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681i
• 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2 — Responsibilities of furnishers of information: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681s-2
• 15 U.S.C. § 1681n — Civil liability for willful noncompliance: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681n
• 15 U.S.C. § 1681o — Civil liability for negligent noncompliance: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681o
• 15 U.S.C. § 1681p — Jurisdiction of courts; limitation of actions: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681p
• Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act, La. R.S. § 51:1405 — Unfair acts or practices: https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=323069
• La. R.S. § 51:1409 — Private actions: https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=104033
• La. R.S. § 9:3571.1 — Consumer credit report security freeze: https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=109195
• Louisiana Attorney General — Consumer Protection Section: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Consumer