Tenant Can't Maintain Class Action for Fair Credit Reporting Act Violation

LVT Number: 18318

Tenant sued an information management company that provides landlords with tenant screening services. Tenant claimed to represent all tenants similarly situated, and claimed that mistakes in the company's report on him violated laws, including state and federal fair credit reporting acts. The court ruled against tenant and dismissed the case. The question of whether the company had reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy in its reports could be presented to the court. But the company had corrected its report on tenant more than a year before tenant started the court case.

Tenant sued an information management company that provides landlords with tenant screening services. Tenant claimed to represent all tenants similarly situated, and claimed that mistakes in the company's report on him violated laws, including state and federal fair credit reporting acts. The court ruled against tenant and dismissed the case. The question of whether the company had reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy in its reports could be presented to the court. But the company had corrected its report on tenant more than a year before tenant started the court case. So tenant had no potential future harm from the company and had no standing to maintain the lawsuit.

White v. First American Registry: NYLJ, 8/24/05, p. 22, col. 3 (SDNY; Kaplan, J)