Record FCRA Verdict Highlights Privacy's Growing Value
Partner David Anthony is quoted in a Law 360 analysis of a California jury’s recent decision to hit Trans Union with a record $60 million verdict in a class action alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The record-setting award stemmed from claims that Trans Union conflated a class of more than 8,000 consumers with similarly named terrorists and criminals from a government watch list, a misstep the plaintiffs claim hindered their ability to obtain credit and affected other eligibility decisions that turn on consumer reports. “The award reaffirms the risk associated with Fair Credit Reporting class actions, including trying them to juries. Without any cap on statutory or punitive damages under the FCRA, settlement decisions are frequently driven by the size of the potential judgment almost without regard for the merits of plaintiffs’ claim,” said David.