Lazar v. Trans Union LLC

195 F.R.D. 665, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10237, 2000 WL 1010162
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedJuly 10, 2000
DocketNo. CV 00-03361 DT (JWJX)
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 195 F.R.D. 665 (Lazar v. Trans Union LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lazar v. Trans Union LLC, 195 F.R.D. 665, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10237, 2000 WL 1010162 (C.D. Cal. 2000).

Opinion

TEVRIZIAN, District Judge.

Background

A. Factual Summary

This is an action by Plaintiff Dr. Gary S. Lazar (“Plaintiff’) against Defendant TRANS UNION LLC, formerly known as TRANS UNION CORPORATION and doing business as TRANS UNION CREDIT INFORMATION COMPANY (“TUC”) for violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b), violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a), breach of contract as a third party beneficiary, and violation of California Business and Professions Code §§ 17200, et seq.

The following facts are alleged in the First Amended Complaint (“FAC”):

On or about April 17, 1990, Plaintiff sought a credit line increase on his First Card VISA credit card, account number 4673-633-701-966, from First Card, a credit card bank. See FAC, 1111. At this time, he learned that the credit report prepared and issued by TUC to First Card contained inaccurate information. See id. Plaintiff was unable to [667]*667obtain the credit increase that he requested. See id.

On or about July 23, 1990, Plaintiff called and wrote to TUC and requested a copy of his credit report. See id. at ¶ 12.

On or about July 28, 1990, TUC prepared and issued a consumer report to Plaintiff which contained inaccurate information. See id. at ¶ 13.

On or about August 2, 1990, when he received TUC’s consumer report, Plaintiff notified TUC in writing that no tax liens existed against him. See id. at 1114. He also disputed the inaccurate personal identification data on the report. See id.

On or about August 20, 1990, TUC prepared and issued a post-reinvestigation consumer report to Plaintiff. See id. at 1115. This consumer report contained a notification that states “DO NOT CONFUSE WITH GARY LAZAR SS# 549-72-6377” and lists various inquiries indicating the disclosure of earlier inaccurate consumer reports to third persons. See id.

On or about October 17, 1992, Plaintiff applied for a credit card from Citibank VISA, a credit card bank. See id. at 1116. He learned that a credit report, containing inaccurate information that he had disputed previously, had been prepared and issued by TUC. See id. He was unable to obtain the credit card. See id.

On or about November 16, 1992, Plaintiff wrote to TUC and requested a copy of his credit report. See id. at H 17. In response, he received a credit report that contained multiple inaccuracies. See id.

On or about December 14, 1992, TUC prepared and issued a post-reinvestigation consumer report to Plaintiff. See id. at H 18.

In or about November 1994, Plaintiff received a pre-approved credit solicitation from First VISA Classic, via First Deposit National Bank. See id. at 1119. This solicitation was addressed to a “Grace Lazar” at his residential address in Encino, California. See id. Since his wife’s name is “Carole,” Plaintiff decided to investigate the source of the inaccurate information that was utilized by First Deposit National Bank. See id.

On or about November 14, 1994, Plaintiff called First Deposit National Bank and spoke with “George Toy” who advised him that the bank had received the name “Grace Lazar” in connection with his address via a TUC “prescreen” report and listing. See id. at 1120. Plaintiff then contacted TUC and spoke with an employee, “Mrs. Neathery.” See id. at 1121. During this conversation, he discussed his prior problems with TUC and described the recent credit solicitation that combined the name “Grace Lazar” with his own residential address. See id. He asked TUC to take the appropriate steps to remove the inaccurate information from his records in its data base. See id.

On or about November 16, 1994, TUC wrote to Plaintiff and acknowledged receipt of another letter of dispute. See id. at 1122.

On or about December 9, 1994, TUC prepared and issued a post-reinvestigation consumer report to Plaintiff. See id. at 1123.

In or about April 1999, Plaintiff sought to refinance a mortgage through Troxler & Associates, a mortgage broker. See id. at 1124. He learned that his credit report, issued by Lender’s Credit and based on data prepared and disclosed by the three national credit reporting agencies (“CRA’s”), TUC, Experian, and Equifax, contained inaccurate information. See id. As a result of these inaccuracies in this credit report attributable to data supplied by TUC, Plaintiffs efforts to refinance the mortgage were delayed for approximately three months, and ultimately he was required to pay a higher rate of interest. See id.

On May 10, 1999, Plaintiff called TUC and spoke to “Jaya” in the fraud division. See id. at H 25. During this conversation, he discussed his prior problems with TUC and described the numerous inaccuracies appearing in his credit report that were attributable to TUC. See id. TUC supplied this inaccurate data to Lender’s Credit, including, but not limited to, approximately 38 tax liens. See id. “Jaya” suggested that the problem was attributable to Troxler & Associate’s inability to access Plaintiffs information correctly. See id: He again asked TUC to correct his report. See id.

[668]*668On or about May 20, 1999, Plaintiff wrote to TUC about the recurring nature of the inaccurate information attributable to TUC. See id. at H26. He asked TUC to remove the information regarding “Gary Lazar,” the felon, from his future TUC credit reports. See id.

On or about May 28, 1999, TUC wrote to Plaintiff and suggested that the problem regarding the credit data had been corrected by removing his current address from the credit file for “Gary Lazar,” the felon. See id. at 1127. TUC then prepared and issued a consumer credit report to Plaintiff that suggested that no inaccurate information had ever been reported. See id. at 1128.

On or about June 23, 1999, Plaintiff received a collection letter form JJ Cimino Collections with regard to an unpaid utilities account belonging to “Gary Lazar,” the felon. See id. at 1129. Plaintiff believes that the information that led JJ Cimino Collections to issue the collection letter was based on data supplied by TUC to Lender’s Credit. See id.

On or about July 31, 1999, Plaintiff received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) to verify whether “Gary Lazar,” the felon, lives at his residence. See id. at H 30.

On or about August 23, 1999, Plaintiff sought to lease a car from Auto Steigler, a car dealer and lessor. See id. at 1131. He learned that his credit report, issued by Credco and based on data prepared and disclosed by the three national CRA’s, TUC, Experian, and Equifax, contained inaccurate information. See id. In reviewing this report, he discovered that it contained approximately 50 separate incorrect entries based on data supplied by TUC. See id. In order to complete the lease transaction, Plaintiff had to travel to his home to retrieve a copy of his “cleansed” TUC report, dated May 28, 1999. See id. at U 32.

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Bluebook (online)
195 F.R.D. 665, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10237, 2000 WL 1010162, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lazar-v-trans-union-llc-cacd-2000.