Taylor v. Screening Reports, Inc.

294 F.R.D. 680, 2013 WL 5229966, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135874
District Court, N.D. Georgia·Decided September 11, 2013·No. Civil Action No. 1:11-CV-3426-AT-GGB·Published·Cited by 13 cases

Opinion

ORDER

AMY TOTENBERG, District Judge.

This Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) matter is before the Court on the Magistrate Judge’s Final Report and Recommendation (“R & R”) [Doe. 123]. The Magistrate Judge recommends that the court deny Defendant Screening Reports Inc.’s (“SRI”) Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 85] in substantial part, but grant it as to one of Plaintiffs claims under 15 U.S.C. § 1681g. In that claim, Plaintiff argues that when he requested his “report” from SRI, § 1681g required that SRI (as a credit reporting agency) send him his entire consumer file. SRI failed to do so. On that basis, Plaintiff seeks actual and statutory damages. Plaintiff also moves to certify a class based on this claim and seeks statutory damages on behalf of all putative class members. Plaintiff objects to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation that this § 1681g claim (the “Report Claim”) be dismissed. He also argues that the Court should grant his Motion for Class Certification [Doc. 83] premised on this claim.

For the reasons explained below, the Court DECLINES TO ADOPT the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation regarding Plaintiffs § 1681g Report Claim and his Motion for Class Certification. In all other respects, the Court ADOPTS the R & R as the opinion of the Court. The Court DENIES Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment and DENIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE Plaintiffs Motion for Class Certification.

[683] I. Legal Standard

Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), the Court reviews the Magistrate’s Report and Recommendation for clear error if no party objects and may “accept, reject, or modify” the Magistrate’s findings and recommendations. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Where the parties do not file any objections, § 636 does not require the district court to review any issue in dispute de novo; however, the statute “does not preclude further review by the district judge, sua sponte or at the request of a party, under a de novo or any other standard.” Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 154, 106 S.Ct. 466, 88 L.Ed.2d 435 (1985). On the other hand, if a party files objections, the district court must determine de novo any part of the Magistrate Judge’s disposition that is the subject of a proper objection. Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b).

Plaintiff filed timely objections to the Magistrate Judge’s R & R to the extent it recommends the dismissal of his § 1681g claim premised on SRI’s failure to provide his complete consumer file when he requested his “report.” He also objects to her recommendation that his Motion for Class Certification based on this claim be denied as moot. Accordingly, the Court reviews the issues raised in this portion of her R & R de novo.1

II. Background

In 2010, Plaintiff Michael Taylor applied to rent an apartment from Silverleaf Apartments. (PI. Statement Additional Material Facts (“PSMF”) ¶ 61.)2 Silverleaf in turn requested that SRI conduct a criminal background check on Taylor. (Def. Statement Material Fact (“DSMF”) Ex. A (“Fortner Dep.”) at 34-35; id. Ex. M.) SRI then erroneously reported to Silverleaf that Taylor had a series of felony convictions including a sex offender conviction. (Id. ¶¶ 30, 38, 42-44; id. Ex. S; id. Ex. G (“Posada Deck”) ¶¶ 10-11.) As it turns out, however, those convictions belonged to two other individuals named “Michael Taylor.” (See DSMF ¶¶ 30, 38, 42-44; id. Ex. S; Posada Deck ¶¶ 10-11.) As a result of the SRI criminal background report on Taylor, Silverleaf denied Taylor’s application. (SMF ¶¶ 41, 44-45.) In its denial, Silverleaf stated, “You have a right to obtain a free copy of your consumer report within 60 days from your receipt of this notice.” (Id. ¶ 42.)

On August 20, 2010, Taylor sent SRI a request for his “report.” (Id. ¶47.) In response, SRI sent only a copy of the background report that it had sold to Silverleaf. (DSMF Ex. X at 2, Doc. 100.) SRI did not provide Taylor with his entire consumer file. (See Soumilas Deck Ex. 2, Doc. 96-2.)

On this basis, Taylor asserts claims under FCRA. Taylor alleges that SRI violated 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b) by “failing to follow reasonable procedures to assure the maximum possible accuracy of the reports it sellfs] to third parties” (“Reasonable Procedures Claim”). (Comph ¶ 47(f).) Taylor then argues that SRI violated 15 U.S.C. § 1681g(a), which requires consumer reporting agencies (“CRAs”) to provide a consumer, upon request, with all the information in his or her file. 15 U.S.C. § 1681g(a). Taylor alleges that he requested his “report” from SRI and they failed to send his complete file, instead sending only his criminal history report (“Report Claim”). He also alleges that he separately requested a copy of his “complete file” and received no response whatsoever (“File Claim”). Finally, Taylor moves to certify a class with respect to his § 1681g Report Claim. SRI moves for summary judgment on all claims and opposes Taylor’s motion to certify a class.

The Magistrate Judge recommends that SRI’s motion for summary judgment be granted in part and denied in part. (Report and Recommendation (“R & R”), Doc. 123.) She concludes that Taylor’s Reasonable Procedures Claim should survive summary judgment “because a reasonable jury could find that SRI failed to use reasonable procedures to ensure maximum accuracy in its reports.” (Id. at 2.) Likewise, she recommends that Taylor’s “File Claim” proceed “because a reasonable jury could conclude that SRI will[684] fully violated § 1681g by ignoring Taylor’s file request. (Id.) No party objected to these recommendations and the Court found no clear error. Accordingly, the Court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation regarding Plaintiffs Reasonable Procedures Claim and File Claim.

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Taylor v. Screening Reports, Inc., 294 F.R.D. 680, 2013 WL 5229966, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135874 (N.D. Ga. 2013).

294 F.R.D. 680 (Taylor v. Screening Reports, Inc.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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