Thomasson v. Bank One, Louisiana, N.A.

137 F. Supp. 2d 721, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4764, 2001 WL 333136
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Louisiana
DecidedApril 4, 2001
DocketCiv.A. 00-3649
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 137 F. Supp. 2d 721 (Thomasson v. Bank One, Louisiana, N.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Thomasson v. Bank One, Louisiana, N.A., 137 F. Supp. 2d 721, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4764, 2001 WL 333136 (E.D. La. 2001).

Opinion

ORDER AND REASONS

FALLON, District Judge.

Before the Court is defendant’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. For the following reasons, defendant’s motion is DENIED in part and GRANTED in part.

I.BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Margaret Thomasson (“Thom-asson”) contracted with First National Bank of Commerce for a loan on September 4, 1998. The consumer loan was secured by a $5,000.00 certifícate of deposit owned by plaintiff Eliza Thomasson Holland and payments were deducted automatically from Thomasson’s Smith Barney account each month.

Defendant Bank One of Louisiana, N.A. (“Bank One”) acquired First National Bank of Commerce and correspondingly Thomasson’s loan. In November of 1998 soon after the acquisition, Thomasson began to experience problems with the electronic crediting of her loan payments. Bank One notified Thomasson that her payments were late and that they intended to report her delinquency to a credit bureau. After receiving several communications from a debt collector, Thomasson explained the problems with the electronic crediting of her loan payments to Bank One who apparently promised that debt collection and erroneous reporting would cease. Nevertheless, Thomasson claims that Bank One continued to demand payments from her and report the alleged delinquencies to credit reporting agencies.

Thomasson filed suit against Bank One alleging claims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692, et seq., the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681, et seq., Louisiana’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 2298, and for negligent infliction of emotional distress. Bank One now moves to dismiss plaintiffs’ federal law claims.

II.MOTION TO DISMISS STANDARD

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure permit a defendant to seek dismissal of a complaint based on the “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). When considering a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), a district court should construe the complaint liberally in favor of the plaintiff, assuming all factual allegations to be true. See Leleux v. United States, 178 F.3d 750, 754 (5th Cir.1999). A complaint may not be dismissed “unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Id. (quoting Lowrey v. Texas A & M Univ. Sys., 117 F.3d 242, 247 (5th Cir.1997)).

III.ANALYSIS

A. Fair Credit Reporting Act

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) imposes duties on consumer reporting agencies, users of consumer reports, and furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies. See 15 U.S.C. § 1681, et seq. Defendant argues that plaintiffs’ claims pursuant to the FCRA should be dismissed because it is not a “consumer reporting agency” as defined by the statute. See id. § 1681a(d)(2)(f). Because plaintiffs assert that defendant did nothing more than furnish information to a credit reporting agency, Bank One *723 contends that it cannot be subject to liability under the FCRA. Plaintiffs respond that they assert valid claims against defendant as a furnisher of information rather than a credit reporting agency.

Section 1681s-2(b) explains the responsibilities of furnishers of credit information after they have been notified by a credit reporting agency that the consumer disputes the credit information provided by the furnisher. Upon receiving notice of a dispute, the furnisher is to conduct an investigation and report the results to the appropriate consumer reporting agencies. See id. § 1681s—2(b). The consumer may bring a cause of action against the furnish-er if it does not comply with the provisions of § 1681s—2(b). See Whitesides v. Equifax Credit Info. Serv., 125 F.Supp.2d 807, 812 (W.D.La.2000); McMillan v. Experian Info. Serv., Inc., 119 F.Supp.2d 84, 88 (D.Conn.2000); Olexy v. Interstate Assurance Co., 113 F.Supp.2d 1045, 1047-48 (S.D.Miss.2000); DiMezza v. First USA Bank, Inc., 103 F.Supp.2d 1296, 1300 (D.N.M.2000); Dornhecker v. Ameritech Coyp., 99 F.Supp.2d 918, 927 (N.D.Ill. 2000); Campbell v. Baldwin, 90 F.Supp.2d 754, 756 (E.D.Tex.2000). But see Carney v, Experian Info. Solutions, Inc., 57 F.Supp.2d 496, 502 (W.D.Tenn.1999) (finding statutorily created obligation imposed on furnisher is owed to consumer reporting agency and not to consumer).

Bank One, although correctly distinguishing itself from a “credit reporting agency” as defined by the FCRA, does qualify as a furnisher of credit information under the Act. 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(d). While the FCRA fails to define a “furnish-er of information,” Bank One satisfies the definition furnished by the courts. See Whitesides, 125 F.Supp.2d at 812 (classifying Bank of Louisiana as furnisher of information under the FCRA); DiMezza, 103 F.Supp.2d at 1299 (adopting definition from Carney, 57 F.Supp.2d at 501); Carney, 57 F.Supp.2d at 501 (“defining fur-nisher of information” as entity which transmits information concerning a particular debt owed by a consumer to a consumer reporting agency). Bank One admits to providing information regarding Thomasson’s loan account to credit reporting agencies and therefore classifies as a “furnisher of information” under the FCRA. See Whitesides, 125 F.Supp.2d at 812. Accordingly, plaintiffs may raise a cause of action against defendant pursuant to section 1681s-2(b). See id.

B. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Bank One argues that it is not subject to liability under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) because it collects only on debts owed it and therefore is not a “debt collector” under the terms of the statute. 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6). Plaintiffs respond that they do not claim that Bank One acted as the primary debt collector; rather, they allege that Bank One employed a third party or subsidiary on its behalf to collect on the debt.

The FDCPA seeks “to eliminate abusive debt collection practices by debt collectors.” Id. § 1692(e).

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Bluebook (online)
137 F. Supp. 2d 721, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4764, 2001 WL 333136, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thomasson-v-bank-one-louisiana-na-laed-2001.