Record Verdict against Equifax for failing to correct Credit Reporting

A federal jury recently handed down the largest award ever given to an individual consumer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act in a suit against Equifax, an awakening verdict for companies that trade on consumer data, which are now more likely to face  similar suits.

The award consisted of $180,000 in actual damages and $18.4 million in punitive damages.  It came after the jury found on July 26 that Equifax had acted negligently and willfully violated the FCRA by failing to respond adequately to at least eight requests from plaintiff Julie Miller to correct her credit report over the course of two years.  Ms. Miller proved that because of the problem she was unable to help her son get an apartment and her years of frustration clearly resonated with the jury.