The law firms of Gingras, Cates & Wachs (Gingras, Thomsen & Wachs, LLP) and Axley Brynelson (AB) have teamed up to file a federal court class action lawsuit against Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation (Groshek v. Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation) for alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FRCA)

The FCRA is the primary federal law protecting job applicants and employees against unlawful background checks. Job applicants and employees have the right to receive certain notices and disclosures before employers can obtain and use consumer reports to make employment decisions. Congress decided that proper notices were critical due to the frequent errors in consumer reports, including outdated information, and the important privacy concerns raised by the confidential information contained in these background reports. The FCRA is designed to protect all consumers, including those who apply for jobs, as it relates to their credit history and background information, including criminal history.

Under the FCRA, at any time before obtaining a consumer report for employment purposes, an employer must disclose to the applicant that a consumer report may be obtained for employment purposes and such disclosure must be in writing in a single document that is clear and conspicuous.

“Great Lakes has required applicants to allow it access to their background information during the hiring process. While access to background information may, with some employment positions, be important for employers, there are clear federal regulations in place that are designed to protect individuals’ rights under the FCRA that we believe Great Lakes has violated,” says GCW Attorney Heath Straka.

GCW and AB will discuss and answer questions for those who may have been affected by Great Lakes’ failure to abide by FCRA regulations. Please contact GCW Attorney Heath Straka for questions regarding this class action lawsuit.