CHICAGO, June 16 IL-Credit-ClassAction
CHICAGO, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- A notification program began today, as
ordered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Illinois, to alert consumers about a proposed settlement with Trans Union LLC
and Acxiom Corporation ("Defendants") in a class action lawsuit involving
credit reporting data.
The case is styled In re Trans Union Corporation Privacy Litigation, No.
00-CV-4729, MDL 1350, U.S. Dist. Ct., N. District Illinois, Eastern Division;
and is being presided over by Judge Robert W. Gettleman and Magistrate Judge
Michael T. Mason.
The lawsuit claims that the Defendants violated state laws and the Fair
Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA") when they sold lists containing personal and
financial consumer information to third parties for marketing purposes. The
lawsuit also claims that the Defendants provided more information than was
allowed under the FCRA to credit grantors or insurance companies who used the
lists to make pre-approved offers of credit or insurance. The Defendants deny
the Plaintiffs' allegations and maintain that they did nothing wrong.
The Court decided that the Class includes all consumers who had an open
credit account or an open line of credit from a credit grantor (including, for
instance automobile loans, bank credit cards, department store credit cards,
other retail store credit cards, finance company loans, mortgage loans, and
student loans) located in the United States anytime from January 1, 1987 to
May 28, 2008.
Notices informing members of the settlement Class about their legal rights
are scheduled to appear nationwide on television and in newspapers and
magazines, leading up to a hearing on September 10, 2008, when the Court will
consider whether to approve the settlement.
The Court has appointed the Law Offices of Dawn Wheelahan; Caddell &
Chapman, PC; The Borderud Law Group; Righetti Law Firm, P.C.; and Coughlin
Stoia Geller Rudman and Robbins, LLP as "Class Counsel" to represent the
Class.
Those affected by this settlement can sign up for credit monitoring
services, file an individual lawsuit, register to receive possible cash
benefits, or they can object to the settlement and its terms. A $75 million
settlement fund will be established by Trans Union that will give $150,000 to
non-profit organizations, pay settlements or judgments for damage claims
brought individually by consumers against the Defendants, pay Class Counsel's
attorneys' fees and expenses, and the costs of administering the settlement.
Any money remaining in the fund two years after the Court grants final
approval to the settlement will either be distributed to Class members who
register or donated to non-profit organizations if the Court determines the
cost of distribution is too much when considering the amount that would be
distributed to each Class member who registered. The deadline for objections
is August 22, 2008. To receive credit monitoring from the settlement Class
members must go to http://www.ListClassAction.com and register by September
24, 2008.
A toll-free number, 1-866-416-3470, has been established in the case along
with a website, http://www.ListClassAction.com, where notices and the
settlement agreement may be obtained. Those affected may also write to List
Class Action Settlement, PO Box 6336, Portland, OR 97228.
SOURCE The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
