GIS Background Check Class Action Settlement

General Information Services Inc. (GIS) has reached a class action lawsuit settlement over allegations it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act when providing information for consumer background check reports. If you were the subject of a criminal background check report that contained information furnished by GIS, you may be eligible to claim approximately $40 or $1,500 from the class action settlement.

The GIS class action settlement resolves allegations that the background screening company provided reports that contained expunged criminal records (the “1681e Settlement Class”) or did not mail notices to consumers that GIS had reported public record information likely to have an adverse effect upon the consumer’s employment on the same day that GIS furnished the report to the end-user (the “1681k Settlement Class”).

The GIS background screening class action lawsuit claims that GIS violated the FCRA by allegedly, “a). Failing to notify consumer contemporaneously of the fact that adverse criminal record information is being provided to employers or prospective employers; and b.) Failing to maintain strict procedures to insure that the adverse information being reported is complete and up to date.”

GIS has denied liability, but according the background screening class action lawsuit, “nevertheless desires to settle the Plaintiff’s and Settlement Class Member’s claims solely for the purposes of avoiding the burden, expense, risk, and uncertainty of continuing the Litigation[.]”

The GIS class action settlement potentially affects anyone who applied for employment within the last two years and were knowingly or unknowingly subjected to a GIS consumer report.

Who’s Eligible

You are a Class Member of the GIS background check class action settlement if:

1) You applied for a job position where GIS provided your prospective employer with a background report containing an expunged criminal record between Dec. 22, 2009 and March 1, 2014, or if

2) You applied for a job where GIS provided a potential employer with a background check that contained information from public records, but you were not informed by GIS through a mailed notice on the same day, or not informed at all,  that GIS provided an employer with the report between Dec. 22, 2009 and March 1, 2014.

Potential Award

$40 or $1,500

Proof of Purchase

N/A. Unless they voluntarily exclude themselves, eligible Class Members will automatically receive a GIS settlement check in the mail.

Claim Form Deadline

N/A Class Members will automatically receive benefits if the GIS class action settlement is approved, unless they exclude themselves by Sept. 4, 2014

Case Name

Robinson v. General Information Services Inc., Case No. 2:11-cv-07782-PBT, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Final Hearing

11/03/2014

Settlement Website

www.GISSettlementInfo.com [UPDATE: This website is no longer active. The settlement is now closed.]

Claims Administrator

Robinson v. General Information Services, Inc.
Settlement Administrator
c/o GCG
P.O. Box 9349
Dublin, OH 43017-4249
1 (855) 382-6406

Class Counsel

James A. Francis
FRANCIS & MAILMAN, PC

Defense Counsel

Cindy D. Hanson
KILPATRICK TOWNSEND & STOCKTON, LLP