A class action lawsuit accuses OpenRoads Lending, Stellantis Financial Services and others of allegedly improperly running people's credit reports without any justifiable reason.
On Feb. 9, named plaintiff Stephon Briganti-Ortiz, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, filed suit against the defendants in Los Angeles federal court. Defendants named in the lawsuit included OpenRoads Lending, Global Lending Services, Stellantis Financial Services, and Regional Acceptance Corporation.
The suit alleges that the defendants violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by inquiring into consumers' credit reports without a permissible purpose or adequate notification.
The plaintiff accuses the defendants of systematically violating consumers' rights and not maintaining procedures to avoid such violations. The lawsuit also alleges that these actions were intentional and willful.
OpenRoads Lending is an auto loan broker based in Texas that operates throughout California and partners with several lenders to source applications for auto loans from consumers like Briganti-Ortiz. Global Lending Services is a national auto lender with its principal place of business in South Carolina and its state of incorporation in Delaware.
Briganti-Ortiz resides in Los Angeles County, California, and his credit report was allegedly acquired by the defendants without a permissible purpose.
The plaintiffs seek to expand the action to include everyone whose credit was allegedly run by the defendants.
The plaintiffs are seeking statutory damages, actual damages and punitive damages, plus attorney fees.
Briganti-Ortiz is represented by attorneys Todd M. Friedman, Adrian R. Bacon, and Matthew R. Snyder from the Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman P.C., of Woodland Hills.