A Small Step Toward 'Employee' Clarity For FCRA

By Cindy Hanson, David Anthony, Alan Wingfield, Tim St. George and Patrick Dillard (January 7, 2019, 1:04 PM EST) -- On Oct. 4, 2018, in Smith v. Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company,[1] the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa ruled the plaintiff could not advance his putative class action under the Fair Credit Reporting Act if he qualified as an independent contractor rather than an employee. The decision presents another helpful reading of the "employment purposes" provision in the FCRA and becomes part of a small but growing body of law providing clarity on this recurring issue of importance. The decision highlights a limitation on the FCRA's reach, but the issue has been unsettled and companies who utilize a large number of independent contractors may still find themselves defending against FCRA class actions....

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