Bell v. U.S. Express – $2.75 million settlement
CLA represented a class of approximately 85,362 applicants against U.S. Express for failing to properly notify them when using the contents of background checks to make adverse hiring decisions. U.S. Express paid $2,750,000 into a settlement fund from which class...
Goode v. First Advantage LNS Screening Solutions, Inc. – $2.365 million settlement
CLA represented a class of job applicants against First Advantage for its failure to provide notice before using the contents of background checks against those applicants and its failure to provide to those who asked all information First Advantage possessed...
Soutter v. Equifax – $3 million settlement
In another first-of-its kind settlement, CLA represented a class of approximately 88,573 members on whom Equifax inaccurately reported public records like tax liens and civil judgments. In addition to paying $3 million from which class members received benefits, Equifax agreed...
Beverly v. Choicepoint, Inc. – $6.89 million settlement
CLA resolved the FCRA claims of approximately 81,971 individuals on whom ChoicePoint ran background checks for employers. Two separate settlement classes shared in settlement funds of $2,890,000 and $4,000,000.
Ryals v. Hireright Solutions, Inc. – $28.375 million settlement
In one of the largest FCRA class settlements to date, CLA represented a class against HireRight for failure to provide notice to consumers on whom HireRight reported negative information and, when consumers disputed inaccuracies, HireRight failed to properly investigate. The...
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Success Stories

Leonard A. Bennett, founder of Consumer Litigation Associates, received the 2025 Vern Countryman Award – the highest honor in the field of consumer law
Significance of the Vern Countryman Award Established in 1990, the Vern Countryman Award has become the preeminent national honor for consumer attorneys. It is named...
Consumer Litigation Associates Named Among 2026 “Best Law Firms”
Consumer Litigation Associates, P.C. (CLA) is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms, recognized for excellence across multiple practice...
Congratulations to Emily Connor Kennedy
on Her Recognition in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America We are proud to share that our very own Emily Connor Kennedy has been...
CLA Continues Strong with the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC)
On July 1, 2025, CLA attorney Emily Connor Kennedy finished her term as the President of the Board of Directors for Virginia Poverty Law Center....
Sanders v. Global Radar Acquisition – $3.6 million settlement
CLA resolved the FCRA claims of a class of consumers on whom Global Radar provided background checks without obtaining the appropriate certifications from the users...
Gibbs v. Rees and TCV – $50 million settlement
CLA represented a national class of consumers who borrowed money at what they believed were legal rates because of the lenders’ supposed alignment with American...
Berry v. LexisNexis Risk Management, Inc. – groundbreaking settlement
CLA represented a class of consumers against a company that claimed the FCRA did not apply to it, so it would not comply with any...
Brim v. Midland Credit Management – $723,000 FCRA jury verdict
A federal jury returned a verdict for CLA’s client Mr. Brim against debt buyer Midland Credit Management in a case where Midland attempted to collect...
Domonoske/Rivera v. Bank of America – $10 million settlement
CLA negotiated an eight-figure settlement for a class of consumers alleging Bank of America failed to meet the FCRA’s requirement that it provide certain credit...
Hargrett v. Amazon.com – $5 million settlement
CLA resolved the FCRA claims of approximately 454,000 consumers that led to one of the country’s largest employers revising its background-check procedures so they would...

Firm News, Updates & Insights

Leonard A. Bennett Receives Highest Honor in the Field of Consumer Law
November 16, 2025
2025 Vern Countryman Award at NCLC Conference Presentation at the 2025 NCLC Conference At its annual Consumer Rights Litigation Conference on November 15, 2025, the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) presented the prestigious Vern Countryman Award to Virginia attorney Leonard...
Can I Sue if the Credit Bureaus For Errors On My Credit Report?
August 6, 2025
Errors on credit reports happen more often than you might think. Maybe your credit report has accounts that aren’t yours – what do you do? Or perhaps someone else’s name and address is showing up on your report, leaving you...
Virginia is an FCRA Powerhouse
July 15, 2025
A Sample of Cases Demonstrating CLA’s Commitment to Consumers and Expertise under the Fair Credit Reporting Act Virginia has become a powerhouse jurisdiction for consumer credit reporting law. Over the past few decades, Virginia consumer advocates – including attorneys from...
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