Nguyen v. Ridgewood Savings BankNguyen v. Ridgewood Savings Bank
Plaintiff Thomas Nguyen, proceeding pro se, commenced this action on February 18, 2014, against Defendants Ridgewood Savings Bank (“Ridgewood”) and Peter Boger, the President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ridgewood. Plaintiff asserts claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., and under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging denial of his Fifth Amendment rights and “rights guaranteed by many statutes.”
I. Background
According to Plaintiff’s Complaint, in or about October 2007, Plaintiff obtained a secured loan of approximately $7,000 from Ridgewood. (Compl. 10.) Between the date of the loan and June 2013, Ridgewood furnished information to credit reporting agencies which indicated Plaintiff had missed payments on his loan on approximately 22 occasions. (Id. at 1 ¶ IY, 11.)
Sometime in 2013, Plaintiff reported to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“FDIC”) Consumer Response Center that he had concerns regarding the accuracy of Ridgewood’s bank records as they related to the timeliness of his loan payments. (Id. at 4.) The FDIC Consumer Response Center contacted Ridgewood on Plaintiff’s behalf. (Id.) On or about November 19, 2013, Ridgewood, through its Vice President Vito DiBona, issued a response to the FDIC Consumer Response Center’s inquiries and sent a copy directly to Plaintiff. (Id.) This response outlined Ridgewood’s analysis which led it to conclude that Plaintiffs payments were delinquent, as reported to the credit reporting' agencies. (Id.) The FDIC Consumer Response Center requested additional information, and on December 9, 2013, Ridge-wood issued a second response indicating that it had reconsidered its original analysis, decided to expunge the entire delinquency history from Plaintiffs account and would update the records provided to the credit reporting agencies to reflect the corrected account information. (Id.) On December 16, 2013, the FDIC Consumer Re
On or about December 29, 2013, Plaintiff sent a letter to Boger stating that Ridge-wood’s reports of delinquent payments had affected Plaintiffs credit score and financial livelihood. (Id. at 5.) Plaintiff also stated in the letter that the inaccurate reports were a reason that two of his bank accounts, held at another bank, were closed in 2012, and that the situation contributed to his “cardiac problem.”
II. Discussion
a. Standard of Review
In reviewing a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a court “must take all of the factual allegations in the complaint as true.” Pension Ben. Guar. Corp. ex rel. St. Vincent Catholic Med. Centers Ret. Plan v. Morgan Stanley Inv. Mgmt. Inc.,
b. Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., regulates consumer credit reporting agencies to ensure the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper utilization of consumer credit information. 15 U.S.C. § 1681(b). “As part of this regulatory scheme, the [FCRA] imposes several duties on those who furnish information to consumer reporting agencies.”
Under certain circumstances, an individual may bring a civil cause of action against any entity who “ ‘willfully fails to comply with any requirement imposed under’ the [FCRA] and [may] recover actual or statutory damages, punitive damages, costs, and attorneys’ fees.”
i. No private cause of action under Section § 1681s-2(a)
Plaintiff argues that Defendants are liable to him for inaccurately reporting missed payments and non-payments to credit bureaus on 22 occasions. (See Compl. 5.) Plaintiff claims this violation was knowing and willful, (id. 2 ¶ IV), and attaches to his Complaint a December 29, 2013 letter to Boger which raised the issue of the inaccuracy. (Compl. 5-7.) Defendants argue that Plaintiff cannot state a claim to enforce the duty to provide accurate information and to correct inaccurate information provided in Section 1681s-2(a) because only government officials can enforce this section of the statute. (Def. Mem. 4.)
“[T]here is no private cause of action for violations of [Section] 1681s-2(a).” Longman,
ii. Limited private cause of action under Section § 1681s-2(b)
As noted above, upon proper notice, furnishers of information must inves
Defendants argue that, as a furnisher of information, Ridgewood was required' to conduct an investigation pursuant to Section 1681s-2(b) only if it received notice of the underlying credit dispute from a consumer reporting agency, but not where it received notice from the FDIC Consumer Response Center. (Def. Mem. 4-5.) Plaintiff repeatedly refers to the investigation conducted by the FDIC Consumer Response Center and argues that Defendants were “keeping silen[t]” in response to the complaints lodged by Plaintiff with the FDIC. (Pl. Opp’n Letter 2.)
Although the Second Circuit has not directly addressed the issue, the majority of courts to address whether a private right of action exists for willful or negligent noncompliance with Section 1681s-2(b) have recognized one. Chiang v. Verizon New England Inc.,
1. Ridgewood Savings Bank
Thus, to state a claim against Ridgewood for a violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(b), Plaintiff must allege that Ridgewood received notice from a consumer reporting agency stating that Plaintiff disputed the accuracy of the reported in
The Court dismisses, without prejudice, Plaintiffs FCRA claim against Ridgewood. Plaintiff failed to plausibly allege that Ridgewood received notice of Plaintiffs dispute from a consumer reporting agency, and failed to plausibly allege that Ridge-wood violated its duty to investigate pursuant to the statute. If Plaintiff can allege a plausible claim that Ridgewood violated § 1681s-2(b), and can ultimately support such an allegation with credible evidence, such allegations should be included in an amended complaint.
2. Peter Boger
Plaintiff has not alleged, and has presented no facts that would support a finding that, Boger had any duty to Plaintiff under the FCRA. There is no allegation that Boger himself provided information about Plaintiff to any consumer reporting agency, or in any other way acted as a furnisher of information, which would give rise to an independent duty on the part of Boger. Furthermore, as discussed above, Plaintiff does not allege that Boger had notice of Plaintiffs dispute from a consumer reporting agency. See Fashakin v. Nextel Commc’ns, No. 05-CV-3080,
The Court dismisses, without prejudice, Plaintiffs FCRA claim against Boger. If Plaintiff can allege a plausible claim that Boger had responsibilities under § 1681s-2(b) and violated those responsibilities, and can ultimately support such an allegation with credible evidence, such allegations should be included in an amended complaint.
c. Section 1983 claim
Plaintiff argues that Defendants deprived him of his “right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (Compl. 3 ¶ V.) This claim is not cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In order to sustain a claim for relief under Section 1983, a plaintiff must allege (1) that the challenged conduct was “committed by a person acting under color of state law,” and (2) that such conduct “deprived [the plaintiff] of rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States.” Cornejo v. Bell,
Plaintiff has not stated a claim under Section 1983 against either Defendant. Plaintiff has acknowledged that Ridgewood is a private corporation and Boger is a private individual, acting as Ridgewood’s CEO. (Compl. 2 ¶ II.) Plaintiff has not alleged that Defendants were, in any way, acting under color of state law, nor has he provided any facts which would support such an allegation. Furthermore, Plaintiff alleges no specific violation of his constitutional or federal rights, other than his vague invocation of the “right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the rights guaranteed by many statutes.” (Compl. 3 ¶ V.) In support of his claims, Plaintiff merely argues that “by using default and logic,” requiring state action and a deprivation of a federally protected right is “based on a false interpretation of the law.” (Pl. Opp’n Letter 2.) This argument is meritless, and Plaintiffs Section 1983 claims are dismissed with prejudice.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants Defendants’ motion to dismiss the Complaint in its entirety for failure to state a claim. Plaintiff is granted thirty days to file an amended complaint to correct any of the identified deficiencies as to his Fair Credit Reporting Act claim.
SO ORDERED.
Notes
. In his Complaint, Plaintiff does not specify any statutes. In a letter dated December 4, 2014, received by the Court on December 5, 2014, Plaintiff refers to the New York Fair Credit Reporting Act, the New York False Claims Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5531, 5536(a), 5563, 5565, 42 U.S.C. Section 1985(3), and federal criminal law, 18 U.S.C. § 1519. The Court declines to construe Plaintiff's December 4, 2014 letter as an amendment to his Complaint. To the extent Plaintiff has any factual allegations sufficient to state a claim under any of the enumerated civil statutes, Plaintiff should include all of the necessary allegations in an amended complaint. The Court notes that there is no private right of action under 18 U.S.C. Section 1519. See Peavey v. Holder,
. For the purposes of this Memorandum and Order, the Court will refer to the Complaint and the documents annexed to the Complaint as the “Complaint.” See Sira v. Morton,
. Between the receipt of the December 16, 2013 letter and January 17, 2014, Plaintiff again contacted the FDIC’s Consumer Response Center regarding Ridgewood. (Compl. 3.) Plaintiff has not specified the reason for this second contact, whether the FDIC has responded to his questions or concerns, and what, if any, resolution was reached. (See generally Compl.)
. In his Complaint, Plaintiff states: "That’s why I am now having a cardiac problem that is probably, in part (largely), caused by the 'illegal’ closing of those 2 accounts as I found out, but not surely, sometimes [sic ] in 2012 at a 456BANK branch on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.” (Compl. 13.) Plaintiff later states that "[flor professional reasons and confidentiality, the name[ ] of the financial institution ... [has] been withheld.” (Id. at 15.)
.When deciding a motion to dismiss, a court’s review is limited to the four corners of the complaint, as well as (1) documents attached to the complaint, (2) any documents incorporated in the complaint by reference, (3) any documents deemed integral to the , complaint, and (4) public records. See Nielsen v. Rabin,
. Under the statute, "consumer reporting agencies,” sometimes referred to as "credit reporting agencies,” are defined as certain entities which "regularly engage[] in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties.” 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(f). A “furnisher” is "an entity that furnishes information relating to consumers to one or more consumer reporting agencies for inclusion in a consumer report.” 16 C.F.R. § 660.2. Defendants state, and Plaintiff does not dispute, that Ridgewood is a furnisher. (Def. Mem. in Support of Mot. to Dismiss, Docket Entry No. 10 ("Def. Mem.”), at 4; Pl. Opp’n Letter dated April 16, 2014, annexed to Pl. Aff. in Opp’n to Mot. to Dismiss, Docket Entry No. 15 ("Pl. Opp’n Letter”), at 2.) Cf. Caltabiano v. BSB Bank & Trust Co.,
. Among the listed duties in subsection (a) is the duty to conduct an investigation after receiving notice from a consumer that the consumer disputes the accuracy of the furnished information. 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(a)(8).
. Actual damages, costs, and attorneys' fees are also available against entities who are negligent in failing to comply with certain provisions of the FCRA. See 15 U.S.C. § 1681o. Plaintiff does not allege negligence in this action.
. To the extent Plaintiff may have personally notified Ridgewood of the credit dispute, this would trigger Ridgewood's duty to investigate direct disputes from consumers under Section 1681 s — 2(a)(8) of the FRCA. As discussed above, there is no private right of action to enforce subsection (a). See Longman v. Wa-chovia Bank, N.A.,