In November, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Sterling Infosystems, Inc., regarding allegations that it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in providing criminal background checks to employers. Sterling has been ordered to pay $6 million in monetary relief to affected consumers whose employment opportunities may have been adversely affected by its practices and a $2.5 million civil monetary penalty to the CFPB. The Order also includes injunctive relief to prevent the claimed illegal conduct from recurring, among other requirements.
