NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — A new Plaintiff and new claims have been added in the lawsuit against the Geo Group, Inc. ("Geo Group"), and Accurate Background, Inc. where Defendants are accused violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA") during criminal and credit background checks, the law firm Outten & Golden LLP announced today.
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Filed in New York federal court, the nationwide class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of Plaintiffs Eric Keels and Sandra Inman. The suit originally alleged that Geo Group and Accurate Background, Inc. failed to comply with the FCRA's notice requirements before taking adverse actions against job applicants. It now has been amended to include a new plaintiff, Sandra Inman, and new claims that Defendants also failed to comply with the FCRA's notice requirements before taking adverse actions against Geo Group's own employees.
Ms. Inman, whose employment with Geo Group was rescinded based on a background check report, said, "I'm happy to join this suit and help ensure that Geo Group and Accurate Background, Inc. follow the law and make sure that employees at Geo Group do not unfairly lose their jobs in violation of the law."
Mr. Keels is represented by Outten & Golden LLP lawyers Adam T. Klein, Ossai Miazad, Lewis M. Steel, and Christopher M. McNerney. The legal team seeks to represent the proposed nationwide class of Geo Group, Inc. job applicants and employees.
Ossai Miazad, of Outten & Golden LLP, said, "The FCRA provides important protections for employees and job seekers. Companies must comply with strict requirements before using background check information for employment purposes. Geo Group's practice of using background checks to make employment decisions without giving impacted individuals a chance to review, let alone dispute or provide more information about, their background check results, deprives job seekers and employees of their rights."
Christopher M. McNerney, of Outten & Golden LLP, said, "In addition to the FCRA, New York State's public policy is to encourage the employment of persons previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses."
Geo Group, Inc. job applicants and employees who wish to report their experiences or learn more about the lawsuit should contact Ossai Miazad or Christopher McNerney at http://www.outtengolden.com/contact or visit http://www.outtengolden.com/geo-group-inc-background-check-lawsuit. The web page allows job applicants interested in learning about and protecting their rights to contact plaintiffs' counsel.
The case is "Eric Keels v. The Geo Group, Inc., and Accurate Background, Inc.," Case No. 15 Civ. 6261, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Media Contacts: Ossai Miazad and Christopher M. McNerney, Outten & Golden LLP, 212.245.1000, or email.