U.S. Supreme Court to consider Fair Credit Reporting Act case from Oregon

On Tuesday the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in cases addressing how insurance companies interpret the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  If an insurance company raises a customer's rates based on the customer's credit score, the FCRA requires the insurer to give an "adverse action" notice to the customer.  The insurers claim that, when they issue policies to new customers, the setting of the premium does not constitute an increase triggering the FCRA notice requirement. But the Ninth Circuit held that FCRA requires the insurer to give such notice any time it considers a new customer's credit rating and then sets a premium higher than the company's lowest possible rate. 

Also on review in the Supreme Court is whether the failure to give an adverse action notice amounts to a "willful" violation entitling the customer to a remedy under the FCRA.

For more on Geico v. Edo and Safeco v. Burr, see here , here , and here.  These cases were filed in federal District Court in Oregon, marking the third time this session that the U.S. Supreme Court has considered cases originating in local courts.  See the Oregon Business Litigation coverage of the other two cases here and here.