Credit Bureaus Sued Over Fraud on Minor’s Report
Table of Contents
Case Background
Abel A. Rodriguez filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Adir International, LLC (doing business as Curacao) and Experian Information Solutions, Inc. He alleged that both Defendants violated federal and state consumer protection laws by mishandling his identity theft claims and credit report disputes.
Cause
Rodriguez asserted that he was a minor when someone fraudulently opened accounts in his name, including a sales contract and a charge card with Curacao. In April 2022, he began disputing the accounts with Experian and submitted documentation proving the accounts were fraudulent. Despite this, Experian allegedly failed to conduct a proper investigation. Instead of verifying his claims, the credit bureau continued reporting the accounts as valid, relying on inaccurate or outdated records.
Injury
Rodriguez claimed he suffered financial harm from the effort and expense of disputing the false information. He also endured emotional distress, including anxiety and mental anguish. The inaccurate credit reporting allegedly damaged his creditworthiness, limiting his ability to obtain credit. He contended that the harm persisted because the Defendants continued to report the accounts as legitimate.
Damages
Rodriguez sought actual damages for both financial losses and emotional suffering. He also requested statutory damages under federal and state consumer protection laws, along with punitive damages, alleging willful misconduct by the defendants. Additionally, he asked for reimbursement of legal fees and litigation costs. He demanded a jury trial to resolve the dispute.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Abel A. Rodriguez
Counsel for Plaintiff: Matthew Michael Loker | Charles Brier Cummins | Frank H. Kerney III | Octavio Gomez
Defendant(s): Adir International, LLC
Counsel for Defendant: Elizabeth VanHorn | Teresa Regina Morin | Joe Al Akobian
Claims
Abel A. Rodriguez filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Adir International, LLC (doing business as Curacao) and Experian Information Solutions, Inc., alleging violations of federal and state credit reporting laws. He claimed the Defendants failed to investigate and remove fraudulent accounts opened in his name while he was a minor, in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act (CCCRAA), and the California Identity Theft Act (CITA).
Rodriguez alleged that the Defendants continued to report false account information even after receiving clear evidence of identity theft. He sought compensation for financial losses, emotional distress, and damage to his credit, along with statutory and punitive damages under the relevant consumer protection statutes.
Defense
Both Adir International and Experian denied the allegations and demanded strict proof of Rodriguez’s claims. They argued that his complaint failed to state a valid legal claim and lacked the necessary clarity and specificity.
Curacao contended that any harm Rodriguez suffered resulted from the actions of unrelated third parties. It raised multiple affirmative defenses, including failure to state a claim, uncertainty, and third-party liability. Curacao maintained it had no knowledge of the identity theft and acted in accordance with credit reporting obligations.
Experian likewise denied liability, asserting that it complied with all applicable federal and state credit reporting laws, including the FCRA. It claimed a lack of knowledge regarding several of Rodriguez’s allegations and emphasized its limited role as a data furnisher. Both Defendants moved to dismiss the case, sought denial of all requested relief, and asked the court to award them legal costs.
Jury Verdict
On March 25, 2025, the jury ruled in favor of Abel Rodriguez. The court ordered Adir International, LLC (doing business as Curacao) to pay $60,000 in damages. $20,000 for violating the CCCRAA and $40,000 for negligent noncompliance with the FCRA. The jury did not award punitive damages.
Court Documents:
Documents are available for purchase upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com