By Joanna Putman
Police1
NEWARK, N.J. — LexisNexis is facing a class action lawsuit after law enforcement officers alleged it retaliated against them by tarnishing their credit report, a news release from Morgan & Morgan states.
The suit covers approximately 18,000 judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers who attempted to exercise their right to shield their home addresses and phone numbers under New Jersey’s Daniel’s Law. LexisNexis then allegedly fabricated identity thefts, freezing credit files and tarnishing credit reports.
The class is represented by a police officer and a retired police officer, who will remain anonymous, according to the release. Both sent Daniel’s Law notices to LexisNexis requesting nondisclosure. They allege that the company did not remove the information and instead sent them letters stating that a “security freeze” was being placed on their file.
Investigators working on the noncompliance case against LexisNexis have uncovered allegations that the company is selling comprehensive guides on the children of law enforcement officers, according to the release. Individual lawsuits against the company include that of an undercover officer tracking an organized crime group. The organization allegedly learned her address and set up surveillance on her family.
“Enforcing Daniel’s Law is critically important to the safety of our members and their families,” said New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Colligan. “Many of our members have been targeted and their families terrorized after individuals found their protected information online. Now, even as members of law enforcement try to protect themselves and their families, they find themselves being harassed and intimidated by companies willfully failing to comply with the law and we will not stand for it.”