Background Check Error Lawsuits in Nevada

Nevada is one of the few states that limits credit checks in hiring. Under NRS 613.570, an employer generally may not ask for, use or act on a consumer credit report or other credit information about a job applicant or employee. The law has exceptions. They include jobs where federal or state law requires a credit check and jobs that handle money or confidential information. They also include managerial roles, financial institutions and licensed gaming establishments. An applicant or employee can sue within three years under NRS 613.590. A court may award hiring, reinstatement, lost wages and attorney's fees.

Nevada's ban-the-box rules cover public employers. Under NRS 613.330, it is an unlawful employment practice for the state, counties, cities and towns to consider criminal history without following the procedures set out for each of them. Under NRS 245.046, for example, a county generally may not consider criminal history until the final in-person interview or a conditional offer, whichever is earlier. It may not consider non-conviction arrests, convictions that were dismissed, expunged or sealed, or misdemeanors without jail time. It must also give a written reason when it rejects an applicant because of criminal history. Private employers are not covered by these rules.

Nevada's credit reporting chapter applies to background checks too. Its seven-year limit covers criminal proceedings, but not criminal convictions, so a conviction may lawfully appear on a Nevada report. Nevada has no separate tenant screening statute. Renters rely on the FCRA, which requires accurate reports and a fair dispute process.

Where Nevada FCRA cases are filed

FCRA claims are federal, so they go to a United States District Court. Cases from Nevada are heard in one federal district:

District of NevadaCourthouses: Las Vegas, Reno.Filed with local or cooperating counsel

Our attorneys are licensed in Texas, California, and Georgia. Where they aren't admitted in your local federal court, we work with local or cooperating counsel who are. You may also be able to sue where the company that reported you is based, in a court where our attorneys are admitted:

Checkr: HQ in N.D. California
First Advantage and Sterling: HQ in N.D. Georgia
RealPage: HQ in N.D. Texas

Which court is right depends on your facts. We'll tell you at your free case review.

Nevada laws that add to the FCRA

Limits on credit checks in employment (NRS 613.570 to 613.600)
Bars most employers from requiring, using or acting on credit reports for applicants and employees, with exceptions for certain jobs and industries. Applicants and employees can sue within three years for relief including hiring, reinstatement, lost wages and attorney's fees. Read it
Criminal history in county hiring (NRS 245.046)
Bars counties from considering criminal history until the final interview or a conditional offer, and from considering non-conviction arrests, sealed or expunged convictions and minor misdemeanors. Related procedures for cities, towns and the state appear in NRS 268.402, 269.0802, 284.281 and 284.283. Read it
Seven-year limit on criminal proceedings (NRS 598C.150(2))
Bars reporting criminal proceedings and most other adverse information more than seven years old. Records of criminal convictions are excluded from this limit. Read it

Common background check errors

Someone else's criminal or eviction record matched to you by name
Dismissed, sealed or expunged cases still reported
Charges reported as convictions, or misdemeanors as felonies
The same case listed several times
Eviction filings reported without the dismissal or outcome

Learn how these cases work on our background check lawsuits page, or read our lawsuit guides for Checkr, Sterling, HireRight, First Advantage, RealPage, SafeRent, RentGrow and TransUnion Rental Screening.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Nevada employer check my credit before hiring me?

Usually not. NRS 613.570 bars most employers from requesting or using credit information for hiring. Exceptions include jobs where a credit check is legally required, jobs handling money or confidential information, managers, financial institutions and licensed gaming establishments.

Does Nevada have a ban-the-box law for private employers?

No. Nevada's fair-chance rules cover state and local government employers. Private employers may ask about criminal history, but they must follow the FCRA when they use a background check company.

Can a background check in Nevada report a conviction from more than seven years ago?

Yes, in many cases. Nevada's seven-year limit in NRS 598C.150 excludes criminal convictions, and the federal FCRA also has no time limit for convictions. A report must still be accurate, so a sealed conviction or a dismissed charge reported as a conviction may give rise to an FCRA claim.

How long do I have to file an FCRA lawsuit in Nevada?

FCRA deadlines are the same everywhere: generally two years from when you discover the violation, and no more than five years from when it happened (15 U.S.C. § 1681p). Waiting can cost you the claim.

Sources

Updated November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.