Sterling Reported a Dismissed Case as Open. Do I Have a Case?
Seeing Sterling list a dismissed case as “open” can be shocking, especially when you know the court already closed everything. A dismissed charge should never suggest that you still have an active case. When a background check presents a closed case the wrong way, it can mislead employers, and that’s where the law steps in.
Why This Happens With Sterling
Sterling collects information from several criminal record databases. If even one source is behind or inaccurate, the background check may show the wrong status. A few common reasons include:
The court updated its records, but the digital feed Sterling uses didn’t
A third-party database still shows the case as active
The system matched your case to an old version of the record
The dismissal wasn’t entered correctly in the public database
Sterling pulled the information before the dismissal was updated
In short: the court closed your case, but the data Sterling received hasn’t caught up — or was pulled from the wrong place.
Does This Give You a Legal Case?
It can, depending on the situation.
The key question is whether Sterling’s report could mislead someone reviewing it. Employers rely heavily on background checks, and an “open” case carries a very different message than a dismissed one. When that kind of mistake costs someone a job or causes delays, the law considers it a serious problem.
If the report caused:
a withdrawn job offer,
a failed background check result,
extended hiring delays, or
any financial or emotional harm,
You may have a valid claim under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You don’t need the case to vanish completely just for it to be described accurately.
What You Can Do Right Now
You don’t need to follow a rigid set of steps. Just do these simple things:
1. Get the paperwork from the court. A dismissal order or final disposition is enough.
2. Compare what the court says to what Sterling reported. If the wording doesn’t match, that discrepancy is the issue.
3. Tell Sterling in writing. Let them know the case isn’t open and provide proof. They are required by law to review it.
4. Keep anything showing the harm. Emails, hiring delays, rejection messages — it all helps prove impact.
If Sterling already had proof and still reported the case incorrectly, or if fixing it took too long and cost you an opportunity, that strengthens your case even more.
How We Help
If Sterling described your dismissed case as open and that mistake hurt your job search, we can investigate the error and pursue compensation on your behalf. You don’t pay anything up front.