Lease & Rental Management Corp. v. Arrowhead Central Credit Union

# Court Rules Credit Union Not Liable for Opinion in Dispute **What Happened** Lease & Rental Management Corp. sued Arrowhead Central Credit Union, claiming the credit union committed fraud and negligence. The company alleged that Arrowhead made false or misleading statements in response to a credit inquiry about someone, damaging the company's business dealings. **What the Court Decided** Both the trial court and appeals court sided with the credit union. The appeals court confirmed that while credit unions do have a responsibility to provide accurate information when they choose to answer credit questions, Arrowhead's statements were opinions rather than false facts. Because the statements were opinions—not factual claims—they could not form the basis for fraud or negligence claims. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling clarifies that employers and third parties can sometimes shield themselves from liability by framing statements as opinions. Workers should understand that not all inaccurate statements about them lead to legal recourse. However, if someone makes false factual claims—rather than opinions—about your background or performance, stronger legal protections may apply.