Filed Date: April 3, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This is a case challenging the defendant credit union’s alleged use of alienage status as a factor in considering the credit union’s members for loan approval. On April 3, 2025, Plaintiff, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Plaintiff sued the Credit Union of Georgia (“CUGA”) under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 on behalf of herself and a class defined as:
“All persons who resided in the United States at the relevant time that they applied for or attempted to apply for a loan product from CUGA, and who were denied full and equal consideration for the loan prouct [sic] by CUGA on the basis of alienage.”
Represented by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and private counsel, Plaintiff sought preliminary and permanent injunctive relief barring discriminatory lending policies, class action certification, declaratory judgement, compensatory damages plus interest, and attorney’s fees and costs. Plaintiff claimed that CUGA unlawfully discriminated against her and other class members when CUGA denied their applications for loans. The case was assigned to District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty.
On June 19, 2026, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint which corrected minor formatting and typographical errors but made no substantive changes.
On June 23, 2025, CUGA filed a Motion to Compel Arbitration and Stay Action. CUGA argued that by electronically signing CUGA’s “Membership and Account Agreement” the plaintiff entered a binding and enforceable contract which included, in relevant part, a provision that allowed either party to unilaterally require that any dispute between the parties be resolved by arbitration. CUGA also sought attorney’s fees related to bringing the motion.
In a response filed on July 7, 2025, Plaintiff opposed the arbitration on three alternative grounds: 1) that there was no such contract because plaintiff had no record of receiving a copy of the arbitration agreement, 2) that the plaintiff’s claim fell outside the arbitration agreement, and 3) that the arbitration agreement was unconscionable.
In an order filed on February 6, 2026, Judge Geraghty granted CUGA’s motion in part with the exception of CUGA’s request for attorney’s fees, which the court denied. The order stated that by signing the Membership and Account Agreement, Plaintiff acknowledged receipt of the arbitration agreement, creating a binding contract under Georgia state law (O.C.G.A. § 13-3-1). The court further ruled that Plaintiff’s claim fell within the arbitration agreement and that “unconscionability” of the arbitration agreement was a defense to the enforceability of the contract which should be resolved by the arbitrator. Plaintiff was ordered to initiate arbitration within 90 of the order to avoid dismissal of the claim.
As of February 9, 2026, this case is administratively closed while the case is stayed pending arbitration.
Summary Authors
Daniel Johnson (2/22/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69893065/parties/alcocer-v-credit-union-of-georgia/
Alarcon, Sebastian Thomas (Georgia)
Begnaud, Mark Andrew (Georgia)
Eshman, Michael James (Georgia)
Senteno, Andrea (Georgia)
., Dion Y. (Georgia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69893065/alcocer-v-credit-union-of-georgia/
Last updated March 20, 2026, 5:43 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 3, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A DACA recipient who was denied an automotive loan by the Credit Union of Georgia, on behalf of herself and other members of a class of people who were denied lending by the defendant based on alienage status.
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Pending
Defendants
Private Entity/Person
Credit Union of Georgia
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Other Dockets:
Northern District of Georgia 1:25-cv-01760
Special Case Type(s):
Non-court arbitration/mediation
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
Immigration/Border:
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
Case Summary of Alcocer v. Credit Union of Georgia, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/46367/ (last updated 2/22/2026).