Case: Woods v. U.S. Department of Education

1:26-cv-03335 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Sept. 24, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary, while we research the case.]

This class action challenges the Department of Education’s continued reporting of discharged federal student loans as outstanding debts. Plaintiffs allege that the Department failed to correct the reporting after receiving their disputes, in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Summary Authors

Talia Richland (10/13/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74845122/parties/woods-v-united-states-department-of-education/

Judge(s)

Leon, Richard J. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Eisenbrey, Rebecca Clare (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Leon, Richard J. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Eisenbrey, Rebecca Clare (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-03335	Class Action Complaint	Sept. 24, 2026	Sept. 24, 2026 Complaint

show / hide documents

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74845122/woods-v-united-states-department-of-education/

Last updated Nov. 8, 2026, 3:10 a.m.

Docket for: WOODS v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Sept. 24, 2026	COMPLAINT against All Defendants with Jury Demand ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12696262) filed by Mandy Woods, Jorge Cortes. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons)(Eisenbrey, Rebecca) (Entered: 09/24/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons View on PACER 3 Summons View on PACER 4 Summons View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	Sept. 24, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Joseph Christopherson Hashmall, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12696439. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by Jorge Cortes, Mandy Woods. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Attachment to Declaration, # 3 Certificate of Good Standing, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Eisenbrey, Rebecca) (Entered: 09/24/2026)	RECAP
3	Sept. 24, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- John G. Albanese, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12696450. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by Jorge Cortes, Mandy Woods. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Attachment to Declaration, # 3 Certificate of Good Standing, # 4 Text of Proposed Order)(Eisenbrey, Rebecca) (Entered: 09/24/2026)	RECAP
4	Sept. 24, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Noah Zinner, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12696500. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by Jorge Cortes, Mandy Woods. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Eisenbrey, Rebecca) (Entered: 09/24/2026)	RECAP
5	Sept. 24, 2026	SEALED DOCUMENT filed by Jorge Cortes, Mandy Woods(This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Eisenbrey, Rebecca) (Entered: 09/24/2026)	RECAP
6	Sept. 24, 2026	SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 09/24/2026)	RECAP
	Sept. 24, 2026	Case Assigned/Reassigned
	Sept. 24, 2026	Case Assigned to Judge Richard J. Leon. (zmtm)
7	Sept. 25, 2026	Appear Pro Hac Vice	RECAP
	Oct. 8, 2026	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice
8	Oct. 14, 2026	Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General	RECAP
9	Oct. 14, 2026	Summons Returned Executed as to US Attorney	RECAP
10	Oct. 14, 2026	Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant	RECAP
	Oct. 16, 2026	Set/Reset Deadlines
	Oct. 23, 2026	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice AND Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice
	Oct. 23, 2026	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice
11	Oct. 26, 2026	Notice of Appearance	RECAP
12	Oct. 26, 2026	Notice of Appearance	RECAP
13	Oct. 27, 2026	Notice of Appearance	RECAP

show / hide docket entries

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Education

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 24, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Class of former students of predatory for-profit institutions, represented by Mandy Woods and Jorge Cortes

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Pending

Defendants

Federal

U.S. Department of Education

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 ("FCRA")

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-03335

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Education

Funding

Government services

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Woods v. U.S. Department of Education, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48493/ (last updated 10/13/2026).