Larsen v. Credit Bureau, Inc. of Georgia

Plaintiffs filed this action against the defendants alleging an abuse of process. The defendant credit bureau (CBI) appeals from a judgment based on a jury verdict awarding both general and punitive damages. Defendant Standard Oil Company was granted an involuntary nonsuit and is not involved in this appeal.

The facts are not generally disputed.

Plaintiff Robert Larsen owed $512.88 to Standard Oil for credit purchases. In July, 1972, Standard Oil, finding itself unable to collect the account, assigned it to CBI, which filed an action in district court to collect the debt. Larsen was served but…