Settlements: Debt Collection Abuse
The following are some of the FDCPA cases brought by O. Randolph Bragg of Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, which resulted in settlements providing benefits to injured parties, otherwise called, class members.
[Be sure to visit our Decisions page as well.]
Arizona
A FDCPA class action was settled in which defendants agreed to pay $17,500.00 to the Class as FDCPA class statutory damages ($65.06 per class member) and $44,653.00 to the Class as actual damages. Brink v. First Credit Resources International, Inc. (D.Ariz.)
A FDCPA class action was resolved through acceptance of Surety Acceptance’s offer of judgment which provided $623.74 (1% of its net worth) for the class. Price v. Surety Acceptance Corporation (D.Ariz.)
California
A FDCPA class action for charging consumers a $25 dishonored check fee which was not authorized by California law was settled for $7.8 million with the class members being repaid the disputed fees. Ballard v. Equifax Check Servs. (E.D.Cal.)
A FDCPA class action against Commonwealth Equity Adjustments, Inc. and its employees was resolved for approximately $1,431,951 damages, costs and attorneys fees. Irwin v. Mascott (N.D.Cal.)
Florida
A FDCPA class action alleging that collection lawyer’s overcharge consumers regarding condominium and homeowners fees was settled with each class member receiving $50 and any remaining funds wire distributed to the Broward County Legal Aid Society. Agan v. Katzman & Korr (M.D.Fla.,)
A FDCPA class action brought against a law firm collecting property owners’ fees was settled in which each class member received $460.18. Fuller v. Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. (M.D.Fla.,)
Nebraska
A FDCPA class action lawsuit was settled with the 300 class members to share $17,200. Evans v. American Credit Systems, Inc. (D.Neb.)
New Hampshire
A FDCPA class action was settled where each class member submitting a claim would receive up to $50, with any unclaimed monies going to Legal Advice & Referral Center, Inc. of Concord, N.H. for use in education or representation of consumers. Silva v. National Telewire Corp. (D.N.H.)
Pennsylvania
A FDCPA suit was settled with all class members who submitted claims sharing equally in a fund of $217,000. Tenuto v. Transword Systems, Inc. (E.D.Pa.)
Tennessee
A FDCPA class action brought against a collection agency and its president seeking to collect insurance premiums was resolved through an offer of judgment with each class member receiving $53.19. Carroll v. United Compucred Collections (M.D.Tenn,)
Texas
A FDCPA suit was settled with all class members who submitted claims sharing equally in a fund of $50,000. Remely v. Etan General, Inc. (N.D.Tex.)
Washington
A class action was settled where certain class members received a refund of 75% of the fees paid and others received a credit on their outstanding account. Connor v. Automated Accounts, Inc. (E.D.Wash.)