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More than 3,000 Debt Collection Suits Dismissed

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Over half a million dollars was awarded recently to class action litigants in Maryland. The group of debt collectors defending the class action lawsuit committed several violations while collecting debts, and were not licensed to collect in Maryland. The settlement occurred three years after the case, Winemiller et. al. v. Worldwide Asset Purchasing et. al. was filed in 2009. The settlement was reached in March, 2012, and the final order was issued by Judge Richard D. Bennett in the U.S. District Court of Maryland on August 24, 2012.Under the terms of the settlement, Defendants, Worldwide Asset Purchasing II, Worldwide Asset Purchasing LLC, West Corp., and West Receivable Services Inc., will pay the petitioners $575,000.00. Some 3,100 debt collection lawsuits were also dismissed. The Court’s decision is final, and all liens associated with the cases have been released. The dismissed cases cannot be refiled.In this class action, Defendants violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) because they pursued debts beyond the statute of limitations. They also erred constantly in stating the total principal amount, and erred in the calculation of interest and fees. Finally, these debt collectors were not properly licensed in Maryland.If a collection agency has harassed you, you may be entitled to money damages up to $1,000.00. Plus, the FDCPA has a fee-shift provision. This means, the collection agency pays your attorney’s fees and costs. Founding attorney, Michael Agruss, has settled over 1,500 debt collection harassment cases. Contact Mike Agruss Law, for a free consultation. We want to help you, too.

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