An estimated 515 different collection agencies and creditors were sued between March 16-31, the highest half-month period thus far in 2011 and up from 417 sued between March 1-15, according to data from U.S. District Courts.
Consumers filed an estimated 570 lawsuits under consumer statutes - including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) - in the second half of March.
The totals include 562 lawsuits citing alleged FDCPA violations, 60 FCRA cases, 14 Truth-in-Lending Act lawsuits and six citing Telephone Consumer Protection Act violations. Some lawsuits listed more than one statute, according to WebRecon LLC, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based research firm that compiles the data from the courts.
In the March 16-31 period, an estimated 626 unique plaintiffs filed lawsuits. Of those, approximately 163 previously had sued under consumer statutes. Combined, those plaintiffs have filed an estimated 1,088 lawsuits since 2001.
Year-to-date, there have been 3,187 total lawsuits against collection agencies and creditors - including 2,682 citing an FDCPA offense and 296 citing an FCRA violation.
David M. Larson was the most active attorney in the recent reporting period, representing 25 consumers. Larson also is the most active attorney for 2011, representing 86 consumers so far.
To comment, contact Darren Waggoner at 815.463.9008 or darren.waggoner@sourcemedia.com.
