An estimated 428 different collection agencies and creditors were sued under consumer statutes between Nov. 16-30, a drop from 497 in the first half of the month, according to data from U.S. District Courts. The tally likely dropped in part because of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Nov. 16-30 period includes 454 Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) lawsuits, down from 535 in the Nov. 1-15 period; 40 Fair Credit Reporting Act cases, down from 72; and 16 Telephone Consumer Protection Act lawsuits, down from 24, according to WebRecon LLC, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based research firm that compiles the data from the courts.
Of the total number of cases, there were an estimated 466 unique plaintiffs, including 147 who had previously filed under consumer statutes. Combined, these plaintiffs have filed an estimated 803 lawsuits since 2001.
Year-to-date, consumers have filed 12,986 lawsuits - including 9,959 citing Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations. Both numbers have surpassed last year. In 2009, consumers filed 8,287 FDCPA cases. In 2008, there were 5,188 FDCPA lawsuits filed across the U.S.
Jack Dennis Card is the most active consumer attorney in 2010, having represented 366 consumers. Sergei Lemberg has represented 314 consumers this year, followed by Brent F. Vullings at 305.
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