Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) lawsuits are on track to finish 2012 between 10,500 and 11,000, down roughly six percent from the year-ago period, according to WebRecon LLC, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company that gathers the data from U.S. district courts. FDCPA cases through Oct. 31 totaled 9,655 compared with 10,313 at the same time last year.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) cases tapered in comparison to what was considered an abnormal spike last period. FCRA and Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) lawsuits this month roared past their full year 2011 numbers of 1,883 (FCRA) and 813 (TCPA) - with two full months remaining in the year.
An estimated 566 different collection agencies and creditors were sued in the most recent period (Oct. 16-31).
In the Oct. 16-31 period, consumers filed an estimated 578 lawsuits under consumer statutes, including 527 FDCPA cases, 65 FCRA cases and 67 TCPA cases. Of those cases, there were an estimated 621 unique plaintiffs, including 235 (or 38%) who previously had sued under consumer statutes. Combined, those plaintiffs have filed an estimated 1,361 lawsuits since 2001.
The most active consumer attorneys so far this year include: Sergei Lemberg (310 consumers); David M. Larson (293); and Craig T. Kimmel (228).
