Blog

Jackson v. Sagal Class Action

The Holland Law Firm, together with Scott Borison of the Legg Law Firm, LLC filed a putative class action against the law firm of Sagal, Filbert, Quasney & Betten, P.A.

What is the Case About?

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants sent a standard form letter which falsely claimed that the recipient owed attorneys fees, would have to appear in court and would have to pay more money if they were sued. The letter also threatened a lawsuit.

Read More »Jackson v. Sagal Class Action

What Is The Standard Of Review For A Motion To Dismiss In The United States District Courts In The Fourth Circuit?

Frequently, when a Plaintiff files a Complaint, a Defendant will respond with a Motion to Dismiss, instead of an Answer.  Essentially, the Motion to Dismiss says that even if everything stated in the Complaint is true, it still does not state a legally cognizable claim.  Or in other words, the Defendant is saying that “even if everything you say is true, it’s just a nothing-burger.”

Read More »What Is The Standard Of Review For A Motion To Dismiss In The United States District Courts In The Fourth Circuit?

Greenspoon Marder P.A. Class Action

The Holland Law Firm, together with Andrew Delaney of Martin & Associates, P.C., Vermont, filed a putative class action against law firm Greenspoon Marder P.A. If you have any questions about this case please contact us.

What is the case about?

The lawsuit alleges that Greenspoon collects debts arising from timeshares. Greenspoon revealed private financial information about people alleged to owe money on timeshares to third parties, in violation of Federal and Vermont law.

Read More »Greenspoon Marder P.A. Class Action

For Nonprofit Hospitals Who Sue Patients, New Rules

By Paul Kiel, ProPublica. Originally posted here. Republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Non-profit hospitals get big tax breaks for providing care for patients who can’t afford it. Under new IRS rules these hospitals must take extra steps to inform poor patients they may qualify for financial assistance.

Last month, ProPublica and NPR detailed how one nonprofit hospital in Missouri sued thousands of lower income workers who couldn’t pay their bills, then seized their wages, all while enjoying a big break on its taxes.

Read More »For Nonprofit Hospitals Who Sue Patients, New Rules

Can Debt Buyers Use Forced Arbitration Clauses After Suing Consumers In Court?

Midland Funding, a subsidiary of Encore Capital Group, is the world’s largest debt buyer and one of the most prolific users of Maryland’s District Court. It has filed tens of thousands of suits against Marylanders. But when one of those consumers, Mr. Cain, sued Midland Funding, Midland convinced the trial court and the intermediate appellate court to throw his case out of court and into forced arbitration on an individual basis, rather than as a class action.  In a March, 2017 watershed opinion, Maryland’s highest court overruled the lower court and held that when it originally sued Mr. Cain in a collection action, Midland waived its right to compel arbitration.   The Court of Appeals said:

Because Midland’s 2009 collection action is related to Cain’s claims, Midland waived its right to arbitrate the current claims hen it chose to litigate the collection action. In addition, Cain does not have to demonstrate that he suffered prejudice to establish that Midland waived the arbitration provision.

Read More »Can Debt Buyers Use Forced Arbitration Clauses After Suing Consumers In Court?

Can I Sue the I.R.S for Abusive Debt Collection?

Private debt collectors are subject to a variety of laws policing their collection of private debts. The Fair Debt Collection Practice Act (FDCPA) imposes clear and strict requirements on debt collectors – such as preventing them from shaming consumers into payment by publishing the names or calling their parents, preventing them from lying to consumers or threatening them with illegal behavior.

However, FDCPA applies only to consumer transactions and does not cover matters such as tax debts. Boyd v. J.E. Robert Co., 765 F.3d 123 (2d Cir. 2014); Beggs v. Rossi, 145 F.3d 511 (2d Cir. 1998). Federal employees are also specially exempted from the FDCPA. 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6)(C).

So, what’s left to protect taxpayers?

Read More »Can I Sue the I.R.S for Abusive Debt Collection?

Bank of America Puts Couple Through Kafka’s Trial; Must Pay $46 million

Franz Kafka Lives. This automatic stay violation case reveals that he works at Bank of America.

So says Judge Christopher M. Klein, in Sundquist v. Bank of America. What follows is a distressing story of malicious incompetence that destroyed the health of two elite athletes and cost Bank of America more than $46 million. Judge Klein continued:

Read More »Bank of America Puts Couple Through Kafka’s Trial; Must Pay $46 million

Class Settlement – Maryland Management Company

This page has information about the settlement in Claiborne et al v. Maryland Management Company.

What is the case about?

The case is a class action on behalf of former tenants who Maryland Management Company sued and obtained judgments against. Detailed information about the case and the settlement are in the key documents below. If you have any questions about the case, first read the Class Action Settlement Notice below. If you still have questions, call us.

Read More »Class Settlement – Maryland Management Company