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Arias v. Gutman, Mintz, Baker & Sonnenfeldt, PC

This case involves claims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act against a debt-collection law firm that allegedly attempted to collect a judgment debt by restraining a consumer’s exempt Social Security benefits.  The Bureau filed an amicus brief arguing that the district court erred in rejecting the consumer’s claims.  Specifically, the brief argued that a false statement by a debt collector that would discourage a consumer from exercising his legal rights was an unlawful misrepresentation under the FDCPA.  The brief also argued that the plaintiff stated a valid FDCPA claim in this case when he alleged that the law firm filed a baseless legal pleading that extended the restraint on his exempt Social Security funds and could have led to the collection of those funds.

Full brief

Arias v. Gutman, Mintz, Baker & Sonnenfeldt, PC