Clarke Balcom Law Wins $432,200 Judgment for Clients in Consumer Debt Case

Attorneys Clarke Balcom and Jake Braunstein, of Clarke Balcom Law, recently won a judgment of $423,200 in a Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) lawsuit (Case No. 3:16-cv-00256-YY filed in the United States District Court District of Oregon) on behalf of their clients Lisbeth and Nathaniel Applefield. Nathaniel Applefield and his mother Lisbeth, according to court documents, were harassed and threatened by debt collector Pinnacle Asset Group, located in Orchard Park, NY. The judgment is one of the largest of its kind for a FDCPA case in Oregon.

The FDCPA was passed in 1977 to protect consumers from harassment by debt collectors. Harassment is defined as continued pressure or intimidation that involves unwanted communication, actions, behaviors or threats and demands of an aggressive nature. The complaint filed alleged that Pinnacle harassed Applefield and his mother, making threats to destroy Applefield’s reputation, garnish his wages and take his possessions. Court documents further state Pinnacle also placed calls to Applefield’s employer, leaving threatening voice messages that eventually led to the termination of his employment.

Frequent violations of the FDCPA by debt collectors include calling friends or relatives about the debt, calling the place of employment about the debt, making threats that the collector has no intention or ability to carry out, making illegal threats regarding arrest or seizure of property, yelling and swearing, or otherwise acting in a rude or obnoxious manner. It is not unusual for victims of collection abuse to experience trouble sleeping and eating and loss of self-esteem.

“However, debt-collector harassment is not something an individual has to face on his own. It’s important to know your rights and keep good notes of calls if you have been subject to harassment from a debt collector,” concluded Balcom. “I’m extremely pleased with the outcome of this case. It’s a well-deserved victory for our clients.”

About Clarke Balcom, Clarke Balcom Law

Consumer attorney Clarke Balcom is admitted to state and all federal courts, as well as to the U.S. Tax Court. He has a Certificate in Federal Tax Law from the Northwestern School of Law and is a member of the Oregon State Bar and Multnomah Bar Association. He is also the Chairperson Elect for the Debtor Creditor Section of the Oregon State Bar. Clarke Balcom Law specializes in abusive debt collection, bankruptcy, debt settlement, mortgage and foreclosure, and tax problems. For more information, please call (503) 224-5950, or visit http://www.clarkebalcomlaw.com. The law office is located at 1312 SW 16th Ave., 2nd Floor, Portland, OR 97201.