Schell v. Frederick J. Hanna & Associates, P.C., 2016 WL 3654472 (S.D. Ohio July 8, 2016)
The parties have reached a settlement of this action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The settlement provides for a common fund from which participating class members will receive an equal share.
This case stems from alleged violations by Frederick J. Hanna & Associates, P.C. ("Defendant") of sections 1692g(a)(3) and (a)(5) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA"), with regard to initial debt collection letters sent to Ohio consumers. Lead Plaintiff alleged that Defendant violated the FDCPA by failing to include proper disclosures in these initial debt collection letters.
All persons with an Ohio address, to whom Frederick J. Hanna & Associates, P.C. mailed an initial debt collection communication that stated: “[u]nless you notify this office in writing within thirty (30) days after receiving this notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt is valid,” and/or (2) “[i]f you request within thirty (30) days after receiving this notice, this office will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor,” between November 20, 2014 and November 20, 2015, in connection with the collection of a consumer debt.
The settlement was preliminarily approved by the Court on March 31, 2016, and the Court granted final approval on July 8, 2016.
If you have any questions about the settlement or the litigation, please contact Jesse S. Johnson at jjohnson@gdrlawfirm.com.