FDCPA and Other Consumer Lawsuit Statistics, April 2013
Quick analysis: FDCPA continues to reverse 2012’s downward trend, posting significant gains on a month-to-month basis as well as over last year. FCRA is also up significantly over last month, but it has dipped down below last year’s number, probably temporarily. Meanwhile, TCPA continues its explosive growth, coming close to doubling its numbers over last year.
Full Statistics: There were about 1285 lawsuits filed under consumer statutes in April 2013. Here is an approximate breakdown:
- 1125 FDCPA
- 232 FCRA
- 156 TCPA
Summary:
- Of those cases, there were about 1376 unique plaintiffs (including multiple plaintiffs in one suit).
- Of those plaintiffs, about 464, or 34%, had sued under consumer statutes before.
- Combined, those plaintiffs have filed about 2412 lawsuits since 2001
- Actions were filed in 172 different US District Court branches.
- About 1087 different collection firms and creditors were sued.
The top courts where lawsuits were filed:
- 73 Lawsuits: Illinois Northern District Court – Chicago
- 61 Lawsuits: Pennsylvania Eastern District Court – Philadelphia
- 52 Lawsuits: Colorado District Court – Denver
- 36 Lawsuits: California Southern District Court – San Diego
- 35 Lawsuits: New York Western District Court – Buffalo
- 33 Lawsuits: New York Eastern District Court – Brooklyn
- 32 Lawsuits: Florida Southern District Court – Fort Lauderdale
- 31 Lawsuits: Georgia Northern District Court – Atlanta
- 30 Lawsuits: Michigan Eastern District Court – Detroit
- 30 Lawsuits: Indiana Southern District Court – Indianapolis
The most active consumer attorneys were:
- Representing 45 Consumers: Craig Thor Kimmel
- Representing 42 Consumers: Sergei Lemberg
- Representing 28 Consumers: Daniel A Edelman
- Representing 25 Consumers: David J Philipps
- Representing 25 Consumers: Jody Berke Burton
- Representing 24 Consumers: David Michael Larson
- Representing 20 Consumers: John D Blythin
- Representing 20 Consumers: Mark D Mailman
- Representing 19 Consumers: David J Syrios
- Representing 19 Consumers: Mary Elizabeth Philipps
Statistics Year to Date:
4536 total lawsuits for 2013, including:
- 3989 FDCPA
- 710 FCRA
- 612 TCPA
Number of Unique Plaintiffs: 5150 (including multiple plaintiffs in one suit)
The most active consumer attorneys of the year:
- Representing 136 Consumers: Sergei Lemberg
- Representing 134 Consumers: Craig Thor Kimmel
- Representing 97 Consumers: David Michael Larson
- Representing 95 Consumers: Daniel A Edelman
- Representing 88 Consumers: David J Philipps
- Representing 85 Consumers: Mary Elizabeth Philipps
- Representing 74 Consumers: Cathleen M Combs
- Representing 74 Consumers: Jody Berke Burton
- Representing 71 Consumers: James O Latturner
- Representing 69 Consumers: Amy Lynn Bennecoff