Quick analysis: August 2013 saw litigation volumes more or less stabilize at pre-summer levels (after a summer drop), on track to end the year slightly below last year’s numbers. FDCPA litigation was the only category to drop from both last month (-2.3%) and last year (-16%), while FCRA and TCPA both rose significantly over the previous month (July 2013: FCRA +45.7%, TCPA +15.4%) and the same month of the previous year (August 2012: FCRA +22%, TCPA +72%). Year-to-date, FDCPA and FCRA are both down (-5%), while TCPA continues its march to strong growth (+65%).
Full Statistics:
There were about 1026 lawsuits filed under consumer statutes in August 2013. Here is an approximate breakdown:
- 868 FDCPA
- 255 FCRA
- 165 TCPA
Summary:
- Of those cases, there were about 1118 unique plaintiffs (including multiple plaintiffs in one suit).
- Of those plaintiffs, about 373, or (33.4%), had sued under consumer statutes before.
- Combined, those plaintiffs have filed about 1974 lawsuits since 2001
- Actions were filed in 152 different US District Court branches.
- About 981 different collection firms and creditors were sued.
The top courts where lawsuits were filed:
- 60 Lawsuits: Illinois Northern District Court – Chicago
- 53 Lawsuits: New York Eastern District Court – Brooklyn
- 47 Lawsuits: Colorado District Court – Denver
- 37 Lawsuits: Michigan Eastern District Court – Detroit
- 35 Lawsuits: California Southern District Court – San Diego
- 33 Lawsuits: California Central District Court – Los Angeles
- 33 Lawsuits: Florida Southern District Court – Fort Lauderdale
- 31 Lawsuits: Florida Middle District Court – Tampa
- 28 Lawsuits: Georgia Northern District Court – Atlanta
- 27 Lawsuits: Florida Southern District Court – Miami
The most active consumer attorneys were:
- Representing 50 Consumers: Sergei Lemberg
- Representing 30 Consumers: David Michael Larson
- Representing 24 Consumers: David J Philipps
- Representing 24 Consumers: Mary Elizabeth Philipps
- Representing 22 Consumers: Jason W Barnette
- Representing 20 Consumers: Angie K Robertson
- Representing 19 Consumers: Daniel A Edelman
- Representing 18 Consumers: Adam Jon Fishbein
- Representing 17 Consumers: Gary D Nitzkin
- Representing 15 Consumers: John Thomas Steinkamp
Statistics Year to Date: 8368 total lawsuits for 2013, including:
- 7333 FDCPA
- 1473 FCRA
- 1171 TCPA
Number of Unique Plaintiffs: 9049 (including multiple plaintiffs in one suit)
The most active consumer attorneys of the year:
- Representing 250 Consumers: Sergei Lemberg
- Representing 188 Consumers: David Michael Larson
- Representing 167 Consumers: Craig Thor Kimmel
- Representing 154 Consumers: Daniel A Edelman
- Representing 149 Consumers: David J Philipps
- Representing 135 Consumers: Gary D Nitzkin
- Representing 119 Consumers: Mary Elizabeth Philipps
- Representing 117 Consumers: Angie K Robertson
- Representing 115 Consumers: Cathleen M Combs
- Representing 111 Consumers: James O Latturner