FDCPA and Other Consumer Lawsuit Statistics, December 1-15, 2012

Quick analysis: While it has made some small gains from earlier this year, FDCPA litigation is on track to end 2012 with close to 11,500 lawsuits, down from over 12,000 for 2011. With one more period to go, we are over 11,000 as of Dec 15, 2012. Meanwhile, TCPA and FCRA litigation continue strong, despite a perceived drop in TCPA, actually caused by an anomalous lawsuit in the same period last year that had 168 plaintiffs on one large lawsuit.

Full Statistics:

There were about 502 lawsuits filed under consumer statutes in the second half of December 2012. Here is an approximate breakdown:

• 499 FDCPA
• 86 FCRA
• 45 TCPA

Summary:

• Of those cases, there were about 538 unique plaintiffs (including multiple plaintiffs in one suit).
• Of those plaintiffs, about 186, or 35%, had sued under consumer statutes before.
• Combined, those plaintiffs have filed about 1000 lawsuits since 2001
• Actions were filed in 281 different US District Court branches.
• About 479 different collection firms and creditors were sued.

The top courts where lawsuits were filed:

• 34 Lawsuits: Colorado District Court – Denver
• 24 Lawsuits: Pennsylvania Eastern District Court – Philadelphia
• 23 Lawsuits: Illinois Northern District Court – Chicago
• 19 Lawsuits: Michigan Eastern District Court – Detroit
• 18 Lawsuits: Georgia Northern District Court – Atlanta
• 14 Lawsuits: New York Southern District Court – Foley Square
• 14 Lawsuits: Minnesota District Court – Dmn
• 14 Lawsuits: New Jersey District Court – Newark
• 13 Lawsuits: Arizona District Court – Phoenix
• 11 Lawsuits: Tennessee Eastern District Court – Greeneville

The most active consumer attorneys were:

• Representing 20 Consumers: David Michael Larson
• Representing 15 Consumers: Daniel A Edelman
• Representing 12 Consumers: James O Latturner
• Representing 12 Consumers: Cathleen M Combs
• Representing 12 Consumers: Adam G Taub
• Representing 11 Consumers: Sergei Lemberg
• Representing 9 Consumers: Tammy L Hussin
• Representing 9 Consumers: Alexander Daniel Weisberg
• Representing 9 Consumers: Alan C Lee
• Representing 8 Consumers: Larry Paul Smith

Statistics Year to Date:

12268 total lawsuits for 2012, including:

• 11040 FDCPA
• 2157 FCRA
• 1034 TCPA

Number of Unique Plaintiffs: 12133 (including multiple plaintiffs in one suit)

The most active consumer attorneys of the year:

• Representing 353 Consumers: Sergei Lemberg
• Representing 339 Consumers: David M Larson
• Representing 268 Consumers: Craig T Kimmel
• Representing 198 Consumers: Gary D Nitzkin
• Representing 187 Consumers: David J Philipps