FDCPA and Other Consumer Lawsuit Statistics, July 2013
Quick analysis: Consumer litigation snapped back to “reasonably normal” levels in July, after two months in a row of steep declines. While still 10% below last year’s July, and 4% below last year’s YTD, FDCPA lawsuits are back in the range of what we have come to expect, though certainly not as high as they have been historically. FCRA and TCPA, which also suffered dips in May and June, are back to pre-slump levels. Particularly TCPA, which has been the most aggressively growing area of litigation for a couple of years now.
Full Statistics:
There were about 1007 lawsuits filed under consumer statutes in July 2013. Here is an approximate breakdown:
- 888 FDCPA
- 175 FCRA
- 143 TCPA
Summary:
- Of those cases, there were about 1124 unique plaintiffs (including multiple plaintiffs in one suit).
- Of those plaintiffs, about 407, or (36.2%), had sued under consumer statutes before.
- Combined, those plaintiffs have filed about 2135 lawsuits since 2001
- Actions were filed in 142 different US District Court branches.
- About 873 different collection firms and creditors were sued.
The top courts where lawsuits were filed:
- 64 Lawsuits: Illinois Northern District Court – Chicago
- 54 Lawsuits: Colorado District Court – Denver
- 46 Lawsuits: New York Eastern District Court – Brooklyn
- 42 Lawsuits: California Southern District Court – San Diego
- 35 Lawsuits: Michigan Eastern District Court – Detroit
- 31 Lawsuits: Minnesota District Court – Dmn
- 31 Lawsuits: Pennsylvania Eastern District Court – Philadelphia
- 29 Lawsuits: New Jersey District Court – Newark
- 27 Lawsuits: California Central District Court – Los Angeles
- 26 Lawsuits: Florida Southern District Court – Fort Lauderdale
The most active consumer attorneys were:
- Representing 41 Consumers: Casey Shannon Nash
- Representing 38 Consumers: Matthew James Erausquin
- Representing 38 Consumers: Dale Wood Pittman
- Representing 37 Consumers: Leonard Anthony Bennett
- Representing 36 Consumers: Susan Mary Rotkis
- Representing 31 Consumers: Sergei Lemberg
- Representing 30 Consumers: David Michael Larson
- Representing 22 Consumers: Daniel A Edelman
- Representing 19 Consumers: Cathleen M Combs
- Representing 18 Consumers: James O Latturner
Statistics Year to Date: 7313 total lawsuits for 2013, including:
- 6410 FDCPA
- 1213 FCRA
- 1002 TCPA
Number of Unique Plaintiffs: 7964 (including multiple plaintiffs in one suit)
The most active consumer attorneys of the year:
- Representing 234 Consumers: Sergei Lemberg
- Representing 195 Consumers: Craig Thor Kimmel
- Representing 182 Consumers: David Michael Larson
- Representing 157 Consumers: Daniel A Edelman
- Representing 142 Consumers: David J Philipps
- Representing 135 Consumers: Mary Elizabeth Philipps
- Representing 129 Consumers: Gary D Nitzkin
- Representing 126 Consumers: Cathleen M Combs
- Representing 121 Consumers: James O Latturner
- Representing 110 Consumers: Amy Lynn Bennecoff