Jones, Wolf & Kapasi, LLC has settled a class action case in New Jersey alleging that AllianceOne Receivables Management, Inc. ("Alliance"), a debt collection company, violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA"), 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.
Plaintiff, and the New Jersey class members, alleged that Alliance sent them debt collection letters which used a symbol and/or string of numbers on or visible through the window of the envelope that, when read, revealed Plaintiff's account/reference number with the debt collector. Plaintiff further alleged that the debt collection account/reference number constitutes personal information which can identify Plaintiff, or a class member, as a debtor in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1692f and contrary to established precedent in the Third Circuit pursuant to Douglass v Convergent Outsourcing, 765 F. 3d 299 (3rd Cir. 2014).
Notably, the Court approved awarding Plaintiff the maximum amount of statutory damages under the FDCPA as well as monetary damages to the New Jersey class members and attorney fees for Plaintiff's counsel, Jones, Wolf & Kapasi, LLC.
The case is Andrea Ubaldi et al v AllianceOne Receivables Management, Inc., et al, 2:14-cv-06898 (SRC)(CLW)(D. New Jersey), and the Final Approval Order and Judgment can be read here.
For more information about Jones, Wolf & Kapasi, LLC, or if you have recently been contacted by a debt collection company, you are invited to connect with us at: legaljones.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/jones-wolf-&-kapasi-llc or @JonesWolfKapasi.
