SHERMAN-A Plano resident has filed a lawsuit against a Wisconsin debt collection company after he received harassing telephone calls from an individual claiming to be an attorney.
Anthony Bolodar filed suit against Rausch, Sturm, Israel & Hormik S.C. on Oct. 14 in the federal Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.
Bolodar states that the defendant purchased a $400 debt from a prior creditor.
According to the allegations, the defendant would call Bolodar twice a day, every day in an attempt to collect on a debt. When Bolodar spoke to an individual collector, the collector identified himself as an attorney and threatened a judgment against Bolodar.
Bolodar states he asked the collector for a cause number of the case and the collector "got defensive."
The defendant is accused of violation the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Texas Debt Collection Act by engaging in annoying and harassing telephone calls.
Further, the defendant is accused of violating the act by threatening to take legal action without actually intending to do so and invading Bolodar's privacy by intruding into private affairs.
The plaintiff is seeking actual damages for anger, anxiety, emotional distress, fear and frustration, for statutory damages of $1,000 for each violation, court costs, attorney's fees and punitive damages.
The plaintiff is represented by Diana P. Larson of The Larson Law Office in Houston.
Jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider is assigned to the case.
Case No. 4:10-cv-00550