A Jefferson County man has filed a lawsuit against a law firm claiming they violated federal law by threatening to garnish his wages over a defaulted student loan.
George Fontenot filed suit against Weltman, Weinberg and Reis Co. LPA on July 12 in the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division.
Fontenot incurred a student loan debt which the defendant allegedly contacted him to collect. The defendant stated that it would garnish his wages.
“Defendant is a law firm, but it is not the creditor, so this was misleading and false threat,” the lawsuit states.
The defendant is accused of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which prohibits debt collectors from engaging in abusive, deceptive and unfair practices.
The plaintiff is seeking an award of actual damages for anger, anxiety, emotional distress, frustration, embarrassment, humiliation, and upset, statutory damages, court costs and attorney’s fees.
Fontenot is represented by Kevin Crick of Consumer Rights Law Firm in Andover, Mass. A jury trial is requested.
Case No. 1:13-cv-00454
Jefferson County man sues law firm for threats of wage garnishment
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