Longview woman sues bill collector for violating federal law

TYLER - A Longview woman has filed a lawsuit claiming that a bill collector violated federal law by calling her cellular telephone up to six times a day for someone she did not know.

Amanda Tompkins filed suit against Ally Financial Inc. on Dec. 4 in the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division. 

According to the lawsuit, the defendant contacted Tompkins by placing up to six telephone calls daily to her cell phone. Tompkins states the defendant used an automated telephone dialer system and/or an artificial or prerecorded voice. When Tompkins was able to speak with a live representative, she states she was informed that the defendant was attempting to reach someone by the name of Scotty.

She claims she informed Ally Financial that she did not know Scotty and requested that defendant cease all calls to her telephone. Despite her request, the defendant continued to hound Tompkins with telephone calls, according to the complaint.

The defendant is accused of violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

The plaintiff is seeking an award of statutory damages and treble damages.

Tompkins is represented by Jody B. Burton of Lemberg Law L.L.C. in Stamford, Conn.

A jury trial is requested. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider is assigned to the case.

Case No. 6:13-cv-00930