Debt Collection Attorney Must Defend ‘Meaningful Review’ of Demand Letter

An attorney who allegedly signed a debt collection letter without engaging in any “meaningful review” of its contents is unable to jettison claims that his conduct violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, according to a June 10 decision by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Schreiber v. Sokoloff, E.D.N.Y., 2:13-cv-00935-LDW-WDW, 6/10/14).

Ayala Schreiber brought the suit against Richard Sokoloff after receiving a demand letter bearing Sokoloff’s signature. She claimed that, by signing it without otherwise reviewing its contents, Sokoloff violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. §1692 ...