Ohio Debt Collection Letters Not Illegal, SCOTUS Holds

Outside attorneys appointed by the Ohio attorney general to collect state debts didn’t violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by using state letterhead in their collection efforts, the U.S. Supreme Court held May 16 (Sheriff v. Gillie, 2016 BL 154335, U.S., 15-338, 5/16/16).

A contrary ruling could have hindered the many states that use outside counsel for debt collection.

The FDCPA bars “false” or “misleading representations” in connection with debt collection.

But here, “the Attorney General authorized—indeed required—special counsel to use his letterhead in sending debt collection communications,” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for a unanimous court. ...