Daily Digest – June 8. Jury Imposes $25 Million Penalty Against Debt Buyer; Getting to Know Daniel Rohrs

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JURY IMPOSES $25 MILLION PENALTY AGAINST DEBT BUYER

• A jury has imposed $25 million in civil penalties against Joseph Onwuteaka, a debt buyer, who was accused of suing people in his hometown, even though they either lived nowhere near Houston and unlikely to show up to defend themselves. Onwuteaka was found guilty of violating Texas state law that requires lawsuits be filed either in the county where either the defendant lives or where the loan documents were originated. Onwuteaka filed more than 1,500 lawsuits, and at least half of the defendants did not live in the county where the suits were filed. The judge in that court said the defendants had to raise the question of improper venue; that it was not something the court could rule on unilaterally.

GETTING TO KNOW DANIEL ROHRS 

• Daniel Rohrs is an unabashed apologist … for the game of baseball. And he’s also a big proponent of change in the collections industry. Rohrs spotlights numerous issues in how the industry is regulated and how that has spawned an industry for attorneys who are making very good livings out of suing collection agencies. Rohrs also has an interesting take on the role of compliance in the overall operation of a collection agency. Read on to learn more about him and his viewpoints on key industry topics.

COLORADO EXTENDS STATE FDCPA, ADDS NEW WRINKLES

• The Colorado state legislature has extended its state Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by 11 more years. The law was due to expire on Sept. 1, 2017. The law also defines buyers of delinquent or defaulted debts as debt collectors under the state law. The law also adds more documentation requirements when filing lawsuits against individuals to recoup unpaid debts.

WORTH NOTING: The Fortune 500 is out … What to watch for when former FBI director James Comey testifies before Congress today … The House is due to vote on the Financial Choice Act today … The most dangerous countries for tourists … The most common financial struggles for people over 60 … How using good manners can exceed your customers’ expectations … The one thing that Arianna Huffington always does in job interviews … Mobile connection speeds in the U.S. aren’t very good compared to other countries around the world … Taking detailed pricing to a new level.

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The Daily Digest is sponsored by T-Max Dialer & Communications, the leader in hosted inbound and outbound dialer technology.