DCPA Violation

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7^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Amy Dunbar, et al. v. Kohn Law Firm, S.C., et al.

Case No.: 17-2134

Officials: SYKES and HAMILTON, Circuit Judges, and LEE, District Judge

Focus: FDCPA Violation

Amy Dunbar and Tammy Smith received collection letters offering to settle their debts at a significant discount. Both letters included the warning: “This settlement may have tax consequences.” In separate suits Dunbar and Smith claimed that this statement is misleading in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), 15 U.S.C. § 1692e, because they were insolvent when they received the letters and therefore would not have incurred a tax liability for any discharged debts.

The courts below rejected that argument and dismissed the suits on the pleadings. We consolidated the appeals and now affirm. The challenged statement is not false or misleading because “may” does not mean “will” and insolvent debtors might become solvent before settling their debt, triggering the possibility of tax consequences.

Affirmed

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.