DocketNumber: Case No.: 0:17–cv–60471–UU
Citation Numbers: 297 F. Supp. 3d 1343
Judges: Ungaro
Filed Date: 12/19/2017
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 7/25/2022
THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, D.E. 51.
THE COURT has considered the Motion, the pertinent portions of the record and is otherwise fully advised of the premises. For reasons set forth below, Plaintiff's Motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
I. Factual Background
The following facts are undisputed, unless otherwise indicated.
Defendant is a law firm with its principal place of business in Illinois. D.E. 1-4, 1-5, 51-1. Plaintiff is an individual and citizen of Florida, residing in Broward County. See D.E. 1 ¶ 8; D.E. 37 ¶ 8.
This case arises from Defendant's attempt to collect a $448.50 debt from Plaintiff by means of a single letter mailed to Plaintiff on February 1, 2017, which Plaintiff alleges violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA"), as the letter attempted to collect a debt that Defendant lacked the legal authority to collect.
In particular, on February 1, 2017, Defendant mailed Plaintiff a letter, on behalf of Defendant's client, Forest Recovery Services, LLC ("Forest"), to collect an allegedly outstanding debt amounting to $448.50 (the "Letter"). D.E. 37 ¶ 17; D.E. 60 ¶ 5(i)-(ii). The Letter provided, in relevant part:
The firm represents the above referenced creditor in the matter of your unpaid account. This debt is overdue and we will use all legally appropriate means for collection. If there is some dispute as to the amount of this claim, we will consider any information you wish to give us. We are also prepared to work out a reasonable payment plan.
...
This communication is from a debt collector. The purpose of this letter is to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
No determination has been made at this time whether this claim will result in the filing of a lawsuit. It is our hope that this matter will be resolved without court action. If a decision to sue is made, the claim will be forwarded to an attorney in the appropriate venue.
D.E. 1-6 (emphasis added). In addition, the bottom right hand corner of the letter directed Plaintiff to visit www.mccarthylf.com to "click on Make a Payment to review [his] account and other payment options." Id. Defendant's website included Terms of Use, which provided, in relevant part: "This communication is from a Debt Collector. This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose." D.E. 51-1.
*1346There is no dispute that: (1) Plaintiff is a "consumer" within the meaning of the FDCPA; and (2) Plaintiff's $448.50 debt constituted a "consumer debt" governed by the FDCPA and Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act,
II. Procedural Background
On March 4, 2017, Plaintiff filed the instant action, alleging one claim for violation of the FDCPA, on grounds that that Defendant sought to collect a debt without being properly licensed in Florida, as required by
On May 10, 2017, Defendant filed its Answer to Plaintiff's Complaint. D.E. 26. On May 24, 2017, the Court issued its Scheduling Order for Pretrial Conference and Trial which, among other things, set a June 23, 2017 deadline to amend pleadings, September 22, 2017 discovery cut-off, and October 13, 2017 dispositive motion deadline. D.E. 32.
On June 23, 2017, Defendant filed its First Amended Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Complaint and Counterclaim, alleging one counterclaim for malicious prosecution (Count I). D.E. 37.
On July 5, 2017, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings or, in the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion to Dismiss Defendant's Counterclaim. D.E. 41. On September 18, 2017, the Court granted in part and denied in part Plaintiff's Motion, thereby dismissing Defendant's counterclaim for malicious prosecution.
On October 2, 2017, Plaintiff filed the instant Motion for Summary Judgment. D.E. 51. Defendant opposes Plaintiff's Motion.
III. Discussion
A. Legal Standard
Summary judgment is authorized only when the moving party meets its burden of demonstrating that "the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 ; Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co. ,
The party opposing the motion may not simply rest upon mere allegations or denials of the pleadings; after the moving party has met its burden of proving that no genuine issue of material fact exists, the non-moving party must make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an essential element of that party's case and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett ,
*1347If the record presents factual issues, the Court must not decide them; it must deny the motion and proceed to trial. Envntl. Def. Fund v. Marsh ,
Moreover, the party opposing a motion for summary judgment need not respond to it with evidence unless and until the movant has properly supported the motion with sufficient evidence. Adickes ,
B. Analysis
Plaintiff argues that he is entitled to summary judgment on his FDCPA claim, which alleges violations of 15 U.S.C. § 1692e, 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(2)(A), 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(5) and 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(10). D.E. 51.
To prevail on a claim for violations of the FDCPA, Plaintiff must prove that: "(1) Defendant is a debt collector; (2) Plaintiff was the object of collection activity arising from consumer debt; and (3) Defendant engaged in an act or omission prohibited by the FDCPA." Garrison v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc. ,
Here, there is no genuine dispute that: (1) Defendant is a debt collector, as defined by
*1348Plaintiff was the object of collection activity arising from consumer debt, as defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6). D.E. 60 ¶ 5(i)-(iii); D.E. 37 ¶¶ 13-15, 17. However, Defendant argues that Plaintiff is not entitled to summary judgment, in principal part, because: (1) Plaintiff lacks standing to assert any claim under the FDCPA; and (2) in any event, Defendant did not engage in any act or omission prohibited by the FDCPA, as Defendant is subject to an exemption from Florida's registration requirements for consumer collection agencies under
i. Standing
In response to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, Defendant argues that Plaintiff lacks standing under the FDCPA because Plaintiff has not introduced any evidence that he suffered actual damages as a result of Defendant's alleged FDCPA violation. D.E. 53 p. 6, ¶¶ 39-40.
While the Court agrees that Plaintiff has not introduced any evidence of actual damages, the Court rejects Defendant's argument that Plaintiff's failure to show actual damages requires that the Court dismiss this case for lack of standing. In Church v. Accretive Health, Inc. , the Eleventh Circuit held that a debtor had shown concrete injury-in-fact where she alleged that a letter sent to her "did not contain all of the FDCPA's required disclosures" because the FDCPA gives debtors a "statutorily-created right to information pursuant to the FDCPA." Church ,
Based on well-settled case law, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has, without question, shown a concrete injury based on Defendant's alleged technical violations of the FDCPA, such that Plaintiff has Article III standing. Church ,
ii. Whether Defendant violated the FDCPA
(a) Parties' Arguments
Plaintiff argues that it is entitled to summary judgment because Defendant violated *1349the FDCPA by sending Plaintiff the February 1, 2017 Letter. In particular, Plaintiff argues that Defendant violated: (1) 15 U.S.C. § 1692e, which prohibits a debt collecting from using "any false, deceptive, or misleading misrepresentation or means in connection with the collection of any debt;" (2) 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(2)(a), which prohibits "false representation of ... the character, amount, or legal status of any debt ... or any services rendered or compensation which may be lawfully received by any debt collector for the collection of a debt;" (3) 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(5), which prohibits the "threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken;" and (4) 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(10), which prohibits "[t]he use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer." D.E. 51 pp. 8-12.
In particular, Plaintiff argues that Defendant violated the FDCPA by mailing the February 1, 2017 debt collection letter because: (1) the Letter represented that Defendant, acting as a debt collector, was entitled to collect a debt; (2) the Letter represented that Defendant, acting as a debt collector, would "use all legally appropriate means for collection," including instituting legal action, if Plaintiff failed to pay his outstanding debt; and (3) Defendant misrepresented its ability to collect Plaintiff's debt, as a debt collector, because Defendant was "not licensed to do business in Florida as a consumer collection agency" under Section 559.553 of the FCCPA. D.E. 51. In support, Plaintiff relies on
Section 559.553(1) of the FCCPA provides:
A person may not engage in business in this state as a consumer collection agency or continue to do business in this state as a consumer collection agency without first registering in accordance with this part, and thereafter maintaining a valid registration.
However, Section 559.553(1) has a handful of exemptions to this registration requirement. The exemption at issue in this case applies to an "out-of-state consumer debt collector."
(3) This section does not apply to:
...
(h) An out-of-state consumer debt collector who does not solicit consumer debt accounts for collection from credit grantors who have a business presence in this state.
(11) "Out-of-state consumer debt collector" means any person whose business activities in this state involve both collecting or attempting to collect consumer debt from debtors located in this state by means of interstate communication originating from outside this state and soliciting consumer debt accounts for collection from creditors who have a business presence in this state. For purposes of this subsection, a creditor has a business presence in this state if either the creditor or an affiliate or subsidiary of the creditor has an office in this state.
Plaintiff contends that it is entitled to judgment on the pleadings because: (1) Defendant was required to register under
Defendant responds in three main ways. As an initial matter, Defendant agrees that it is not, and at the time of mailing the February 1, 2017 Letter was not, licensed as a consumer collection agency under
Lastly, Defendant argues that, in any event, Defendant is exempt from the registration requirements of
In support, Defendant relies entirely on an affidavit submitted by Charles G. McCarthy, Jr. ("McCarthy") the attorney and solo practitioner operating Defendant's law firm, filed in support of Defendant's Response. D.E. 53 pp. 10-15. In the affidavit, McCarthy states, in relevant part, that: (1) Defendant "does not purchase debt on any market;" (2) Defendant is "hired by clients to collect debts owed to the client;" (3) Defendant "does not solicit consumer debt accounts for collection from credit grantors who have a business presence in Florida;" and (4) therefore, Defendant "by statute, is exempt from registration." D.E. 53 pp. 10-11, ¶¶ 4, 11-12, 15.
(b) Court's Ruling
After carefully reviewing the parties' arguments and the Eleventh Circuit's decision in LeBlanc , the Court concludes that Plaintiff is entitled to partial summary judgment.
In LeBlanc , the Eleventh Circuit reversed the trial court's entry of summary *1351judgment in favor of a debt collector, where the debt collector: (1) failed to register as a consumer collection agency, as required by
We therefore hold that a violation of the FCCPA for failure to register may, in fact, support a federal cause of action under Section 1692e(5) of the FDCPA for threatening to take an action it could not legally take.
As explained herein, we do not hold that all debt collector actions in violation of state law constitute per se violations of the FDCPA. Rather, the conduct or communication at issue must also violate the relevant provision of the FDCPA.
...
"Only those collection activities that use 'any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means,' including '[t]he threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken' under state law, will also constitute FDCPA violations." (internal citations and quotations omitted)
LeBlanc ,
Thus, district courts applying LeBlanc have held that a debt collector can violate the FDCPA by failing to register under
In light of LeBlanc and cases interpreting this decision, the Court concludes that Plaintiff is entitled to partial summary judgment on grounds that Plaintiff has proven his FDCPA claim under 15 U.S.C. § 1692e, 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(2)(A), 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(5) and 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(10) based on Defendant failing to register under
First, there is no dispute that Defendant was not registered as a consumer collection agency, as required by
Third, Defendant's February 1, 2017 notice therefore violated various substantive provisions of the FDCPA. In particular, the Letter was, under the "least sophisticated consumer" standard
*1353However, the Court finds that there is, just barely , a genuine dispute of material fact concerning whether Defendant is entitled to the "out-of-state consumer debt collection" exemption set forth under
The only evidence to support Defendant's claim that it is entitled to the Section 559.553(3)(h) exemption comes from McCarthy, the owner and solo practitioner of Defendant's law firm. In particular, McCarthy offered a sworn affidavit in support of Defendant's Response which stated, in relevant part, that: (1) Defendant "does not purchase debt on any market;" (2) the creditors of the debt at issue in this case, Forest Recovery Services, LLC and Boca Raton Gastroenterology have offices in the State of Florida; (3) Defendant "does not solicit consumer debt accounts for collection from credit grantors [such as Forest Recovery Services, LLC and Boca Raton Gastroenterology] who have a business presence in Florida;" and (4) Defendant is, therefore, "by statute, exempt from registration." D.E. 53 pp. 10-11, ¶¶ 4, 11-12, 15.
McCarthy's affidavit is, to a large degree, conclusory, lacks specific supporting facts and contains inadmissible legal conclusions. Thus, the Court takes serious issue with McCarthy's affidavit. Still, McCarthy's affidavit does offer evidence unrefuted by Plaintiff, based on his McCarthy's personal knowledge, that: (1) Defendant "does not purchase debt on any market;" (2) the creditors of the debt at issue in this case, Forest Recovery Services, LLC and Boca Raton Gastroenterology have offices in the State of Florida; and (3) Defendant "does not solicit consumer debt accounts for collection from credit grantors [such as Forest Recovery Services, LLC and Boca Raton Gastroenterology] who have a business presence in Florida." D.E. 53 pp. 10-11, ¶¶ 4, 11-12.
This evidence is just enough to defeat summary judgment with respect to the FCCPA exemption under
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, D.E. 51, is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. Plaintiff has shown no genuine dispute of material fact that Defendant violated 15 U.S.C. § 1692e, 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(10), 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(2)(A), and 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(4), as set forth herein, as long as Defendant is not subject to the exemption to Florida's licensing requirements under
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the parties SHALL file a revised Joint Pretrial Stipulation, including revised Joint Proposed Jury Instructions and Joint Proposed Verdict Forms, which complies with the Court's rulings herein, no later than Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. The parties' Joint Pretrial Stipulation SHALL NOT add any additional witnesses or exhibits, besides those already disclosed in the parties' Joint Pretrial Stipulation. In addition, the parties' Joint Proposed Jury Instructions SHALL include substantive instructions concerning the exemption under Florida Statute Section 559.553(3)(h). It is further
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the parties SHALL meet and confer and, then, file one brief setting forth the parties' respective positions as to whether Plaintiff or Defendant bear the burden of proving that Defendant is or is not entitled to the exemption under
DONE AND ORDERED in Miami, Florida this _19th__ day of December, 2017.
ORDER ON MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
URSULA UNGARO, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
THIS CAUSE is before the Court upon Plaintiff's Motion for Reconsideration, D.E. 66. THE COURT has considered the Motion and the pertinent portions of the record and is otherwise fully advised in the premises. For reasons set forth on the record at the December 22, 2017 hearing, Plaintiff's Motion is DENIED.
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Motion, D.E. 66, is DENIED.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers, Miami, Florida, this _22d_ day of December, 2017.
Decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit entered before October 1, 1981, are binding precedent in the Eleventh Circuit. See Bonner v. City of Prichard ,
In its Response, Defendant conceded it is a debt collector, as Defendant states in its Response to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment that "Defendant Charles G. McCarthy Jr. D/B/A/ Law Office of Charles G. McCarthy Jr. & Associates is considered a debt collector by the legal definition well established by stare decisis." D.E. 53 ¶¶ 6-7. In addition, even if Defendant had not conceded that it is a debt collector for purposes of the FDCPA, a review of the record shows that there is no genuine dispute that Defendant mailed a letter to Plaintiff on February 1, 2017 in "an attempt to collect consumer debt" that was "due or asserted to be owed or due another." D.E. 1-6; D.E. 1 ¶ 17; D.E. 37 ¶ 17; see 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6). In fact, Defendant's Letter stated: "This communication is from a debt collector. The purpose of this letter is to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose." D.E. 1-6. Moreover, the Terms of Use on Defendant's website, which is expressly referred to in the Letter, holds Defendant out as a "Debt Collector" that "attempt[s] to collect ... debt[s]." D.E. 1-6; D.E. 51-1; 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6) ; see also Agan v. Katzman & Korr, P.A. , No. 03-62145-CIV,
The Court expressed skepticism that Plaintiff would prevail on summary judgment under LeBlanc in its September 18, 2017 Order. Upon further reflection, however, the Court concludes that LeBlanc does expressly permit debtors to bring FDCPA claims where, as here, an entity stating that it is a "debt collector" seeks to collect a debt, including by threatening legal action, without first registering to collect debt as required under Florida Statute § 559.553(1).
To be clear, the Court does not conclude that an out-of-state law firm cannot, in certain circumstances, file suit in the State of Florida on behalf of a client that is owed a debt. Instead, the Court only finds that a law firm acting as a debt collector cannot threaten to institute legal action under the FCCPA and FDCPA without first registering under
In analyzing FDCPA claims, the Eleventh Circuit has made clear that courts must consider "whether the 'least sophisticated consumer' would have been deceived by the debt collector's conduct." Crawford v. LVNV Funding, LLC ,
An "out-of-state consumer debt collector" is defined as:
[A]ny person whose business activities in this state involve both collecting or attempting to collect consumer debt from debtors located in this state by means of interstate communication originating from outside this state and soliciting consumer debt accounts for collection from creditors who have a business presence in this state. For purposes of this subsection, a creditor has a business presence in this state if either the creditor or an affiliate or subsidiary of the creditor has an office in this state.
Defendant escapes summary judgment by the thinnest of margins, as the Eleventh Circuit has repeatedly made clear that a plaintiff or defendant cannot defeat summary judgment solely by relying on affidavits or declarations that are "conclusory," "lack[ ] specific supporting facts," or contain legal conclusions. Hetherington v. Wal-Mart, Inc. ,