DEBT COLLECTION DEFENSE
Product # 22 SKU 107-B
BOOK HARD BOUND OR THUMBDRIVE
NOT YET AVAILABLE
Price TBD
by
William R. Carlisle, Esq.
Of the Georgia Bar
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William R. Carlisle (“Billy”) is a fourth generation Georgia lawyer practicing in the area of consumer protection and debt collection defense.
During the mortgage crisis in 2008, Carlisle began helping construction clients, including builders, contractors and developers, with personal and business collection matters.
Noticing that collection cases comprised the majority of civil filings, his practice expanded to include consumer cases. In an area of the law where most defendants go unrepresented, Carlisle has won several appellate decisions involving procedural and evidentiary issues favorable to consumer debtors.
Understanding the challenges faced by both parties in collection matters, Carlisle has also defended collection attorneys, finance companies and collection agencies facing consumer protection claims.
Seeing the inefficiency and rising cost of litigation as a problem for both sides in collection cases, he recently developed Detamate, a software application automating the process of negotiating and administering payment in consumer settlements.
Currently married with four (4) children and one grandchild, Carlisle lives with his wife, Shannon, in Gainesville, GA.
DEFENDING CONSUMER LITIGATION & ENFORCEMENT
I. The Collection Process
Non-payment & default, delinquency to “charge-off,” in-house collection, agency placements, attorney/law firm involvement, initiation of lawsuit, default judgment & case dispositions, judgment enforcement methods, satisfaction of judgment, dormancy & revival, domestication of foreign judgments
II. Litigation as a Business Model
Overview, necessity of litigation, decentralization, automation & evidentiary concerns, assignment of chose in action, depreciation & time-value of claims, logistics & cost of collection, evaluating opposing counsel
III. Understanding Collection Lawsuits & Pleadings
The “math” on collection lawsuits, templates, non-lawyer & collector involvement, balance calculations, types of claims, reviewing exhibits, identifying discrepancies, hearsay and documents created for purposes of litigation
IV. New Client Intake
Identifying stage of collection process, parties involved in collection effort, creditor & current owner of debt, gathering information & documents, cost-efficiency concerns, client’s financial situation & setting client expectations & goals [Form 1]
V. The Collection Defense “Toolbag”
Civil procedure, discovery & compelling evidence, common evidentiary issues, motions, sanctions, secured instruments & securitization, FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, TILA, FBPA[state]
VI. Civil Procedure
Time is the collector’s enemy, civil procedure is the defendant’s friend, using civil procedure to establish defenses and client’s theory of the case
VII. TILA
Intro & scope, applicability & pre-emption/state law concerns, TILA disclosures for credit cards, auto financing, mortgage lending, etc., initial & ongoing disclosures, TILA compliance as an element of contract, using non-compliance as a defense
VIII. FDCPA
Intro & scope, identifying “debt collectors” 15 USC 1692a, 1st communication & verification 15 USC 1692g, mini Miranda 15 USC 1692e(11), false communications 15 USC 1692e, unfair & unconscionable acts and communications 15 USC 1692f, SOL barred claims 15 USC 1692e(5), 15 USC 1692f, etc., improper venue claims 15 USC 1692i, prohibitive forms 15 USC 1692j, lawyer communications as debt collections [Heintz, etc.], the decision to file claims, separate action v. counterclaim, etc.
IX. FBPA
Intro & scope, state specific claims, linking FDCPA & FBPA, ante litem requirements & exemptions, remedies & available relief
X. FCRA & TCPA
Intro & scope, identifying claims, documenting & proving claims, claim as offensive vs. defensive filing, deciding on a forum
XI. Creating a Checklist for Collection Filings
Review of filing: Service issues [date, person served, answer due date], Case Caption & party name [standing, real party in interest, misnomer, multiple assignments, etc.], type & purpose of pleading [complaint, garnishment, post-judgment discovery or enforcement, motions, discovery & interlocutory filings], Jurisdiction & Venue [SOL, residence location, identity fraud, prior settlement, etc.], Allegations [sufficiency of facts compared to elements and evidentiary requirements, Exhibits [business records vs. summaries & litigation documents, hearsay affidavits, incomplete documents, discrepancies with allegations], Relief [support for damages calculation, lawfulness of interest, capitalization of interest into principal issues, etc.], Identifying Counterclaims
XII. Forming a Defense Strategy
Client needs & expectations [Reduced settlement, client “just needs some time,” types of dismissals and effect], the defense lawyer’s primary objective, ethical concerns, venue & service of process issues, sufficiency of plaintiff’s evidence, defense templates & “mirroring” of pleadings
XIII. Filing the Answer
Filing before/after service of process, Answer vs. Motion to Dismiss, admitting/denying allegations, affirmative defenses, deciding on counterclaim, deciding on jury demand, requests for admission
XIV. Discovery to Plaintiff
Being the 1st to file, organizing discovery requests, the decision to compel discovery [waking a “sleeping plaintiff” vs. exploiting unavailable evidence],
XV. Responding to Discovery
Personal knowledge of facts vs. presumption & opinion, client knowledge of terms & conditions, damages calculation & accuracy of balance, client relationship to plaintiff [creditor vs. assignee], using discovery to tell client’s story
XVI. Responding to Motion for Summary Judgment
Evaluating sufficiency of motion & evidence, identifying disputed facts, inferences and conclusions, identifying missing evidence & hearsay, challenging foundation for admission of business records, opposing affidavits, requesting oral hearing, laying groundwork for an appeal
XVII. Preparing for Trial
Using pre-trial order to add/eliminate issues, the framework of the defense case, motions in limine & requests to charge, whether to call client as a witness, subpoenas to plaintiff & witnesses,
XVIII. Reading the courtroom & the judge
Judicial attitudes to collection litigation, how collection calendars are handled in real life, going smoothly against the grain, flipping the judge, collector concerns in crowded courtrooms
XIX. Settlement Discussions
Planting the seed early [make settlement demand known & repeat it at the right times], identifying leverage and bargaining power, negotiating from a position of strength, using client weakness as a strength in negotiations, the threat of
bankruptcy done the right way
XX. Conclusion
XXI. Concluding remarks
Appendix/Forms
Sample documents, pleadings, template forms, checklist
About the Author
William R. Carlisle (“Billy”) is a fourth generation Georgia lawyer practicing in the area of consumer protection and debt collection defense. During the mortgage crisis in 2008, Carlisle began helping construction clients, including builders, contractors and developers, with personal and business collection matters. Noticing that collection cases comprised the majority of civil filings, his practice expanded to include consumer cases. In an area of the law where most defendants go unrepresented, Carlisle has won several appellate decisions involving procedural and evidentiary issues favorable to consumer debtors.
Understanding the challenges faced by both parties in collection matters, Carlisle has also defended collection attorneys, finance companies and collection agencies facing consumer protection claims. Seeing the inefficiency and rising cost of litigation as a problem for both sides in collection cases, he recently developed Detamate, a software application automating the process of negotiating and administering payment in consumer settlements. Currently married with four (4) children and one grandchild, Carlisle lives with his wife, Shannon, in Gainesville, GA.