Case 1:14-cv-00712-WFK-RLM Document 1 Filed 01/31/14 Page 1 of 9 PageID #: 1

lJNITED STA llS DISTRICT COl IRT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF NLW YORK
llAARI A. NA VON on behalf of himself and
all other sin1ilarly situated consunH:rs
l'lainti ff.
-against-
CRl:IT BURL;\! I Cl NAP; COUNTY. iNC.
D/B/1\ CllASL RLCl'IY;\Bll S
Defendant.
FILED
IN CLERK'S OFFICE
U.S. DtSmlCT COURT EDNY.
*
JAN 312014 *
LONG ISLAND OFFICE
CV 14
0'712
KUNTZ, J.
CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
/11trod1ctio11
I. Plaintiff 1 laari A. Na Yon seeks redress fr the illegal practices olTrcdit Bureau Of Napa
County. Inc. d/b/a Chase Rcccirbles in \\hich it unlawfully engaged in the collection of
consumer debts in Yiolation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. 15 l .S.C. t 1692.
ct seq. ('"FDCPA").
Parties
1
Plaintiff is a citil:cn of the State of Ne\ York who resides within this District.
3. Plaintiff is a consumer as that term is dclined by Section 15 (1.S.C. 1692(a)(3) of the
FDCPA.
4. The alleged debt that Defendant sought to collect lrom the Plaintiff involves a consumer
debt.
5. Upon information and bliief. Defendant's principal place of business is located within
Sonoma. Califoria.
-1-
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6. Delendant is regularly engaged. for prolit. in the collection of debts allegedly owed by
consun1crs.
7. Defendant is a debt collector
..
as that term is defined by the FDCPA. 15 U.S.C.

J692(a)(6).
Jurisdiction and Venue
8. This Court has lederal question jurisdiction under 15 U.S.C. 1 69'k(d) and 28 U.S.C.
1331.
9. Venue 1s proper 111 this district pursuant to 28 lJ .S.C. 1391 ( b ). as the acts and
transactions that gi\C rise to this action occurred, in suhstantial part. \ithin this district.
Allegation Particular to H11ri A. N111 01
10. lJpon infi :mnation and belicL on a date better known by Defendant. Delendant began to
attempt to collect an alleged consumer debt fom the Plaintiff.
11. On or about October I 0. 201 3 and January 2. 2014. Defendant sent the l'JaintilT
collection letters seeking to collect a balance allegedly incurred for personal purposes.
12. Said letters stated the Principal
.
.
as $1.948.29. verimn Collection Fee"" as $350.69.
and the '"AMOUNT DUi: as $2.298.98.
13. The Delendant"s statements in said letters of '"Veri7.on Collection Fee
..
representation of an 1 8% Collection Fee
IS a
14. I he Collection Fee represented Chase Receivables anticipated compensation for
collecting the Accounts.
15. The representation that 1 8% Collection fccs arc o\cd 1 i,,Jatcs 15 l !.S.C. I 692c.
I 692c(2 )(A). l 692c( 5 ). 1 692(1). and I 6921\ I ).
Seeger v. AlNI. Inc . . 20()(, WI 22907(i3 (1-.D. Wis. Aug. 9. 2006). (FDCPA case

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against ;\lNL Inc. 1<1r adding a 15% lee to Cingular hills was certified to prceed is a

class action.). Seeger v. 1\FNL _Inc

.
. 548 F.3d 1107 (7th Cir. 2008). (AFNL lnc.s
demand for an additional 15% collection fee violated l 692f( 1) since the charge was
not authorized hy law or the underlying contract: applicable state law only permitted
such a recovery if the amount was actually incurred as an out-otpocket cost of
collection and not. as atterptcd here. to unlawfully --permit[ J a third-party purchaser or
an account to recover its interal costs."). See also Shari v. National Enter. Sys .. 2010
WL 3824151 (L'.D.N.Y. Scpt.23. 2010). (The court concluded that the cornplaint
sulliciently pleaded a cause or action for Yiolation of 16921( I) and l 692c(2). The
complaint involved a collection letter including the language --you can now pay by
automated phone systcr
.
.. or on the interet. Transaction tees will be charged if you use
the autorated phone sys ter or the interet to rnake payment on this account. You arc
not required to use the automated phone system or the interet to make payrent on this
account.
.
. )
16. Said letters violates 15 l.S.C. I 692e. I 692e(2)(A). I 692c(5). l 692(t). and l 692t( 1)
for attempting to collect prohibited 18% collection fees.
AS ANO FOR A FIRST CALISE OF ACTION
Violations of tlte Fair Debt Col/ection Practices Act brought by Phtintif 011 belta/f of ltimse(f and tle
member.\ ti a class, as agllinst tle Defe11di111t.
17. Plaintiff re-states. re-alleges. and incorporates herein hy rckrcncc
.
paragraphs one (I)
through si"tccn ( 16) as if set flirth fully in this cause of action.
18. This cause ofaetion is brought on behalf or Plaintiff and the members ora class.
19. The class consists of all persons whom Defendant's records reflect resided in the State or
'Jew York and who \ere sent a collection letter bearing the Dclcndant's letterhead in
-3-
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substantially the same form as the lellers sent to the Plaintiff. sent within one year prior
to the date or the within complaint: (a) the collection lellers m:rc sent to a consumer
seeking payment of a consumer debt purportedly owed to Verizon Wireless: and (b) the
collection letters were not retured hy the postal service as undelivered: and (c) the
Plaintiffassc11s that the letters contained violations of 15 U.S
.
C. 1 692e 1692c(2)(A).
I 692e( 5 ). I 692( I). and I 6921( I ).
20. Pursuant to Federal Ruic of Civil Procedure 23. a class action 1s appropriate and
prefrable in this case because:
(a) Rascd on the fact that form collection letters arc at the heart of this litigation. the
class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable.
(b) There arc questions of law and fact common to the class and these questions
predominate on:r any question(s) afll_cting only individual class members. The
principal question presented b: this claim is whether the Dt.:fcndant violated the
FOCPA.
(c) The only individual issue involves the idenlilication or the consumas who
received such collection letters. (i.e. the class members). This is purely a matter
capable of ministerial determination from the records of the Detcndant.
(d) The claims or the Plaintiff arc typical or those of the class members. All of the
respective class claims arc based on substantially similar facts and legal theories.
(e) The Plaintiff will firly and adequately represent the class members interests.
"!'he Plaintiff has retained counsel experienced in hringing class actions and
collection abuse claims. The Plaintil"f's interests are consistent with those of the
n1c1nhcrs ur the cla:s.
4
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21. A class action is superior fi.ir the fir and cncient adjudication of the class members
clain1s. ('ongrcss specifically envisions class actions as a principal n1cans of enforcing
the FDCPA. 15 U.S.C. 1692(k). The members of the class are generally
unsophisticated individuals. whose rights \\ill not be vindicated in the absence of a class
action. Prosecution of separate actions by individual members of the classes would
create the risk ur inconsistent or varying adjudications resulting in the establishn1cnt of
inconsistent or \-arying standards for the parties and V\' nulcl not he in the interest of
judicial economy.
^
If the facts me discO\ered to he appropriate. the Plaintiff will seek to certify a class
pursuant to Rule 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

-' Collection attempts. such as those made by the Defndant arc to be evaluated by the
objecti\e standard of the hypothetical (cast sophisticated consumer."
Volations of tlte Fair Debt Col/ectio11 Practices Act
24. The Defendant's actions as set forth above in the within complaint violates the Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act.
25. fkcause the Defendant violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. the Plaintiff and
the members of the class arc entitled lo damages in accordance with the Fair Debt
Collection Pructices Act.
WllEREFORF. l'laintifL n."pcctfully requests preliminary and permanent injunctive relieL and that
this Court enter judgment in his fo\ O and against the Defendant and award damages as follows:
(a) Statutory and actual damages provided under the lDCl'A. 15 lJ.S.C. 1692(kJ:
And
(b) Attorey fees. litigation e'penses and costs incurred in bringing this action: and
5
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( c) Any other relief that this Court deems appropriate and just under the
circun1stances.
Dated: Cedarhurst New York
11 + 1kJ1 + '. (iF-9508)
orey At I.aw
Attorney for the Plaintif
483 Chestnut Street
Cedarhurst New York 11516
Telephone ( 516) 791-4400
h1csi111ile (516) 791-4411
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Case 1:14-cv-00712-WFK-RLM Document 1 Filed 01/31/14 Page 7 of 9 PageID #: 7
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1416 AVENUE 1
BROOKLYN, NY 11229-3318
CHASE RECEIVABLES
A Professional Collection Agency
800-622-0484
October 10, 2013
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1247 Broadway
Sonoma, CA 95476
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PLEASE SEE REVERSE II Fon IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Case 1:14-cv-00712-WFK-RLM Document 1 Filed 01/31/14 Page 9 of 9 PageID #: 9
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