Hemmingsen v. Messerli & Kramer, P.A., et al., No. 11-2029 (8th Cir. 2012)
Annotate this CasePlaintiff commenced this action in federal court alleging that M&K violated multiple provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. 1692d-f, by making false statements and misrepresentations in a memorandum filed in the state court action in support of Discover's motion for summary judgment. The complaint also asserted state law claims for malicious prosecution, abuse of process, and the recovery of treble damages for attorney deceit under Minn. Stat. 481.071. Plaintiff subsequently appealed the district court's grant of summary judgment dismissing these claims. The court affirmed the dismissal of the FDCPA claims on the merits where it was not false or misleading to submit a client affidavit and legal memorandum arguing M&K's legal position that plaintiff was liable for the unpaid account balance at issue. The court also affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff's state law claims where plaintiff failed to submit sufficient evidence of intentional fraud and deceit. Accordingly, the court affirmed the judgment.
Court Description: Civil case - Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. It was not false or misleading for the purposes of Sec. 1692e for an attorney to submit a client affidavit and legal memorandum arguing the position that Hemmingsen was liable for an unpaid credit card balance; Hemmingsen failed to produce sufficient evidence to prevail on her state law claim under Minn. Stat. Sec. 418.071.
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