FDCPA is a Strict Liability Statute

[David A. Szwak]

The FDCPA imposes strict liability on the debt collector for compliance with the statute. Russell v. Equifax A.R.S., 74 F.3d 30 (2d Cir. 1996); Bentley v. Great Lakes Collection Bureau, 6 F.3d 60 (2d Cir. 1993); Pittman v. J.J. Mac Intyre Co. of Nevada, Inc., 969 F.Supp. 609, 613 (U.S.D.C. Nev. 1997); Booth v. Collection Experts, Inc., 969 F.Supp. 1161, 1165 (U.S.D.C. E.D. Wis. 1997); O’Connor v. Check Rite, Ltd., 973 F.Supp. 1010, 1020 (U.S.D.C. Colo. 1997); Cavallaro v. Law Office of Shapiro & Kreisman, 933 F.Supp. 1148, 1153 (U.S.D.C. E.D. N.Y. 1996); Stewart v. Slaughter, 165 F.R.D. 696, 699 (U.S.D.C. M.D.Ga. 1996); Russey v. Rankin, 911 F.Supp. 1449, 1455 (U.S.D.C. N.M. 1995); Wiener v. Bloomfield, 901 F.Supp. 771, 777 (U.S.D.C. S.D. N.Y. 1995); Woolfolk v. Van Ru Credit Corp., 783 F.Supp. 724, 725 (U.S.D.C. Conn. 1990); Traverso v. Sharinn, 1989 WestLaw 265042, *2 (U.S.D.C. Conn. 1989) Stojanovski v. Strobl & Manoogian, 783 F.Supp. 319 (U.S.D.C. E.D. Mich. 1992); Cacace v. Lucas, 775 F.Supp. 502 (U.S.D.C. Conn. 1990); Riveria v. MAB Collections, Inc., 682 F.Supp. 174 (U.S.D.C. W.D. N.Y. 1988).

[David A. Szwak]

Clark v. Capital Credit: Ninth Circuit Affirms In Part And Reverses In Part Federal District Court Judgment In Favor Defense In FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) Case

Ninth Circuit Resolves Several Issues of First Impression Concerning Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Holding Debtor Can Waive “Cease Communicationâ€

[David A. Szwak]

The Act imposes strict liability unless the debt collector can demonstrate that its violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error, notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to avoid any such error. See 15 U.S.C. § 1692k(c); Russell v. Equifax A.R.S., 74 F.3d 30, 33-34 (2d Cir.1996). A single violation of the Act is sufficient to impose liability. Cavallaro, 933 F.Supp. at 1153 (citing Bentley v. Great Lakes Collection Bureau, 6 F.3d 60, 62 [2d Cir.1993] ).

Desantis v. Roz-Ber, Inc.
51 F.Supp.2d 244
E.D.N.Y.,1999.
May 28, 1999