In Farrish v. Navy Federal Credit Union, 2017 WL 4418416, at *2–3 (D.Md., 2017), Judge Chasanow dismissed a TCPA claim based on debt collection calls placed by a credit munition because such calls are exempt from the TCPA. The TCPA prohibits certain problematic telephone solicitation practices. 47 U.S.C. § 227(b). In enacting the TCPA, Congress allowed the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”)… Read More
In Daniels v. ComUnity Lending, Inc., 2015 WL 541299 (S.D.Cal. 2015), Judge Hayes properly analyzed the distinction between the TCPA’s regulation of cellular and residential lines. The Moving Defendants contend that Plaintiffs have failed to state a violation of the TCPA for making calls to Plaintiffs' residential telephone lines because the Moving Defendants had an established business relationship with Plaintiffs,… Read More
In Doucette v. GE Capital Retail Bank, 2014 WL 4955675 (D.N.H. 2014), Judge McCafferty dismissed a TCPA claim on the basis that debt collection calls to a residential line were not protected by the TCPA. GE issued Mrs. Doucette a credit card. She accumulated debt on the card, and then fell behind on her payments. In June of 2013, she “began to… Read More
In Lynn v. Monarch Recovery Management, Inc.--- Fed.Appx. ----, 2014 WL 4922451 (4th Cir. 2014), the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals found that a debt collector could not rely on the TCPA's land-line/EBR exemption where the debtor was charged for the call. The TCPA specifically prohibits “mak[ing] any call ... using any [ATDS] or an artificial or prerecorded voice ... to any… Read More
In Abdullah v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, Inc., 2014 WL 4851760 (M.D.Ga. 2014), Judge Royal found that auto-dialed loan servicing calls to a residential land-line were not actionable under the TCPA. Plaintiff alleges Ocwen violated 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(B) of the TCPA by using an automated telephone dialing system to call her telephone line and leave recorded messages without permission. Ocwen's telephone calls,… Read More
In Lee v. Wells Fargo Home Mortg., 2013 WL 6561783 (W.D.Va. 2013), Judge Moon found a autodialed debt collection calls to a land-line barred by an existing business relationship. Finally, Plaintiff claims Defendant violated 47 U.S.C. § 227 of TCPA. Section 227(b)(1)(B) of the TCPA prohibits using an automated telephone dialing system (“ATDS”) to initiate any telephone call to any… Read More
In Hoover v. Monarch Recovery Management, Inc., 2012 WL 3638680 (E.D.Pa. 2012), Judge Gardner allowed a telephonic harassment case to proceed, but dismissed an TCPA “unintended recipient” case based on Meadows as to land-line calls, deferring to the FCC on the subject. On the harassment case, Judge Gardner found that Plaintiff stated a claim for calls, on average, ten times per… Read More
In Shupe v. JPMorgan Chase Bank of Arizona, 2012 WL 1344786 (D.Ariz. 2012), Judge Collins held that plaintiffs stated a claim under the TCPA.Judge Collins found that the consumers revoked the “Established Business Relationship” under the TCPA which otherwise permitted auto-dialed calls to their residential telephone number. The FCC has unequivocally stated that calls made solely for the purpose… Read More
The FCC today issued its Final Telemarketing Sales Rule today. As to debt collection calls, the FCC noted the distinction between land-lines and cellular telephones, as well as affirming that debt collectors can obtain either oral or written consent to call consumers on their cellular telephones using an autodialer: Moreover, while we revise our consent rules to require prior written consent… Read More
In Zehala v. American Exp., 2011 WL 4484297 (S.D.Ohio 2011), Judge Watson distinguished between ADAD calls to land lines versus cellular telephones, finding that Plaintiff failed to state a claim as to the former but had properly pleaded a claim as to the latter. As to land lines, Judge Watson found no claim because an established business relationship existed:… Read More
In Tara v. AFNI, Inc., here, Judge Dalzell held that an identity theft victim has standing to sue a debt collector under the TCPA for calling the victim’s land-line (not the victim’s cell phone) with its autodialer, but found that debt collection calls made to land lines are exempt from the TCPA – whether made to debtors or innocent non-debtors. … Read More
