Reade-Alvarez v. Eltman, Eltman, & Cooper, P.C.

237 F.R.D. 26, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31130, 2006 WL 1367414
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedMay 18, 2006
DocketNo. CV-04-2195 (CPS)
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 237 F.R.D. 26 (Reade-Alvarez v. Eltman, Eltman, & Cooper, P.C.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Reade-Alvarez v. Eltman, Eltman, & Cooper, P.C., 237 F.R.D. 26, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31130, 2006 WL 1367414 (E.D.N.Y. 2006).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

SIFTON, Senior District Judge.

This is a putative class action lawsuit brought by Ann Reade-Alvarez (“Alvarez”) and Ann R. Studen (“Studen”) (collectively, “plaintiffs”) against defendants Eltman, Eltman & Cooper, P.C. (“EEC”), Erin Capital Management, LLC (“ECM”) and several of their officers and directors (collectively, “defendants”), for their alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq. (“FDCPA” or the “Act”). Presently before the Court are plaintiffs’ motions (1) to certify a settlement class; (2) for preliminary approval of a proposed settlement agreement; (3) for an order directing notice to the class; and (4) for an order setting dates for optouts, objections, and a hearing pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3). For the reasons that follow, the motions are granted.

BACKGROUND

The following facts are taken from the parties’ submissions in connection with this motion, as well as from Judge I. Leo Glasser’s previous opinion in connection with this case. See Reade-Alvarez v. Eltman, Eltman & Cooper, P.C., 369 F.Supp.2d 353 (E.D.N.Y.2005).

EEC is a law firm incorporated under the laws of the State of New York with its principal place of business in Manhattan. (Compl.1l 5).1 ECM is a debt collection agency with its principal place of business in the same office as EEC. (Id. 116). Plaintiffs allege that in correspondence they received from EEC, the telephone number and office address for EEC is the same as ECM. (Id. 111147, 48). ECM is purportedly “sending [29]*29letters and alleged legal pleadings under the name of the defendant EEC” and ECM’s agents are according to plaintiffs engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. (Id. H 49).

Facts Relating to Plaintiff Ann Reade-Alvarez

Reade-Alvarez allegedly incurred a debt to Providian, a company in the financial services industry, in the amount of $1,737.03. (Comp. It 16). Providian assigned the debt to ECM. EEC, on behalf of its client, ECM, sent a letter dated November 26, 2003 to ReadeAlvarez. (Compl.1118). That letter, in addition to specifying the amount of the debt and the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed, states as follows in its entirety:

Please be advised that our firm has been retained by [ECM], purchaser of the above account, for the collection of this debt. Please call us to discuss this matter.
Unless you notify this office within 30 days after receiving this notice that you dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt is valid. If you notify this office in writing within 30 days from receiving this notice, this office will: obtain verification of the debt or obtain a copy of a judgment and mail you a copy of such judgment or verification. If you request this office in writing within 30 days after receiving this notice, this office will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.
This is an attempt to collect a debt by a debt collector and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Affidavit of Thomas A. Leghorn sworn to on January 20, 2005 (“Leghorn Aff.”).

EEC sent Reade-Alvarez a second letter dated December 31, 2003, more than thirty days after the first, stating in relevant part, “[y]ou have ignored our previous correspondence, and therefore, we assume that this is a valid debt and that you have an obligation to pay.” (Compl. 1120; Leghorn Aff.). After Reade-Alvarez failed to respond, EEC sent her a third letter dated January 14, 2004, stating in relevant part, “[w]e have attempted on numerous occasions to settle the above debt to no avail. It is imperative that you contact this office as soon as possible to discuss this matter. If we do not hear from you we will have no alternative but to advise our client of your failure to cooperate and request authority to commence legal action against you for the full amount of the outstanding debt.” (Compl. H 22; Leghorn Aff.). Among other things, Reade-Alvarez asserts that this letter is “deceptive and misleading in that” it “falsely implies that ... EEC would have no alternative but to request authority from their client ECM to commence legal action against” her, when “[i]n fact, the letter was sent by ECM [on] EEC letterhead.” (Compl.H 24).

EEC sent Reade-Alvarez a fourth letter dated January 28, 2004, stating in relevant part:

We want to help you clear your credit with our client. To help you do this we take a friendly approach to working out problems. We offer AFFORDABLE PAYMENT PLANS and courteous professional service. No matter your experience in the past we are here to resolve this debt now. THIS OFFER IS GOOD FOR 10 DAYS ONLY! TEN days after the date of this letter our client reserves the right to seek the full amount. BY ACTING NOW YOU MAY SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS.

(Compl. 1125; Leghorn Aff.) (emphasis in original). Reade-Alvarez asserts that this letter is, among other things, “false, deceptive and misleading in that [EEC] claims to take a friendly approach to working out problems. In fact, this letter was sent fourteen (14) days after the letter defendant ECM had sent threatening to gain authority to commence legal action against the plaintiff ... and 14 days before the letter defendant ECM sent notifying the plaintiff ... that EEC had been authorized to commence legal action.” (Compl. 1127; Leghorn Aff.). Reade-Alvarez also asserts that this letter is misleading because it “falsely implies] that [she] may not enter into a payment plan after the ten days have passed” and thus also “create[s][a] false sense of urgency.” (Compl.111128, 29).

EEC sent Reade-Alvarez a fifth letter, dated February 11, 2004, stating in relevant [30]*30part, “[o]ur client has authorized us to commence legal action against you to recover the above balance. We would, of course, prefer to resolve the debt without recourse to litigation which is costly and a burden on all concerned. Please contact our office as soon as possible so that we may discuss this matter. If we do not hear from you we can only assume that we have no choice but to bring suit against you for the full balance due.” (Compl. 1130; Leghorn Aff.). Reade-Alvarez contends that this letter is “false, deceptive and misleading” because, among other reasons, it “implies that ... EEC has gained authority from ECM to commence legal action” against her when, in fact, “the letter has been sent from ECM and not EEC.” (Compl.1l 32).

Facts Relating to Plaintiff Ann R. Studen

Studen allegedly incurred a debt to Discover, a credit card company, in the amount of $5,879.30. (Compl.1133). Thereafter, Discover assigned the debt to ECM. (Id. H 34). In an effort to collect the debt, EEC forwarded a letter dated July 23, 2004 to Stu-den, which is substantially the same as the first letter sent to Reade-Alvarez. (Id. H 35; Leghorn Aff.). More than 30 days later, by letter dated August 27, 2004, EEC forwarded a second letter to Studen, stating in relevant part as follows:

We want to help you clear your credit with our client.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
237 F.R.D. 26, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31130, 2006 WL 1367414, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/reade-alvarez-v-eltman-eltman-cooper-pc-nyed-2006.