Unifund Class Action Filed

Attorney Kenneth D. Quat and Quat Law Offices have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of one of its clients against Unifund Corporation and Unifund CCR Partners. The suit claims that these Unifund entities regularly violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act (G.L. c. 93A) by misrepresenting that Unifund CCR Partners is the owner of defaulted debt purchased from original creditors. The case was filed on November 10, 2009, in the United States District Court sitting in Worcester.

Cataldo Ambulance Litigation: Motion to Dismiss Denied

Attorney Kenneth D. Quat and Quat Law Offices is glad to be co-counseling a class action lawsuit against Cataldo Ambulance Service, Inc. with the firms of Yasi & Yasi, P.C., and Mazow & McCullough, P.C., both of Salem, Massachusetts. The suit, which is pending in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that Cataldo engaged in unlawful billing and collection practices by charging and collecting 18% annual interest from persons who used their ambulance services. On December 30, 2009, Judge Thomas E. Connolly denied Cataldo's motion to dismiss the case, stating: "Cataldo Ambulance did not have the right to add on the charge for interest. This practice by Cataldo ambulance, by unfairly and deceptively demanding unlawful interest charges may be considered by the facfinder to be an unfair and deceptive act." Although the case has not yet been certified by the Court as a class action, plaintiff's counsel anticipate that this will occur once certain discovery has been conducted by the parties.