know your rights
-
Campbell v. Bank of America, N.A. et al.
In December 2016, New Economy Project filed a federal lawsuit against Bank of America, N.A., on behalf of George Campbell, a low-income, African-American New Yorker. The lawsuit alleges that Bank of America violated federal and state consumer protection laws by failing to properly investigate fraudulent, unauthorized activity on Mr. Campbell’s bank account. Mr. Campbell sought…
-
Arias v. Gutman, Mintz, Baker & Sonnenfeldt LLP
In November 2015, New Economy Project filed a federal lawsuit, with co-counsel, against the debt collection law firm Gutman, Mintz, Baker, and Sonnenfeldt (GMBS), on behalf of Franklin Arias, a New Yorker in his 70s whose only income is Social Security benefits. The lawsuit alleged that GMBS violated federal debt collection and state consumer protection…
-
Prage v. Kavulich & Associates
In April 2016, New Economy Project filed a federal lawsuit against the debt collection law firm Kavulich and Associates on behalf of Romain Prage, a low-income New Yorker. The lawsuit alleges that Kavulich violated federal debt collection and state consumer protection laws, and explicitly subverted New York’s Exempt Income Protection Act. Mr. Prage is seeking…
-
Sykes v. Mel S. Harris and Associates
In November 2015, New Economy Project and allies reached a groundbreaking $59 million settlement in a class action lawsuit charging a network of debt collectors with civil racketeering (RICO), deceptive practices, and violations of federal debt collection law.
-
Baptiste v. JPMorgan Chase Bank
New Economy Project brought this case against Chase in 2012, exposing the banks’ role in facilitating — and profiting from — payday lenders’ illegal lending and debt collection practices. A 2013 settlement resulted in significant practice changes at the bank.
-
Amicus Brief, on Eric M. Berman, P.C. v. The City of New York
New Economy Project submits a 2013 amicus brief in support of New York City’s authority to regulate debt collection attorneys.
-
Amicus Brief, on The Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians et al. v. New York State Department of Financial Services et al.
New Economy Project files a 2013 amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in support of New York State’s crackdown on illegal online payday lending.