We are growing again! Amy Gullifer has joined Minnillo & Jenkins, and we have opened a new office in Columbus, Ohio to better serve our clients. In addition, we continue to expand our services from bankruptcy, consumer law, labor and employment law, criminal defense, workers' compensation, and social security disability, to family law and domestic relations. Thank you for your attention and please contact us with any questions, concerns or feedback.
Sincerely,
The Minnillo & Jenkins Team
Meet Amy Gullifer
Amy Gullifer has joined Minnillo & Jenkins at its new Columbus office. Amy has been practicing for 10 years, primarily in the areas of bankruptcy and consumer law. After law school, Amy first represented low-income Ohioans in housing and family disputes while at Southeastern Ohio Legal Services. Immediately prior to joining Minnillo & Jenkins, Amy represented individuals and classes of consumers at a Zanesville, Ohio law firm. There, she enforced consumer rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act, among other state and federal consumer protection laws. At Minnillo & Jenkins, Amy will represent consumers in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies and work in the firm's active consumer class action practice. We are excited to welcome Amy to enhance our ability to better serve our clients throughout Southern and Central Ohio.
A little known law with a big impact
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act
In July, a Texas court affirmed a $147,000 award to a debtor for 98 robodialed and/or prerecorded message calls to her cell phone for a debt she did not owe. In October 2010, a Florida court awarded $78,500 to the consumer for 157 calls when she had not given Chase Bank permission to call her cell phone.
These two cases are recent decisions under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA"). The TCPA is the primary law governing the conduct of telemarketing and restricts the following: the use of junk faxes, prerecorded telephone calls, and autodialers received by cell phones.
The cases also highlight the potential damages a debtor may receive for TCPA violations. The Act creates a private right of action for the greater of actual damages or $500.
If you believe you've found yourself in a situation similar to these debtors, contact Chris Jenkins at cjenkins@minnillojenkins.com for a free consultation.
