Opinion ID: 662461
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Other FDCPA Claims

Text: 39 The Foxes' complaint also alleged three other FDCPA claims under section 1692d, proscribing conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person; section 1692e, prohibiting the use of any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means; and section 1692f, forbidding unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt. Each of these provisions includes a non-exhaustive list of examples of proscribed conduct. The conduct alleged in the Foxes' complaint does not fall neatly within any of these specified examples. The district court based summary judgment on these three claims on its conclusion that the Foxes failed to demonstrate that the actions of Citicorp employees were unreasonable. 40 We begin by noting that the district court's brief statement regarding the reasonableness of the defendant's actions states an incorrect standard. The FDCPA is not simply a federal codification of common-law negligence. Rather, each section specifies what kind of conduct supports FDCPA liability. We believe the Foxes met their burden of showing the existence of facts or disputed factual evidence upon which a rational jury could premise liability. 41 As to section 1692d, Toni Fox testified in her deposition that Citicorp agent Marshall was intimidating and threatening in her phone communications with Fox. Aaron Fox confirmed this tone and manner based upon one phone conversation he had with Marshall. Moreover, in her deposition, Toni Fox described threats of garnishment accompanied by demands for overnight sending of payments. She also testified that Marshall called her at work after she had twice requested, once to Marshall and once to the predecessor agent, that she not be phoned at her place of employment. 10 Threatening and intimidating calls to a consumer at an inconvenient time or place could rationally support a jury finding of harassing conduct. We reverse the entry of summary judgment on the Foxes' 1692d claim. 42 Section 1692e proscribes false, deceptive, or misleading representations or means, including [t]he threat to take any action ... that is not intended to be taken. 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1692e(5). Here, according to Toni Fox's deposition testimony, she was told by one Citicorp agent that the full balance of her debt was due and that Citicorp would proceed with garnishment; next, she was contacted by another agent who asked her to pay the regular monthly charge of $100 within a week and warned her to pay that amount each month thereafter. She complied with the request and made the next monthly payment as well. Nonetheless, the agent called again, demanded an increased payment and once again threatened garnishment. Finally, Citicorp's lawyer filed the garnishment without a promised prior contact with the Foxes' lawyer. This course of conduct raises a factual question regarding the defendants' intent. Such contradictory and inaccurate communications could rationally support a jury finding that Citicorp used deceptive or misleading means in connection with the collection of a debt. We therefore reverse summary judgment on the Foxes' 1692e claim. 43 Finally, a jury could rationally find the filing of an application for a writ of garnishment when the Foxes were current in payments demanded by Citicorp agents to constitute an unfair or unconscionable means of collection or attempted collection of a debt under section 1692f. Although the defendants may ultimately be able to prove that the garnishment was a result of bona fide error, they have not, as discussed above, met their burden on summary judgment to prevail on such an affirmative defense. Accordingly, summary judgment must be reversed on the 1692f claim as well. 44 Our comments should not be construed as limiting any other theories that may support recovery under these FDCPA claims. We have merely identified some theories, supported either by facts conceded by the defendants or by evidence submitted by the Foxes, which could rationally sustain a verdict for the Foxes, in order to demonstrate the inappropriateness of summary judgment. We reverse summary judgment on each of the FDCPA claims.