Consumer complaint received 2025-04-23 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Sued you without properly notifying you of lawsuit
Company: Gurstel Law Firm, P.C.
State: NE

Complaint narrative:
To the Nebraska Counsel for Discipline and the Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility : I, XXXX XXXX, am filing a formal complaint against attorneys XXXX XXXX XXXX, of XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, for engaging in repeated bad faith litigations, abuse of court processes, intimidation, and professional misconduct in multiple lawsuits filed on behalf of XXXX XXXX, XXXX, a known predatory debt buyer. I believe their conduct violates Nebraska and Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ), Civil Law, and Nebraska statutory law. 

I am a XXXX and XXXX XXXX and this relentless abuse has caused severe XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I have been forced to defend against three lawsuits in eight months, two of which were based on the same dismissed account, two simultaneously, and none of which were properly substantiated and have been reported to the authorities as fraudulent resulting from identity theft in XXXX. 
1. Frivolous and Duplicative Lawsuits Filed in Bad Faith Case No. XXXX was filed by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX shortly after I disputed a fraudulent account that had been placed in my locked and fraud-alerted credit file in mid XXXX. This lawsuit was dismissed in XX/XX/XXXX after the plaintiff failed to appear in court. 
XXXX XXXX. XXXX, filed shortly after the 1st also by XXXX XXXX which involved a separate account that was also disputed and then again immediately filed suit for, and was likewise dismissed in XX/XX/XXXX after the plaintiff again failed to appear and refused to respond to discovery. 
Now, XXXX XXXX. XXXX, filed by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Firm ) in XX/XX/XXXX, attempts to sue me again for the same fraudulent {$970.00} debt that was previously dismissed in XXXX, without following any proper legal procedures or guidelines. 
These repeated filings violate : ( short list ) XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. XXXX ( Frivolous litigation ) Nebraska Rules of Professional Conduct, including : XXXX XXXXXXXX : Frivolous or non-meritorious claims Rule XXXX : Lack of candor toward the tribunal Rule XXXX : False statements of material fact Rule XXXX : Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct, which mirror the above This abuse of the court system is an intentional strategy to harass, threaten, intimidate, and break down a vulnerable litigant.

2. Violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) XXXX XXXX and their attorneys have repeatedly and willfully violated : ( short list ) 15 U.S.C. 1692d : Harassment and abuse 15 U.S.C. 1692e : False, deceptive, or misleading representations 15 U.S.C. 1692f : Unfair or unconscionable means 15 U.S.C. 1692g : Failure to provide validation of debt 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( c ) : Continuing collection after cease and desist They have repeatedly sued without any warning or notice, following any proper procedures, refused to validate the alleged debts, and accessed my locked, fraud-alerted credit reports several years after the initial identity theft without my authorization, nor do they even relate to my personal identity information, or correspond to anything on my locked credit files. They only attained my personal information when the credit bureaus gave it to them which was triggered by the dispute of my credit files. ( Complaints will be filed against them as well for their violations. ) 3. Abuse of Court Resources and Harassment These lawyers are using court filings not as a means of legal remedy, but to intimidate, threaten, and coerce me a vulnerable individual into paying to get them to stop : I have spent hundred 's of extremely stressful hours defending myself, filing motions, attending hearings, and drafting/printing paperwork without any legal help.

I have tied to correct my credit files and stop the unauthorized and illegal access to my personal information by XXXX XXXX and their attorneys. 
I have experienced multiple panic attacks, increased physician recommended medication, physical stress reactions, and emotional breakdowns. 
The court system is being misused, wasting public resources and inflicting unnecessary trauma. 
I have filed numerous cease and desist letters, FTC complaints, and CFPB complaints all ignored. Instead, they continue switching lawyers and re-filing lawsuits on already dismissed fraudulent debts. The current attorney has also been made aware, yet continues. I have also filed numerous counter-claims, sanctions, requests for judgements against them, requests for compensation for their clear violations, and motions that have all been ignored.

4. Jurisdictional Abuse and Unauthorized Practice In addition to the aforementioned misconduct, it must be noted that XXXX XXXX XXXX is operating as lead counsel and XXXX of the court within Nebraska while, upon information and belief, being a resident attorney primarily based in the state of Minnesota. While she may be associated with the Gurstel Law Firms XXXX XXXX, her licensing status and primary bar admission appear to be tied to the State of Minnesota, not Nebraska. 

Furthermore, this mirrors the conduct of the prior attorneys in this matterspecifically XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX who were also based in Minnesota and attempted to represent XXXX XXXX, XXXX in Nebraska without fully disclosing or clarifying their jurisdictional authority or legal standing to operate as lead counsel in this state. 

This pattern of attorneys outside Nebraska jurisdiction repeatedly filing actions in Nebraska courts on behalf of XXXX XXXX without clearly stated pro hac vice permissions or local standing gives rise to serious concern over possible unauthorized practice of law in violation of : Nebraska Supreme Court XXXX XXXX through XXXX, governing practice by nonresident attorneys. 
Rule XXXX : Misconduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. 
Rule XXXX : Unauthorized Practice of Law.

Moreover, this conduct represents abuse of jurisdictional processes by forum shopping and using the Nebraska court system in a repetitive and harassing manner, causing undue burden on myself the Defendant, the judicial system, and state resources.

This behavior, combined with their disregard of Nebraska procedural rules, the filing of repetitive lawsuits on previously dismissed debts, and the failure to comply with basic court mandates ( such as appearing in court and responding to discovery ), constitutes abuse of the legal process, and raises the question of systemic and strategic misuse of the courts for coercive predatory debt collection. 

The Counsel for Discipline of both the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Minnesota XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX are respectfully urged to investigate these repeated jurisdictional irregularities and take appropriate disciplinary and regulatory action to prevent further misuse of both state court systems. 

Both XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX are based in Minnesota and have filed lawsuits in Nebraska without ever appearing in court, responding to discovery, or showing any good faith attempts. I request an investigation into : Whether they were properly admitted to practice in Nebraska Whether their failure to appear in court, particularly in XXXX XXXX. XXXX and XXXX, rises to the level of misconduct. ( Yet, if I dont appear XXXX end up with a default judgement. ) 5. Emotional and Physical Harm Victim Impact This process has devastated my life. Im again living in constant fear, with worsening physical health, and deep mental and emotional distress. I suffer from : Chronic illnesses with incapacitating anxiety and physical flare-ups worsened by stress Medication changes and doctors intervention due to the additional health strain Isolation, fear, and mysterious threatening phone calls about warrants for my arrest if I dont pay up Inability to afford help, including being denied by Legal Aid of Nebraska despite repeated attempts unless they try to garnish my SSDI ( my only income ).

Inability to further dispute any credit bureau inaccuracies due to fear of further intolerable retaliation and harassment I sincerely believed the nightmare was finally over after the second case was dismissed and the credit bureau 's deleted their entries, but XXXX just changed attorneys and refiled, proving this is their standard abuse tactic. 



6. Relief Requested I respectfully request that the Nebraska Counsel for Discipline and Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility : Investigate XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Firm and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and their association with XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX potential violations of : Nebraska and Minnesota XXXX XXXX Rules FDCPA FCRA ADA violations Civil abuse statutes ( Neb. RevXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue formal sanctions, including suspension, censure, or disbarment Issue a directive to prohibit repeated lawsuits on previously dismissed and fraudulent accounts 7. Supporting Documents ( Available Upon Request ) Dismissal orders for Cases XXXX and XXXX Complaint and filings for Case XXXX21 as well as my 22 page response with motions, violations, and counterclaims.

Identity theft documentation Medical letter FTC and CFPB complaints Cease and desist letters ( served on XXXX XXXX and XXXX & XXXX ) I sincerely urge you to act on this complaint not only to protect me but to prevent this repeated pattern of intentional abuse from continuing against others.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation