Debt collector sued for contacting family member

A New Orleans resident has filed a lawsuit against a debt collector after an agent called the plaintiff's brother and talked to him about her debt.

Claiming violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Holly Brown filed suit against Northstar Location Services on April 6 in federal court in New Orleans.

According to the lawsuit, the collector called Brown's brother and discussed a debt owed to Bank of America. The defendant is accused of violating federal regulations by communicating information about a debt to a third party without permission, by using false or misleading representation in connection with collection of an alleged debt and for failing to disclose in its initial communication that it was a debt collector.

The plaintiff is asking the court for an award of statutory damages of $1,000, plus court costs and attorney's fees.

Brown is represented by Metairie attorney Kelli Denise Mayon.

U.S. District Judge Martin L. C. Feldman is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-00730