NEW ORLEANS - A Slidell woman has filed a lawsuit against a Baton Rouge law group for allegedly violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by threatening to garnish her wages.
Michelle Lockwood filed suit against The Eaton Law Group Attorneys LLC and Does 1 through 10, inclusive on Dec. 11 in federal court in New Orleans.
Lockwood claims that the defendant, in connection with the collection of a debt, contacted her and threatened to garnish her wages by taking payments directly from her payroll.
According to the lawsuit, the defendant is a debt collection company and can only refer the matter back to the creditor with a recommendation that the original creditor attempt legal proceedings which could result in garnishment.
The defendant is accused of violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by making false representations regarding garnishment.
“The natural consequences of Defendant’s statements and actions were to unjustly condemn and vilify Plaintiff for her non-payment of the debt she allegedly owed,” the lawsuit states.
The plaintiff is seeking an award of actual damages, statutory damages, costs, attorney fees, and interest.
Lockwood is represented by Baton Rouge attorney Nicholas M. Graphia and G. Thomas Martin, III of Price Law Group in Encino, California. A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:12-cv-02926
Baton Rouge law group sued for threatening to garnish woman’s wages
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