by John Skiba, Esq. | Oct 10, 2014 | Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Newsletter
When the decision is finally made to file for bankruptcy usually it has been a long time coming. Rare is the bankruptcy case that needs to be filed on an emergency basis. For most there is sufficient time to gather all the needed documents and wrap up lose ends...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Oct 8, 2014 | Collection Law Suits, Debt Collection Lawsuits, Newsletter
Most of the Midland Funding lawsuits I defend on behalf of my clients end up in trial. It is my experience that Midland Funding often doesn’t give decent settlements offers prior to trial and the odds of winning your lawsuit are high enough that I am of the...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Oct 7, 2014 | Collection Law Suits, Debt Collection Lawsuits
Judges are people too. And often, particularly in the Arizona Justice Court System, the judge assigned to your case can greatly impact the outcome of your debt collection lawsuit. Judges each come to the bench with their own experiences and biases, and though I...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Oct 3, 2014 | Collection Law Suits, Debt Collection Lawsuits
I fully understand that in many debt collection lawsuits it doesn’t make a lot of sense for people to hire a lawyer. If you are being sued by a debt buyer like Midland Funding for $1,000 it doesn’t make a lot of sense to hire a lawyer to represent you...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Oct 1, 2014 | Bankruptcy, Debt Collection Lawsuits, Fair Debt Collection
This year I have put additional time and effort into creating a video series that would help consumers deal with debt problems ranging from debt collection lawsuits, debt buyer litigation, debt settlement, abusive collection cases (FDCPA), and bankruptcy. The videos...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Sep 30, 2014 | Fair Debt Collection, FDCPA Claims
A common tactic used by debt collectors is to contact your friends, family or to call you at work. The debt collectors fully understand that this humiliates you and puts you in fear of losing your job. And because you want to avoid these things they hope you will...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Sep 29, 2014 | Collection Law Suits, Fair Debt Collection, FDCPA Claims
Despite popular belief that Americans are a litigious bunch always looking for a good lawsuit, I haven’t experienced this in my law practice in Arizona. Particularly when it comes to Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) violations by abusive debt...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Sep 23, 2014 | Collection Law Suits, Debt Collection Lawsuits, Debt Settlement
The other day I had a trial against a junk debt buyer that ended in a directed verdict in favor of my client. This means that the court found that the junk debt buyer had put forth so little evidence that it was unnecessary for me to put on any type of defense...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Sep 17, 2014 | Debt Settlement
Whether you are facing past due credit cards, medical bills, or are dealing with a debt collection lawsuit, debt settlement maybe a viable option for eliminating your debt problems. However, debt settlement doesn’t work in all cases. With that in mind I have...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Sep 14, 2014 | Collection Law Suits, Debt Collection Lawsuits, Debt Settlement
In the world of junk debt buying all debt buyers are not created equal. The big guys like Midland Funding, Portfolio Recovery Associates, and Cavalry SPV file hundreds of thousands of debt collection lawsuits per year. However, there are much smaller companies that...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Sep 11, 2014 | Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Over the years I have helped a lot of families that I personally know with their bankruptcy case. I have always appreciated that friends and family would feel comfortable coming to me to discuss their personal financial situation and assist them through the...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Sep 8, 2014 | Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
This week’s webinar at the Consumer Warrior Institute is entitled “Bankruptcy Basics: Pros & Cons of Filing Bankruptcy“. Just the thought of filing bankruptcy scares a lot of people away from filing – even though it could dramatically...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Sep 8, 2014 | Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
If you have read much at all on my bankruptcy blog you will no doubt be familiar with my mantra – “no one wants to file for bankruptcy”. And while I believe that to be true, some people find themselves in a situation where they have filed multiple...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Aug 27, 2014 | Debt Collection Lawsuits, Debt Settlement
I am excited to announce the start of my new weekly webinar series on consumer debt issues. Starting next week on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 I will be conducting a webinar on dealing with debt buyer collection lawsuits, particularly those lawsuits filed by debt...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Aug 21, 2014 | Debt Collection Lawsuits, Debt Settlement, Fair Debt Collection
I do a lot of trials in debt collection cases against debt buyers such as Midland Funding, Encore Capital, Portfolio Recovery, and Calvary SPV. A common tactic of these debt buying companies at trial is to bring up the issue that the defendant (you) never objected to...
