MIAMI – A Broward County consumer is suing a debt collector alleging a voicemail affected his reputation.
Jeffrey Smith filed a complaint on May 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Medicredit Inc. alleging violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on April 18, he received a pre-recorded message on his voicemail at his residence and in the presence of his visitors from the defendant attempting to collect an alleged debt. The suit states the voicemail communicated information that affected his reputation, causing him to suffer actual damages, including but not limited to mental suffering, anguish, loss of income, and personal and/or financial credibility. The plaintiff holds Medicredit Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly communicated with a third-party by and through the voicemail and without his prior express permission.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensation for all damages, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and any other relief that the court deems appropriate and just under the circumstances. He is represented by Thomas J. Patti of Thomas-John Law PA in Fort Lauderdale and Jibrael S. Hindi of The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi in Fort Lauderdale.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Case number 0:16-cv-61087