FORT PIERCE – A consumer alleges a debt collector used illegal practices when communicating with him.
Andrew Padula filed a complaint on March 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Fort Pierce Division against Hughes, Martini & Associates LLC, doing business as Martini, Hughes & Grossman, alleging violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that in February, he received several emails from the defendant in an attempt to collect on an alleged gambling debt despite plaintiff's revocation of consent to be contacted. The plaintiff holds Hughes, Martini & Associates LLC responsible because the defendant allegedly contacted plaintiff with intent to abuse, oppress or harass and failed to provide plaintiff with the full set of disclosures.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant, punitive damages, statutory damages of $1,000, attorney's fees and costs, and other relief as the court deems proper. He is represented by Nicholas Michael Murado of Murado Law PA in Miramar.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Fort Pierce Division Case number 2:17-cv-14102