This is the website of the Karnette v. Wolpoff and Abramson, L.L.P., Civil Action No.: 3:06cv44, class action that is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern district of Viriginia, Richmond Division, the Honorable Robert E. Payne, United States District Judge, presiding. On March 23, 2007, the Court issued a Memorandum Opinion granting Plantiffs' Motion for Class Certification. On March 26, 2007, the Court entered an amended order of class certification, in which Robin Karnette and Diane McIntyre were appointed as class representatives.
 
What are the claims in the lawsuit?

     Plaintiffs brought this consumer class action against Wolpoff & Abramson, a national collection law firm, alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the FDCPA, alleging that Wolpoff & Abramson's policies and practices, while attempting to collect on MBNA credit card accounts by filing arbitration claims through the National Arbitration Forum (NAF), of obtaining arbitration awards through an illegal non-participatory process through the NAF, and of seeking to collect amounts in excess of the limits contained in the applicable MBNA credit card arbitration agreement, violated the FDCPA by (1) misrepresenting the character, amount, or legal status of the alleged debt in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(2)(A); (2) threatening to take action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(5); and (3) using false, deceptive, or misleading representations or means in an attempt to collect a debt in violation of 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692e and e(10).

Counsel for Plaintiffs and the Class

Dale W. Pittman VSB #15673
The Law Office of Dale W. Pittman, P.C.
The Eliza Spotswood House
112-A West Tabb Street
Petersburg, VA 23803-3212
Phone: 804-861-6000
Fax: 804-861-3368
wolpoffandabramsonclassaction@pittmanlawoffice.com

Thomas D. Domonoske, SB #35434
The Law Office of Dale W. Pittman, PC
461 Lee Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22802

O. Randolph Bragg, IL Bar # 6221983
Craig M. Shapiro, IL Bar #6284475
Horwitz, Horwitz & Assoc., LTD
25 E. Washington St, Suite 900
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: 312-372-8822
Fax: 312-372-1673

Counsel for Defendants:
Michael L. Rigsby, Esquire
Carrell Rice & Rigsby
7275 Glen Forest Drive
Forest Plaza II, Suite 310
Richmond, VA 23226
michaelrigsby@carrellrice.com

Stephen E. Baril, Esquire
A. Peter Brodell, Esquire
WILLIAMS MULLEN
Two James Center
P.O. Box 1320
Richmond, VA 23218-1320
sbaril@williamsmullen.com
pbrodell@williamsmullen.com

Case Documents (Adobe Acrobat Format):
Amended Class Action Complaint
Answer to first amended Complaint
Ruling on Wolpoff & Abramson's Motion to Compel Arbitration
Ruling on Plantiff's Motion for Class Certification
Amended Order of Class Certification
WAA's Reply Memorandum In Support of Motion to Compel Arbitration
Plaintiff' Memorandum in Opposition to WAA's Motion to Compel Arbitration
Class Action Settlement Agreement
Class Notice
Order Preliminarily Approving Class Settlement and Providing for Notice and Hearing
Final Order and Judgment Approving Class Settlement


Additional Information:
Fair Debt Collections Practices Act