In his nationwide civil litigation practice, Mike places significant emphasis on defending creditors, debt buyers, debt collectors, and lawyers in actions arising under:

  • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
  • Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
  • Additional federal and state laws and regulations

Mike provides advice and counsel on litigation and compliance issues across the United States, frequently securing decisions in his clients’ favor. His areas of practice also include contract law and defense of consumer law claims.

Mike is a frequent presenter and lecturer on FDCPA, FCRA, and collection issues. He has helped shape debt collection law in various published cases that preserved and expanded the rights of debt collectors, debt buyers, and creditors. As a member of the ACA International Members’ Attorney Program (MAP), Mike is approved by the ACA as counsel qualified to review collection notices for compliance with the FDCPA.

Experience and Reported Decisions

  • Victorious defense of FDCPA claim based on the alleged failure to include an interest disclosure. Devised strategy and defended a national collection action in an action that tried to expand upon existing U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit case law. Our client prevailed via summary judgment in which the U.S. District Court held that a collection agency was not required to include an interest disclosure statement when interest was not accruing. The decision was affirmed on appeal to the Second Circuit and thus nullified the attempt to expand negative case law. 
  • Court decisions holding that tax consequence language did not violate the FDCPA. Successfully obtained numerous decisions in multiple jurisdictions holding that the inclusion of language in debt collection notices advising consumers of the potential tax consequence of debt settlement did not violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. 

Mike’s reported cases include:

  •  Remington v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., No. 16 Civ. 865, 2017 WL 1014994, at *4 (D. Conn. Mar. 15, 2017)
  • Everett v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., No. 16 Civ. 1806, 2016 WL 6948052, at *2, *6 (S.D. Ind. Nov. 28, 2016)
  • Church v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 2018 WL 1383231 (W.D.N.Y. March 19, 2018)
  • Illobre v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 2016 WL 6581332 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 3, 2016)
  • Antista v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., No. 2:17-cv-3567 (WJM), 2017 WL 259771, at *1 (D.N.J. Jan. 2, 2018)
  • Sutton v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 121 F. Supp. 3d 309, 313 (E.D.N.Y. 2015)
  • Taylor v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 252 F. Supp. 3d 344 (S.D.N.Y. 2017)
  • Taylor v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 886 F. 3d 212 (2nd Cir. 2018)
  • Feldheim v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 257 F. Supp. 3d 361 (S.D.N.Y. 2017)
  • Borozan v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., No. 17-11542, 2018 WL 3085217 (D.N.J. June 22, 2018)
  • Degrasse v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., No. 16-cv-3727 (KAM) 2018 WL 221461 (E.D.N.Y. March 5, 2018)
  • Jewsevskyj v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 2016 WL 6162728 at *4 (E.D. Pa. 2016)
  • Jewsevskyj v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 704 Fed. App’x, 145, 147, 2017 WL 2992499 (3rd Circ. 2017)
  • Krieger v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., No. 16-cv-1132 (EDNY July 7, 2016)
  • Karp v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 2013 WL 6734110 (W.D. Tex.)
  • Peters v. Fin. Recovery Servs, Inc., 46 F. Supp. 3d 915 (W.D. Mo. 2014)
  • Ranwick v. Texas Gila, LLC 37 F. Supp. 3d 1053 (D. Minn. 2014)
  • Eaton v. Central Portfolio Control, Inc., No. 14-cv-747 (DSD/FLN), 2014 WL 6982807 (D. Minn. 2014)
  • Bow v. Ad Astra Recovery Servs., Inc., No. 18-0510-G, 2018 WL 3455510 (N.D. Tex. July 18, 2018)
  • Doyle v. Ad Astra Recovery Servs., Inc., 2018 WL 1169121 (D.N.J. March 6, 2018)
  • Kellar v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 2014 WL 129239 (D.N.D.)
  • Asbridge v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., 2017 WL 1176418 (D. Col.)
  • Jae v. ChexSystems Inc., 2018 WL 3368871 (N.D. Ohio)

Credentials

Education

University of Minnesota Law School, J.D.; dean's list

St. Cloud State University, B.S.; cum laude

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

News & Insights

News

Speaking Engagements

Affiliations

Professional Associations

  • ACA Members' Attorney Program
  • American Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Hennepin County Bar Association

Personal Interests

  • Mike is a 3rd Degree (Dan) Black Belt in Taekwondo and volunteer teaches adult Taekwondo classes
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