Brea Altreche has filed a lawsuit against LVNV Funding, LLC, accusing the company of violating federal debt collection laws. The complaint was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on October 23, 2024. Altreche alleges that LVNV Funding engaged in deceptive practices under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
The legal battle began when LVNV Funding initiated a civil complaint against Brea Altreche on March 18, 2024, which resulted in a default judgment against Altreche on June 7, 2024. In response to this judgment, Altreche enlisted J.P. Ward & Associates to appeal and contest the allegations made by LVNV Funding. On June 27, 2024, Altreche's legal team sent a "First Dispute Letter" to LVNV Funding disputing all alleged debts and demanding that the company cease direct communication with her.
Altreche's complaint highlights several violations of the FDCPA by LVNV Funding. She claims that despite being informed of the dispute regarding the debt, LVNV Funding reported false information to TransUnion on August 6, 2024. This included marking the debt as "in collection," which contradicted its disputed status. According to Altreche's attorneys, these actions represent false representations about the character and legal status of the alleged debt and are clear violations of sections 1692e(2)(a) and 1692e(8) of the FDCPA.
The plaintiff is seeking monetary damages for emotional distress caused by these alleged violations. Specifically, she requests actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000 as allowed under section 1692k(a) of the FDCPA, and coverage for attorney fees and court costs.
Representing Brea Altreche are attorneys Joshua P. Ward and Travis A. Gordon from J.P. Ward & Associates LLC based in Pittsburgh. The case is presided over by Judge Jamie Levy under Docket No: AR-24-25.