Kimberly Ghrist has filed a lawsuit against Midland Credit Management, Inc., alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The complaint was filed on November 19, 2024, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Ghrist claims that Midland Credit Management falsely reported disputed debts to credit agencies, thereby misrepresenting the character and legal status of those debts.
The case began when Midland Credit Management filed a civil complaint against Kimberly Ghrist on September 10, 2024. In response, Ghrist engaged J.P. Ward & Associates to defend her. Her attorneys, Joshua P. Ward and Travis A. Gordon, promptly filed an entry of appearance and an intent to defend on October 10, 2024. They also sent a "First Dispute Letter" to Midland Credit Management on October 9, 2024, informing them that Ghrist denied owing any money and that she disputed all alleged debts claimed by the company.
Despite this notification, Midland Credit Management continued to report false information about Ghrist's alleged debt to TransUnion on October 25, 2024. This included reporting the debt as "in collection," which contradicted its disputed status. The complaint argues that such actions violate multiple sections of the FDCPA by falsely representing the character and legal status of the debt and failing to communicate its disputed nature.
Ghrist is seeking judgment in her favor for actual damages resulting from emotional distress and inconvenience caused by these alleged violations. She also seeks statutory damages under the FDCPA provisions along with costs and attorney’s fees.
The attorneys representing Kimberly Ghrist are Joshua P. Ward and Travis A. Gordon from J.P. Ward & Associates LLC based in Pittsburgh, PA. The case is presided over by Magisterial District Judge Armand Martin under Docket No: MJ-05309-CV-0000302-2024.