A legal battle has erupted over allegations of false debt reporting, bringing to light the contentious practices of a credit management company. On February 14, 2025, Lindsay Wagner filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against Midland Credit Management, Inc., accusing them of violating federal debt collection laws.
The case revolves around a series of events that began on July 24, 2024, when Midland Credit Management initiated a civil complaint against Wagner in Magisterial District Court. Wagner promptly engaged J.P. Ward & Associates, LLC to defend her interests. The legal team, led by attorneys Travis A. Gordon and Joshua P. Ward, formally disputed the alleged debts on August 15, 2024. In their communication with Midland Credit Management, they explicitly stated that Wagner denied owing any money and demanded proof of liability and ownership of the alleged accounts.
Despite these assertions and a subsequent court ruling dismissing the initial case without prejudice on September 4, 2024, Midland Credit Management allegedly continued to report false information about Wagner's debts to credit agencies like TransUnion. This action reportedly included marking the tradeline as "in Collection" and "PLACED FOR COLLECTION," which contradicted its disputed status.
Wagner's complaint asserts that Midland Credit Management violated several provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), including sections 1692e(2)(a) and 1692e(8). These sections prohibit false representation regarding the character or legal status of any debt and require accurate communication about disputed debts to credit reporting agencies. By failing to comply with these requirements, Wagner argues that Midland Credit Management engaged in deceptive practices intended to harass and oppress her.
In seeking relief from the court, Wagner requests monetary damages within arbitration limits for actual damages sustained due to emotional distress and inconvenience caused by Midland's actions. Additionally, she seeks statutory damages under section 1692k(a) of the FDCPA alongside coverage for costs and attorney fees.
Representing Lindsay Wagner are attorneys Travis A. Gordon (Pa. I.D. No. 328314) and Joshua P. Ward (Pa. I.D. No. 320347) from J.P. Ward & Associates LLC based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The case is presided over by Judge Gary A Whiteman under Docket Number CVPDD008S347F909.