Missouri Jury Assesses $82M Verdict Against Debt Collection Firm

May 18, 2015

A Jackson County, Mo. jury has assessed about $82 million in damages against a debt collection firm that demanded payment from the wrong woman.

The jury awarded $251,000 in damages to Maria Guadalupe Mejia Alcantara and assessed $82 million in punitive damages against Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, a debt collection firm.

The Kansas City Star reported the case began two years ago when Alcantara learned she was being sued by the company for not paying a credit card debt of about $1,130 that wasn’t her debt.

Jury awardHer lawyers filed a counter-claim, alleging violation of a federal fair debt collection act. The jury returned the award Monday.

Company spokesman Michael McKeon says PRA will ask the judge to set aside what McKeon calls an “outlandish” verdict that “defies all common sense.”

Topics Missouri

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Latest Comments

  • May 19, 2015 at 1:59 pm
    Tito says:
    That company deserves what they get
  • May 19, 2015 at 1:32 pm
    Mark says:
    I was having a bad day...and you really made me laugh. Thank you.
  • May 18, 2015 at 5:35 pm
    LariSpitler says:
    This is a ridiculous verdict that will get appealed and overturned. If you truly believe this is a reasonable verdict you have major issues

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