Consumer Protection and Consumer Debt Collection Defense

Somewhat ironically, for over 25 years, Mr. Sutton assisted creditors, debt buyers, and collection agencies with legal compliance and the collection of consumer debts. For many years, Mr. Sutton also served as one of the few attorneys in Oregon certified by ACA International to review collection notices for compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

With this background, Mr. Sutton changed his focus and now only represents consumers in their battles with creditors, collection agencies, debt buyers and collection attorneys in consumer collection disputes. His background provides him with a unique consumer protection perspective which he uses to advise Oregon consumers of their rights under state and federal law. He is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advoates.

The cases he currently handles include defending consumers in medical bill collections cases, credit card debt cases, and in cases brought by debt buyers. Thousands of these cases are filed in Oregon each year against Oregon consumers and often include excessive charges or other unlawful practices. Although over 90 percent of these cases result in uncontested default judgments against consumers, Mr. Sutton tries to step in and provide legal assistance to those in need. This often results in the elimination or significant reduction of debt and payment of statutory damages in favor of Mr. Sutton’s clients.

Over the years, he has enjoyed defending consumers who have encountered financial fraud and unlawful practices. Mr. Sutton has been able to protect his clients by using state and federal laws, including the Unfair Trade Practices Act, Unlawful Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. He has assisted as co‐counsel in two successful class action cases for the benefit of Oregon consumers, one involving unlawful service of process fees, and the other involving unlawful garnishment fees.

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This website is not a solicitation of legal business. Mr. Sutton is one of a number of qualified attorneys in this area and we would be more than happy to provide a referral to you of a different attorney.
You may also find an attorney by contacting the Oregon State Bar's Lawyer Referral Service at 1.800.452.7636.