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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260528T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260528T150000
DTSTAMP:20260529T121047Z
CREATED:20260512T125114Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260529T121047Z
UID:30057-1779976800-1779980400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Common Problems and Solutions When Defending Debtors
DESCRIPTION:Defending collection suits can mean having to prepare for trial on a tight turn-around. This course will help prepare attorneys less experienced in debt defense to identify common issues and defenses that may arise in their cases. Attendees will also hear about the different approaches and strategies for effectively leveraging motions practice and discovery in the context of debt defenses cases\, and when/whether a collection action might parlay into an affirmative claim. Please note that this will be a beginner level webinar. \n\nWhat You Will Learn\n• What are trends in debt buyer actions\, including common issues with loans arising from online lending platforms.\n• What are strategies for effectively employing discovery and motions practice in a debt collection suit.\n• How to address debt collection claims in student loan and auto deficiency contexts \n\nSpeakers\nJessica ”Jess” Russell manages the Debt Collection Defense Practice for the Holland Law Firm\, P.C. Her clients are people being sued on everything from student loans\, repossession deficiencies\, medical debt\, landlord-tenant debt\, and credit cards. In addition to providing an aggressive defense in court\, she screens every case for counterclaims and class actions on issues ranging from unauthorized fees\, identity theft\, inaccurate credit reporting\, and violations of the statute of limitations. Before joining The Holland Law Firm\, Jess spent eight years at Russell and Heffner\, LLC. in Frederick\, where she focused on family law\, including mediation\, divorce\, custody\, visitation\, and child support. \nKris Skaar is a partner at Skaar and Feagle and has taught continuing legal education on the topics of the FDCPA and the defense of debt collection suits. Kris earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1983 and a law degree in 1986 from The University of Georgia. He is admitted to all Georgia trial courts\, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. \n\nRegistration \nPlease note that the live webinar is free to NACA members. If you are a non-member and would like to purchase this webinar\, you need to create an account on consumeradvocates.org and email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/common-problems-and-solutions-when-defending-debtors/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260519T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260519T150000
DTSTAMP:20260520T124541Z
CREATED:20260424T171448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T124541Z
UID:29858-1779199200-1779202800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Discharged But Not Done: Navigating the FDCPA in Consumer Bankruptcy Practice
DESCRIPTION:The intersection of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and consumer bankruptcy law is one of the most dynamic areas in consumer practice today. Creditors and debt collectors routinely stumble over the automatic stay\, the discharge injunction\, and the limits of post-bankruptcy collection activity\, creating fertile ground for client claims and firm revenue.  Attendees will learn where to look to find potential claims in their bankruptcy practice.  Litigation attorneys can learn how to approach bankruptcy attorneys and educate them on how to address claims – both pre-filing and post-filing. \nThis seminar delivers practical guidance on the issues most likely to land on your desk: what conduct triggers FDCPA liability before and after a bankruptcy filing\, how courts are resolving the “bona fide error” and “litigation privilege” defenses in bankruptcy-adjacent collection disputes\, and when a discharge violation rises to the level of contempt. Attorneys at will leave with concrete strategies for advising clients and identifying claims that deserve to be pursued. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nFDCPA Liability Pre-Petition — Identify which debt collection communications and actions pre-filing give rise to FDCPA violations and how to protect those actions in the bankruptcy case.\nPost-Discharge Collection: Injunction Violations vs. FDCPA Claims — Understand the scope of the discharge injunction under 11 U.S.C. § 524\, analyze how attempts to collect discharged debts are treated under the FDCPA\, and learn the strategic considerations in choosing between a bankruptcy contempt motion and a standalone FDCPA action.\nPractical Takeaways — Educate staff and clients on how to spot claims and what information you will need.\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nMalissa Lambert Giles is a partner with the firm of Giles & Lambert\, PC\, in Roanoke\, Virginia\, with additional offices in Blacksburg and Martinsville.  She and the firm\, which was formed in 1993\, limit their current practice to the areas of bankruptcy and consumer rights\, focusing on debtor and plaintiff representation.She has served as editor of the Bankruptcy Law News\, and has served as chair of the Board of the Virginia State Bar’s Bankruptcy Section. Her work in discharging student loans has led to the discharge or forgiveness of more $2\,500\,000 in student loans for debtors living in the Western District of Virginia  since 2022. \nJohn Steinkamp has been a practicing lawyer in Indianapolis\, IN for eighteen years. His practice\, John Steinkamp & Associates\, does consumer bankruptcy work and consumer litigation. His office has filed more than 650 FDCPA lawsuits since 2009. A former family law attorney\, he has participated in over 300 trials and over 100 mediations. Overall\, John has been an attorney in more than 4\,000 cases. \n\nRegistration \nPlease note that the live webinar is free to NACA members. If you are a non-member and would like to purchase this webinar\, you need to create an account on consumeradvocates.org and email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account. \nClick here to access the webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/discharged-but-not-done-navigating-the-fdcpa-in-consumer-bankruptcy-practice/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260512T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260512T150000
DTSTAMP:20260423T125417Z
CREATED:20260423T125417Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260423T125417Z
UID:29830-1778594400-1778598000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:FCRA Case Strategy: Turning Everyday Cases into Strong Outcomes
DESCRIPTION:If you like FCRA cases\, know the basics and are interested in getting the most out of the cases that come through your door\, this webinar is for you. Not every case will be your ideal trial candidate. Unless you have an unlimited supply of perfect cases\, getting the most out of your available cases matters. \nLearn to make intentional choices in case planning and avoid client with red flags.  Figure out when to pick battles early in the case and how far to cast the third-party discovery net as well as when and whether to use an expert. Take your case even further by knowing when to ask for documents like the Long Form Admin Report from Experian\, Furnisher Metric Reports\, and Online Combine\, and when not. Finally learn how to settle faster\, avoid long delays in getting paid\, and time the settlement for the best outcomes. \n\nWhat You Will Learn: \n\n\n\nHow to select good FCRA cases and clients\nHow to build a strategy for discovery in FCRA cases\nHow to improve your settlement strategies\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nEmanwel “Manny” Turnbull is a partner at the Holland Law Firm\, P.C.\, in Annapolis\, Maryland. Educated at St Hugh’s College\, Oxford University\, the College of Law in London and the University of Maryland School of Law\, he is in charge of the firm’s Fair Credit Reporting Act practice\, focusing on identity theft and debt-not-owed claims. He’s also taught as an Adjunct at the University of Baltimore and served as Treasurer of Economic Action Maryland. \n\nRegistration \nPlease note that the live webinar is free to NACA members. If you are a non-member and would like to purchase this webinar\, you need to create an account on consumeradvocates.org and email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account. \nClick here to access the webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/fcra-case-strategy-turning-everyday-cases-into-strong-outcomes/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T160000
DTSTAMP:20260507T171456Z
CREATED:20260402T144835Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T171456Z
UID:29665-1778076000-1778083200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Trends in Homeownership Scams and Solicitations: Spotlight on Seniors
DESCRIPTION:This training will focus on common fraudulent conduct against seniors who are homeowners and provide suggestions for resolving these cases short of litigation. The presentation will cover why seniors are particularly susceptible to undue influence and fraud. Helen Hoeffel will speak about home improvement contracts as vehicles for financial abuse and how California’s Home Solicitation Sales Act can protect seniors from contractors’ fraudulent conduct. \nDeborah Cuevas Hill will explain why seniors are targeted by scammers and both speakers will focus on prevention and what to do when your client falls victim to a homeownership related scam.  Deborah will also discuss emerging scams such as home equity investment loans and long-term scams with perhaps new trends in foreclosure rescue scams and home solicitation. \nPlease note that the webinar will be followed by a one-hour online roundtable discussion. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nHow to issue spot common homeowner scams\nHow to resolve cases short of litigation\nHow to identify resources for senior homeowners\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nHelen Hoeffel has been practicing law since 1994\, with a background in real estate title litigation\, consumer law\, and appellate work. She is currently a senior staff attorney at Legal Assistance for Seniors in Oakland\, California where she assists older adults with consumer issues such as illegal home solicitation contracts and debt defense. Her prior litigation experience includes quiet title and escrow matters\, predatory lending\, financial elder abuse\, and wrongful foreclosure. She is a board member for the Alameda County Bar Association and chairs the ACBA business section. \nDeborah Cuevas Hill is a Managing Attorney of the Consumer Advocacy and Home Ownership Preservation Practice at Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE). In this role\, Debbie leads a team representing low-income seniors who are victims of financial exploitation and real property fraud and/or facing foreclosure. Prior to joining LCE\, Debbie was a Consumer Unit Supervising Attorney at Legal Aid DC where she focused on preserving the limited income and assets of her clients by providing representation in foreclosure and debt collection cases and advocated for laws that protect D.C. consumers from unfair and deceptive practices. Debbie previously clerked at the D.C. Court of Appeals for the Honorable Inez Smith Reid. \n\nRegistration \nPlease note that the live webinar is free to NACA members. If you are a non-member and would like to purchase this webinar\, you need to create an account on consumeradvocates.org and email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/trends-in-homeownership-scams-and-solicitations-spotlight-on-seniors/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260421T150000
DTSTAMP:20260422T181921Z
CREATED:20260327T170703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T181921Z
UID:29526-1776780000-1776783600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Fighting Back Against Third Party Debt Buyers & Predatory Debt Settlement Practices
DESCRIPTION:Consumer debt cases are evolving rapidly\, and bad actors are becoming more sophisticated. This webinar will give you actionable insights to better defend your clients and recognize harmful industry practices before they cause further damage. This session will equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to better protect clients and communities from abusive and deceptive practices. \nJoin us for an informative and practical webinar led by consumer law attorney Angel Kwaterski\, Consumer Law Priority Coordinator at Legal Action of Wisconsin\, as we take a closer look at two growing threats facing consumers: third-party debt buyers and predatory debt settlement companies. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nHow to address the growing issue of debt buying with a focus on common industry participant LVNV\nHow these debt buyers operate and common issues in debt collection cases\nWhat are key legal defenses and strategies for challenging debt buyer claims\nHow to recognize warning signs of predatory debt settlement companies\nHow these companies exploit financially vulnerable consumers\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nWith nearly a decade of experience in consumer protection\, Angel Kwaterski brings both deep legal expertise and a strong passion for empowering individuals to stand up against unfair financial practices. \n\nRegistration \nPlease note that the live webinar is free to NACA members. If you are a non-member and would like to purchase this webinar\, you need to create an account on consumeradvocates.org and email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/fighting-back-against-third-party-debt-buyers-predatory-debt-settlement-practices/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260416T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260416T150000
DTSTAMP:20260417T135251Z
CREATED:20260325T142508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T135251Z
UID:29493-1776348000-1776351600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Fraudulent Practices in Mortgage Servicing – When Clients with Clean Hands are Falsely Accused of Mortgage Default
DESCRIPTION:Sometimes the best defense is offense! This is why a Counterclaim – not just an Answer and Affirmative Defenses – may be the right strategy when a client with clean hands has been sued (or is being threatened with a suit) for foreclosure. This is especially true when going on the offensive allows for prevailing party attorneys’ fees. \nTo put the scale of foreclosure related filings into perspective\, a recent Year-End 2025 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report reflected over 350\,000 reported foreclosure filings— default notices\, scheduled auctions\, and bank repossessions —on U.S. properties in 2025\, up 14% from 2024 and up 3% from 2023. However\, not every foreclosure filing is supported as many borrowers can show that they were never truly in default (i.e. the borrower has Clean Hands). \nRelated\, the volume of mortgage servicing transfers of unpaid principal loan balances (in dollar terms) occurring between banking/financial institutions in 2025 has been reported to be in hundreds of billions of dollars. However\, when a mortgage is transferred\, the banking/financial institutions are required to “board” the loan\, which is a process of loading and validating all mortgage data from one company or system to another. But\, too often\, the boarding process goes awry\, leading to the banking/financial institution(s) being unable to prove its claim of default against the borrower. When this happens\, it is the bank/servicer that may be the actual party in breach of the loan documents. \nSo\, are you ready to equip yourself with the tools needed to identify potential violations and take action against fraudulent practices in mortgage servicing? \n\nWhat You Will Learn:  \n• How to identify wrongful claims of foreclosure or default\n• How to bring offensive claims against the banks\, lenders\, investors and/or mortgage servicer(s)\n• What are the causes of action that may permit recovery of prevailing party attorneys’ fees. \n\nSpeaker\nGeoff Stahl has extensive litigation experience in both class actions as well as representation of individuals. Through the years\, Geoff has gained a reputation for handling complex civil and commercial litigation\, banking and finance disputes\, consumer fraud and protection issues\, as well as insurance coverage disputes and litigation related to contractual and statutory interpretations and violations\, to name a few. Geoff also works very closely with appellate lawyers for cases appealed. When not fighting for justice or participating in the community\, Geoff loves spending time with his wife and three daughters. He’s also a proud Dolphins\, Marlins\, Panthers\, and Heat fan! \n\nRegistration \nIf you are a non-member and would like to purchase this webinar\, you need to create an account on consumeradvocates.org and email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/fraudulent-practices-in-mortgage-servicing-when-clients-with-clean-hands-are-falsely-accused-of-mortgage-default/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260331T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260331T150000
DTSTAMP:20260401T130900Z
CREATED:20260313T174932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T130900Z
UID:29388-1774965600-1774969200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Battle for Consumer Protections: Using Lessons from New York's UDAAP Campaign to Inform Other Advocacy Efforts
DESCRIPTION:New York is known for groundbreaking legislation on discrimination\, public health\, environmental protection\, and many other areas.  Yet remarkably\, it also has one of the nation’s weakest consumer laws.  New York’s law is one of the only consumer statutes in the country that contains no prohibition against unfair and abusive practices with respect to claims by private consumers.  Furthermore\, the law fails to mandate attorneys’ fees and limits statutory damages to a paltry $50. \nA coalition of advocates has relentlessly fought to change this law; last year we came close but were ultimately stymied by the headwinds of politics and special interests.  As we continue to press forward for meaningful change\, we invite you to join us for a conversation about how lessons from our New York battle can inform advocacy efforts everywhere. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nWhy strong state consumer laws are so important in the present time\nStrategies for addressing common challenges to enacting economic justice reform\nWhether new messaging can be used to curb negative perceptions\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nCarolyn E. Coffey is the Director of Litigation for Economic Justice at Mobilization for Justice (MFJ)\, a civil legal services organization that provides advice\, counsel\, and representation to New Yorkers with low incomes. She supervises MFJ’s Consumer Rights Project and engages in consumer policy advocacy. Carolyn co-chairs the New York City Consumer Advocates Taskforce and is a former co-chair of the board of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. \nHashim Rahman runs a consumer law practice based in New York City. He specializes in cases pertaining to credit reporting\, identity theft\, debt collection harassment\, tenants’ rights\, banking fraud\, home-improvement fraud\, product misrepresentations\, and environmental law. He has litigated cases in federal and state courts under the Fair Credit Reporting Act\, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act\, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act\, the Truth in Lending Act\, and other statutes. He is a graduate of Pace Law School\, where he earned his JD\, and the University of Chicago\, where he earned a BA in sociology. \n\nRegistration \nPlease note that this webinar is free to the whole community. The webinar will be recorded and available to all registrants. Non-members must email training@consumeradvocates.org first to be verified.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/battle-for-consumer-protections-using-lessons-from-new-yorks-udaap-campaign-to-inform-other-advocacy-efforts/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260325T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260325T150000
DTSTAMP:20260326T132635Z
CREATED:20260304T211543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T132635Z
UID:29273-1774447200-1774450800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Get Ahead of the Curve: Navigate Today’s Student Loan Landscape
DESCRIPTION:Seemingly not a day passes without major changes to federal student loans. Between new legislation\, upcoming regulatory changes\, and rapidly evolving legal challenges on multiple fronts\, borrowers are struggling to keep up. What payment plans are valid? Is loan forgiveness still on the table? And what changes are on the horizon? So many questions that we as attorneys have\, never mind our clients\, the borrowers. Worse\, you might be both the attorney AND the borrower. \nGet the most up-to-date answers from our panel of student loan gurus. We’ll separate fact from fiction and dispel the myriads of internet myths out there put forth by You-tube “experts.” Learn where to focus for what really matters and what is really going on. \nWhat You Will Learn \n\nWhat does the Big\, Beautiful Bill do\nWhat are the current valid payment plans and forgiveness options\nWhat to expect from the fallout from the SAVE lawsuit and associated developments\nWhat borrowers will need help with in the coming months\nWhat’s the latest with PSLF\nWhat are bankruptcy discharge methods (DOJ attestation).\n\nSpeakers \nJosh Cohen began his legal career in 2008 by founding his own firm focused on consumer protection and quickly developed a niche in student loan law. Within nine months\, he filed his first class action against the student loan industry. His practice helps borrowers navigate default\, repayment plans\, collection defense\, affirmative claims\, and bankruptcy discharge—successfully discharging over $3M in student loans to date. Josh also trains attorneys through his long-running Student Loan Law Workshop and developed Student Loan Toolbox\, a software tool to help attorneys counsel clients on student loan issues. \nJay S. Fleischman is a consumer protection attorney licensed in New York and California. Since 1995\, his practice has focused on student loan law\, consumer bankruptcy\, and debt collection defense. A seasoned educator and advocate\, Jay has built a substantial digital presence by making complex legal issues accessible. His plain-language content has garnered over 3.2 million views and attracted over 225\,000 followers across TikTok\, Instagram\, LinkedIn\, and YouTube. He also regularly publishes content at MoneyWiseLaw.com\, where he helps consumers better understand their financial rights and options. \nAdam S. Minsky is licensed in Massachusetts\, New York\, and Vermont and is one of the nation’s leading authorities in student loan law. He remains one of the only attorneys in the country with a practice devoted entirely to helping student loan borrowers and their families. Attorney Minsky provides counsel\, legal assistance\, and direct advocacy for borrowers on a variety of student loan-related matters.  He has published three handbooks including The Student Loan Handbook for Law Students and Attorneys\, published by the American Bar Association. Attorney Minsky has also been contributing author to the National Consumer Law Center’s manual\, Student Loan Law. He is a senior contributor at Forbes.com\, where he writes about the latest developments in the student loan space. \nRegistration \nPlease note that the live webinar is free to NACA members. If you are a non-member and would like to purchase this webinar\, you need to create an account on consumeradvocates.org and email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account. \n 
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/get-ahead-of-the-curve-navigate-todays-student-loan-landscape/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260311T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260311T150000
DTSTAMP:20260312T130303Z
CREATED:20260223T141304Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T130303Z
UID:29107-1773237600-1773241200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Nuts and Bolts of Litigating FCRA 1681s-2(b) Claims
DESCRIPTION:When furnishers of credit information such as banks\, credit card companies\, mortgage lenders\, debt collectors\, and others report inaccurate information to the credit bureaus\, the harm to consumers can be substantial – denial of credit\, loss of existing credit\, reputational harm and emotional distress can all result directly from such errors.  The FCRA provides relief for consumers who have been the victim of such false reporting – but only if the specific rules are followed. \nThis webinar will provide a general overview of the FCRA’s statutory framework against furnishers of information and how it differs from claims against the credit bureaus.  Many consumers use AI or other resources to make their own disputes directly with the furnishers or the CFPB and can end up without an FCRA remedy.  Your knowledge of the specific requirements of Section 1681s-2(b) of the FCRA can be valuable to potential clients to help steer them to a successful FCRA claim for damages and a clean credit report. \nWhat You Will Learn \n\nWhat are the requirements of a successful FCRA claim under Section 1681s-2(b)\nWhat is the differences between claims against furnishers and the credit bureaus\nHow to use direct disputes with furnishers to support your 1681s-2(b) claims\nHow to assist clients with drafting effective dispute letters to the credit bureaus for furnisher inaccuracies\nHow to maximize damages available in Section 1681s-2(b) cases\n\nSpeakers \nTony Love is a solo practitioner in Atlanta\, Georgia who focuses on cases under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other consumer protection statutes.  Before opening his solo practice\, he spent over twenty years representing a major credit reporting agency and other businesses\, including a number of furnishers\, in cases nationwide under the FCRA.  He has handled countless FCRA cases on both the defense and plaintiff’s side.  He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Georgia State University College of Law where he was a member of the law review.                                         \nRobert W. Murphy is a complex consumer and class action litigation attorney. He has served as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Florida College of Law in Gainesville\, Florida from 2009 to 2021 and served as a visiting professor at the University of Virginia School of Law from 2023 to 2025. He is a past chair of the Consumer Protection Law Committee of The Florida Bar and was a Board Member\, Secretary and Florida State Chairperson for the National Association of Consumer Advocates. He has served as a Board Member of the Florida Bar Foundation as well various legal aid organizations. He has been the Faculty Chair of the Practicing Law Institute’s Consumer Pro Bono Program in San Francisco since 2009. In 2016\, the Florida Bar recognized Mr. Murphy as the Consumer Attorney of the Year.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/nuts-and-bolts-of-litigating-fcra-1681s-2b-claims/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260305T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260305T150000
DTSTAMP:20260306T150314Z
CREATED:20260220T185112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260306T150314Z
UID:29092-1772719200-1772722800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:EFTA 101
DESCRIPTION:Millions of Americans lose billions of dollars to bank fraud every year. Some losses – but not all – are covered by the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA)\, which generally requires that financial institutions reimburse consumers for unauthorized transfers. If you want to better understand when the EFTA applies\, please join us for this webinar\, which will discuss the basics of the EFTA\, engage with fact patterns influenced by real-life scenarios\, and give practical tips about how to litigate EFTA claims. \nWhat You Will Learn \n\nWhat is the scope of the EFTA\nHow to spot transactions covered by the EFTA\nHow to frame your cases to ensure EFTA coverage\n\nSpeakers \nDavid Marco is one of the founding partners of SmithMarco\, P.C.\, and he has devoted the overwhelming majority of his professional career to the practice of consumer litigation and to protecting consumers’ rights. He has many years of litigation experience and currently represents consumers in individual and class action cases arising out of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act\, the Fair Credit Reporting Act\, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act\, the Illinois Consumer Fraud & Deceptive Business Practices Act\, the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act\, the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act\, and other consumer-related statutes. David has successfully briefed and argued myriad motions on a wide range of issues\, arbitrated hundreds of cases\, and tried countless cases to verdict\, including an approximately $250\,000 arbitration award against Citibank for violating the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. \nPat McNichol is a lawyer at Kelly Guzzo\, PLC\, who represents consumers in Maryland\, Virginia\, and beyond.  Pat specializes his practice in payment fraud and has litigated countless cases in court and arbitration against large and small financial institutions.  Before finding his home in the consumer bar\, Pat worked at an international law firm\, where he learned how financial institutions operate. Before that\, Pat clerked for two federal judges: Judge Lauck in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Judge Goodwin in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Pat has been named a Virginia Super Lawyer and\, on several occasions\, one of The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for Banking and Finance Law.  Over the past four years\, Pat has spoken on various issues of payment fraud at conferences for the National Consumer Law Center\, the National Association of Consumer Advocates\, and the Virginia Poverty Law Center. He also contributed to the Seventh Edition of the Consumer Banking and Payments Law treatise published by the National Consumer Law Center\, and he twice co-authored the Virginia chapter in the ABA’s The Law of Class Action: Fifty-State Survey.  Pat lives in Richmond\, Virginia\, with his wife Caitlin\, their daughter Harper\, and their two dogs\, Leo and Max. \nRegistration \nPlease note that the live webinar is free to NACA members. If you are a non-member and would like to purchase this webinar\, you need to create an account on consumeradvocates.org and email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/efta-101/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T150000
DTSTAMP:20260219T154217Z
CREATED:20260128T193050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T154217Z
UID:28761-1771423200-1771426800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Discovery Strategies in Solar Fraud Litigation: Uncovering the Financing Schemes
DESCRIPTION:Solar fraud cases rarely turn on a single misrepresentation or a single defendant. Instead\, they arise from an integrated sales and financing ecosystem in which installers\, sales organizations\, and lenders each control different pieces of the evidentiary puzzle. Traditional discovery approaches borrowed from construction-defect or consumer-credit litigation often fail to surface the documents and testimony that actually establish liability\, rescission rights\, or meaningful settlement leverage. \nThis webinar is designed for attorneys who already litigate solar cases and want to sharpen their discovery strategy. The program focuses on how to identify the real decision-makers\, obtain high-value documents that defendants routinely resist producing\, and use discovery to expose pricing manipulation\, undisclosed finance charges\, misleading proposals\, and lender control over the sales and installations processes. Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for structuring discovery to support fraud\, consumer protection\, and lending claims while positioning their cases for early resolution or trial. \nWhat You Will Learn \n\nHow to structure discovery to uncover hidden pricing\, dealer fees\, and financing markups that are not apparent from the consumer-facing contract or disclosures\nHow to target lender\, platform\, and installer discovery to establish control\, agency\, and coordinated misrepresentations across multiple defendants\nHow to overcome common discovery objections in solar fraud cases\, including claims of irrelevance\, trade secrets\, confidentiality\, and attempts to cabin discovery to a single installation rather than a broader sales practice\n\nSpeakers \nDerek Hills is a lawyer based in Easton\, Maryland\, and serves as Of Counsel to the Holland Law Firm in Annapolis\, Maryland. With a unique blend of legal expertise and practical experience in the construction industry\, Derek effectively represents homeowners in construction disputes\, and consumer protection matters including disputes with solar panel businesses. Derek brings over 20 years of experience from the construction industry\, having held various project management roles. Derek has successfully handled disputes on behalf of consumers against solar panel businesses since 2017. These cases have involved issues such as fraudulent contract execution\, billing irregularities\, financing problems\, installation defects\, elder abuse\, warranty issues\, and production issues. \nKatie Sass is an associate at the law firm of Kemnitzer\, Barron & Krieg\, LLP. Her practice focuses on consumer financing\, unfair debt collections practices\, and solar panel fraud. Prior to joining Kemnitzer\, Barron & Krieg\, Katie practiced as a Senior Attorney in Bay Area Legal Aid’s Consumer Rights Unit. She previously worked as a Litigation Attorney at the Eviction Defense Collaborative in San Francisco and as an associate attorney at Crowell & Moring\, where she focused on antitrust and commercial litigation. Katie graduated with honors from University of California\, Los Angeles in 2013 and obtained her law degree from Harvard Law School in 2018. \nRegistration \nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. Non-Members need to create an account on NACA’s website and email training@consumeradvocates.org to be verified in order to register for the webinar.  Non-Member who purchase the webinar\, higher level and firm members will have access to the recording. \n 
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/discovery-strategies-in-solar-fraud-litigation-uncovering-the-financing-schemes/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T150000
DTSTAMP:20260213T134519Z
CREATED:20260116T203629Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T134519Z
UID:28613-1770904800-1770908400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Predatory Lending: Current Trends and Claim Spotting (2026)
DESCRIPTION:Almost every state has enacted usury laws that limit the amount of interest that a lender can charge on a loan. Despite these well-established laws\, predatory lenders continue to make blatantly illegal loans that violate state usury laws. Every year\, there are millions of consumers who are victimized by these loans and need our help. Come learn how you can assist\, including through class actions. \n\nWhat You Will Learn\n• How to intake a potential case\, including choice-of-law and arbitration considerations\n• What special considerations exist for tribal lenders and rent-a-bank\n• How to couple usury claims with RICO’s prohibition against the collection of unlawful debt\n• What to expect when you file a case\, including special issues related to class actions \n\nSpeaker \nAndrew Guzzo’s practice focuses exclusively on representing consumers\, with an emphasis on litigation against internet lenders\, credit reporting agencies\, and debt collectors. Andrew has litigated more than two dozen cases related to high-cost lending. These cases have involved each of the major players in the industry\, including lenders\, investors\, architects of the rent-a-tribe scheme\, tribal officials\, specialized credit reporting agencies\, and lead generators. Over the past five years\, Andrew has been involved in class actions that have returned more than $100 million dollars to consumers and cancelled more than $1 billion in predatory loans.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/predatory-lending-current-trends-and-claim-spotting-2026/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T150000
DTSTAMP:20260212T135000Z
CREATED:20260121T151648Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T135000Z
UID:28653-1770818400-1770822000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:From Outreach to Impact: Growing the Consumer Bar and Your Practice
DESCRIPTION:Do you want to help grow the next generation of consumer attorneys—while also building a stronger\, more sustainable practice for yourself? Strategic outreach to non-consumer lawyers through bar association presentations is one of the most effective ways to expand awareness of consumer law\, position yourself as a trusted referral resource\, and generate a steady stream of high-quality leads. These presentations don’t just grow the consumer bar—they grow your reputation\, your referral network\, and your client pipeline. \nJoin NACA Board Member David Chami and his partner Sylvia Bolos to learn how to build powerful\, long-term referral relationships in your community. You’ll receive a ready-to-use PowerPoint presentation you can customize for state and local bar meetings\, giving you a turnkey tool to educate other lawyers about consumer law\, drive new referrals\, and strengthen both your impact and your bottom line. \nWhat You Will Learn \n\nHow to frame and deliver a presentation about consumer law to non-consumer lawyers\nWhat systems and resources are needed to start relationships with non-consumer lawyers\n\nSpeakers \nSylvia Bolos is a partner at Consumer Justice. Sylvia Bolos is a passionate client advocate and experienced lawyer\, dedicated to helping consumers protect their legal rights under the FCRA\, TILA\, ECOA\, TCPA\, EFTA and FDCPA. Prior to joining Consumer Justice Law Firm\, Sylvia served as General Counsel at 123NET\, Senior Counsel at Berger Montague\, and Senior Associate Attorney at Lyngklip and Associates. During her time with Lyngklip & Associates\, she also co-founded Insight\, LLC\, a consumer protection consulting firm\, designed to train and coach other consumer protection attorneys from across the country. \nDavid Chami is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner for Consumer Justice Law Firm with approximately 30 lawyers licensed to practice in 35 states. David’s firm primarily handles cases under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other adjacent consumer protection statutes. David has been involved in thousands of consumer protection lawsuits and nearly a thousand cases that have been filed in Arbitration over the past 10 years. David’s firm recently filed an anti-trust lawsuit against AAA arguing that its business model has created barriers to entry for competitors and has resulted in a forum which prevents the administration of justice rather than simply making it more efficient.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/from-outreach-to-impact-growing-the-consumer-bar-and-your-practice/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260204T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260204T160000
DTSTAMP:20260205T134942Z
CREATED:20260121T143326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T134942Z
UID:28645-1770213600-1770220800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Medical Debt—Defending Your Clients Against Medical Bills and Aggressive Collection Actions (2026)
DESCRIPTION:Medical debt is the wild west of debt collection. Every debt collector wants in on it and consumer attorneys often find themselves without the tools to fight back.  This seminar follows a spring 2024 webinar on medical debt defense and will give you more tools so that you can both vigorously defend against medical debt collection as well as go on the offensive. \nThis webinar will appeal to both private practitioners and legal service attorneys who need defenses against medical claims and want to explore counterclaims that can range from single counterclaims to possible class actions. \nPlease note that participants will be asked to share their stories and experiences as well during this webinar. Following the webinar will be an hour-long time for discussion and extended Q and A. This webinar is free to the entire community. Non-members need to email training@consumeradvocates.org to be verified to attend the webinar. \nWhat You Will Learn \n\nWhich affirmative defenses will give you a fighting chance\, open up discovery even where a counterclaim isn’t available\, and increase your standing with regards to settlement.\nHow to use FDCPA and UDAP statutes to challenge the fairness of the hospital’s billing practice and the debt collector’s actions.\nWhat discovery items you should request and how they will help you defend and prosecute cases.\nExamples of claims\, settlement amounts\, costs to litigate on all these cases.\nTips about medical debt negotiations in a nonlegal setting\, including charity care and payment plans.\n\nSpeakers \nKeith Hagan practices consumer law as a partner at Hofer Hagan LLP\, in Indianapolis\, Indiana. He has been on the front line of defending medical debt cases since 2018. \nBerneta L. Haynes is a senior attorney who focuses on consumer energy policy and medical debt. At NCLC\, she recently authored Protecting Older Adults from Surprise Medical Bills and The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families. She is also a contributing author to the medical debt chapter of NCLC’s Collection Actions practice manual and NCLC’s Surviving Debt consumer guide.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/medical-debt-defending-your-clients-against-medical-bills-and-aggressive-collection-actions-2026/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T150000
DTSTAMP:20260123T133000Z
CREATED:20260106T153938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260123T133000Z
UID:28394-1769090400-1769094000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Federal Mortgage Servicing Updates
DESCRIPTION:Attorneys working with homeowners in default—whether in private practice or legal services—will gain practical\, up-to-date guidance in this webinar. Learn how to identify the relevant federal investor and understand the current default and loss-mitigation guidelines for FHA\, VA\, Fannie Mae\, Freddie Mac\, and USDA loans\, so you can better advise your clients when they fall behind. \nPlease note that this webinar is free to the whole community. Non-members will need to be verified to register for the webinar. \nWhat You Will Learn \n\nHow to identify the relevant federal investor\nWhat are the latest guidelines that apply when borrowers go into default\n\nSpeaker \nSteve Sharpe is a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) focusing on foreclosures and mortgage lending. He leads NCLC’s federal mortgage servicing policy work and frequently presents on mortgage servicing and other housing issues. Steve is a co-author of NCLC’s Mortgage Servicing and Loan Modifications\, Home Foreclosures\, Too Damn High: How Junk Fees Add to Skyrocketing Rents\, and the report How GSE Note Sales Undermine Homeownership\, which examines the impact of bulk sales of hundreds of thousands of home loans to investors. Steve testified in front of Congress on the state of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loan Guaranty Program\, and he is also a contributing author of the legal treatise Truth in Lending.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/federal-mortgage-servicing-updates/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T150000
DTSTAMP:20260120T134700Z
CREATED:20251202T145504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T134700Z
UID:27820-1768917600-1776265200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Business 102 eCourse: Building and Optimizing Your Consumer Law Practice
DESCRIPTION:Do you want to improve how you run your business? Do you feel sometimes that you are able to derive enough value and income from your cases? Are you starting out and want to develop systems to help you measure success? The Business 102 eCourse will provide you with the tools and community you need to manage a successful law practice. \nWith an eye to improving your bottom line\, this course will focus on figuring out how to make a living practicing consumer law. Explore how to increase the value of your cases\, become more efficient\, grow strategically and find the right balance of cases that work for you. \n\nWhat You Will Learn: \n\nHow to analyze and select appropriate fee structures and case valuation methods to establish pricing strategies that maximize profitability for different types of cases.\nHow to implement systems to improve practice efficiency and profitability by enhancing case value\, leveraging attorney time\, and identifying opportunities for jurisdictional expansion and co-counsel partnerships.\nHow to design and refine a practice management plan that balances active caseloads with client development\, pipeline building\, and long-term business sustainability.\n\nWhat the eCourse includes:  \n\n\n\nLive course instruction (all sessions will be recorded for future viewing)\nBi-weekly mastermind sessions (will not be recorded)\nInstructional materials\, including videos\, handouts and readings\n\n\n\n\nSyllabus: \nHow to Make a Living as a Consumer Lawyer \nWeek One:  Presentation \nObjective: How to design a business model that provides a consistent revenue stream \nDate: January 20\, 2026 at 2 pm – 3 pm ET \nSpeakers: Heidi Miller and John Gear \n  \nWeek Two: Discussion Week \nDate:  January 27\, 2026  at 2pm – 3pm ET \n  \nHow Much is This Case Worth: Case Valuation  \nWeek Three: Presentation \nObjective: Determine the value of your case throughout its life cycle \nDate: February 3\, 2026 at 2pm – 3pm ET \nSpeakers: Matthew Vocci and Minal Gahlot \n  \nWeek Four: Discussion Week:   \nDate: February 9\, 2026 2pm – 3pm ET \nModerator: Duran Keller \n  \nMaximizing Case Value \nWeek Five: Presentation \nObjective: How to increase the value of your cases and the value of your time \nDate: February 17\, 2026 2pm – 3pm ET \nSpeaker:  Ron Wilcox \n  \nWeek Six: Discussion Week \nDate: February 25\, 2026 2pm ET \n  \nCreating an Optimized Office System \nWeek Seven: Presentation \nObjective: How to build a connected office system to streamline your cases \nDate: March 4th at 1pm ET \nSpeaker: Kevin Dillon \n  \nWeek Eight: Discussion \nDate: March 10th at 2pm ET \n  \nHow to Grow Your Practice: Multi-Jurisdictions and Co-Counseling \nWeek Nine: Presentation \nObjective: Explore different ways to grow your firms\, including setting up additional offices and finding co-counsel relationships \nDate: March 24th at 2pm – 3pm ET \nSpeakers: Christina Gill Roseman and David McGlothlin \n  \nWeek Ten: Discussion Week \nDate: March 30th at 2pm – 3pm ET \n  \nBalancing Your Caseload \nWeek Eleven: Presentation \nObjective: Determine how to balance your current caseload while building a pipeline for new cases \nDate: April 9th at 2 pm – 3pm ET \nSpeakers: Kathi Rawls (Auto/FDCPA) and Corey McGaha (FCRA/FDCPA) \n   \nWeek Twelve: Discussion and Wrap-Up \nDate: April 15th at 2pm ET \n  \n\nCourse Instructors \nKevin Dillon is founder of Voice for Justice Law\, PLLC and proud member of NACA. He litigates under both state and federal consumer protection laws\, including the FCRA\, FDCPA\, TILA\, TCPA\, RESPA\, VCPA\, and other combinations of letters. Over the course of his legal career\, Kevin has litigated in Virginia state court and in federal courts throughout the country\, as well as arbitrated in JAMS and AAA. He has obtained six-figure settlements for his clients as well as tried cases\, including before a jury. Kevin got his start in consumer protection law first clerking with Greater Boston Legal Services and then working with the fine folks at Consumer Litigation Associates. He is proud to continue in the tradition of social justice law from Northeastern University School of Law where he received his JD. Kevin also served two years in Americorps and had a former career as a Salesforce consultant. He lives in Richmond\, Virginia with his partner Lindsey\, their cat Laertes\, and a jungle of plants. If you’re Virginia-based or nearby\, let me know when you’re in the area! \nBefore starting law school at age 40\, John Gear was a nuclear engineer\, Navy submarine officer\, and then an operations management consultant to industry. After law school\, he worked as a research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals and as a regulatory affairs attorney for the Michigan Public Service Commission. Since 2010\, he was been a mostly solo attorney with John Gear Law Office in Salem\, Oregon\, which is a “Values-Based Oregon law practice serving consumers\, elders\, employees\, and nonprofits.” \nMinal Gahlot is a private consumer protection attorney based in Oklahoma City with over a decade of experience advocating for individuals harmed by unfair and deceptive business practices. As the founder of Oklahoma Consumer Law Firm\, she represents clients in a wide range of matters\, including auto dealer fraud\, lemon law violations\, solar panel scams\, wrongful repossession\, credit reporting inaccuracies\, abusive debt collection\, and identity theft.  Minal has achieved successful outcomes for her clients through jury trials\, bench verdicts\, arbitration awards\, and negotiated settlements. She currently serves as the NACA Oklahoma State Chair and has been repeatedly recognized by 405 Magazine as a Top Attorney in Consumer Law.  A frequent speaker at both national and regional conferences\, Minal is a passionate advocate for consumer rights and access to justice\, dedicating time to volunteer and pro bono efforts across Oklahoma. \nDuran Keller is a trial lawyer. He is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College and is admitted to practice in Indiana\, New York\, New Jersey\, New Hampshire\, Wisconsin\, and various federal jurisdictions. Most of Duran’s attention is devoted to consumer protection\, but he often takes cases to support a good cause. Duran fights against all types of injustices\, ranging from unfair charges/collection attempts and credit reporting to egregious police brutality cases. He is NACA’s state chair for Indiana\, is a Super Lawyers Rising Star with multiple consumer appellate victories and record-breaking verdicts\, and he has tried multiple cases to jury verdict in state and federal courts. \nCorey D. McGaha is the founder of Corey D. McGaha PLLC\, a solo practice law firm in Little Rock\, AR. Mr. McGaha focuses his practice on debt defense\, FDCPA\, FCRA\, and Auto Fraud cases. He files both individual and class action cases for consumers. \nDavid J. McGlothlin is a partner at the Kazerouni Law Group\, APC. He was born in Mildenhall\, England\, and was raised in Phoenix\, Arizona. He attended Northern Arizona University where he received a Bachelor of Science in American Political Studies and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He graduated University of San Diego School of Law in May 2007.David is a licensed attorney in the State of California\, the state of Oregon\, and the State of Arizona. He is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association\, the Maricopa County Bar Association\, the Federal Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. \nHeidi N. Miller is a solo practitioner in Milwaukee\, Wisconsin.  She is licensed in both\nCalifornia and Wisconsin.  For over ten years\, she has focused on consumer law\, specifically representing consumers in claims involving improper debt collection actions\, unlawful repossessions\, credit reporting errors\, and auto sales fraud. She enjoys traveling and has visited all seven continents and 125 countries. \nKathi Rawls \nChristina Gill Roseman\, Esq. is the founding attorney of Roseman Law Firm\, PLLC\, where she represents consumers in the areas of dealer fraud\, lemon law and breach of warranty.  Ms. Roseman has successfully tried numerous cases against vehicle manufacturers and dealerships\, including a verdict in 2019 against Winnebago\, a 2021 verdict against Mercedes and a 2020 verdict against Kia.  She is the Chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association Civil Litigation Section Court Rules Committee and is a member of the invitation-only Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County.  Ms. Roseman was the 2010-2012 Co-President of the Women’s Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania and the Co-Chair of the CLE Committee for the WBA from 2012 to 2017.  Ms. Roseman is the West Virginia state NACA Co-chair.  Ms. Roseman is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania\, West Virginia\, Ohio\, Wisconsin and Michigan. Roseman Law Firm\, PLLC has offices in Pittsburgh\, Pennsylvania and Morgantown\, West Virginia. \nMatt Vocci is a partner at Santoni\, Vocci & Ortega\, LLC. The majority of his work relates in some way to housing. He represents tenants against landlords and property managers on a variety of cases\, such as consumer protection and consumer debt collection issues\, habitability\, Fair Housing Act violations\, illegal evictions\, and personal injuries. Matt has served as class counsel on several class actions\, including a recent case that resolved favorably for tenants against a large\, out-of-state property management company. He is a member of the MSBA’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee Council and the ACLU of Maryland Committee on Litigation and Legal Priorities. Matt deeply believes in Santoni\, Vocci & Ortega’s mission to provide high-quality legal representation to low-income Marylanders. He graduated cum laude from Temple University\, Beasley School of Law in 2006. \nRon Wilcox is a former NACA Co-Chair of the Board of Directors. He is a graduate of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College and has tried more than 12 cases to a Final Arbitration Award\, where in many of them the consumers were awarded punitive and/or treble damages.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/ecourses/business-ecourse-102-building-and-optimizing-your-consumer-law-practice/
CATEGORIES:eCourses,Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251219T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251219T140000
DTSTAMP:20251222T143356Z
CREATED:20251119T160452Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251222T143356Z
UID:27627-1766149200-1766152800@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Wire Transfers: Can't Live with Them\, Can't Live without Them
DESCRIPTION:If your SEO marketing has anything to do with bank hacking\, stolen money or identity theft\, chances are that you are receiving intake calls by consumers stating that their money has been stolen via wire transfer. It is the wild\, wild west of banking litigation. Does EFTA apply? Can I get attorney’s fees? Is the consumer out of luck? Trust me\, I have been there too. \nThis webinar will explore strategies and remedies for handling wire fraud cases. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nWhat are the laws around wire transfers\nHow (if at all) it is possible to make a profitable case.\nHow to sneak in attorneys’ fees (if you can).\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nNick Barthel is a devout consumer protection lawyer that has years of experience litigating identity theft/financial scam cases. In 2024\, Nick obtained a $1.9 million verdict in a fraudulent wire transfer case. He lives in San Diego\, California and is an amazing guy. If you have not talked to him yet\, you totally should. Great to co-counsel with as well\, so shoot him an email nick@barthelbarthel.com. \n\nPlease note that all live webinars are free to NACA members. Recordings of the webinars are only available for free to higher level members\, firm members and non-members who purchase the webinar. Click here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/wire-transfers-cant-live-with-them-cant-live-without-them/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T150000
DTSTAMP:20251212T125152Z
CREATED:20251120T141405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251212T125152Z
UID:27641-1765461600-1765465200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Consumer Law Trends in Bankruptcy Cases
DESCRIPTION:Bankruptcy practices are loaded with potential consumer claims-you just have to know where to look. Litigation attorneys can partner with bankruptcy practitioners to handle consumer claims. Bankruptcy attorneys can partner with litigation attorneys so that they have an experienced litigator to whom they can refer to potential consumer claims. In short\, this situation is a win/win/win for the client\, the bankruptcy attorney and the litigation attorney. \nThis webinar is co-sponsored by NACBA. NACBA members (and all non-members) need an account on NACA’s website. Once that account is set-up\, email training@consumeradvocates.org to get your account verified and to receive a code for complimentary registration. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nWhat are common consumer claims found in bankruptcy cases\nWhere to find consumer claims in bankruptcy cases\nHow to set up a referral or co-counseling relationship\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nSarah Ritchie serves as the Paralegal and Office Manager of John Steinkamp & Associates\, bringing over a decade of experience\, particularly in lawsuits under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). As the firm’s national footprint has expanded\, Sarah has taken on a liaison role\, coordinating with law firms and clients across the country\, bridging complex legal communication with a tech savvy approach. An innovator in legal technology\, she recently spoke at the Consumer Rights and Litigation Conference on the ethics of AI tools in litigation. Sarah combines her extensive legal expertise with cutting-edge technological solutions\, helping her team navigate the evolving landscape of legal practice. \nLarry P. Smith is a consumer attorney\, handling matters involving the FCRA\, FDCPA\, EFTA as well as state consumer fraud/UDAP matters for over 18 years.  He is the Managing Partner at SmithMarco\, P.C. which he established in 2005. Mr. Smith has tried dozens of consumer rights cases to verdict in the state and federal courts of Illinois\, Georgia and Wisconsin and has arbitrated over 700 cases. Additionally\, he has amicably resolved over 4000 consumer fraud\, FCRA and FDCPA cases via settlement. \nJohn Steinkamp has been a practicing lawyer in Indianapolis\, IN for eighteen years. His practice\, John Steinkamp & Associates\, does consumer bankruptcy work and consumer litigation. His office has filed more than 650 FDCPA lawsuits since 2009. A former family law attorney\, he has participated in over 300 trials and over 100 mediations. Overall\, John has been an attorney in more than 4\,000 cases. \n 
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/consumer-law-trends-in-bankruptcy-cases/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T150000
DTSTAMP:20251205T134658Z
CREATED:20251119T190721Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T134658Z
UID:27636-1764770400-1764774000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Energy Suppliers: How to Protect Consumers
DESCRIPTION:Many competitive energy suppliers advertise low rates and special deals to attract customers. You may have received advertisements in your mailbox or seen a table set up at your local grocery store exclaiming\, “Switch today and we’ll give you a $25 gift card!” Unfortunately\, these offers often come with hidden costs\, and consumers may end up paying more for their utility bills each month. \nParticipants will be provided information and tools to better understand the competitive energy market\, the consequences of shopping with an energy supplier\, and how to protect against the negative impacts of shopping. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nHow to spot potential claims against suppliers for slamming and other deceptive marketing practices\nWhat strategies to use in energy supplier cases\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nLauren Berman is a Senior Staff Attorney with the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project who has been with the program since 2021.  Lauren splits her time between representing individual clients struggling with accessing and maintaining utility services to their homes and leading Universal Services Proceedings to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to safe and affordable utility service.  Prior to her time at PULP\, Lauren worked at Southwest Pennsylvania Legal Aid Services (now Summit Legal Aid) within the Fair Housing Law Project.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/energy-suppliers-how-to-protect-consumers/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T153000
DTSTAMP:20251106T134007Z
CREATED:20251028T130154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251106T134007Z
UID:27389-1762351200-1762356600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:When Innovation Turns into Exploitation: Emerging Landlord Practices and Tenant Protections
DESCRIPTION:As new technologies and practices reshape the rental housing market\, tenants are facing fresh challenges that demand informed advocacy. From online tenant portals and credit reporting to “junk fees\,” coded lockouts\, and mandatory insurance policies\, these developments are changing how renters experience housing—and how advocates must respond. This webinar will equip you with the knowledge to identify unlawful practices\, support clients\, and push for fairer housing outcomes. \n\nWhat You Will Learn: \n\n\n\nWhat new tools like tenant portals\, fintech payment systems\, and RUBS billing are affecting tenant rights.\nWhat are the legal implications of emerging landlord practices such as credit reporting\, digital leases\, rent concessions\, and coded lockouts.\nHow to use strategies to recognize and challenge improper fees\, unfair insurance requirements\, and other trends impacting renters’ financial stability.\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker \nChelsea Ortega is a partner at the law firm of Santoni\, Vocci & Ortega\, LLC in Baltimore\, Maryland. Chelsea’s practice primarily focuses on issues involving tenants and consumers’ rights. She regularly represents tenants living in uninhabitable conditions\, who have been the victim of unlawful evictions\, or who have been charged illegal fees. Chelsea has brought and settled several class action cases against large property management companies\, debt collectors\, and auto finance companies. \n\nPlease note live webinars are free to NACA members.  Members will need to pay to watch the recording. Higher Level members and firm members have access to the recordings at no additional costs. Non-members who purchased the webinar will also have access to the recording at no additional cost. \n 
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/when-innovation-turns-into-exploitation-emerging-landlord-practices-and-tenant-protections/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251030T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251030T150000
DTSTAMP:20251103T135523Z
CREATED:20251022T131400Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T135523Z
UID:27264-1761832800-1761836400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Choosing a Venue for Consumer Claims in Bankruptcy
DESCRIPTION:Bankruptcy is hotbed for consumer claims\, but where you file these claims can make all the difference in your case. Join us as we explore the pros and cons of filing consumer claims in small claims court\, state court\, District Court\, and Bankruptcy Court. There’s no one size fits all approach\, but we’ll explore how to analyze your cases and evaluate the proper venue in your cases. \nThis session is designed to help bankruptcy practitioners and consumer law practitioners alike analyze the proper venue for their consumer law claims related to bankruptcy cases. We’ll walk through the pros and cons of each venue\, some fact patterns\, and practical tips for choosing a venue. \nThis webinar is co-sponsored by NACBA. NACBA members need an account on NACA’s website. Once that account is set-up\, email training@consumeradvocates.org to get your account verified and to receive a code for complimentary registration. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\nWhat are the pros and cons of filing in small claims court\, state court\, District Court\, and Bankruptcy Court\nHow to choose the best venue for your case\nWhat are common pitfalls in choosing a venue\n\n\nSpeakers\nPatrick Best is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and the Rochester Institute of Technology. He previously served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Carmen D. Minora of the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. His practice consists of a variety of cases including bankruptcy\, student loans\, FDCPA\, FCRA\, RESPA\, TILA\, and UDAP. He is a member of both NACA and NACBA. In addition to his private practice\, he serves as a Special Assistant District Attorney for the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office to prosecute civil consumer protection violations on behalf of Monroe County Pennsylvania. \nBrian Flick is the managing partner of Dann Law’s Cincinnati Office. He is a tireless advocate for consumers in Ohio\, Kentucky and across the United States. He has litigated RESPA cases in federal and appellate courts across the country including Alabama\, Arkansas\, California\, Colorado\, Florida\, Georgia\, Illinois\, Indiana\, Kansas\, Kentucky\, Michigan\, Missouri\, Nevada\, New Jersey\, New York\, Ohio\, Oregon\, Pennsylvania\, Tennessee\, and Texas. He is a Board Member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and is the Ohio Chair of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. \n\nPlease note live webinars are free to NACA members.  Members will need to pay to watch the recording. Higher Level members and firm members have access to the recordings at no additional costs. Non-members who purchased the webinar will also have access to the recording at no additional cost. NACBA members can email training@consumeradvocates.org to receive a code to register for the live webinar at no cost. \nClick here to watch the live webinar. 
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/choosing-a-venue-for-consumer-claims-in-bankruptcy/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T150000
DTSTAMP:20251029T161338Z
CREATED:20251010T192652Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251029T161338Z
UID:27189-1761660000-1761663600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Building Trust: Partnering with Communities to Fight Scams
DESCRIPTION:Community partnerships are one of the most effective ways to protect consumers from scams and predatory practices. This webinar will show how attorneys can use NACA’s scam prevention videos and resources to collaborate with community-based organizations\, raise public awareness of consumer rights\, and empower individuals to take action when they’ve been harmed. \n\nWhat You Will Learn:\n• How to identify potential community partners and networks that can help reach consumers at risk of scams.\n• How to build trust and meaningful relationships with community members who may be hesitant to engage with lawyers.\n• How to design and communicate legal services in ways that meet community needs and resonate with local organizations. \n\nSpeakers\nSylvia Bolos is a partner at Consumer Justice. Sylvia Bolos is a passionate client advocate and experienced lawyer\, dedicated to helping consumers protect their legal rights under the FCRA\, TILA\, ECOA\, TCPA\, EFTA and FDCPA. Prior to joining Consumer Justice Law Firm\, Sylvia served as General Counsel at 123NET\, Senior Counsel at Berger Montague\, and Senior Associate Attorney at Lyngklip and Associates. During her time with Lyngklip & Associates\, she also co-founded Insight\, LLC\, a consumer protection consulting firm\, designed to train and coach other consumer protection attorneys from across the country. \n\nAngel Rose Kwaterski is the Consumer Law Priority Coordinator at Legal Action of Wisconsin and is currently based in their Oshkosh office. Angel provides oversight\, mentorship and training related to all consumer matters that the firm assists with. In addition to her role as Priority Coordinator\, she is a staff attorney within the Elder Rights Project where she provides legal representation to Wisconsin residents age 60 or older who are victims of crimes as it relates to housing\, family and consumer law issues. Angel specializes in consumer related issues such as auto fraud\, financial exploitation\, debt collection matters and bankruptcy. Angel received her Bachelor of Arts from Marquette University in 2013 and her Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School\, now known as UIC John Marshall Law School in 2016. \n\nPlease note that this webinar is free to members and non-members. Non-members need to be verified before registering. Click here to attend the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/building-trust-partnering-with-communities-to-fight-scams/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251023T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251023T153000
DTSTAMP:20251024T142208Z
CREATED:20251007T174217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251024T142208Z
UID:27168-1761228000-1761233400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:FCRA 101: Issue Spotting
DESCRIPTION:New to the alphabet soup of federal consumer law? Or perhaps just the FCRA? Come and join this webinar to learn more about this important federal law that provides safeguards to consumers regarding information reported about them. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) touches more parts of consumer practice than most people realize — from credit report errors to background check problems and improper use of personal data. \nThis session is designed to help consumer protection attorneys spot FCRA issues hiding in plain sight and understand when a client’s problem might be an FCRA case. We’ll walk through some fact patterns\, red flags to watch for\, and practical tips for getting started with these claims. \n\nWhat You Will Learn  \n\nWhat is the scope of the FCRA\nHow to spot issues that implicate the FCRA\nWhen it may make sense to bring in more experienced co-counsel\n\n\nSpeaker  \nKevin Dillon is founder of Voice for Justice Law\, PLLC and proud member of NACA. He litigates under both state and federal consumer protection laws\, including the FCRA\, FDCPA\, TILA\, TCPA\, RESPA\, VCPA\, and other combinations of letters. Over the course of his legal career\, Kevin has litigated in Virginia state court and in federal courts throughout the country\, as well as arbitrated in JAMS and AAA. He has obtained six-figure settlements for his clients as well as tried cases\, including before a jury. Kevin got his start in consumer protection law first clerking with Greater Boston Legal Services and then working with the fine folks at Consumer Litigation Associates. He is proud to continue in the tradition of social justice law from Northeastern University School of Law where he received his JD. Kevin also served two years in Americorps and had a former career as a Salesforce consultant. He lives in Richmond\, Virginia with his partner Lindsey\, their cat Laertes\, and a jungle of plants. If you’re Virginia-based or nearby\, let me know when you’re in the area! \n\nPlease note live webinars are free to NACA members.  Members will need to pay to watch the recording. Higher Level members and firm members have access to the recordings at no additional costs. Non-members who purchased the webinar will also have access to the recording at no additional cost. \n 
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/fcra-101-issue-spotting/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251015T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251015T150000
DTSTAMP:20251016T132827Z
CREATED:20251001T144350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251016T132827Z
UID:27133-1760536800-1760540400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:The Business of Debt Defense
DESCRIPTION:Debt collection lawsuits make up the vast majority of filings in most state courts throughout the country. And far too many consumers are overwhelmed by this process\, resulting in overpriced settlements\, inadvertent admissions\, or default judgments against the consumer. Defending a consumer collection case isn’t hard\, but establishing a business focusing on these cases can be. In this webinar\, you’ll hear from two experienced practitioners who use debt defense cases as the springboard for the rest of their practice\, and you’ll learn the tips and tricks that they have found to be the most impactful. \n\nWhat You Will Learn\n• How to obtain the clients you need to make this practice area thrive\n• What are best practices for obtaining the best results possible for your clients\n• How to make your cases and your practice more efficient \n\nSpeakers \nDan DeLiberty is a consumer rights attorney and founder of The DeLiberty Law Firm and Credit Lawyers.com. Known throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond as “The Credit Lawyer®” his firm has helped thousands of consumers throughout Pennsylvania clear millions of dollars of debt\, without bankruptcy. The firm has defended thousands of collections lawsuits over the past two decades\, involving credit cards\, private student loans\, and repo deficiencies. In addition to debt defense\, Attorney DeLiberty advocates for victims of debt settlement and credit repair scams. Dan has built a reputation as a relentless advocate who levels the playing field for everyday people against billion-dollar financial institutions. \nBrett Freeman is a solo attorney in Lake Ariel\, PA. He received his B.A. from the Pennsylvania State University\, and his J.D. from the Indiana University Mauer School of Law. He concentrates his practice on representing consumers in debt defense cases\, as well as cases brought under the FDCPA\, the FCRA\, and the Pennsylvania UDAP statute. \n\nPlease note live webinars are free to NACA members.  Members will need to pay to watch the recording. Higher Level members and firm members have access to the recordings at no additional costs. Non-members who purchased the webinar will also have access to the recording at no additional cost. \nClick here to watch the live webinar. 
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/the-business-of-debt-defense/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251009T150000
DTSTAMP:20251010T131904Z
CREATED:20250903T172627Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251010T131904Z
UID:24560-1760018400-1760022000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:How to Successfully Moderate a Conference Session
DESCRIPTION:Attention all CRLC speakers and session organizers! \nHave you ever sat through a presentation that just felt a little…flat? Or have you been part of a session that flew by because it was so interesting and engaging? The difference often comes down to one thing: the moderator. \nA great moderator does more than just introduce people\, they set the tone\, keep the conversation on track\, balance speaker contributions\, and manage audience engagement with ease. \nWhether you’re organizing a session\, leading a panel\, presenting solo\, or stepping into a session without a designated moderator\, these skills are essential for creating a professional\, polished\, engaging experience. \nThis webinar is for those organizing or participating in a conference session to learn practical techniques for moderating with confidence—so you can keep sessions focused\, engaging\, and impactful. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nHow to prepare for the session ahead of time\nHow to successfully facilitate the session on the day of the conference\nHow to balance audience interactions and presenter remarks\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nRebecca Smolar is the Director of Education at NACA. She is responsible for partnering with NACA members to develop and strengthen NACA’s education and training offerings and to ensure that members are kept abreast of trends in the field. She also collaborates with the National Consumer Law Center to improve the quality of joint NCLC-NACA education programs.  Before joining NACA\, she created continuing education programs for high school teachers and college professors through the State University of New York and Washington-DC area think tanks. She started her career as an Officer of Public Affairs at the Embassy of Israel where she gave hundreds of speeches about Israel and U.S.-Israel relations. Ms. Smolar received a M.A. in International Communications from American University and her B.S. in Psychobiology from SUNY Binghamton. \nAndrea Bopp Stark is a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center Boston office focusing on writing and teaching about fair debt collection practices and mortgage servicing issues. Andrea is also involved in advocating for foreclosure prevention and fair debt collection policies on the state and federal level. Andrea is a contributing author to NCLC’s Fair Debt Collection\, Home Foreclosures\, and Mortgage Servicing and Loan Modifications legal manuals. Previously\, Andrea was a partner at Molleur Law Office in Biddeford\, ME\, and worked as an attorney for Northeast Legal Aid in Lawrence\, Massachusetts where she was one of NCLC’s first recipients of the John G. Brooks fellowship. Andrea holds a B.A. from the University of Vermont and obtained her JD and Masters of Social Work from Boston College. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts & Maine. \n\nPlease note that this event is open to the whole community\, non-members will need to be verified before they will be able to register for the webinar. Email training@consumeradvocates.org to verify your account. This event will be recorded and available at no charge to all webinar registrants.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/how-to-successfully-moderate-a-conference-session/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250930T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250930T150000
DTSTAMP:20251001T135917Z
CREATED:20250904T173132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T135917Z
UID:24633-1759240800-1759244400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Marketing Made Simple: Putting NACA’s PSA Videos to Work for You
DESCRIPTION:For many attorneys\, marketing can feel like one more task on an already packed plate. But visibility matters—both for reaching the right clients and for strengthening the impact of consumer protection work overall. \nNACA has developed a series of consumer-friendly animated videos to help you educate\, protect\, and empower your clients and community from fraud – as well as establish you and your firm as experts in this practice area. \nIn this webinar\, you’ll learn simple and effective ways to integrate these videos into your practice. From adding them to your website or social media\, to including them in client communications or presentations\, you’ll leave with concrete steps you can implement immediately. \nBy putting these tools to work\, you not only strengthen your own visibility but also contribute to a broader movement of consumer protection attorneys informing and empowering the public. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\nHow to use NACA’s PSA-style videos to highlight your expertise and increase client engagement.\nHow to implement practical\, time-efficient marketing steps that fit into your existing workflow.\n\n\nHow to leverage these tools to build stronger referral networks and elevate the impact of consumer protection advocacy.\n\n\nSpeakers \n“Madison “Maddi” Borison practices consumer protection law as an attorney with the Borison Firm\, LLC. She represents individuals facing abusive debt collection\, credit reporting errors\, predatory lending\, and wrongful repossessions. Maddi’s path into consumer law was shaped by time in both private practice and the courts\, including a judicial clerkship for a Maryland Circuit Court judge. Those experiences gave her a practical understanding of how cases move from initial filing to trial\, and how ordinary people can be overwhelmed by a system built for institutional players. At the Borison Firm\, she works within a team known for holding banks\, lenders\, and collectors accountable. Her role focuses on standing with clients in moments of real vulnerability—when the stakes are not abstract but measured in housing\, wages\, and dignity. \nMichael F. “Mike” Cardoza is a California Consumer Financial Protection Attorney who helps Identity Theft victims regain control of their financial lives by getting the upper hand on banks and credit reporting agencies. Trained as a trial attorney in the U.S. Marine Corps\, Mike has tried cases in federal and state courtrooms. \n\nPlease note that this webinar is free to all. Non-members will need to be verified before registering. Click here to join the webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/marketing-made-simple-putting-nacas-psa-videos-to-work-for-you/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250918T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250918T150000
DTSTAMP:20250919T125544Z
CREATED:20250908T142236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250919T125544Z
UID:24981-1758204000-1758207600@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Truth\, Trust\, and Taboos: Ethical Consumer Advocacy for Immigrant Clients
DESCRIPTION:Immigrant consumer clients face unique vulnerabilities that can create complex ethical challenges for their attorneys. Cross-cultural and linguistic barriers\, combined with the shifting and uncertain landscape of U.S. immigration policy\, require consumer attorneys to approach representation with heightened care and awareness. This session will help attorneys strengthen their consumer law practice\, ensuring they can effectively protect and advocate for immigrant clients in today’s legal environment. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n\n\n\nHow to recognize common ethical challenges that arise when representing immigrant consumer clients.\nHow to apply practical strategies to navigate cross-cultural and language barriers in client representation.\nHow to develop approaches to fulfilling ethical duties while advocating for immigrant clients within the current\, evolving immigration policy landscape.\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers \nMonica Eav Glicken is the CEO/Executive Director and General Counsel of Public Law Center in Santa Ana\, CA.  Monica served as the Directing Attorney of PLC’s Immigration Unit from 2018 to 2022\, where she worked with community-based and advocacy organizations serving Orange County’s immigrant and refugee communities. Prior to joining Public Law Center\, Monica served as a Counseling Attorney and Adjunct Lecturer in UC Irvine School of Law’s Immigration Rights Clinic. As the child of immigrants from Cambodia and the Philippines\, Monica is a long-time advocate for those who must fight to be heard\, working tirelessly to promote greater access to justice and community empowerment. \nSuzanne Iazzetta is the Directing Attorney of Public Law Center’s Consumer Law Unit\, and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at UC Irvine School of Law\, teaching a course/clinic in Consumer Rights and Economic Justice.  Some of the areas of law that Suzanne has worked on in her career are all facets of consumer law\, bankruptcy (business and personal)\, housing/eviction matters\, foreclosure defense\, FDCPA\, FCRA\, TCPA\, and UDAAP claims\, and debt collection defense. Suzanne also spent time as a staff attorney for a chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee in New Jersey and had her own solo practice for many years before joining Public Law Center. \n\nPlease note that this webinar is open to the whole consumer law community. Non-members will need to be verified to register for the webinar. The webinar and its recording will be free to all. \nThis webinar will be eligible for one ethics credits. NACA webinars are pre-approved for CLEs in California and Pennsylvania. Attendees from other states will need to apply to their state bar for approval. NACA will submit the attendee list from California and Pennsylvania to their respective bars as long as NACA has the attendee bar number noted in the attendee’s NACA profile. \nClick here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/truth-trust-and-taboos-ethical-consumer-advocacy-for-immigrant-clients/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250917T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250917T150000
DTSTAMP:20250918T121858Z
CREATED:20250822T150100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T121858Z
UID:24302-1758117600-1758121200@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:How To Help Shape Your State’s Laws
DESCRIPTION:When it comes to making and defending strong consumer protections\, much of the attention has moved from the federal government to state legislatures. For busy attorneys who want to become substantially or partially active in their respective state’s lawmaking\, this presentation will provide an overview of how to get started\, who to engage with\, what to expect from the process\, who and what to watch out for\, and how to evaluate your progress. Hear from consumer attorneys and advocates who have conquered the legislative process in their red and blue (and in larger and smaller) states. \n\nWhat You Will Learn\n• What factors to consider before starting the quest to lobby your state legislature\n• What are states’ legislative processes like\n• What critical action items to do before and after a bill is introduced\, including identifying key players\n• What are critical steps to take to successfully oppose a harmful bill. \n\nSpeakers\nLynn Drysdale is Division Chief of the Consumer Advocacy & Litigation Unit at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid\, where she has worked since 1988. Over her career\, she has represented consumers in individual and class actions related to consumer protection\, including cases involving residential mortgage lending\, servicing\, and foreclosure. She regularly engages in legislative advocacy on these and other subjects\, testifying annually before the Florida legislature as well as twice before Congress. Ms. Drysdale is also a prodigious legal educator\, regularly serving as a trainer for organizations including the National Consumer Law Center and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. She also taught a course on consumer law at the University of Florida College of Law for over ten years. She was Chair of the Mortgage and Small Business Lending Markets subcommittee of the Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau until fired by President Trump in his first term. She received her J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law. \nRosemary Shahan is the president and founder of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS). CARS is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading pro-consumer advocacy groups. CARS has spearheaded enactment of many landmark measures to improve protections for new and used car buyers and enhance auto safety\, in California and nationally. CARS is also on the forefront in working to preserve access to justice. Rosemary has been repeatedly invited to testify before Congress\, and is widely quoted by major news organizations. She has received numerous awards\, including from the Consumer Federation of America\, National Consumer Law Center\, and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. Recent legislative victories: Leading successful efforts in multiple states to defeat car dealer “license to kill” legislation that would have allowed car dealers to get away with selling hazardous unrepaired recalled cars that maim or kill people. On the brink of passage: Leading efforts in California to support enactment of the nation’s most sweeping overhaul of car buying practices\, including a first-in-the-nation 3-day cooling off period for used car buyers. \nYoung Walgenkim is an attorney in Salem\, Oregon specializing in auto fraud\, and he is a member of NACA’s board. His passion for consumer rights began at a young age as he witnessed his immigrant parents fall victim to financial exploitation by unscrupulous businesses. Since opening his firm after law school\, Young has devoted his practice to righting wrongs perpetuated by car dealers on all fronts. In 2019\, Young’s advocacy steered a bill through the Oregon legislature that provides attorney fee awards for consumers in vehicle title violation claims. In 2021\, he navigated legislation that requires Oregon courts to reward attorneys who promote access to justice in fee hearings. This year\, Young was instrumental in passing an amendment to significantly improve Oregon’s Yo-Yo statute. \n\nPlease note that this event is free to NACA members and non-members. All will have access to the recording after the webinar has aired. Click here to join the live webinar.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/how-to-help-shape-your-states-laws/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses,Upcoming
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250910T150000
DTSTAMP:20250911T125813Z
CREATED:20250822T155405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T125813Z
UID:24308-1757512800-1757516400@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:Creative State Tools in Forced Arbitration Policymaking
DESCRIPTION:Forced arbitration clauses\, ubiquitous in consumer contracts\, can only be eliminated outright via federal law. Advocacy campaigns to restrict the practice are ongoing and have been successful so far in banning the practice for narrow legal claims and specific populations. While the Federal Arbitration Act looms\, state policies have been enacted to tackle injustices borne out of the restrictive contract terms. For example\, the chronic nonpayment of arbitration fees by corporate defendants has long delayed and denied justice for consumers seeking accountability. State law has sought to change that.\nThis webinar will cover recent efforts to chip away at forced arbitration\, and how to replicate these creative strategies at the state level to fight back against this often harsh and unjust process. \n\nWhat You Will Learn \n• What California’s state law (and its high court’s preemption analysis) could mean for other states’ policymaking on arbitration.\n• How a lawsuit against AAA could spur a positive change in the forced arbitration system\, or encourage better practices.\n• What factors and tactics to consider when seeking arbitration-related policy changes in your state \n\nSpeakers\nDavid Chami is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner for Consumer Justice Law Firm with approximately 30 lawyers licensed to practice in 35 states. David’s firm primarily handles cases under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other adjacent consumer protection statutes. David has been involved in thousands of consumer protection lawsuits and nearly a thousand cases that have been filed in Arbitration over the past 10 years. David’s firm recently filed an anti-trust lawsuit against AAA arguing that its business model has created barriers to entry for competitors and has resulted in a forum which prevents the administration of justice rather than simply making it more efficient. \nHannah Kieschnick is a senior staff attorney on the Access to Justice Project at Public Justice\, a national public interest advocacy organization that specializes in precedent-setting\, socially significant civil litigation. Hannah litigates high-impact appeals across the country involving access to justice\, including forced arbitration. She also regularly speaks at national conferences on topics such as arbitration and class certification. Along with co-counsel\, Public Justice filed an amicus brief in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court\, a recent case in the California Supreme Court that upheld the constitutionality of a state law addressing company’s failures to pay arbitration fees. \nChristine Chen Zinner is the Federal Research and Advocacy Director at the Alliance for Justice\, working to build a rights-expansive federal judiciary that is both demographically and professionally diverse. She began her consumer advocacy journey as the 2006 Esther Peterson Fellow at Consumer Reports and since then\, has continued working on proposals to protect consumer rights\, increase corporate accountability and end forced arbitration. While at the American Association for Justice\, Christine was part of the team that helped pass the Speak Out Act\, a federal law that prohibits the enforcement of non-disclosure agreements stemming from instances of sexual assault and harassment. Christine has also led several consumer financial justice initiatives to help build an equitable financial system that serves everyday people and not just billionaires and the powerful few. She has appeared as a consumer policy expert on NPR’s Morning Edition\, and has been quoted in a number of media outlets\, including the NY Times\, USA Today\, the Washington Post\, the Los Angeles Times\, MSNBC\, Bloomberg\, the Guardian\, and the American Banker. \nChristine Hines is senior policy director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates. \n\nPlease note that this event is free to NACA members and non-members. All will have access to the recording after the webinar has aired.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/creative-state-tools-in-forced-arbitration-policymaking/
LOCATION:NACA’s Learning Platform
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250902T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250902T153000
DTSTAMP:20250903T130900Z
CREATED:20250815T171401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250903T130900Z
UID:24229-1756821600-1756827000@www.consumeradvocates.org
SUMMARY:How to Issue Spot and Litigate FCRA Cases Involving Inaccurate Tenant Screening Background Check Reports
DESCRIPTION:As the criminal justice system comes under scrutiny\, our national reckoning should include reining in the outsize influence that police and courts wield in the lives of millions of people outside the formal legal system. Records created by police and prosecutors are routinely accessed in tenant screening background checks — and regularly used to discriminate against millions of Americans seeking both jobs and apartments. But employment and tenant screening background check reports don’t necessarily provide an accurate portrayal of a person’s past. Employment and tenant screening CRAs routinely mismatch people\, omit crucial information about a case\, provide misleading information\, and misclassify offenses when preparing consumer reports in the form of employment and tenant screening background checks. \nMeanwhile\, an increasing number of American consumers cannot afford to purchase a home and\, therefore\, must rent. Landlords are leveraging technology and data to make more informed decisions\, leading to more comprehensive tenant screening processes\, including comprehensive background checks. This includes checking credit history\, criminal and civil records\, and rental history. Trying to apply for and obtain affordable housing is tough enough\, the last thing prospective tenants need is inaccurate criminal or civil record information showing up in their tenant screening background check reports. \nIf you are investigating and/or litigating FCRA cases against some or all of the main players in the tenant screening world (such as\, TURSS\, RentGrow\, First Advantage\, AppFolio\, and On-Site/RealPage) you need to understand how to effectively issue spot and conduct discovery to increase your settlement leverage\, prevail on your claims at summary judgement\, and ultimately win at trial. \n\nWhat You Will Learn: \n• How to properly issue-spot when handling tenant screening leads and what facts must be present to have an FCRA claim worth pursuing\n• How to ensure that your client’s case/claims are ripe before filing/pursuing litigation\n• How to identify the critical documents you need in discovery to prove and win your case\n• How to gain leverage through discovery to increase the overall value of your case \n\nSpeaker \nHans Lodge is a zealous advocate and is dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers in and out of court. Mr. Lodge assists consumers who have been denied jobs or housing due to inaccurate criminal and civil record history reporting in their employment screening and tenant screening background check reports. Mr. Lodge also assists consumers who have been denied credit due to inaccurate information reporting in their credit reports and have suffered harm due to unlawful debt collection behavior. Mr. Lodge primarily focuses his practice on claims brought under the FCRA on behalf of consumers against CRAs\, which include Equifax\, Experian\, and Trans Union and various employment and tenant screening CRAs. Prior to joining Berger Montague PC\, Mr. Lodge combined his passions for fighting for the little guy and oral advocacy by representing consumers in individual and class action litigation where he held businesses\, banks\, background check companies\, credit bureaus\, and debt collectors accountable for illegal practices.
URL:https://www.consumeradvocates.org/events/online-training-courses/how-to-issue-spot-and-litigate-fcra-cases-involving-inaccurate-tenant-screening-background-check-reports/
CATEGORIES:Online Training Courses
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR