SOTO V HOUSLANGER & ASSOCIATES, PLLC, ET. AL.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DIRSTRICT OF NEW YORK
Case No. 19 CIV. 6691
NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AND FAIRNESS HEARING
On July 11, 2022 the Court granted preliminary approval of a proposed settlement in the lawsuit Soto v. Houslanger (the “Settlement”). The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) brought this lawsuit on behalf of three New York City consumers against the law firm Houslanger & Associates and two of its attorneys, Todd Houslanger and Bryan Bryks (“Defendants”). This case is about whether Defendants used unlawful practices when executing on judgments entered against New York City consumers.
You may be included in the class covered by the settlement (1) If you had a consumer debt judgment entered against you in New York City Civil Court and (2) the law firm Houslanger & Associates, PLLC executed on that judgment at some point between 2016 and 2022. Defendants executed on judgments by garnishing New York City consumers’ wages or restraining their bank accounts.
As part of the Settlement, Defendants have agreed that they will permanently stop collecting on the judgments entered against all Class Members who participate in the Settlement, and will also stop collecting on certain additional New York City Civil Court judgments. Defendants have also agreed to pay $155,000 as part of the Settlement.
Defendants have not admitted to any wrongdoing but if the Settlement is approved by the Court, Defendants have agreed to stop collecting on your judgment forever. (But it is possible that someone else may collect on your judgment in the future. You can get help with collection issues by calling the phone number or visiting the website below.)
If you have questions about the Settlement, contact 1-800-578-9164
You may be in one of the following classes:
Injunctive Class: You cannot get money from this settlement, because the records show that you paid Defendants less than $1,000 and did not appear in Court to challenge the collection.
Compensation Class: You paid more than $1,000 in connection with their execution, or you appeared in Court to challenge the execution, or both. You are eligible to get money from the Settlement. If you submit a Claim Form by September 20, 2022 and do not opt out, you will get a payment from the Settlement. It is very likely that your payment will be at least $50, and possibly substantially more. The amount of money that you will get depends on how many Class Members respond to this notice and how much money was collected from you.
If you have questions about this settlement, please call 1-800-578-9164.