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Robert Stempler
CONSUMER & TAX LAW OFFICE OF ROBERT STEMPLER APLC
Central District of California
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
3400 Inland Empire Blvd., Suite 101
Ontario, CA 91764-5577
www.StopCollectionHarassment.com
Mr. Stempler's office can be conveniently reached at any of these telephone numbers:
- (909) 972-6841
- (951) 541-2396
- (760) 553-1581
Class Actions Certified by the Court:
1.Rannis v. Fair Credit Lawyers, Inc., Case No. EDCV-06-373-AG (JCx), 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17856, 19-20 (C.D. Cal., Mar. 12, 2007). Class members are alleged victims under the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act and California Business and Professions Code § 17200 by an attorney in Orange County named Peter L. Recchia, who does business under the name Fair Credit Lawyers. Estimated number of class members: 400 to 500. Liability and damages have not yet been determined by the Court, but motions are pending. District Judge Andrew J. Guilford, Presiding.
2.Keener v. Sears Roebuck and Company, Case No. EDCV-03-01265-RT (SGLx) (C.D. Cal. Aug. 16, 2005). Class members were alleged victims under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, in which the defendants allegedly accessed their Trans Union credit reports of former account holders, without their permission or other legal authority. Potential number of class members: over 2 million. Senior District Judge Robert J. Timlin, Presiding.
3.Justice v. National Check Trust, Inc., Case No. CV-02-04908-PA (RNBx) (C.D. Cal. June 10, 2003). Class members were alleged victims of an improper notice under the federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and California Business and Professions Code § 17200 by a Florida-based collection agency that primarily collects bad checks. Class size: 2253. District Judge Percy Anderson, presiding.
4.Doxtader v. Transworld Systems, Case No. 99cv1563TW (LSP) (S.D. Cal., Sept. 2000). Class members were alleged victims of an improper notice under the federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and California Business and Professions Code § 17200 by a large collection agency. Estimated class size: 93,000. District Judge Thomas J. Whelan, Presiding.
Debt Collection Cases Litigated to a Court Decision*:
5.Walsh v. Eskanos & Adler, Case No. CV-98-8198-DDP (Ex) (C.D. Cal. 1999). Rule 68 judgment entered against large, California debt-collection law firm; U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson presiding.
6.Pflueger v. Auto Finance Group, Inc., Case No. CV-97-9499-CAS (CTx) (C.D. Cal. 1999). The opinion of U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder ruled, in part, for plaintiffs on summary judgment against a repossession agency, which opinion is available at 1999 WestLaw 33738434 and 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16701. The matter settled confidentially with both defendants (a repossession agency and an auto finance company/bank subsidiary) afterwards.
7.Doxtader v. Transworld Systems, Case No. 99cv1563TW (LSP) (S.D. Cal. 2000). U.S. District Judge Thomas J. Whelan entered a stipulated class-action judgment against a major debt-collection agency. At the fairness hearing, Judge Whelan commented upon the considerable experience of Mr. Stempler and his co-counsel, O. Randolph Bragg (Chicago), and the favorable result obtained for the class in light of the attorneys' fees awarded.
8.Justice v. National Check Trust, Inc., Case No. CV-02-04908-PA (RNBx) (C.D. Cal. 2003). U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson entered a stipulated class-action judgment against a major debt-collection agency of bounced checks. The matter was litigated by of Mr. Stempler and his co-counsel, O. Randolph Bragg (Chicago).
9.Hernandez v. Coast Water Systems, Inc., Case No. CV-02-9892-RGK (RCx) (C.D. Cal. 2003). U.S. Magistrate Judge Rosalyn M. Chapman, presiding, sanctioned a defense attorney for misconduct in connection with plaintiff's deposition subpoena of Coast, a door-to-door seller of water filter systems. The matter then settled as to all defendants, without any other rulings.
Automobile Cases Litigated to Judgment*:
10.Reyes v. Car Gallerie, Inc., Case No. CV-00-5673-MWB (BQRx) (C.D. Cal. 2000). At the conclusion of a bench trial, U.S. Senior District Judge Wm. Matthew Byrne, Jr. issued a minute order in favor of plaintiff, awarding Truth in Lending Act's full statutory damages and reasonable attorneys fees, with ruling on injunction deferred. The matter settled with the defendant car dealer, before a judgment on other issues was entered.
11.Buie v. Palm Springs Motors, Inc., Case No. EDCV-00-00168-VAP(MCx) (C.D. Cal. 2001). Both sides move for summary judgment, and U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips awarded plaintiff Truth in Lending Act's statutory damages and attorneys fees, which opinion is available at 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13756 2001 WestLaw 34570064 (C.D. Cal. May 14, 2001). The dealership appealed, and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in Buie v. Palm Springs Motors, Inc., Case No. 01-56035 (9th Cir. 2002); the memorandum opinion is available at 36 Fed. Appx. 328, 2002 WestLaw 1272128, and 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 11046 (9th Cir.).
12.Ford Motor Credit Company v. Torres, Case No. SCVSS 077870 (San Bernardino County Superior Court). On April 13, 2004, judgment by the court entered in plaintiff's favor and against the consumers, following a partial trial before Judge Keith D. Davis. An appeal was filed for the consumers, but dismissed, following the court's review and resolution by settlement conference in the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Mr. Stempler represented the consumers with co-counsel, S. Chandler Visher and Kathryn L. Anderson.
13.Angel v. YFB Hemet Inc. d/b/a Villa Honda, Case No. 00CC12922 (Orange County Superior Court 2001). Jury verdict entered for the plaintiffs: $85,000 in punitive damages awarded against the dealership and $50,000 in actual damages awarded against the financial institution (WFS Financial). Commissioner Eleanor M. Palk, presiding, awarded restitution of $4,203.52 and issued an injunction against the dealership's illegal practices. Mr. Stempler represented the plaintiffs with co-counsel, the Law Offices of Dumbeck and Dumbeck. The dealership appealed the verdict and judgment to the Fourth District Court of Appeal for the State of California, Division 3 (Santa Ana), referenced as Case No. G030528. On April 30, 2004, the Court of Appeal issued an unpublished decision directing the trial court to reduce the punitive damages award to $42,000, on Constitutional grounds, but affirmed the trial court's judgment in all other respects. The unpublished opinion is available at 2004 WestLaw 1058180 (Cal.App. 4 Dist. 2004).
Other Experience:
Mr. Stempler has filed and settled many other consumer cases, which are too numerous to list. Opposing defendants have included the following companies:
ALLIED INTERSTATE, INC.
AMERICAN ACCOUNTS MANAGEMENT INC.
AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
AMERICAN GENERAL FINANCE
AMERICAN HONDA FINANCE CORPORATION
AMERICREDIT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
AQUA FINANCE, INC.
AQUA RESOURCES, INC.
ARROW FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
ATTENTION LLC
AUTO FINANCE GROUP, INC.
BANK OF NEW YORK
BANCAMERICA AUTO FINANCE CORP.
BANC OF AMERICA AUTO FINANCE CORP.
BONDED COLLECTORS LLC
CALIFORNIA COASTAL RECOVERY, INC.
CAMBECE LAW OFFICE
CAPITAL ACQUISITIONS AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY aka CAMCO
CAPITAL ONE BANK
CAPITAL ONE SERVICES INC.
CAPITAL RECOVERY SERVICES, LLC
CARMEL FINANCIAL CORPORATION INC.
CAVALRY PORTFOLIO SERVICES LLC
CAVALRY INVESTMENTS, LLC
CHASE BANK USA, N.A.
CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, USA, N.A.
CHRYSLER FINANCIAL COMPANY, LLC
CIT GROUP/SALES FINANCING, INC.
CITIBANK (SOUTH DAKOTA) N.A.
COLLECT AMERICA LTD
COLLECTION PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
COAST WATER SYSTEMS INC.
CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.;
CORPORATE RECEIVABLES INC
CORPORATE TRUST RECOVERY
CREDIGY RECEIVABLES, INC.
CTR RECOVERY ENTERPRISES, INC.
DEALER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
DRIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES
EQUIFAX INFORMATION SERVICES LLC;
EXPERIAN INFORMATION SOLUTIONS INC.
FAIR CREDIT LAWYERS, INC.
FCC NATIONAL BANK
FIRST CREDIT SOLUTIONS, INC.
FIRST MERCHANTS ACCEPTANCE
FIRST NORTH AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK/CIRCUIT CITY
FIRST SELECT CORPORATION
FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY
FORD CREDIT TITLING TRUST N31
GE CAPITAL CORPORATION
GENERAL MOTORS ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION aka GMAC
GENESIS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS
GREENWOOD TRUST COMPANY D/B/A DISCOVER CARD SERVICES
HOUSEHOLD RETAIL SERVICES INC.
IMPERIAL MERCHANT SERVICES, INC.
JP MORGAN CHASE AND CO.
J.J. MAC INTYRE COMPANY
KIRBY DE BAJA CALIFORNIA
LAW OFFICES OF PATENAUDE & FELIX
LHR INC.
MARAUDER CORPORATION
MARSHALL AND ZIOLKOWSKI ENTERPRISE LLC
MBNA AMERICA BANK, N.A.
MED-BILL SERVICES aka MEDICAL BILLING CONSULTANTS
MCT GROUP, INC.
MIDFIRST BANK
MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT, INC.
MITSUBISHI MOTORS CREDIT OF AMERICA, INC.
MODERN ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
MRC RECEIVABLES CORP.
NATIONAL CHECK TRUST, INC.
NATIONAL CREDIT ADJUSTERS, LLC
NATIONWIDE CAPITAL RECOVERY
NCO PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT, INC.
NCO FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, INC.
NELNET CORPORATION
NELNET-I TRUST
NORWEST FINANCIAL CALIFORNIA, INC.
NOVUS SERVICES, INC.
ONYX ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
PENNCRO ASSOCIATES, INC.
PINNACLE CREDIT SERVICES
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, LLC
PRIMUS AUTOMOTIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
PROFESSIONAL COLLECTION CONSULTANTS
REFINANCE AMERICA LTD
RELIABLE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU INC.
RESORT MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL
RIDDLE & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
RISK MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES, INC.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY'S CREDIT UNION
ROGER'S ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
RUSH CREDIT REPORTS
SEARS ROEBUCK AND COMPANY
SEARS NATIONAL BANK
SHEKINAH, INC.
SHEKINAH PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.
SPRINT PCS
SYGNET FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
TAMUZ TWELVE LLC
TATE AND KIRLIN ASSOCIATES
TELECHECK RECOVERY SERVICES, INC.
THE BUREAUS INC.
TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION
TRANS UNION LLC
UNION ACCEPTANCE CORP.
UNITED CONSUMER FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
VALCOR GLOBAL RESOURCES, INC. D/B/A SATELLITE TV OF CALIFORNIA
VISTA REALTY OF THE DESERT, INC.
VW CREDIT, INC. aka VOLKSWAGEN CREDIT
WELLS FARGO AUTO FINANCE, INC.
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
WESCOM CREDIT UNION
WFS FINANCIAL, INC.
WFS FINANCIAL AUTO LOANS, INC.
WHIRLPOOL FINANCIAL NATIONAL BANK
Appearance on this list does NOT mean the company is abusive,
harassing and/or deceptive, but only that the client alleged
violations of law, such as the FDCPA, FCRA, FCBA, or a California
statute or common law.
Mr. Stempler has also published articles in local newspapers, appeared as a guest on several AM talk programs, lectured at the 2002 Conference on Consumer Finance Law, spoke on a panel at the 2006 National Associations of Consumer Advocates' Fair Credit Report Act Conference, and has assisted in editing the National Consumer Law Center's treatise entitled: “Repossessions and Foreclosures” (4th ed.). Mr. Stempler's pleadings have also been made available in the National Consumer Law Center's treatise entitled “The Practice of Consumer Law, Seeking Economic Justice” (2d ed.).
Professional Affiliations:
Admitted (1992) State Bar of California
Admitted (1997) Central District of California
Admitted (1999) Southern District of California
Admitted (2001) U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Co-Chairperson (2003-04) and Member (since 2001) Programs and Publications Committee of the California State Bar's Business Law Section
Member (since 1997) National Association of Consumer Advocates (www.naca.net)
Member (since 1998) Southern California Auto Fraud Lawyers Group
* Cases having significance, in the Attorney's opinion, and judgments not obtained by default.
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