Consumer Law

Our Consumer Law Unit helps clients protect their income and assets, including their homes.  

We represent clients in a variety of consumer law cases, including those involving:

Foreclosure

We defend clients facing foreclosure and protect homeowners who have experienced abusive or illegal practices by their mortgage servicers. We also help clients with short and long-term options for keeping their homes, including loan modifications. Loan modifications can help homeowners get a fresh start on their mortgage payments by, for example, changing the terms of their mortgage to make it more affordable. We also assist clients facing foreclosure by their condominium association and clients facing property tax sale foreclosure.

Debt Collection

We represent consumers in cases involving all forms of consumer debt, including credit card debt, personal loans, and medical debt. We help clients whose wages are being “garnished” (taken out of their paycheck) by a creditor because of a judgment. We also help clients negotiate favorable settlements with their creditors. In cooperation with our partner organizations, we also staff a Debt Collection Defense Hotline that consumers can call to request information, advice, and representation.

Insurance Subrogation

We defend clients in auto insurance subrogation cases. These are cases filed in D.C. Superior Court by insurance companies against the drivers or owners of cars alleged to be involved in an accident with a person the company insured. We can provide advice and representation in these cases in several ways: by helping clients prove they had car insurance at the time of the accident, fighting the case in court when the client has defenses, and helping clients settle these cases with affordable repayment plans. 

Structured Settlements

We counsel clients who have “structured settlements” – long-term annuities that clients received as part of a settlement for a personal injury or wrongful death case. Our clients generally come to us after they have agreed to a deal with a “factoring” company to purchase their future annuity payments. We help clients evaluate these deals and may assist them in obtaining more favorable terms

Systemic Advocacy

Our Consumer Law Unit attorneys also engage in systemic advocacy to reform debt collections laws and practices in the District of Columbia, to defend and enforce homeowner protections provided by D.C. law, and to advocate for legislative and regulatory improvements to D.C. and federal consumer laws. We also regularly engage with Superior Court committees and working groups in support of access to justice enhancements to local court rules, procedures, and court information provided to unrepresented litigants.