A complaint has been filed in federal court in California accusing a number of healthcare providers and a collection agency of violating state law as well as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by attempting to collect on a debt that was incurred as a result of injuries suffered while the plaintiff was working and thus covered by worker’s compensation.
A copy of the complaint in the case of Vasquez-Looper v. Desert Valley Hospital, Renaissance Imaging Medical Associates, Desert Valley Medical Group, and High Desert Creditors Service can be accessed by clicking here.
The plaintiff received treatment from the healthcare provider defendants as a result of injuries suffered on the job. The plaintiff informed the defendants that her injuries were a result of a workplace accident and provided all the information necessary to make sure the proper parties were billed.
But the plaintiff began receiving calls and letters from the defendants attempting to collect on the debts. State law in California prohibits individuals hurt on the job from being billed for medical services.
The complaint also includes FDCPA and Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims resulting from allegations that the collection agency named in the complaint used a third-party vendor to print and mail the letter it sent to the plaintiff, saying that such an act violates Section 1692c(b) of the FDCPA because it constitutes a third-party disclosure.
The complaint accuses the defendants of violating Sections 1692d, 1692e, 1692e(2)(A), 1692e(10), 1692f, and 1692f(1) of the FDCPA.
