In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by Erin Edwards and Simon Fleischmann to break down the most significant trends reshaping the consumer finance class action landscape. With a 25% year-over-year increase in federal class action filings and consumer protection claims leading the charge, the stakes are getting higher for financial services companies. The trio covers critical areas from recent cases to highlight information that every in-house legal team needs to understand about class actions, including the significance of precise class definitions and ascertainability, standing and concrete injury, and evidentiary examination. Whether you’re managing active litigation or building a proactive defense strategy, this episode delivers the insights and practical checklist you need to navigate the class action wave.

Transcript: Class Action Surge: What a 25% Spike in Federal Filings Means for Consumer Finance (PDF)

Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Chris Willis Chris Willis

Chris is the co-leader of the Consumer Financial Services Regulatory practice at the firm. He advises financial services institutions facing state and federal government investigations and examinations, counseling them on compliance issues including UDAP/UDAAP, credit reporting, debt collection, and fair lending, and defending…

Chris is the co-leader of the Consumer Financial Services Regulatory practice at the firm. He advises financial services institutions facing state and federal government investigations and examinations, counseling them on compliance issues including UDAP/UDAAP, credit reporting, debt collection, and fair lending, and defending them in individual and class action lawsuits brought by consumers and enforcement actions brought by government agencies.

Photo of Erin Edwards Erin Edwards

Erin focuses her litigation practice on defending financial institutions against class actions and individual claims involving loan origination, servicing, and investments. This includes lawsuits brought under federal statutes — RESPA, TILA, FCRA, FDCPA, TCPA, EFTA, and UDAAP — as well as state-specific fair…

Erin focuses her litigation practice on defending financial institutions against class actions and individual claims involving loan origination, servicing, and investments. This includes lawsuits brought under federal statutes — RESPA, TILA, FCRA, FDCPA, TCPA, EFTA, and UDAAP — as well as state-specific fair lending, collections, and deceptive trade practice laws. Erin also has significant experience resolving property title, transfer, and lien priority disputes for her clients. Her in-depth understanding of the financial services industry gives her a unique advantage in prosecuting and defending high-stakes deceptive business practices claims, such as trade secret misappropriation and Sherman Act violations.

Photo of Simon Fleischmann Simon Fleischmann

Simon manages complex litigation and regulatory enforcement actions for banks and non-bank financial services providers, bringing decades of experience in jury and non-jury trials, federal and state appellate arguments, and responding to investigations by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Illinois attorney…

Simon manages complex litigation and regulatory enforcement actions for banks and non-bank financial services providers, bringing decades of experience in jury and non-jury trials, federal and state appellate arguments, and responding to investigations by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Illinois attorney general.