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Donovan Searles, LLC Announces $1,058,697 Verdict in Class Action Against Debt Collection Law Firm

Philadelphia, PA  September 24, 2009.  The law firm of Donovan Searles, LLC, announces that it has obtained a $1,058,697.10 class action verdict in the case of Roethlein v. Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd., November Term 2002, No. 3888, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. 

            The case was filed on behalf of Pennsylvania real property owners who were charged unauthorized fees, interest, penalties or attorney fees by the Portnoff Law Associates law firm.  The case was tried before the Honorable Mark I. Bernstein over ten days in September, 2007.  In a detailed Order, Memorandum Opinion and Findings of Fact issued on March 12, 2008, as amended July 9, 2009, the Court found that the defendants had “refused to obey the law” by continuing to charge and collect fees, interest, penalties that the Pennsylvania courts had forbidden.  Following post-trial motions, the Court entered a verdict against defendants awarding the Class $510,855.00 for unlawfully collected administrative fees and  $18,493.55 for interest on the unlawfully collected administrative fees.  Under the Pennsylvania law known as Act 6, the Court doubled the award for a total of $1,058,697.10.  The Court also awarded plaintiffs their attorneys' fees and ordered an accounting of the defendants' books and records.  The defendants have appealed the decision.

            Donovan Searles partner David A. Searles was one of the trial counsel for the Class in the case.  He says, “we are gratified by the detailed and careful decision of the trial court, which makes clear that debt collection lawyers must follow the law and cannot collect fees and interest not authorized by law.”

The Roethlein case is the fourth class action successfully tried to verdict by Donovan Searles lawyers in the last three years.  If you wish to discuss this action, or have any questions, please contact David A. Searles at Donovan Searles, LLC, 1845 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA  19103; phone:  (800) 619-1677 or (215) 732-6067; e-mail:  dsearles@donovansearles.com