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  • PEREZ SILVA SERGIO vs. NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONOTHOT - OTHER GENERAL CIVIL document preview
  • PEREZ SILVA SERGIO vs. NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONOTHOT - OTHER GENERAL CIVIL document preview
  • PEREZ SILVA SERGIO vs. NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONOTHOT - OTHER GENERAL CIVIL document preview
  • PEREZ SILVA SERGIO vs. NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONOTHOT - OTHER GENERAL CIVIL document preview
  • PEREZ SILVA SERGIO vs. NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONOTHOT - OTHER GENERAL CIVIL document preview
  • PEREZ SILVA SERGIO vs. NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONOTHOT - OTHER GENERAL CIVIL document preview
  • PEREZ SILVA SERGIO vs. NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONOTHOT - OTHER GENERAL CIVIL document preview
  • PEREZ SILVA SERGIO vs. NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONOTHOT - OTHER GENERAL CIVIL document preview
						
                                

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Filing # 194663474 E-Filed 03/22/2024 07:19:14 PM IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 10TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No. SERGIO PEREZ SILVA, individually and on behalf of all those similarly situated, CLASS ACTION Plaintiff, JURY TRIAL DEMANDED v. NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Defendant. / CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Plaintiff Sergio Perez Silva (“Plaintiff”), individually and on behalf of all those similarly situated, sues Defendant Navy Federal Credit Union (“Defendant”) for violating the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (“FCCPA”). JURISDICTION AND VENUE 1 This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.220 and Fla. Stat. § 26.012(2). The matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $50,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney’s fees. 2 This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant because Defendant is operating, present, and/or doing business within this jurisdiction and because the complained of conduct of Defendant occurred within Polk County, Florida. 3 Venue of this action is proper in this Court because, pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 47.011, et seq., the cause of action alleged below arose in Polk County, Florida. 4 Plaintiff has standing to maintain this action because Plaintiff suffered a legal injury as a result of Defendant’s violations of the FCCPA, and because Plaintiff is not requesting an PAGE! 1 of 8 LAW OFFICES OF JIBRAEL S. HINDI, PLLC 110 SE 6th Street, 17th Floor | Ft. Lauderdale. F 301 | Phone (954) 907-1136 | Fax (83 9540 www 2024CA-001165-0000-00 Received in Polk 03/22/2024 07:21 PM advisory opinion from this Court. Thus, Plaintiff has a sufficient stake in a justiciable controversy and seeks to obtain judicial resolution of that controversy. PARTIES 5 Plaintiff is a natural person, and a citizen of the State of Florida, residing in Polk County, Florida. 6 Defendant is a credit union, with its principal place of business located in Vienna, Virginia. DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL 7 Plaintiff, respectfully, demands a trial by jury on all counts and issues so triable. ALLEGATIONS 8 On a date better known by Defendant, Defendant began attempting to collect a debt (the “Consumer Debt”) from Plaintiff. 9. The Consumer Debt is an obligation allegedly had by Plaintiff to pay money arising from a transaction between the creditor of the Consumer Debt, Defendant, and Plaintiff (the “Subject Service”). 10. Plaintiff is the alleged debtor of the Consumer Debt. I. The Subject Service was primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. 12. The FCCPA defines “communication” as “the conveying of information regarding a debt directly or indirectly to any person through any medium.” Fla. Stat. § 559.55(2). 13. Defendant is a “person” within the meaning of Fla. Stat. § $59.72. 14, Section 559.72(17) of the FCCPA prohibits persons from communicating with a debtor between the hours of 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM in the debtor’s time zone without the prior consent of the debtor. PAGE 12 of 8 LAW OFFICES OF JIBRAEL S. HINDI, PLLC 110 SE 6th Street, 17th Floor | Ft. Lauderdale. Flor 1 | Phone (954) 907-1136 | Fax (853) 529-9540 wivw dil JLaw.eon, 2024CA-001165-0000-00 Received in Polk 03/22/2024 07:21 PM THE FIRST COMMUNICATION 15. On February 4, 2024, Defendant sent an electronic mail communication to Plaintiff (the “First Communication”). 16. Attached as Exhibit “A” is a copy of the First Communication. 17. The First Communication was a communication in connection with the collection of the Consumer Debt. 18. The First Communication was sent by Defendant and delivered to Plaintiff's personal e-mail address. 19. The First Communication advised: “Time to Schedule a Payment|.] This is a reminder that a payment of $20.00 for your Navy Federal Visa ending in [redacted] is due by 02/11/24... . As always, you can easily check balances, make deposits, view transactions, pay bills, transfer funds, and more 24/7 via our Mobile app* or by signing in at navyfederal.org[.]” 20. The First Communication was sent by Defendant to Plaintiff at 7:38 AM in Plaintiff's time zone. 21. The First Communication was received by Plaintiff from Defendant at 7:38 AM in Plaintiff's time zone. THE SECOND COMMUNICATION 22. On or about March 4, 2024, Defendant sent an electronic mail communication to Plaintiff (the “Second Communication”). 23. Attached as Exhibit “B” is a copy of the Second Communication. 24, The Second Communication was a communication in connection with the collection of the Consumer Debt. PAGE 13 of 8 LAW OFFICES OF JIBRA! S. HINDI, PLLC 110 SE 6th Street, 17th Floor | Ft. Lauderdale. 1 | Phone (954) 907-1136 | Fas 53) 9540 ul om 2024CA-001165-0000-00 Received in Polk 03/22/2024 07:21 PM 25. The Second Communication was sent by Defendant and delivered to Plaintiff's personal e-mail address. 26. The Second Communication advised: “Time to Schedule a Payment|.] This is a reminder that a payment of $20.00 for your Navy Federal Visa ending in [redacted] is due by 03/11/24... . As always, you can easily check balances, make deposits, view transactions, pay bills, transfer funds, and more 24/7 via our Mobile app* or by signing in at navyfederal.org{[.]” 27. The Second Communication was sent by Defendant to Plaintiff at 7:38 AM in Plaintiff's time zone. 28. The Second Communication was received by Plaintiff from Defendant at 7:38 AM in Plaintiff's time zone. CLASS ALLEGATIONS PROPOSED CLASS 29. Plaintiff brings this lawsuit as a class action on behalfof Plaintiff, individually, and on behalf of all other similarly situated persons. The “Class” that Plaintiff seeks to represent is the below defined “FCCPA Class.” 30. The “FCCPA Class” consists of: [1] all persons with Florida addresses [2] that Defendant or someone on Defendant’s behalf [3] sent an electronic mail communication to [4] between 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM [5] in connection with the collection of a consumer debt. 31. Defendant and its employees or agents are excluded from the Class. 32. Plaintiff does not know the number of members in the Class but believes the number is in the several thousands, if not more. PAGE 14 of 8 LAW OFFICES OF JIBRAEL S. HINDI, PLLC 110 SE 6th Street, 17th Floor | Ft. Lauderdale. Flor 1 | Phone (954) 907-1136 | Fax (853) 529-9540 wivw dil JLaw.eon, 2024CA-001165-0000-00 Received in Polk 03/22/2024 07:21 PM NUMEROSITY 33. Upon information and belief, Defendant has sent thousands of electronic mail communications to Florida consumers between 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM, whereby such electronic mail communication(s) violate 559.72(17). The members of the Class, therefore, are believed to be so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable. 34. The exact number and identities of the Class members are unknown at this time and can be ascertained only through discovery. Identification of the Class members $a matter capable of ministerial determination from Defendant’s e-mail records. COMMON QUESTIONS OF LAW AND FACT 35. There are numerous questions of law and fact common to the Class which predominate over any questions affecting only individual members of the Class. Among the questions of law and fact common to the Class are: [1] Whether Defendant sent an electronic communication to Plaintiff and members of the Class in connection with the collection of a consumer debt; [2] Whether Defendant sent such communication(s) between 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM; [3] Whether Defendant should be enjoined from such conduct in the future. 36. The common questions in this case are capable of having common answers. If Plaintiff's claim that Defendant routinely sends electronic mail communication(s) that violate 559.72(17) is accurate, Plaintiff and members of the Class will have identical claims capable of being efficiently adjudicated and administered in this case. TYPICALITY 37. Plaintiff's claims are typical of the claims of the members of the Class, as they are all based on the same factual and legal theories. PAGE 5 of 8 LAW OFFICES OF JIBRA! S. HINDI, PLLC 110 SE 6th Street, 17th Floor | Ft. Lauderdale. 1 | Phone (954) 907-1136 | Fas 53) 9540 ul om 2024CA-001165-0000-00 Received in Polk 03/22/2024 07:21 PM PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF THE CLASS MEMBERS 38. Plaintiff is a representative who will fully and adequately assert and protect the interests of the Class and has retained competent counsel. Accordingly, Plaintiff is an adequate representative and will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the Class. SUPERIORITY 39. A class action is superior to all other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of this lawsuit because individual litigation of the claims of all members of the Class. is economically unfeasible and procedurally impracticable. While the aggregate damages sustained by members of the Class are in the millions of dollars, the individual damages incurred by each member of the Class resulting from Defendant’s wrongful conduct are too small to warrant the expense of individual lawsuits. The likelihood of individual members of the Class prosecuting their own separate claims is remote, and, even if every member of the Class could afford individual litigation, the court system would be unduly burdened by individual litigation of such cases. 40. The prosecution of separate actions by members of the Class would create a risk of establishing inconsistent rulings and/or incompatible standards of conduct for Defendant. For example, one court might enjoin Defendant from performing the challenged acts, whereas another may not. Additionally, individual actions may be dispositive of the interests of the Class, although certain class members are not parties to such actions. Count 1 VIOLATION OF FLA. STAT. § 559.72(17) 41. Plaintiff, individually and on behalfof the FCCPA Class, incorporates by reference {| 8-40 of this Class Action Complaint. PAGE 16 of 8 LAW OFFICES OF JIBRAEL S. HINDI, PLLC 110 SE 6th Street, 17th Floor | Ft. Lauderdale. Flor 1 | Phone (954) 907-1136 | Fax (853) 529-9540 wivw dil JLaw.eon, 2024CA-001165-0000-00 Received in Polk 03/22/2024 07:21 PM 42. Pursuant to § 559.72(17) of the FCCPA, in collecting consumer debts, no person shall: “/cJommunicate with the debtor between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. in the debtor's time cone without the prior consent of the debtor.” Fla Stat. § 559.72(17) (emphasis added). 43. As set forth above, Defendant sent multiple electronic communications to Plaintiff in connection with the collection of the Consumer Debt. See Exhibits A-B (collectively, the “Electronic Communications”). Each of the Electronic Communications were sent to Plaintiff between the hours of 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM in the time zone of Plaintiff. Defendant did not have the consent of Plaintiff to communicate with Plaintiff between the hours of 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM. As such, by and through each of the Electronic Communications, Defendant violated § 559.72(17) of the FCCPA. 44. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, individually and on behalfof the FCCPA Class, requests relief and judgment as follows: (a) Determine this action is a proper class action under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure; (b) A declaration that Defendant’s conduct and/or practices described herein violate § 559.72(17); (c) Award Plaintiff and members of the FCCPA Class statutory damages pursuant to Fla. Stat., § 559.77(2); (d) Enjoin Defendant from future violations of Fla. Stat., § 559.72(17) with respect to Plaintiff and the FCCPA Class; (e) Award Plaintiff and members of the FCCPA Class reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, including expert fees, pursuant to Fla. Stat., § 559.77(2); and (f) Any other relief that this Court deems appropriate under the circumstances. PAGE!7 of 8 LAW OFFICES OF JIBRAEL S. HINDI, PLLC 110 SE 6th Street, 17th Floor | Ft. Lauderdale. Flor 1 | Phone (954) 907-1136 | Fax (853) 529-9540 wivw dil JLaw.eon, 2024CA-001165-0000-00 Received in Polk 03/22/2024 07:21 PM Dated: March 22, 2024 Respectfully Submitted, /s/ Zane C. Hedaya JIBRAEL S. HINDI, ESQ. Florida Bar No.: 118259 E-mail: jibrael @jibraellaw.com JENNIFER G. SIMIL, ESQ. Florida Bar No.: 1018195 E-mail: jen @jibraellaw.com ZANE C. HEDAYA, ESQ. Florida Bar No.: 1048640 E-mail: zane @jibraellaw.com GERALD D. LANE, JR., ESQ. Florida Bar No.: 1044677 E-mail: gerald @jibraellaw.com The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi 110 SE 6th Street, Suite 1744 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 Phone: 954-907-1136 COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF PAGE 18 of 8 LAW OFFICES OF JIBRAEL S. HINDI, PLLC 110 SE 6th Street, 17th Floor | Ft. Lauderdale. F 301 | Phone (954) 907-1136 | Fax (83 9540 www 2024CA-001165-0000-00 Received in Polk 03/22/2024 07:21 PM Exhibit A 2024CA-001165-0000-00 Received in Polk 03/22/2024 07:21 PM 4 0} a oor fan olelacslaleae)erereaaliaenrPay mentiaiay i) EMS alee an Rents pe S) or i a Ne ia tel-1e enero ULL) a CornateTLeareLY Roles Tel WATE ARETN Se TateF-leeR-itolag occa MRS) MrT dam rele) ee EWN Cie ete a els SE OSROOREGcceccececenes| Wh aatcme comeeXedal-ye [0] (-ar-) Payment nee) UE CR VOR Om Vols NEWER ACen == [ROUEN] OAT ALB elURY em-licr-0\Vmsen\ce Bicem-mOayMenty fe) (cxe\sXe We [iccre = OMAR cIstsi<(@[oR PNSIE=l Nc \VASHI (00 Or=lam =r=\S)NVA @1 82 (01,48 OY \ Cre STAAL) (o.-Jefes