What To Do When You're Sued

Posted On: 2005-09-07
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Only 39 days left until the bankruptcy laws change.

Hey everybody, it's Jay bringing you the Debt Podcast. Today is Wednesday, September 7, 2005, in our short labor day week, and so today's the first Debt Podcast show that you're hearing for the week. First, if you've not already donated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, please take a few minutes and go to the Red Cross' website at www.redcross.org and make your donation. The devastation is clearly worse than anybody has ever seen in the United States, and it's important that we all do our share. If you've got any questions or comments about this show, you can send email to debtpodcast@gmail.com. You can check out the show notes at debtpodcast.blogspot.com. If you live in New York, and have a bankruptcy or consumer credit question, you can check out the website of my law firm, the Debt Relief Center of New York at www.drlcny.com for more information, or to schedule an appointment to meet with myself, or anybody else in the office.

The topic for today's show is what to do when you're sued for a past due debt. First, a little bit of headlines. Consumer groups are pressing for the new bankruptcy law that is set to go into effect on October 17, to be delayed for at least one year for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Consumer Federation of America, and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys held a press conference today on Wednesday, outlining which consumer provisions of the new law they'd like to see hurricane victims to be exempted from. A number of democrats on Capitol Hill are already heeding the call for help. Senator Russ Feingold, democrat from Wisconsin, said yesterday on Tuesday that he is preparing legislation to protect individuals and small businesses from the upcoming bankruptcy law. Feingold said that we need to make sure that the new bankruptcy law does not compound the hardship for thousands of hard working Americans who simply will not be able to make ends meet as a result of the disaster. In the House, representative John Conyers, democrat from Michigan, said that he intends to draft legislation shortly to help families and small businesses as well. Meanwhile, several republican lawmakers said they intend to hold hearing as well on what legislative solutions should be forthcoming.

I urge all of my listeners to immediately pick up the telephone and to call your Senators and Representative in Washington and let them know that you believe that the victims of Hurricane Katrina should not have their financial woes compounded by the imposition of the new bankruptcy code, as we have already discussed on a previous show, many of these victims of Hurricane Katrina...