Barnes Law Group Blog

Legal Battle On Over Loan to Soldier

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Ruben Rosario, reporter with TwinCities.com, compares title loans to racketeering. Click here to read the full article.

Veteran Challenges Title Loan Company In Court

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Click here to read an article appearing in the Marietta Daily Journal by Katy Ruth Camp about Army Staff Sgt. Jason Cox's lawsuit pending against Community Loans of America.

Category: Media Coverage

TO: All persons in Georgia who obtained a Payday Loan of $3,000 or less ...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

The State Court of Cobb County, Georgia has certified a Georgia class action lawsuit to adjudicate legal rights and obligations pertaining to payday loans that were originated, marketed or serviced by, through or on behalf of Georgia Cash America, Inc. or Cash America International, Inc. in the state of Georgia from October 9, 2001 through April 1, 2006.

Category: Making It Right

Georgia Soldier Claims He Was Predatory Lending Victim, Associated Press, 11.22.2011

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Click here to read the Associated Press article by Russ Bynum.
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Category: Media Coverage

Soldier Sues Title Lender, Claiming Abusive Practices

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Click here to read the article published in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution on November 17, 2011.
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Category: Media Coverage

Are You an Active Duty Service Member?

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

If you are an active duty service member and had a vehicle title loan or payday loan, we may be able to help. Click here for a free evaluation.
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Category: Making It Right

Army Infantryman Strikes Back against Illegal Title Loans

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Ft. Benning, Ga. (11/11/11) – Exemplifying his Infantry motto, Follow Me, United States Army Infantryman and Purple Heart recipient, SSG Jason Cox, hopes to stop predatory title loans from being made to members of the military and their dependents. Flanked by Georgia’s former Governor, Staff Sergeant Cox filed a nationwide class action lawsuit against the Atlanta-based title pawn lenders Community Loans of America, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, Alabama Title Loans, Inc., and 900 related corporate entities operating in 22 states.

The federal court suit, filed on Veteran’s Day in Columbus, is based on the special lending protections given to active duty service members and their dependents under the Military Lending Act of 2007, a federal law that prohibits creditors from charging more than 36% APR on title and payday loans and requiring service members to give up the title to their vehicle as security of the loan. Lawmakers passed the MLA after the Pentagon reported in 2006 that “Predatory lending undermines military readiness, harms the morale of troops and their families, and adds to the cost of fielding an all-volunteer fighting force.”

As title loans go, Cox’s story is not unique. To help meet family financial obligations, Cox initially borrowed $3,000 against his 2002 Dodge Durango that he owned free and clear. Cox was charged over 100% APR for each 30 day loan period. After rolling the loan over multiple times, and paying hundreds of dollars each time, Cox could no longer afford to keep making the monthly payments and the Durango was repossessed from his on base housing at Ft. Benning, while he was at work and on duty. SSG Cox is asking a federal judge for permission to represent all active duty service members and their dependents in 22 states who had similar loans, and to declare the loans and the unlawful.

This case challenges the practice of making illegal “vehicle title loans” to active duty service members and their dependents in violation of the Military Lending Act. Unlike other laws where the victims of predatory lending are not allowed to go to court, the MLA expressly bans lenders from requiring service members to arbitrate without a court’s involvement. The suit is asking a federal judge to force vehicle title lenders to comply with the requirements of the MLA, stop repossessing service member’s vehicles on the loans that don’t comply, and return the money that was wrongfully taken.

The suit, jointly filed by Roy Barnes, Georgia’s former Governor, and John R. Bevis (Barnes Law Group, LLC) and attorneys Scott C. Crowley and Kyle S. Fischer (Day Crowley, LLC), is the first of its kind. Asked why he filed suit, Barnes said “It’s simple, really. Every day we ask the military to fight for our freedoms. Now it’s time for us to step up to the plate and fight for theirs. Predatory lending against our service members and their families violates all notions of decency and ethics. This is not only wrong – it is tragic. And it must end.”

Contact Information: John R. Bevis, Barnes Law Group, LLC

770-227-6375 | bevis@barneslawgroup.com

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Category: Making It Right

Top Georgia Verdicts of 2010

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMT

BLG partners Roy Barnes and John Bevis have been recognized in the FCDR’s “Top Georgia Verdicts of 2010” for securing a $14 Million recovery in Kahn v. Fortis Insurance Company et. al., an insurance class action lawsuit brought on behalf of individuals and small businesses. Kahn is ranked as the #1 highest recovery in Georgia for an insurance case, and the 7^th highest recovery among all Georgia cases in 2010. Here’s to MAKING IT RIGHT…It’s What We Do!

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Category: BLG Recognition

Category: BLG Results

The BLG Family

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMT

It's been a while since our last family photo. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the hard-working team that makes up BLG...

Category: BLG Recognition

What do you think about our new website?

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Today, BLG unveiled our newly redesigned BarnesLawGroup.com. Take a moment to check it out, including our new features: a Live Chat option, expanded info about the firm, and a blog featuring recent news about the firm.

Category: Media Coverage