Firm News

July 10, 2010 -- Donald Maurice, president of the law firm of Maurice & Needleman, P.C. has been included in the 2010 Corporate Counsel Edition of Super Lawyers magazine.

The Corporate Counsel edition features attorneys from all 50 states and D.C. who assist in-house counsel with their legal matters. Candidates are evaluated based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Maurice represents banks, financial institutions and other attorneys, handling everything from class actions to professional liability defense and ethics matters.

Maurice Discusses Jerman v. Carlisle at NARCA Meeting

May 19, 2010 -- Donald Maurice was among a panel of attorneys who spoke about the recent Supreme Court case Jerman v. Carlisle at the spring meeting of the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys in Washington D.C. on May 15.

The panelists discussed the case's future impact on debt collection litigation and whether future client representation could result in a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Dominczyk Article Published in ABI Journal

May 11, 2010 -- An article written by Thomas R. Dominczyk, an attorney with the law firm Maurice & Needleman, P.C., has been published in the April edition of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal.

The article is entitled "Rule 9037: Consequences of Failure to Redact 'Personal Data Identifiers.'" The article examines the potential consequences of failure to redact personal information from documents filed with a U.S. bankruptcy court and the steps one should take if personal information has not been redacted.

Needleman quoted in New York Times

Joann Needleman was quoted in the New York Times on May 7, 2010, in an article entitled "New York Judges Resist Claims by Debt Collectors."

Maurice Named 2010 Super Lawyer

May 1, 2010 -- Donald Maurice, an attorney with the law firm Maurice & Needleman, P.C., has been honored for the fourth consecutive year as a New Jersey Super Lawyer in the area of Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights.

Each year, only 5 percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor. Super Lawyers recognizes outstanding attorneys in more than 70 practice areas using a rigorous selection process that considers 15 separate indicators of peer recognition, professional achievement and the highest ethical standards.

Maurice has been defending the financial services industry for more than 20 years. He has published numerous articles and regularly lectures on the rights of creditors.

Maurice is certified as a Creditor Right's Specialist by the American Board of Certification and is admitted to practice in New Jersey, as well as the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Third Circuit Court of Appeals and United States Supreme Court. He is rated AV, the highest rating given by Martindale-Hubbell, the worldwide guide to lawyers.

Needleman Speaks at ABA's Consumer Financial Services Meeting

Jan. 12, 2010 -- Joann Needleman of Maurice & Needleman, P.C., spoke at the winter meeting of the ABA's Consumer Financial Services Committee in Park City, Utah on Jan. 12.

Needleman was part of a panel that discussed the current regulatory environment in Washington, D.C. and the Federal Trade Commission's intention to change the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Needleman Joins Panel in Addressing FTC on FDCPA Reform

Dec. 7, 2009 -- Joann Needleman of Maurice & Needleman, P.C. joined a panel of experts who spoke to the Federal Trade Commission on Dec. 4 regarding reform of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or FDCPA.

The FTC issued a report in February 2009, "Collecting Consumer Debts: The Challenges of Change – A Workshop Report," which recommended changes to the FDCPA. At the roundtable on Dec. 4, the FTC explained their intention to further enhance consumer protections against debt collectors. It is anticipated that the changes will make it more difficult for creditors to recover debts owed to them.

This was the last of three Roundtable Discussions on Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration. Previous roundtables were held in Chicago and San Francisco. The FTC will be taking public comments on debt collection litigation through January 2010. Following that, the agency will make recommendations for changes to the FDCPA.

ACA Teleseminar Addresses "Cases, Claims and Industry News"

Nov. 16, 2009 -- Donald Maurice of Maurice & Needleman, P.C. and Katrina Christakis of Grady Pilgrim Christakis Bell LLP lead an ACA International Teleseminar on Nov. 10, called "Cases, Claims and Industry News."

Topics included the 11th Circuit's recent decision in Edwards v. Niagara Credit, which is the first Circuit Court decision on a Foti type claim, as well as two decisions from the 3rd Circuit, Campuzano and Rosenau, concerning the application of "meaningful involvement" to collection agencies and asset purchasers.

The teleseminar also examined the Attorney General action in New York concerning service of process, pending and recent legislation affecting the industry and recent litigation trends.

Joann Needleman Re-Elected to NARCA Board

Oct. 19, 2009 -- Joann Needleman, Vice President of Maurice & Needleman, P.C., has been re-elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA), the largest trade association dedicated exclusively to serving the needs of the retail collection industry. She has served on the Board since 2006 and will serve another two-year term.

Needleman devotes her practice to the defense of creditors for claims brought under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). She provides counsel, consultation and litigation services to financial institutions, law firms and debt buyers throughout the country.

In 2004, Needleman was named as one of the top 50 female lawyers in the state of Pennsylvania, and named as a Super Lawyer in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in the field of creditors’ rights by Law & Politics.

Needleman is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania & New Jersey, as well as the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Maurice, Needleman Speak at NARCA Meeting

Oct. 17, 2009 -- Donald Maurice and Joann Needleman, attorneys with Maurice & Needleman, P.C., spoke at the fall meeting of the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys in San Francisco on Oct. 16 and 17.

Maurice spoke on "Ethics for Collection Industry Attorneys" with attorney June Coleman of Ellis, Coleman, Poirier, LaVoie, & Steinheimer. The panelists shared their experiences in defending collection attorneys in ethics matters and discussed recent ethics complaints and practices under scrutiny. They also examined UPL issues arising from the activities of consumer attorneys.

Needleman spoke with attorney Lou Freedman of Freedman Anselmo Lindberg & Rappe LLC about the current regulatory environment in Washington, D.C. As Co-Chairs of NARCA's Public Affairs Committee, Needleman and Freedman discussed the recent FTC report: Collection Consumer Debts, The Challenges of Change, the FTC regional workshops being held across the country and the Administration's proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

Maurice Appointed State Compliance Chair of ACA's Members' Attorney Program

Sept. 17, 2009 -- Donald Maurice, president of Maurice & Needleman, P.C., has been named the 2009-2011 State Compliance Chair for New Jersey, by the Members’ Attorney Program of ACA International, the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals.

As a state compliance chair, Maurice will serve as a volunteer liaison between the national Members’ Attorney Program and ACA members in the state, by taking calls and serving as a legal resource, speaking at state meetings and writing articles for ACA publications.

With more than 5,500 members worldwide, ACA is the knowledge-based resource for success in the credit and collection industry. The Members’ Attorney Program is a division of ACA created to enable attorneys practicing in the credit and collection arena to better represent their clients through a number of resources designed to assist them in their practices, including information on legislative and case law developments. For more information about ACA, visit http://www.acainternational.org.

Maurice included in Super Lawyers -- Corporate Counsel Edition

July 10, 2009 -- Donald Maurice, president of the law firm of Maurice & Needleman, P.C. has been included in the 2009 Corporate Counsel Edition of Super Lawyers magazine.

Maurice represents banks, financial institutions and other attorneys, handling everything from class actions to professional liability defense and ethics matters.

Joann Needleman Appears on CNN

March 16, 2009 -- Joann Needleman, Vice President of the law firm Maurice & Needleman, PC, was a guest on the CNN's D.L. Hughley Breaks the News on March 14. She spoke about consumer debt and gave tips on how debt-laden consumers can weather the current financial crisis.

Needleman, who serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys, devotes her practice to the defense of creditors for claims brought under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). She provides counsel, consultation and litigation services to financial institutions, law firms and debt buyers throughout the country.

In 2004, Needleman was named as one of the top 50 female lawyers in the state of Pennsylvania, and named as a Super Lawyer in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in the field of creditors’ rights by Law & Politics.

Maurice & Needleman named “Go-To Financial Law Firm”

Feb. 6, 2009 -- Maurice & Needleman, P.C., a financial services law firm with offices in Flemington and Philadelphia, has been named a "Go-To Financial Law Firm" by Corporate Counsel magazine.

Go-To Financial Law Firms are firms named by in-house counsel at the leading financial services companies as the outside firms they turn to for assistance with their legal needs.

Maurice & Needleman was nominated by its client, Citizens Financial Group, for its litigation services.

“We are honored to be named a go-to law firm for the legal assistance we provide to one of the nation’s 10 largest banks,” said Don Maurice, president of Maurice & Needleman.

Maurice & Needleman’s attorneys litigate matters in the state and federal courts for the banking and financial services industry. The firm also practices real estate, bankruptcy and commercial law, helping businesses to organize and maintain their commercial enterprises.

Dominczyk to Serve on National Committee

November 17, 2008 -- Thomas R. Dominczyk, an attorney with the law firm Maurice & Needleman, P.C., has been named Special Projects and Task Force Leader for the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Consumer Bankruptcy Committee. ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.

Dominczyk, who practices in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, specializes in creditors’ rights law with an emphasis on bankruptcy. In addition, he provides counsel and litigation services to financial institutions, law firms and debt buyers throughout the country for claims brought under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and various state consumer protection statutes.

Maurice & Needleman is a financial services law firm with offices in New Jersey and Philadelphia that provides a full scope of legal services to the banking and financial services industry.

ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For more information, visit www.abiworld.org.