Caffa-Mobley v. Carter

**What Happened** Workers sued the law firm Feinstein, Raiss, Kelin & Booker after the firm regularly filed eviction cases against tenants for unpaid rent. The workers claimed the law firm violated federal debt collection laws by not following proper procedures when trying to collect rent money owed by tenants. **What the Court Decided** The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in favor of the workers. The court determined that when a law firm regularly files eviction cases to collect unpaid rent, it counts as a "debt collector" under federal law called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This means the law firm must follow strict rules about how it communicates with and treats people who owe money. The court reversed an earlier decision that had dismissed the case, allowing the workers' claims to move forward in court. **Why This Matters for Workers** This decision expands protection for tenants and other people facing debt collection. It clarifies that law firms doing regular collection work must follow consumer protection rules, even when handling evictions. Workers facing eviction or other debt collection actions now have stronger legal ground to challenge improper practices by law firms.