Law School
McGeorge School of Law, 1997
Great Distinction, Order of the Coif

• FDCPA Defense
• FCRA Defense
• Real Estate
• Professional Liability Defense
• Class Actions
  
• Commercial Litigation
• Creditor’s Rights
• Consumer Rights Actions Defense
• Technology & Data Litigation

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Ms. Coleman is one of the founding partners of Ellis, Coleman, Poirier, LaVoie & Steinheimer, LLP. 

She possesses a wide range of experience in complex civil litigation, including class actions; commercial litigation; creditor’s rights; professional malpractice defense; and defense of consumer rights actions, including litigation involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act; as well as litigation involving technology and electronic data. Ms. Coleman has also developed an expertise in opposing attorney fee motions in both state and federal courts. 

Ms. Coleman has significant appellate experience before both the state and federal appellate courts. 

Ms. Coleman has represented clients in bench and jury trials, as well as binding arbitration.  In 2008, Ms. Coleman was selected by other attorneys as one of the top five percent of lawyers practicing in Northern California, and was named to the Northern California “Super Lawyer” list by Law & Politics Magazine.

Ms. Coleman also represents national clients in courts throughout the nation.  Ms. Coleman believes that the representation of a national client by the same firm promotes consistency in litigation philosophy, positions, and strategy.  This approach allows the client to potentially develop beneficial jurisprudence in one jurisdiction that can then be used effectively in other jurisdictions.  Retention of a single coordinating firm permits the client to retain one firm who gets to know the client well so that the firm is not required to “reinvent the wheel” with each new case.  This promotes in-depth knowledge of recurring legal issues, business practices, and litigation strategies, saving the client money in the long run, both in terms of defense costs, but also in terms of payouts and settlements. 

Ms. Coleman is a frequent speaker regarding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, especially for the California Association of Collectors. She has also provided training for collectors regarding the obligations set forth in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Her other affiliations and activities include:

• American Bar Association
  —Litigation Division
  —Women Advocacy Committee
• Sacramento County Bar Association
• Women Lawyers of Sacramento, 2008 President
• California Women Lawyers. 
• Anthony Kennedy Inns of Court for four years
• American Collectors Association International:
  —Member of the Members’ Attorney Program;
  —California State Chair of the Members’ Attorney Program
• National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys
• California Association of Collectors
• American Business Women Association
• Sacramento County 4-H countywide resource leader
• Licensed Rabbit Judge through the American Rabbit Breeders Association, judging throughout the nation

Education

Ms. Coleman received her Bachelor’s Degree at California State University, Sacramento, in business with an emphasis in accounting.  While at McGeorge School of Law, she was a member of the Traynor Honor Society each year.  She graduated from McGeorge School of Law with great distinction, and as a member of the Order of the Coif, in 1997.  She is licensed to practice in all of the courts in the State of California, all the United States District Courts in California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 

At McGeorge, Ms. Coleman published several articles, including various articles in “Review of Selected 1995 California Legislation,” 27 Pac.L.J. 441 (1996), as well as “Playing God or Playing Scientist, A Constitutional Analysis of State Laws that Ban Embryological Research,” 27 Pac. L.J. 1331 (1996).  Ms. Coleman was also the managing editor for the Pacific Law Journal in 1996-1997. 

Other Publications and Articles

• Rosenthal FDCPA: 2008 in Review
  Collectors Ink, vol. LIV, no. 8 (Cal. Assoc. of Collectors Oct./Nov. 2008).

• Lizards Can Help You Take on the Economy
  Collectors Ink, vol. LIV, no. 8 (Cal. Assoc. of Collectors Oct./Nov. 2008). 

• Tales from the Front Line:  The Rosenthal FDCPA:  The 2007 Year in Review, Collectors Ink, vol. XLXIII, no. 4 (Cal. Assoc. of Collectors Apr. 2008). 

• “Plaintiff’s Attorneys Slapped for Narrowing Class Definition; Court Links ‘Ethically Questionable” Conduct to FDCPA Language,” Consumer Financial Services Law Report, vol. 11, Issue 7 (LRP Publications Sept. 5, 2007)

• “Tales from the Front Line:  The Rosenthal FDCPA:  The Year in Review,” Collectors Ink, vol. XLXII, no. 3 (Cal. Assoc. of Collectors Mar./Apr. 2007). 

•  “Tales from the Front Line:  The Rosenthal FDCPA,” Collectors Ink, vol. XLXI, no. 2 (Cal. Assoc. of Collectors Feb. 2006). 

• LEGAL GUIDE FOR WOMEN (American Bar Association 2004) – reviewed and edited.

• “Is Your Attorney Meaningfully Involved in Your Collection Process?,” which was published in both Collectors Ink, vol. XLVI, no. 6 (Cal. Assoc. of Collectors July 2001) and MAPBulletin, vol. 6, nos. 10 and 11 (Am. Collectors Assoc. Oct. – Nov. 2001). 

Presentations & Seminars

• “Legal Panel on Current Legal Trends,” Bona Fide Error Defense, California Association of Collectors’ 91st Annual Convention (Santa Rosa, CA Sept. 2008)

• “Developing Solutions & Practical Response to Litigation Trends,” Governmental and State Bar Issues for Collection Attorneys, National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys 2008 Spring Collection Conference (Seattle, WA May 2008)

• “FDCPA Compliance for the California Practitioner,” Seminar panel presentation (Oakland, CA Jan. 2008, NBI Seminars)

•  “Legal Panel on Current Legal Trends,” California Association of Collectors’ 90th Annual Convention (Monterey, CA Oct. 2007)

• “Legal Panel:  FDCPA Claims, Defenses and Strategies,” Identity Theft, California Association of Collectors’ 89th Annual Convention (Cabo, Mexico Oct. 2006)

•  “What Requires Action and What Is Just Internet _ _ _ _,” Chapter 1 of the California Association of Collectors (San Francisco, CA Aug. 2006)

• “Debt Collections in California under the Federal and California (Rosenthal) Fair Debt Collection Practices Acts,” Seminars to Tenet Health Care (Los Angeles, CA May 2006)

• “What You Need to Know About E&O Insurance,” California Association of Collectors’ 88th Annual Convention (Indian Wells, CA Sept. 2005)

• “Current Legal Trends,” California Association of Collectors’ 87th Annual Convention (Indian Wells, CA Sept. 2001)

Representative Trials, Arbitrations and Settlements

• Rouse v. Law Offices of Rory Clark (August 2008) FDCPA – Defense verdict for law firm, its staff, and its client after a unanimous jury verdict in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. The plaintiff’s pre-verdict demand exceeded $400,000; and the plaintiff sought in excess of $1 million dollars from the jury.

• State Bar v. JB (May-August 2007) Involuntary Enrollment Proceeding – Determination in favor of client attorney denying the State Bar’s demand for involuntary enrollment after 5-day trial; review board ultimately reversed.

• G v. Sweeney (May-June 2006) FDCPA – Bench trial on cross-complaint where client prevailed on FDCPA claim, but ultimately lost on California Rosenthal FDCPA claim. 

• Tilton v. Eskanos & Adler, P.C. (February 2006) FDCPA – Non-binding arbitration in favor of defendant based on bona fide error defense, which ultimately led to plaintiff dismissing her claims.

• Griffiths v. B (Sept. 2000) Legal Malpractice – Judgment entered for client attorney after plaintiff’s case in chief.

• Greenwell v. David Allen & Assoc. (April & May 2000) Judgment entered for client attorneys after 2-month jury trial on legal malpractice claim.

• Nobel v. F (January 2000) Accounting Malpractice – Claims against accountant client settled for less than cost of defense after motions in limine threatened to gut plaintiff’s claims.

Representative Published Opinions

• Carrizosa v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. 2009) 2009 WL 839095 (FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA)

• Palmer v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. 2009) 2009 WL 86705 (FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA)

• Roybal v. Equifax (E.D. Cal. 2008) 2008 WL 4532473 (FCRA, FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA, Fair Credit Billing Act)

• Roybal v. Equifax (E.D. Cal. 2008) 2008 WL 4532465 (FCRA, FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA, Fair Credit Billing Act)

• Camacho v. Bridgeport Financial, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2008) 2008 WL 2951290 (FDCPA)

• Camacho v. Bridgeport Financial, Inc. (9th Cir. 2008) 523 F.3d 973 (FDCPA)

• Abad v. Williams Cohen & Gray (N.D. Cal. 2008) 2008 WL 2788093 (FDCPA)

• Mulinix v. Unifund CCR Partners (S.D. Cal. 2008) 2008 WL 2001747 (FDCPA)

• Martsolf v. JBC Legal Group, P.C. (M.D. Pa. 2008) 2008 WL 275719 (FDCPA)

• Burdick v. Palisades Collection, LLC (C.D. Cal. 2008) 2008 WL 80943 (FDCPA)

• Guevarra v. Progressive Financial Services, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2007) 497 F.Supp.2d 1090 (FDCPA)

• Abad v. Williams Cohen & Gray (N.D. Cal. 2007) 2007 WL 1839914 (FDCPA)

• Lea v. Cypress Collections (N.D. Cal. 2007) 2007 WL 988184 (FDCPA)

• Irwin v. Mascott (9th Cir. 2007) 2006 WL 2085434 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Johnson v. Credit International (9th Cir. 2007) 2007 WL 3332813 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Guevarra v. Progressive Financial Services, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2006) 2006 WL 3613742 (FDCPA)

• Palmer v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. 2006) 2006 WL 2642530 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Abels v. JBC Legal Group, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2006) 434 F.Supp.2d 763 (FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA)

• Palmer v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. 2006) 236 F.R.D. 460 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Abels v. JBC Legal Group, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2006) 233 F.R.D. 645 (FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA)

• Palmer v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. 2006) 233 F.R.D. 546 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Trevino v. ACB American, Inc. (N .D. Cal. 2006) 232 F.R.D. 612 (FDCPA)

• Canlas v. Eskanos & Adler (N.D. Cal. Nov. 7, 2006) 2006 WL 3227873 (FDCPA)

• Palmer v. Stassinos  (N.D. Cal. Sept. 14, 2006) 2006 WL 2642530 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Carrizosa v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. Aug 31, 2006) 2006 WL 2529503 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Palmer v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. Aug 18, 2006) 2006 WL 2411413 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Carrizosa v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. Jun 06, 2006) 2006 WL 1581953 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Camacho v. Bridgeport Financial, Inc. (9th Cir. 2005) 430 F.3d 1078 (FDCPA)

• Abels v. JBC Legal Group, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2005) 428 F.Supp.2d 1023 (FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA)

• Johnson v. AMO Recoveries (N.D. Cal. 2005) 427 F.Supp.2d 953 (FDCPA)

• Palmer v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. 2005) 419 F.Supp.2d 1151 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Roybal v. Equifax (E.D. Cal. 2005) 405 F.Supp.2d 1177 (FCRA, FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA, Fair Credit Billing Act)

• Palmer v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal. 2005) 348 F.Supp.2d 1070 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Abels v. JBC Legal Group, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2005) 229 F.R.D. 152 (FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA)

• Abels v. JBC Legal Group, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2005) 227 F.R.D. 541 (FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA)

• Abels v. JBC Legal Group, Inc. (N.D. Cal. Oct. 19, 2005) 2005 WL 3839308 (FDCPA, Rosenthal FDCPA)

• Johnson v. Credit Int’l, Inc. (N.D. Cal. July 28, 2005) 2005 WL 2401890 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Minick v. Tate & Kirlin Associates (N.D. Cal. July 05, 2005) 2005 WL 1566548 (FDCPA)

• Irwin v. Mascott (9th Cir. 2004) 370 F.3d 924 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Bracken v. Harris & Zide (N.D. Cal. 2004) 219 F.R.D. 481 (FDCPA)

• Defenbaugh v. JBC & Associates, P.C. (N.D. Cal. Aug 10, 2004) 2004 WL 1874978 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Littledove v. JBC, Inc. (E.D. Cal. 2001) 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 139 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Irwin v. Mascott (N.D. Cal. 2000) 112 F.Supp.2d 937 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)

• Irwin v. Mascott (N.D. Cal. 2000) 94 F.Supp.2d 1052 (FDCPA, Unfair Business Practices)