Sued by Debski and Associates? 5 Steps to Take Now

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If you have been sued by the law firm Debski & Associates, you are not alone.

Who is Debski & Associates?

Debski & Associates is located at 4417 Beach Blvd, Suite 400, Jacksonville, Florida 3207. According to the Florida Department of Corporations, the firm opened in 2002 and was known as Rubin & Debski, P.A until 2014. On the firm’s website, Michael Thiel Debski is listed as Shareholder/Partner. The Florida Bar indicates that Michael Thiel Debski has been licensed since 1996 with no 10-year discipline history.

Debski & Associates is not BBB accredited. However, they are given an “A+” rating by the BBB in spite of 2 complaints in the last 3 years (as of 8/3/2021).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau complaint database reflects 7 complaints against Rubin & Debski, P.A., which was the name of the law firm prior to 2014 (as of 8/3/2021 – with a 3 year lookback).

Why have I been sued by Debski & Associates?

Debski & Associates often represents creditors and debt collectors in collection lawsuits to try to secure payment for their clients.  Their firm focuses on legal collection on consumer debt.  Therefore, if Debski & Associates has sued you, it is most likely that they represent a creditor who claims you owe them a debt.

How to beat Debski & Associates?

1. Show Up 

First, don’t bury your head in the sand!  Florida Courts are divided into 3 levels depending on how much the lawsuit is for:  small claims, county court, and circuit court.  In small claims cases, a defendant is required to attend a hearing early on called a “case management conference”; whereas in county court and circuit court, the defendant has 20-days to file a written response from the day the lawsuit papers are served.  If a defendant doesn’t appear (in small claims) or they fail to respond (in county court or circuit court), the court will likely enter a default judgment against them.  Make sure to respond (or hire someone to do so) so you don’t lose off the bat!

2. Review the claim

Next, review the records from the case.  When a lawsuit is based on the records of another company, it may be that the records are inaccurate.  Review the claim and don’t assume it is correct just because they have written it.  See if the claim and the amount are accurate.

3.  Consider your options

Evaluate the alleged debt from the lawsuit, along with your other debt and your income.  Is there a defense to the claim?  Can you realistically afford settlement, or does it make more sense to consider bankruptcy?  Here is where you may want to have a free consultation with a debt resolution professional who can help you to objectively review your options.

4.  Negotiate

Assuming bankruptcy is not your best option and depending on the merits of your case, negotiation may be the next best step.  If you hire a debt settlement attorney to assist you with the lawsuit, your attorney will negotiate for you.  However, if you are determined to go it alone, you are generally better talking to the opposing firm than doing nothing (*this is a generalization; each situation is different).  Just keep in mind, they are not looking out for your best interest.  They are likely not going to tell you about your defenses to the lawsuit or your protections from collection.  Their job is to get you to pay.

5. Any Settlement Agreement Should be in Writing

Finally, if you reach a settlement agreement, even if you are representing yourself, your agreement should be in writing.

Questions on Your Debski & Associates Lawsuit?

We offer a complimentary consultation with our experienced attorneys.  We’ll evaluate your case and review your options with you.