Sued by Rausch Sturm in Florida? What to Do Next
Sued by Rausch Sturm? What Florida Consumers Need to Know
If a lawsuit against you was filed by a creditor and signed by Rausch Sturm, LLP — or their letters and calls keep coming — you’re not alone, and you’re not out of options. Rausch Sturm LLP states on its website that it represents financial institutions and creditors. I’m Michael Ziegler. I’ve been licensed in Florida since 2010, and our firm has defended Florida consumers against collection lawsuits like this one since 2012. The single most important thing to understand right now: in Florida, a lawsuit you ignore usually ends in a default judgment — which can open the door to wage garnishment and frozen bank accounts. The deadlines are short, so let’s walk through what Rausch Sturm is, why you may have been sued, and what you can do about it.
Who Is Rausch Sturm, LLP?
Rausch Sturm, LLP is a creditor-side collection law firm headquartered at 300 North Executive Drive, Suite 200, Brookfield, Wisconsin 53005. The firm has practiced for approximately 40 years, according to its website, and previously did business under the longer name Rausch, Sturm, Israel, Enerson & Hornik — so older paperwork may show that name.
Rausch Sturm describes itself as a firm that represents financial institutions and creditors. If they’ve contacted you, it almost always means a creditor hired them to collect — and potentially to sue.
As of October 15, 2026, the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database lists 881 complaints naming Rausch Sturm LLP (including 253 under its former name, Rausch, Sturm, Israel, Enerson & Hornik, LLP). Complaints alone don’t decide your case — but they’re a reminder that you should verify everything they claim, not take it at face value.
Getting Calls, Letters, or Emails From These Contacts?
Many Floridians find this page by searching the phone number or email address on the paperwork in front of them. These are contact points publicly listed by Rausch Sturm:
- Phone: 866-456-3744 (their consumer line)
- Email: disputes@rauschsturm.com (their published dispute address)
- Mail: 300 North Executive Drive, Suite 200, Brookfield, WI 53005
If you’ve received communication from these contacts, it should not be ignored. Rausch Sturm LLP identifies itself as a law firm that represents creditors. Verify any lawsuit by case number on the county clerk’s website. Before you call them back, remember that they represent their client’s interests, not yours. You’re generally better off understanding your rights first.
Is It a Real Rausch Sturm Lawsuit, or a Collection Letter?
A letter, call, or email from Rausch Sturm is collection activity. A lawsuit is different: it is a public record in Florida state court, with a case number, a named plaintiff, and a summons served on you. If you’re not sure which you have, search your name on your county Clerk of Court website (for example, Pinellas or Hillsborough County) to see whether there are any active lawsuits against you.
If it is only a letter so far, you have the right to ask for proof. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a debt collector must send you a written notice of the debt, and if you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of receiving that notice, the debt collector must stop collecting until it mails you verification (15 U.S.C. § 1692g). Send your dispute in writing and keep a copy. Disputing a debt is not the same as answering a lawsuit, though: once you’ve been served with court papers, the court deadline controls, and a letter to the law firm does not stop it.
Why Is Rausch Sturm Suing Me?
When Rausch Sturm signs a collection lawsuit, the goal is to obtain a court judgment for the creditor it represents. A judgment is the legal key that unlocks collection tools like wage garnishment and bank levies. Collection lawsuits like these typically involve charged-off credit card balances, personal loans, or auto deficiencies. The account may still belong to the original creditor, or it may have been sold to a debt buyer — the paperwork will say who the actual plaintiff is, and that distinction matters for your defenses.
How to Respond to a Rausch Sturm Lawsuit in Florida — 5 Steps
1. Respond before the deadline
Florida courts are divided by the amount in dispute: small claims (up to $8,000), county court (up to $50,000), and circuit court above that. In small claims, you must appear at an early hearing called a pretrial conference. In county and circuit court, you have 20 days from the date you’re served to file a written response. Miss the deadline and the court will likely enter a default judgment against you. Game over — before the game even started. Don’t let that happen.
2. Read the lawsuit critically
Collection lawsuits are built on another company’s records, and those records can be wrong — wrong amount, wrong person, missing account documents, or a debt too old to sue on. Don’t assume the claim is correct just because it’s typed on court paper.
3. Check the age of the debt
Florida’s statute of limitations generally gives creditors five years to sue on debts based on a written agreement. If the last activity on the account is older than that, you may have a complete defense — but you usually have to raise it; the court won’t raise it for you. Our guide to Florida credit card lawsuit time limits covers this in detail.
4. Weigh your options honestly
Fight the case, negotiate a settlement, or — if this lawsuit is one debt among many — consider whether bankruptcy resolves the whole picture instead of one lawsuit at a time. An honest review of your full debt picture tells you which tool fits.
5. Get any agreement in writing
If you settle — with or without an attorney — get every term in writing before you pay: the amount, the payment terms, and what happens to the lawsuit. A written agreement protects both sides.
What a Rausch Sturm Judgment Can Lead To in Florida
A judgment does not collect itself, but it gives the creditor legal authority to use Florida’s collection tools:
- Wage garnishment. The creditor can ask the court to garnish your wages. Florida’s head-of-family exemption fully protects disposable earnings of $750 a week or less for a person who provides more than half the support for a child or other dependent, and higher earnings can’t be garnished either unless that person waived the protection in writing (Fla. Stat. § 222.11).
- Bank account levies. A writ of garnishment served on your bank can freeze the funds in your bank account. Some money is protected — for example, Social Security and other federal benefits deposited directly into the account — but you usually have to claim the exemption quickly once the account is frozen.
- Property liens. A judgment recorded in a county’s official records becomes a lien on real property in that county (Fla. Stat. § 55.10), and a judgment lien certificate filed with the Florida Department of State can create a lien on certain personal property (Fla. Stat. § 55.202). Florida’s homestead protection shields a qualifying primary residence from most of these creditors.
That is why the time to act is before a default judgment is entered, while every defense is still on the table.
Settling a Rausch Sturm Lawsuit: Payment Plans, Lump Sums, and Your Credit Reports
Many Rausch Sturm lawsuits end in a negotiated deal rather than a trial. The common structures are a lump-sum settlement for less than the full balance, or a payment plan, sometimes paired with an agreement that keeps the case open until the payments are made. Before you agree to anything, know exactly what you owe, whether the plaintiff can actually prove the debt, and which of your income and assets Florida law already protects. Those facts decide how much leverage you have.
Get the terms in writing before you pay: the amount, the due dates, whether the case will be dismissed, and how the account will be reported to the credit bureaus. A settled account typically shows on your credit reports as settled for less than the full amount, not as paid in full. If $600 or more of the debt is forgiven, you may also receive an IRS Form 1099-C, so ask a tax professional whether the forgiven amount counts as income for you. Pay in a way that leaves a record, such as a check or money order rather than cash, and keep proof of every payment.
Your Rights When Rausch Sturm Contacts You
Florida consumers are protected by two overlapping laws: the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA). Harassing calls, misrepresenting the amount or legal status of a debt, threatening action they can’t take, or reporting inaccurate information can violate these laws. Each statute allows a consumer to recover up to $1,000 in statutory damages plus attorney’s fees and court costs for violations. See our FDCPA violations list for the common ones. If the collection conduct crossed the line, that becomes leverage in your case — but the first priority is defending the lawsuit itself.
FAQ: Rausch Sturm Lawsuits in Florida
Is Rausch Sturm a legitimate law firm?
Rausch Sturm LLP identifies itself as a law firm that represents creditors. Verify any lawsuit by case number on the county clerk’s website. Don’t ignore a lawsuit or letter without checking it.
Who does Rausch Sturm collect for?
Rausch Sturm states that it represents financial institutions and creditors. The complaint filed against you names the actual plaintiff — read it carefully, because whether it’s the original creditor or a debt buyer changes what proof they need.
What happens if I ignore a Rausch Sturm lawsuit?
In Florida, ignoring a lawsuit usually leads to a default judgment. With a judgment, the plaintiff can pursue wage garnishment and bank account levies. Here’s what happens after a judgment is entered — and why acting before that point matters so much.
Should I accept a Rausch Sturm settlement offer?
Sometimes a settlement is the right call — but never accept one without checking the math and the case first. If the debt is outside the statute of limitations, if the plaintiff can’t document the account, or if your income and assets are protected from collection under Florida law, your negotiating position may be far stronger than the offer assumes. And any deal belongs in writing.
Is Rausch Sturm BBB accredited?
Yes. Its Better Business Bureau profile (Brookfield, WI) lists Rausch Sturm LLP as BBB accredited since September 21, 2009. Accreditation is a business-membership status; it doesn’t mean the debt in your case is valid or the amount is right, so verify the claim either way.
Can a Rausch Sturm debt show up on my credit reports?
The account may be reported to the credit bureaus by the original creditor, a debt buyer, or a collector. If what appears is wrong — the balance, the dates, or an account that isn’t yours — you can dispute it with the credit bureaus, and inaccurate reporting may support a claim under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Can Rausch Sturm garnish my wages?
Not without a judgment. If they already have one, Florida law still provides exemptions — including the head-of-family exemption — that may protect some or all of your wages. That’s a conversation to have with a defense attorney quickly, not after the garnishment hits.
Sued by Rausch Sturm? Talk to a Florida Debt Defense Team First
Ziegler Diamond Law has defended everyday Floridians against debt collection law firms since 2012 — lawsuits, bankruptcy, credit reporting errors, and collection harassment. We’ll review your Rausch Sturm lawsuit, lay out your defenses and legal options, and give you a straight answer about the best path — whether that’s fighting, settling, or resolving the bigger debt picture.
Call (727) 538-4188 for a Free Debt Freedom Strategy Session (a free consultation with an attorney), or schedule online.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For Florida residents, contact Ziegler Diamond Law for a Free Debt Freedom Strategy Session.