Scroggin v. Credit Bureau of Jonesboro Inc

Filing 32

ORDER denying 18 Motion to Dismiss and for an Order of civility. Signed by Judge Susan Webber Wright on 05/15/2013. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
BRANDON SCROGGIN,

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Plaintiff,
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vs.
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CREDIT BUREAU OF JONESBORO, *
INC.,
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Defendant.
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No. 3:12-cv-00128-SWW

ORDER
Plaintiff Brandon Scroggin brings this action against defendant Credit
Bureau of Jonesboro, Inc., alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collections
Practices Act (FDPCA), § 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq., the Arkansas Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act (AFDCPA), Ark. Code Ann. § 17-24-501 et seq., the
Arkansas Collection Agency Act (ACAA), § 17-24-101 et seq., and the Arkansas
Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA), Ark. Code Ann. § 4-88-101 et seq.
Plaintiff has demanded a jury trial.1
Before the Court is a motion [doc.#18] of defendant to dismiss and for an
order of civility [doc.#18]. Plaintiff has responded in opposition to defendant’s

1

Ordinarily, in a FDCPA claim, whether conduct harasses, oppresses, or abuses will be a
question for the jury. Pace v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, 872 F.Supp.2d 861, 864
(W.D. Mo. 2012).

motion, defendant has filed a reply to plaintiff’s response, and plaintiff has filed a
sur-reply to defendant’s reply. Having considered the matter, the Court denies
defendant’s motion to dismiss and for an order of civility.2
Defendant seeks dismissal of this action on grounds that plaintiff has posted
comments on a website offering advice to consumers concerning creditors and
debtors that show plaintiff plans on demeaning the process. For example,
regarding plaintiff’s deposition, plaintiff posted the following:
I'm forcing them into a Saturday deposition because their time is
running out and now their available dates don't work with my busy
schedule...now they will do things on my schedule and I can promise
you it will be a full blown three ring circus when that Deposition
get[s] rolling.
Plaintiff later wrote that he chose a “Saturday morning because I was too
busy during the week doing nothing.” As other examples, plaintiff posted the
following:
I want to thank all for the well wishes and while I will turn this into a
circus I still will make sure to concentrate on making sure I don't say
anything that hurts my case.
I have not been this excited in at least 20 years…All of the things I've
been waiting to say and do, I'm getting ready to have the opportunity.
I don't even care if I damage my emotional distress and I just have to
rely on statutory and state damages plus costs. This is going to be a

2

Defendant requested a hearing on its motion but the Court finds that defendant’s motion
can be resolved without a hearing.
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great day and you will all be there in spirit and I will know it. I will
not let you guys down. I can't ever see being in this position again and
I really don't think I'll get a trial out of this so I'm going to make it one
for the ages. I will cash every check I've been writing and I won't back
down and I won't be intimidated. I'm usually the one giving the
encouragement and telling others what they need to do and say.
I can promise you friends, tomorrow will be a special day for ALL of
us.
Following the deposition, plaintiff posted the following:
She [defendant’s counsel] asked every question 10 different times 10
different ways and at one point leaned forward with this you are so
full of crap look on her face. I just hammered her and basically went
word for word what I said. I even said I have different levels of
emotional distress and that I was also suing for just plain old pissing
me off.
I did everything but call them stupid for not settling at my demands
because we were just a few grand apart. I wanted her to know that out
of all the people in the country they could have chosen to take a stand
against they drew the one person in the whole country that was having
the time of their life, and on a Saturday morning because I was too
busy during the week doing nothing.
I wanted her to be real clear that the depo might have been scheduled
as an intimidation tactic, but that plan, just two minutes in, had failed
miserably and the next three hours were going to be a total
nightmare.3
* * *
I am just saying please take this to trial, but I'm trying to make them

3

Defendant notes that “[u]nfortunately for Plaintiff, Defendant’s counsel did not let the
deposition turn into a circus.”
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throw caution to the wind and say we will show this guy.
However, I know how to act in court and I can play the role of the
beat down consumer just as I can the arrogant come at me pro
litigator.
And let's don't forget, they have offered a very nice chunk of change
to settle this. I'm the one continuing this circus. They have offered 6K
for a letter and a phone call. I'm calling the shots and they hate it.
They thought some dumb hick would jump at 1,500 (first offer) and
then are shocked when I won't take the big bucks. Screw em, we're
going to trial.
* * *
Plaintiff also posted vulgar and prurient comments concerning opposing
counsel. For example, plaintiff posted the following directed at opposing counsel:
Well F U and up yours !!!!!! I know you're reading this thread
because I gave it to you in the depo and then emailed it to you later in
the day because you could not even spell the website right. So walk
into that federal courtroom with me and get ready for the biggest ever.
You're losers and you lost the minute I walked into that courthouse in
June, laid 350 bucks on the counter and told that nice court clerk,
‘stamp this SOB sister, I'm suing these bastards.’
Defendant argues that plaintiff is not using the law’s procedures for
legitimate purposes but is simply continuing this lawsuit for entertainment and
harassment purposes. Defendant argues that plaintiff’s conduct in making prurient
postings and other postings designed to be abusive is in direct violation of the
ethical standards governing attorneys and warrants dismissal of this action.
Plaintiff is not an attorney but is a citizen posting on a public message board,
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albeit at times in an odious manner.4 The Court will not dismiss this action based
on plaintiff’s posts and will not prohibit plaintiff from commenting on this action
given the existence of valid First Amendment concerns. The Court does inform
plaintiff, however, that all the posts identified by defendant in its motion to dismiss
and for order of civility (and any future similar posts identified by defendant) will
be admitted into evidence under Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2) with the exception of
references to offers of settlement, which the court will likely redact. Accordingly,
the jury will have benefit of plaintiff’s posts in its consideration of this action.
The Court has discretion to sanction any actions of incivility or vulgarity
that take place before the court.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 15th day of May 2013.
/s/Susan Webber Wright
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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Plaintiff filed this action pro se but an attorney latter entered an appearance on his

behalf.
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