//October 11, 2012
District Court of Maryland Chief Judge Ben C. Clyburn on Wednesday dismissed 3,168 debt-collection cases pending against Maryland residents with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled.
The order follows a settlement and final order in U.S. District Court of a federal class action against Worldwide Asset Purchasing and its affiliates. In that case, it was alleged that the debt-collection agencies were not properly registered or licensed, misstated amounts owed and improperly stated Social Security numbers in state court filings, and filed collection lawsuits after the statute of limitations had expired.
Clyburn also ordered that judgments in the cases be marked as “satisfied” and judgment liens released.