News Archives

Category Archives: News

Maurice Wutscher Attorney Erin McCampbell Paris Wins Compassionate Release for Client

Oct. 7, 2025 — A federal judge in Florida has issued an order granting a motion for compassionate release for Bruce Harrison, reducing his sentence to time served. Mr. Harrison is represented by Erin McCampbell Paris, an appellate and constitutional litigation attorney at Maurice Wutscher LLP.

Mr. Harrison, 73, was sentenced in 1995 to a 49-year term of imprisonment for narcotics trafficking and firearm convictions. He has served over 30 years of his sentence, which was the result of the harsh and mandatory sentencing laws in place in the 1990s as part of the “War on Drugs.”

“Mr. Harrison’s sentence was substantially higher than what murderers received at that time, and, to this day, remains one of the longest sentences imposed for all inmates in federal custody,” Ms. Paris said. “The sentencing laws have since changed, and if he were sentenced today for the same convictions, he likely would receive 30 years or less.”

Mr. Harrison has a remarkable record on rehabilitation. He took dozens of courses, became certified to counsel fellow inmates, and held numerous jobs in prison, including positions that required conflict resolution.

However, while in custody, Mr. Harrison’s health has substantially deteriorated.

“Compassionate release allows judges to do justice when presented with compelling circumstances like these. Unfortunately, ordinarily, these motions are denied. I am so thrilled that the judge was able to see that Mr. Harrison was deserving of a second chance,” Ms. Paris said.

Erin McCampbell Paris focuses her practice on Appellate and Constitutional Litigation, representing individuals and companies in complex criminal and civil matters. In helping her clients to secure hard-won victories, she draws on her extensive litigation experience, as well as her experience as a former law clerk to federal district and circuit judges.

Maurice Wutscher’s Alan Hochheiser to Review Supreme Court and Appellate Bankruptcy Case Law at ABA Business Law Fall Meeting

Sept. 12, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher bankruptcy practitioner Alan Hochheiser, co-chair of the ABA Business Law Section’s Consumer Bankruptcy Committee, will review key Supreme Court and Appellate Bankruptcy Court cases that affect both the consumer and commercial practitioner at the ABA Business Law Fall Meeting on Sept. 20 at 10 am ET.

The meeting will be presented Sept. 18-20 in Toronto and also online for those who opt to attend virtually. For more information and to register, click here.

Alan Hochheiser is a leading practitioner in the areas of creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law. He advises and represents businesses, regional and national banks, credit unions, equipment lessors and other lenders, as well as secured and unsecured creditors. He has been named to Thomson Reuters’ list of Ohio Super Lawyers, ALM’s list of Cleveland’s Top-Rated Lawyers and is peer-rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the worldwide guide to lawyers.

Maurice Wutscher Attorney Donald Maurice to Discuss New York City’s Debt Collection Rule

Sept. 4, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher attorney Donald Maurice will discuss the updates to New York City’s debt collection rule at the 20th Annual Credit and Collection News Credit Grantor Consortium in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 10.

Mr. Maurice, who chairs the New York City Bar Association’s Consumer Affairs Committee, will review the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s latest changes to the city’s debt collection rule including the monthly log requirements, validation requirements, communication restrictions, expanded itemization requirements, time barred debt requirements, foreign language requirements, and medical debt limitations among other sections.

For more information and to register for the consortium click here.

Donald Maurice represents the financial services industry, successfully litigating matters in appellate and trial courts throughout the country in individual and class actions and guiding businesses, trade associations and financial services companies nationwide in regulatory and compliance matters including data privacy and ethics. He has been retained as counsel for amicus curiae in the U.S. Supreme Court and in U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and frequently testifies before state legislatures. Mr. Maurice is outside counsel to RMAI and serves as chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Consumer Affairs Committee. He is a regent of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers and a fellow of the ABA’s American Bar Foundation. He has been named to Thomson Reuters’ list of New Jersey Super Lawyers and is peer-rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the worldwide guide to lawyers.

Maurice Wutscher Attorney Erin McCampbell Paris Quoted Regarding Petition for Writ of Certiorari

Aug. 18, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher Attorney Erin McCampbell Paris has been quoted regarding her petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of her client over the constitutionality of a California gaming law that prohibits California cardroom owners from investing in lawful gaming business ventures in other states.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in March that California’s cardroom licensing restrictions were valid, but the petition asks the Supreme Court to hear this case to clarify that no state has the power to discriminate against firms engaged in interstate commerce, as California has done here with the Ninth Circuit’s blessing.

“It has been an honor to lead the fight on this challenge in the lower courts. We hope the Supreme Court grants the petition to hear this important issue, which has the potential to impact business owners in every industry,” Ms. Paris said.

Webinar: Maurice Wutscher’s Brent Yarborough to Discuss Effective Consumer Communications

July 29, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher attorney Brent Yarborough will discuss how to understand and effectively communicate with consumers in the credit and collection space during a webinar Friday, Aug 1 at 1 pm ET.

In this webinar, Mr. Yarborough and panel will break down their processes for decoding messages from consumers and best practices to interpret consumer needs, respond correctly and stay compliant.

“How to Parse Disputes, Cease Requests, and Other Vague Comments from Consumers” is being presented by AccountsRecovery.net. To register for the complimentary webinar, click here.

Brent Yarborough is a principal at Maurice Wutscher LLP. He focuses his practice on regulatory compliance and the defense of consumer law claims.

Maurice Wutscher’s Donald Maurice to Speak at RMAI Executive Summit

July 28, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher attorney Donald Maurice will speak on ethics, legislative, and regulatory compliance matters impacting the receivables management industry at the Receivables Management Association International Executive Summit in Vermont, Aug. 5-7.

Along with a talk on ethics-driven compliance management, Mr. Maurice will provide insight into what the RMAI working groups are up to in the areas of bankruptcy, data privacy and security, legal affairs, medical debt, and more.

Mr. Maurice, who serves as outside counsel to RMAI, will also join a panel discussion of state and federal legislative and regulatory trends and challenges.

For more information and to see the agenda, click here.

Maurice Wutscher’s Donald Maurice to Chair New York City Bar’s Consumer Financial Law Institute

April 10, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher partner Donald Maurice on May 5 will chair the Consumer Financial Law Institute hosted by the New York City Bar Association at its offices in New York.

Maurice Wutscher is sponsoring this CLE event, which will bring together industry leaders and regulators to discuss trends and developments in consumer financial law, including a look at the next four years; credit reporting; buy now pay later; cryptocurrency; and more.

The agenda includes:

A Look at the Next Four Years: This panel of financial services attorneys will share their analysis of the second Trump administration and its impact on the consumer protection landscape. The discussion will cover changes at the CFPB, FTC, DOJ, prudential banking regulatory agencies and state regulators and what those changes mean for market participants. Panelists will provide thoughts on how businesses may adapt to a pullback in federal oversight while mitigating the risk of state or private actions.

Credit Reporting Highlights: Unpacking Recent FCRA Related Developments: The CFPB has been very active in the FCRA space with rulemaking and recent enforcement activity. This panel, featuring the President & CEO of the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) and a representative from FTI Consulting, will discuss what these developments mean for institutions and how they can best be prepared operationally going forward.

Charting the Future of Buy Now Pay Later: The President & CEO of the Financial Technology Association and other industry leaders from WebBank, Block and Zip will speak about innovations in the BNPL space and its regulatory environment. The panel will touch on the pay-in-four nature of the product, including modernized credit reporting that accurately captures BNPL data.

Cryptocurrency: In light of the current regulatory environment, with federal regulation and enforcement of cryptocurrency waning, New York’s comprehensive licensing and regulatory efforts are drawing more attention. The panel, which includes the Deputy Superintendent of Virtual Currency at the New York State Department of Financial Services, will discuss regulation of crypto platforms and recent developments.

Protecting Consumers in the Age of the Internet: How the Online Marketplace Challenges Regulators, and Ways to Work Within the Tangled (Worldwide) Web: The Deputy General Counsel, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, will discuss the online marketplace, the challenges of Communications Decency Act limitations, ever-changing content that requires resource-intensive monitoring, jurisdictional challenges, and even court orders as its own obstacle.

General Business Law 349: How Well Does Our General Consumer Protection Law Serve New Yorkers?: Many are surprised to learn that New York has one of the narrowest consumer protection laws in the country. The CFPB and the FTC have urged New York to expand General Business Law 349’s ban on deceptive business acts and practices. Proposed legislation seeks to dramatically expand GBL 349. A senior staff attorney from Mobilization for Justice will examine the ins and outs of this law and how well it measures up nationally.

The Consumer Financial Law Institute will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and includes a networking breakfast and luncheon. The institute is open to nonmembers and will provide at least 6.0 hours of CLE. For more information and to register, click here.

Maurice Wutscher Attorney Donald Maurice Named 2025 Super Lawyer

March 24, 2025 — Donald Maurice, a partner at national business and financial services law firm Maurice Wutscher LLP, has been named a New Jersey Super Lawyer in the area of Class Action/Mass Torts.

Each year, only five percent of the lawyers in the state receive this honor. Super Lawyers is a Thomson Reuters rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Donald Maurice provides counsel to businesses and financial services companies, successfully litigating matters in appellate and trial courts throughout the country in individual and class actions. He has been retained as counsel for amicus curiae in the U.S. Supreme Court and in U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and frequently testifies before state legislatures.

He also counsels clients in data privacy law and other regulatory compliance matters and provides advice and counsel to attorneys in matters of professional responsibility and attorney ethics.

In addition to being a frequent speaker and author on consumer financial services law, he is outside counsel to Receivables Management Association International. Mr. Maurice serves as chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Consumer Affairs Committee. He is a regent of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers, a fellow of the ABA’s American Bar Foundation and a former chair of the ABA’s Debt Collection Practices and Bankruptcy Subcommittee, Business Law Section.

Mr. Maurice is rated AV Preeminent, the highest rating given by Martindale-Hubbell, the worldwide guide to lawyers. A description of the selection methodology can be found at www.martindale.com/ratings-and-reviews/.

This communication is published by the law firm Maurice Wutscher LLP and may be considered attorney advertising under the ethical rules of certain jurisdictions. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Maurice Wutscher Attorney Shannon Miller to Discuss Best Practices for Data Security at CLE Webinar Course

March 12, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher attorney Shannon P. Miller will discuss best practices for data security in the collections industry during the NBI Live Webinar course, “Keeping Collections Compliant: Communications, Guarding Debtor Data, and More,” on March 19 from 12 pm to 3:15 pm ET.

Presented by the National Business Institute, the course will feature Mr. Miller along with a panel of attorneys who will deliver practical guidance on navigating the evolving landscape of collections rules and consumer protections.

In addition to insight on how to safeguard data and respond to a data breach, the course will cover FDCPA updates and best practices, CFPB enforcement priorities, TCPA and FCRA compliance, and debtor communications.

The course is designed for attorneys, but accountants, collections professionals, and paralegals may also find it valuable.

CLE credits will be provided. For more information and to register, click here.

Shannon P. Miller is a principal attorney in Maurice Wutscher’s Pennsylvania office, where he focuses his practice on various aspects of financial services law with an emphasis on consumer financial services litigation. He has successfully represented healthcare and financial institutions and law firms across the country for claims filed under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and various state consumer protection statutes.

Maurice Wutscher Attorney Alan Hochheiser to Discuss RBF Industry Compliance Requirements

Feb. 24, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher attorney Alan Hochheiser will speak on regulations and compliance requirements impacting the revenue-based financing industry at the Funders Forum + Brokers Expo in Hollywood, Fla. on Wednesday, March 5.

In this session, Mr. Hochhesier and panel will break down key upcoming regulations and compliance requirements relevant to the RBF industry, including the CFPB’s 1071 data collection rule, California’s APR disclosure requirements, new debt collection regulations, and other forward-looking regulatory topics and potential risks.

For more information and to register for the Funders Forum + Brokers Expo, click here.

Maurice Wutscher Attorney Shannon Miller to Discuss Strategies for Trial Attorneys at CLE Webinar Course

Feb. 3, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher attorney Shannon P. Miller will discuss key strategies for trying a case effectively including the secrets of effective opening statements during the NBI Live Webinar course, “The Complete Civil Trial Attorney,” on Feb. 28 from 10 am to 5 pm ET.

Presented by the National Business Institute, the course will feature Mr. Miller along with a panel of seasoned trial attorneys who will reveal critical tactics every trial attorney needs to know.

In addition to a discussion of opening statements, the program will cover trial preparation; evidentiary issues; jury selection; evidence presentation, witness testimony, and objections; cross-examination strategies; and more.

CLE credits will be provided. For more information and to register, click here. Use Promo Code FSPN50A at checkout to get $50 off.

Maurice Wutscher Attorneys to Speak on Bankruptcy, Debt Buying and Compliance Matters at RMAI Conference

Jan. 21, 2025 — Maurice Wutscher attorneys Alan Hochheiser and Donald Maurice will speak on bankruptcy, debt buying, and legislative and regulatory compliance matters impacting the receivables management industry at RMAI’s annual conference in Las Vegas Feb. 10-13.

Mr. Hochheiser will participate in a discussion of current issues in bankruptcy litigation for debt buyers, sellers and servicers. His panel will include a chapter 13 trustee.

Mr. Maurice will present RMAI’s introductory survey course on debt buying and participate in a session reviewing new state laws and regulations impacting the receivables management industry. He will also discuss New York City’s amended debt collection regulations.

For more information about the Receivables Management Association International conference click here.

Donald Maurice represents the financial services industry, successfully litigating matters in appellate and trial courts throughout the country in individual and class actions and guiding businesses, trade associations and financial services companies nationwide in regulatory and compliance matters including data privacy and ethics. He has been retained as counsel for amicus curiae in the U.S. Supreme Court and in U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and frequently testifies before state legislatures. Mr. Maurice is outside counsel to RMAI, a regent of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers, and a fellow of the ABA’s American Bar Foundation. He has been named to Thomson Reuters’ list of New Jersey Super Lawyers and is peer-rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the worldwide guide to lawyers.