Adrianna Anderson

The Project

Adrianna will increase economic stability and reduce the collateral consequences of predatory debt collection for low-income people in rural New York by reducing default judgments in debt collection cases through financial empowerment, consumer protection education, and direct litigation.

More than 100,000 debt collection cases are filed in New York each year, and nearly 98% of debtors in these cases are unrepresented. As a result, more than half of these cases end in default judgments in favor of debt collectors, often despite actual proof that a debt was ever owed in the first place. Abusive debt collection practices are directly linked to broader economic discrimination, financial instability, and wealth inequality, and the impact is especially harmful to low-income people in rural communities. Without additional legal resources, the predatory structure of debt collection practices will continue to go unchallenged, leaving low-income, minority, disabled, and other disadvantaged individuals and families financially vulnerable.

Fellowship Highlights

During her Fellowship, Adrianna:

• Lay a foundation for the project and gain substantive legal skills training through Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.
• Establish partnerships with legal and nonlegal service providers and monitor debt collection cases, default judgments, and other consumer issues in local courts
• Provide legal information and advice through the Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. consumer hotline and Consumer Education Clinics to identify cases for litigation and empower pro se consumers
• Identify ways to improve pro se resources for consumers