Jennifer W. Weller

Partner

Chicago, IL

She/Her

"I have deep knowledge and experience in my area, which allows me to evaluate claims and advise clients in ways that are effective as much as they are efficient."

312-704-3025

Email andlbGxlckBoaW5zaGF3bGF3LmNvbQ==

Jennifer W. Weller

Partner

Chicago, IL

She/Her

"I have deep knowledge and experience in my area, which allows me to evaluate claims and advise clients in ways that are effective as much as they are efficient."

312-704-3025

Email andlbGxlckBoaW5zaGF3bGF3LmNvbQ==

Share this page
Print
vCard
PDF

About Jennifer

Jennifer concentrates her practice on class action litigation, helping businesses with compliance and litigating consumer class actions under state and federal laws, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Illinois Collection Agency Act (ICAA), the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act (ICFA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Jennifer represents lending institutions, debt collection agencies, debt buyers, and lawyers. She has also handled regulatory proceedings before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and responded to state civil investigative demands. Additionally, Jennifer manages cases at the appellate level.

Admitted to multiple district courts within the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Jennifer has successfully represented clients in a range of consumer class actions, both at the trial and appellate levels.

Areas of Focus

Industries:

Services:

Experience

Obtained a dismissal win for Hinshaw debt collection agency client in the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) case that centered on a credit reporting method widely used in the credit and collections industry. After attempting to collect outstanding bills, the client reported each of the amounts owed to the medical providers to a consumer reporting agency. Plaintiffs alleged that reporting each debt owed a provider separately rather than a single aggregated debt violated FDCPA 1692f, which prohibits unfair or unconscionable means to attempt to collect a debt. The appellate court affirmed the district court's dismissal, stating it is reasonable, and not at all deceptive or outrageous, for a collector to report individual debts that correspond to different charges.
Obtained a dismissal win for Hinshaw debt collection agency client in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in an FDCPA case that centered on a credit reporting method widely used in the credit and collections industry. After attempting to collect outstanding bills, the client reported each of the amounts owed to the medical providers to a consumer reporting agency. Plaintiffs alleged that reporting each debt owed a provider separately rather than a single aggregated debt violated FDCPA 1692f, which prohibits unfair or unconscionable means to attempt to collect a debt. The appellate court affirmed the district court's dismissal, stating it is reasonable, and not at all deceptive or outrageous, for a collector to report individual debts that correspond to different charges.
Olvera v. Blitt & Gaines, P.C., 431 F.3d 285 (7th Cir. 2005)
Fields v. Wilber Law Firm, P.C., 383 F.3d 562 (7th Cir. 2004)
Randolph v. IMBS, Inc., 368 F.3d 726 (7th Cir. 2004)

Recognition

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, Editor-at-Large

Credentials

Education

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD, 1999
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, BA, 1996

Bar Admissions

Illinois

Court Admissions

US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
US District Court for the Western District of Michigan
US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Thought Leadership

Presentations

Her presentations include:

"Life After Pressler and the Bar on Pre-Judgment Discovery," The National Creditors Bar Association, 2016 Fall Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 27, 2016.
"Fair Debt Collection Practices Act," Illinois State Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Conference, Springfield, Illinois, October 2010.
"Ethics for the North Suburban Lawyer," North Suburban Bar Association, Skokie, Illinois, April 2010.
"Navigating Debtor New Forms of Communication," 14th Annual National Collections & Credit Risk Conference, Miami, Florida, March 2010.
"Technology and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act," Lorman Education Services, live teleconference, January 2010.

Blog Post

Seventh Circuit Awards Legal Costs and Implements a Major Reduction in Plaintiff's Requested Attorneys' Fees in a FCRA and FDCPA Claim, Jun 10, 2019

Hinshaw Newsletters

Consumer & Class Action Litigation Newsletter - December 2015 Edition, Dec 15, 2015
Consumer & Class Action Litigation Newsletter - January 2015 Edition, Jan 28, 2015
Consumer & Class Action Litigation Newsletter - March 2013 Edition, Mar 4, 2013
Consumer & Class Action Litigation Newsletter - November 2011 Edition, Nov 2, 2011
Consumer & Class Action Litigation Newsletter - December 2010 Edition, Dec 2, 2010

In The News

Press Releases

Interests

Did you know...

Jennifer spends as much time as she can with her family and loves watching her sons play hockey.

Thought Leadership

Presentations

Her presentations include:

"Life After Pressler and the Bar on Pre-Judgment Discovery," The National Creditors Bar Association, 2016 Fall Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 27, 2016.
"Fair Debt Collection Practices Act," Illinois State Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Conference, Springfield, Illinois, October 2010.
"Ethics for the North Suburban Lawyer," North Suburban Bar Association, Skokie, Illinois, April 2010.
"Navigating Debtor New Forms of Communication," 14th Annual National Collections & Credit Risk Conference, Miami, Florida, March 2010.
"Technology and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act," Lorman Education Services, live teleconference, January 2010.