The J. Murphy Firm Offers Consumer Money Back Guarantee to Get Debt Suit Stricken

A tipster (send in your tips here) sent in the following mailer they received from a lawyer promising a money back guarantee to get a debt suit dismissed or stricken from the record.

From the CreditCases.com website comes this further clarification on the guarantee:

If we get the complaint dismissed or if the other side drops the case, we keep our fee. If we can’t get you one of these two results, you have two options – you can have a refund of your fees, less any filing fees we had to pay (usually $30), or you can advise us to proceed with trial and do what we can to minimize any judgment that will be entered. – Source

If anyone has any idea if this complies with Pennsylvania legal advertising requirements, please post your observations in the comments below.

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CBHJ

I used The J. Murphy Firm on more than occasion for settling a Credit Card lawsuit. He consistently provided me with a winning results. I am highly indebted to his firm and would recommend his assistance to anyone. Attorney Murphey is a tremendous man- one you want on your side.
Badru rasheed

I was under intense harassment from a debt collector and I contacted the Pittsburgh Free Attorney office on Penn Ave. they introduced me to THE J MURPHY office. You know what ? I never went to The J Murphy office, never seen them and never went to court, but because i sincerel;y had a genuine case and have J MURPHY by my side……The case was dismissed and never came back ever since. I was also informed by mail and phone calls all thru the process……I also DID NOT PAY A CENT….THANK YOU SO VERY MUCJ THE J MURPHY ATTORNEYS
Badru rasheed

I was under intense harassment from a debt collector and I contacted the Pittsburgh Free Attorney office on Penn Ave. they introduced me to THE J MURPHY office. You know what ? I never went to The J Murphy office, never seen them and never went to court, but because i sincerel;y had a genuine case and have J MURPHY by my side……The case was dismissed and never came back ever since. I was also informed by mail and phone calls all thru the process……I also DID NOT PAY A CENT….THANK YOU SO VERY MUCJ THE J MURPHY ATTORNEYS
Panomad

I used a debt settlement to settle my debt and paid well over a 1000.00. All it managed to do for me was to be sued. I received the J. Murphy Firm flyer when I was sued and was

skeptical. Just another rip off I though, I was wrong. I called and talked to Joe and was reassured of what could be done. I paid his fee, and he came through for me. My case was dismissed and I have been pleased ever since.
For whoever said about teaching people how to handle their debt. I had a great credit score, paid my bills on time, but was laid off and collected unemployment for 11 months. You try to keep up with your bills while on unemployment. Jeff B.
Panomad

I used a debt settlement to settle my debt and paid well over a 1000.00. All it managed to do for me was to be sued. I received the J. Murphy Firm flyer when I was sued and was

skeptical. Just another rip off I though, I was wrong. I called and talked to Joe and was reassured of what could be done. I paid his fee, and he came through for me. My case was dismissed and I have been pleased ever since.
For whoever said about teaching people how to handle their debt. I had a great credit score, paid my bills on time, but was laid off and collected unemployment for 11 months. You try to keep up with your bills while on unemployment. Jeff B.
Cagittings

I seriously question whether debt settlement firms help the clients. When you have to pay a fee for their service…and a hefty one at that, I fail to see the benefit. Mr Murphy helped me when I desperately needed his professional advice/help. He was very upfront with me about my situation from the very beginning and throughout until my issues were finally resolved. Choosing Mr Murphy to help me was one of the wisest things I have ever done. Thank you Joe for restoring my life. Carol Gittings
Fitz

WOW! I read this whole thing and feel let down. Why do we continue to beat everybody up except the creditors! Clearly Mr. Murphy has done some good work, has some happy clients and is taking the fight to the creditors by litigating and defending cases. Kudos to him. I don’t take issue with his solicitation letters because I believe when he says: “with DSC you always pay something”, he is refering to paying the creditor (which is true if you settle a debt). He clearly says in the next sentence: “IF we get the case dismissed, you pay nothing to the credit company”. He is not talking about DSC fees, he is talking about paying the creditor. True, the debt is not necessarily over, but it is a good result. Let’s be honest.

Is he a competitor of DSC? Sure. Nothing wrong with that. Does he provide the same service? No. Honestly, I wish there were more Mr. Murphys out there to help these people and his fee is not outrageous. It can’t be because his clients are broke. Let’s lighten up a bit (especially on the poor consumers who don’t know where to turn) and agree that we dont have all the answers and that anyone who is taking it to the creditors is on the same side. I don’t know Mr. Murphy, but I know we need more lawyers willing to rep broke consumers who get sued. Especially those that can get dismissals, with or without prejudice.
- Michael
  
  Ditto Fitz.
  
  Could use a Murphy in every city and town. Far to few….
Lenny

I was 23K in credit card debt and for $700.00 my delinquency was erased. Yes, The J. Murphy Firm did what they said they would do. Prior to receiving the J. Murphy letter in the mail I paid a “debt settlement outfit” and was ripped off to the tone of $1500.

Thank you J. Murphy Firm.
- Anonymous
  
  Doing a little research and using a little common sense would have led you to a a reputable settlement company that does not charge upfront fees and all of your debt would have been dealt with, not just the lawsuits.
  
  No one here who has commented has answered the question of how J Murphy has helped them with their other debts? Also, I hate to be so cynical, this industry does that to you but would all 7 of you who claim to have had all their debt dismissed by J Murphy be so kind and post the dismissal of the lawsuit and debt? Im a big boy and can admit when Im wrong so please back up your claims and I will humbly apologize and send J Murphy a lot of referrals.
- Frank
  
  I was sued by Chase over a charge card debt. I contacted this firm and they did what they advertise. It was money well spent. I would use them again and recomend them to my family and friends. Thank you J Murphy for your help. F J Lex
  - Angelo
    
    Glad it worked out for you Frank, can you provide the court dismissal showing the debt has been eliminated?
MS LFL

Joe Murphy was God-sent when I needed help settling a law suit. He not only took all the worries of filing court papers and meeting deadlines, but advised me every step of the way.The $699 fee was the best investment ever made. Now easy sleep comes every night because of Joe. I am forever grateful to him for his professionalism and kindness.
S Coppler

Sorry I wasn’t clear. They were the firm representing me in a debt case.
S Coppler

I’m not sure what’s going on here. I have utilized this firm for my debt needs and everything was settled, literally didn’t cost me a dime. That’s just the fine line. Of course, I went through many more things, also much more details involved.. However, I wasn’t scammed. and those that believe they were, should probably read the fine line.
- Angelo
  
  @591615490d58261a393abd874667a4bb:disqus Im not saying this is a scam, by no means. You paid an attorney to defend a lawsuit and they did, nothing wrong with that. I take issue with the law firms deceptive advertising and it’s comparison to Debt Settlement companies. Defending a lawsuit on one debt is not even in the same ball park as helping consumers address ALL of their debt. The main mission for Debt Settlement Companies is to help avoid bankruptcy where the main mission for J Murphy is to defend one lawsuit for $700. By the way, with the right strategy this process takes no more than to electronic court filing and maybe 2 phone calls to accomplish – about 2 hours in total. What does J Murphy suggest you do when you get sued again for that same debt and you dont have the $700 to pay J Murphy and at the same time collectors from your other accounts are blowing up your phone? What if you get sued by another creditor in the meantime? It should also be disclosed that even if the lawsuit is dismissed the debt is still collectable and they can sure you again. To bash debt settlement companies by saying that consumers always pay something vs paying nothing is deceptive….period. A reputable debt settlement company can settle all of the debt without charging a dime until each debt is settled and can handle any creditor lawsuits. Which do you think acts in the best interest of the consumer and which do you think acts in their own best interest?
- Anonymous
  
  Coppler- Murphy settled all your debt and it didn’t cost you a dime? Literally? Please let me know the details, I can refer a 1,000 clients a year to him.
Jlewis

to whom it may concern. J.Murphy delivered as described and spoken to me as a client. He is dedicated to helping the 99%.
guest

I had financial setbacks and contracted a supposedly good debt settlement company, within three months i was sued by citibank, the debt settlement DID NOTHING, i got the j murphy law firm flyer and THEY got my suit dismissed, this is against citibank, one of the worst. I NEVER even had to have phone contact, I emailed and mailed with j murphy law firm, i did not have to go to court. Citibank sued me near christmas and I felt TOTAL relief when i got this law firm. Debt settlement companies law has changes, I did have to pay them, the debt settlement company a lot of money up front and they did NOTHING for me, i believe law changed and NOW the debt settlement companies brag they dont charge up front, they dont mention its BECAUSE it is now law they cant charge up front. J MURPHY law firm relieved my stress at time i needed it most. I recomend them to anyone i can.
- Pay1stLearnLater
  
  There are many settlement companies that NEVER took up front fees. If you signed with one that did, that’s too bad- But it’s on you. Your suit dismissal is certainly “without prejudice” meaning the debt can still be collected on & you can still be sued. How is that for “total relief”?
- Pay1stLearnLater
  
  There are many settlement companies that NEVER took up front fees. If you signed with one that did, that’s too bad- But it’s on you. Your suit dismissal is certainly “without prejudice” meaning the debt can still be collected on & you can still be sued. How is that for “total relief”?
- Angelo
  
  You signed with a settlement company that charged upfront fees, shame on you…there are quite a few settlement companies that have not charged upfront fees even before the law changed and some that even offer full legal protection. You should have done your homework or just used common sense and thing to yourself….”if all my money is going to fees then how am I going to save for a settlement”?
  
  If you chose a company that charges fees at settlement you would have had funds accumulated when you were hit with that lawsuit and that settlement company would have been able to negotiate a settlement and made it go away AND NOT COME BACK! So my question to you and anyone who swearing by this law firm is this….most consumers average 7 credit card accounts, what have they done to help with your other debts?
- Angelo
  
  You signed with a settlement company that charged upfront fees, shame on you…there are quite a few settlement companies that have not charged upfront fees even before the law changed and some that even offer full legal protection. You should have done your homework or just used common sense and thing to yourself….”if all my money is going to fees then how am I going to save for a settlement”?
  
  If you chose a company that charges fees at settlement you would have had funds accumulated when you were hit with that lawsuit and that settlement company would have been able to negotiate a settlement and made it go away AND NOT COME BACK! So my question to you and anyone who swearing by this law firm is this….most consumers average 7 credit card accounts, what have they done to help with your other debts?
Catfishmen

The Murphy Firm is the best way to go with a Credit Card lawsuit. Joseph Murphy is my attorney and he is honest, hard working, and intelligent. Debt Settlement firms are a bad choice. Facing a credit card suit is the correct way to go with a good lawyer like Mr. Murphy. He will honor any statement that he makes. He will go the extra mile for a client.
- Pay1stLearnLater
  
  Well I don’t know why the hell you’re so happy- I paid The Murphy firm $700 and he got it dismissed “without prejudice” and now I’m being sued AGAIN! I called Murphy and he says he will fight it again for ANOTHER $700! bUT THAT THE DEBT CAN BE SOLD EVEN IF HE WINS & i still CAN SUED AGAIN! I wish went with debt settlement- this would all be over
  - Guest
    
    I also used the Murphy firm to settle a lawsuit and it was dismissed. I believe Mr. Murphy didn’t say that there were any guarantees, but what I do know is that debt settlement companies are a rip-off. I had a credit card listed with the settlement company, they took their percentage out up front, I was sued, paid attorney’s fees and everything was settled. DO NOT GO TO A SETTLEMENT COMPANY. They will not help with a lawsuit, which could happen in any given circumstance and Pay1stLearnLater, you would not have the nightmare over – it would have only just begun if you would have gone with the settlement company. I think the total I paid was what I originally owed to begin with, and I did most of the leg work and settling with the credit card companies.
  - Anonymous
    
    Smoke and mirrors… All this law firm is doing is charging $700 to defend a lawsuit. They are not helping consumers get out of debt. The debt is still there and still needs to be dealt with responsibly. This attorney is suggesting to default on your debt, wait for a lawsuit and then he will have it dismissed? This is not teaching the consumer any financial responsibility and his advert should mention that even when dismissed, most lawsuits are still collectible and the client still owes the debt!.
    
    By the way, there are many settlement companies who do not charge up front fees AND provide local attorneys to defend creditor lawsuits if they come up… I can provide a long list of them! If you choose a settlement firm that is paid at settlement and provides a local lawyer to defend lawsuits, THAT is addressing the root problem. This is a band aid- It costs you $700 to possibly have more time to pay that same debt. The average settlement client has 6 cards! In most cases, this is a very temporary solution for a small part of the client’s problems and compared to settlement, expensive!
    
    I take issue with the advert saying “with settlement you always pay something”. That is untrue. It should also clearly state that if the suit is dismissed, it is likely the debt is still owed & the client can be sued again.
- Guest
  
  Is he your boyfriend?
- Guest
  
  Is he your boyfriend?
ComplianceSlave

I take issue with it’s claim that “With debt settlement companies, you always end up paying something”. Those of us that truly conform to the FTC’s rules are paid ONLY if we settle client’s debts. Therefore, we need no money back guarantee as we do not get paid unless we provide results. And, unlike this program, we take no money until we provide the results that the client agrees to.

In general, that seems to violate this:
7.1:102 Model Code Comparison

DR 2-101 provides that “[n]o lawyer shall not . . . use . . . any form of public communication containing a false, fraudulent, misleading statement or claim. . .” With respect to Rule 7.1(a)-(d), there is no direct code counterpart.

***

No attorney is listed- 7.2:500 Identification of a Responsible Lawyer

ï¿½ Primary Pennsylvania References: PA Rule 7.2(b)
ï¿½ Background References: ABA Model Rule 7.2(d), Other Jurisdictions
ï¿½ Commentary: ABA/BNA ï¿½ï¿½ 81.201, 81:301, Wolfram ï¿½ 14.2

Rule 7.2(b) requires that the record for each advertisement “include the name of at least one lawyer responsible for its content.”

***

PA Model Rules do not require “advertisement” to be printed on mailers.

Overall, the big issue is comparing and offering expectations versus “debt settlement” as a whole. They state “if we get the case dismissed, you pay nothing to the credit company”. We have many clients who have answered lawsuits & had the claims dismissed as well, and paid nothing to the credit company. Often, a client answer to a lawsuit is the best way to bring negotiations to the table. They do not speak of possible settlement here, but my guess is that it will typically be offered. Now, if their client does not have any money available to the settlement, they very well may lose. Assuming the client decided to take this option “or you can advise us to proceed with trial and do what we can to minimize any judgment that will be entered.” and “proceed with the lawsuit” they will then be responsible for court costs, attorney fees and the judgement if they lose. Seems like the firm should offer that information as a possible outcome, including their rate and expected hours to pursue!
Basically, it looks like theyre offering to answer the suit for $700. If theyre answer doesn’t get the suit dismissed, they will give you the money back & you can then pay whatever judgment is offered or continue to defend, which costs more (undisclosed) money and still may receive the judgment.
I think $700 is a lot for a template answer to a summons. Assuming the average debtor has 6 cards in default, that’s $4,200 for 6 template answers. Seems extreme.
http://www.ftc.gov ComplianceSlave

I take issue with it’s claim that “With debt settlement companies, you always end up paying something”. Those of us that truly conform to the FTC’s rules are paid ONLY if we settle client’s debts. Therefore, we need no money back guarantee as we do not get paid unless we provide results. And, unlike this program, we take no money until we provide the results that the client agrees to.

In general, that seems to violate this:
7.1:102 Model Code Comparison

DR 2-101 provides that “[n]o lawyer shall not . . . use . . . any form of public communication containing a false, fraudulent, misleading statement or claim. . .” With respect to Rule 7.1(a)-(d), there is no direct code counterpart.

***

No attorney is listed- 7.2:500 Identification of a Responsible Lawyer

� Primary Pennsylvania References: PA Rule 7.2(b)
� Background References: ABA Model Rule 7.2(d), Other Jurisdictions
� Commentary: ABA/BNA �� 81.201, 81:301, Wolfram � 14.2

Rule 7.2(b) requires that the record for each advertisement “include the name of at least one lawyer responsible for its content.”

***

PA Model Rules do not require “advertisement” to be printed on mailers.

Overall, the big issue is comparing and offering expectations versus “debt settlement” as a whole. They state “if we get the case dismissed, you pay nothing to the credit company”. We have many clients who have answered lawsuits & had the claims dismissed as well, and paid nothing to the credit company. Often, a client answer to a lawsuit is the best way to bring negotiations to the table. They do not speak of possible settlement here, but my guess is that it will typically be offered. Now, if their client does not have any money available to the settlement, they very well may lose. Assuming the client decided to take this option “or you can advise us to proceed with trial and do what we can to minimize any judgment that will be entered.” and “proceed with the lawsuit” they will then be responsible for court costs, attorney fees and the judgement if they lose. Seems like the firm should offer that information as a possible outcome, including their rate and expected hours to pursue!
Basically, it looks like theyre offering to answer the suit for $700. If theyre answer doesn’t get the suit dismissed, they will give you the money back & you can then pay whatever judgment is offered or continue to defend, which costs more (undisclosed) money and still may receive the judgment.
I think $700 is a lot for a template answer to a summons. Assuming the average debtor has 6 cards in default, that’s $4,200 for 6 template answers. Seems extreme.

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The J. Murphy Firm Offers Consumer Money Back Guarantee to Get Debt Suit Stricken

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