The attorney who drifted in and out behind the debt settlement efforts of the company World Law, appears to have not turned up to defend himself in an action filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
It has always been nebulus where Haskins is actually located. In this article from 2012 I had tracked down Haskins to an address in Switzerland. But the CFPB believes Haskins is somewhere in Florida, UK, or the Czech Republic.
According to the State Bar of Texas, the mailing address for Haskins is a hotel, office space, or apartment building, “Langhans Palace CZECH REPUBLIC, 11000 Vodickova 37, Prague 1 11000 CZECH REPUBLIC.”
Haskins has not bothered to answer the complaint naming him as part of the CFPB suit against World Law. And with Haskins absent the court allowed the CFPB to attempt service on Haskins electronically.
As a result of Haskins remaining silent and the authorized service on Haskins electronically, he wound up losing to a default judgment against him for $107 million. Haskins is also ordered to pay a civil money penalty of $40 million as well.
It is doubtful much of a recovery will ever be obtained and consumers will likely see no relief from this judgment.
World Law was an iteration of the advance fee debt settlement attorney model, like Morgan Drexen was.
The court documents describe the World Law operation and the efforts of Haskins by saying:
“In numerous instances, in connection with the advertising, marketing, promoting, offering for sale, or sale of debt relief services, Defendants have falsely represented that consumers who enroll in Defendants’ debt relief program:
a. will receive legal representation;
b. will be represented by a local attorney; and/or
c. will have settlements of their debts negotiated with their creditors by an attorney.”
“Defendants’ representations described in the complaint and above are false and misleading, and constitute deceptive acts or practices.”
As a result of the judgment against Haskins, the court advised anyone who participated in the World Law scheme to be put on notice against future acts and actions. The court said:
“Defendant Haskins and his successors, assigns, officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and those persons in active concert or participation with any of them, who receive actual notice of this Order whether acting directly or indirectly, in connection with the advertising, marketing, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or performance of any Consumer Financial Product or Service may not misrepresent, or assist others in misrepresenting, expressly or impliedly:
a. Any aspect of any Consumer Financial Product or Service, including but not limited to, the amount of savings a consumer will receive from purchasing, using, or enrolling in such Consumer Financial Product or Service;
b. The total costs to purchase, receive, or use, or the quantity of any Consumer Financial Product or Service, including that there will be no charge for all or a portion of such service;
c. Any material restriction, limitation, or condition to purchase, receive, or use any Consumer Financial Product or Service;
d. Any aspect of the nature or terms of a refund, cancellation, exchange, or repurchase policy for any Consumer Financial Product or Service, including but not limited to, the likelihood of a consumer obtaining a full or partial refund, or the circumstances in which a full or partial refund will be granted to the consumer;
e. The income, profits, sales, or savings likely to be achieved from any Consumer Financial Product or Service;
f. The terms or rates that are available for any loan or other extension of credit;
g. Any person’s ability to improve or otherwise affect a consumer’s credit record, credit history, or credit rating or ability to obtain credit;
h. That a consumer will receive legal representation or services from an attorney duly licensed to practice law;
i. Any material aspect of the performance, efficacy, nature, or central characteristic of any Consumer Financial Product or Service; and
j. Any other fact material to consumers concerning any Consumer Financial Product or Service.”
You can read the full court document here.
If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.
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Nice to know that World Law Group was exposed. I lost over $4000 to them.