Nebraska Landmark Legal Settlements
Class-action suit wipes out part of Nebraskans' debts
In 2009 a class-action lawsuit against one of the country’s largest debt collection agencies, Unifund CCR Partners, was settled, wiping out at least part of the debts of more than 2,000 Nebraskans who were allegedly the victims of illegal collection methods.
The suit revolved around alleged practices used by the collection companies, including suggesting, if not outright threatening, legal action; creating a false impression it was a law firm making the contact; trying to improperly attach fees to the debt; and trying to collect after a time limit set by Nebraska law had passed.
Payments to the debtors, in cash or credits, will total about $150,000 at a minimum.
Omaha settles with Muslim woman barred from public pool
In 2005 the city of Omaha and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a Muslim woman who was not allowed to enter a public swimming pool last summer due to her religious clothing.
The city policies in place at the time of the lawsuit did not permit anyone to enter a swimming pool unless they were wearing a bathing suit. Lubna Hussein came to the pool with her small daughters to watch them swim and did not intend to swim herself. Hussein observed Muslim dress requirements for women by wearing modest clothing and a head scarf to cover her hair.
Insurer pays bulk of $900K settlement in Nebraska fraud case
In 2009 a group of more than 200 investors who were allegedly defrauded by their Nebraska-based brokers received a $900,000 settlement with one of their brokers' former employers.
Court documents filed in the lawsuits and criminal complaints say investors were defrauded out of at least $20 million by their brokers, Rebecca Engle and former Nebraska football player Brian Schuster.
Most of the investors involved in the arbitration or lawsuits wanted conservative, stable investments. But they say the brokers instead invested their money in high-risk enterprises in Florida without fully explaining the gambles.
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