Missouri Debt Collection Laws: The Show Me State

Today, March 11, 2013, The National List of Attorneys published a white paper on debt collection law in Missouri written by associate attorneys Rick Milone and Dustin Stiles under the direction and supervision of James McNeile, of the law firm Cohen McNeile & Pappas, P.C. They also co-authored the white paper on Kansas. The firm has been a member of The National List since 1994.

Cohen McNeile & Pappas P.C. represents a diverse group of local, regional and national companies to handle their business debt collection, bankruptcy, real estate and personal property foreclosure and litigation needs. Their attorneys are licensed to practice in both Missouri and Kansas, and are prepared to offer prompt and efficient legal guidance throughout each state, having offices in the St. Louis and Kansas City and metropolitan areas. The firm is directed by its board of directors, Clifford A. Cohen, James M. McNeile, and Gregory J. Pappas.

Rick Milone has been an associate with the firm since 2008, and Dustin Stiles relocated from Nebraska to join as an associate in 2011. Together they’ve prosecuted hundreds of hearings and trials before numerous state, federal, and appellate courts throughout each of Missouri and Kansas. Because we told you about co-author, Dustin, on February 26th when the Kansas paper was published, today we’ll tell you more about Rick.

Rick received his J.D. from the University of Missouri—Kansas City. He has been working in the debt collection industry for 5 years. His practice of law is 100 percent dedicated to debt collection. Rick says, “Being a lawyer allows all of the benefits of being a professional, including being relied upon for answers to difficult and important problems in your clients’ lives and business operations.” He finds it interesting that “the FDCPA, although a relatively short set of statutes, has an incredible amount of nuances and varying interpretations across states and federal circuits.”

The Missouri state slogan is “The Show Me State.” One thing Rick would like to “show” creditors filing claims in Missouri is they need to know that “certain Missouri Civil Procedure rules allow a defendant to defend a claim with filing an answer. In Kansas, the consumer may have additional protections via the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.”

Rick lives in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a member of the Kansas City Missouri Bar Association (KCMBA), the Missouri Bar Association and is Past VP of the Missouri Creditors’ Bar, Inc. When not working he enjoys reading, writing, playing with his dog, and spending time with family. The Johnson County Christmas Bureau, servicing the needs of underprivileged families in Johnson County Kansas during the holiday season, is a mainstay charity to which Rich and many of the firm’s members give time and money.

The National List thanks Rick and Dustin for submitting this paper and for telling us something about themselves and their firm. You can access the paper at http://www.nationallist.com/white_papers/Missouri.