West Virginia Debt Collection Laws: Wild and Wonderful

Today, April 12, 2013, The National List of Attorneys published the white paper on debt collection law in West Virginia, written by James B. Atkins, Esq. with Atkins & Ogle Law Offices, LC (A&O), located in Buffalo, WV. Three attorneys with over 50 years of combined legal experience and over 60 years of combined collections experience lead a team of nine full-time and four part-time staff members.  Traditionally, A&O has been strong at litigation and post-judgment remedies on debt collection matters. In recent years the firm has developed strategies and efforts designed to better front-load collection results for clients. The firm has been a member of The National List of Attorneys for 23 years.

James B. Atkins is a managing attorney for A&O. His focus areas include debt collection, contract or civil disputes, criminal defense, and personal injury. Jamie is admitted to the West Virginia State Bar, the U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia, and is the president of the Putnam County Bar Association. Although he has had other areas of significant work in the recent past, is practice is now 100 percent devoted to debt collection.

Jamie graduated cum laude from Glenville State College, with a bachelor’s degree in music education. He earned his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law. He held the position of President for both the Lugar Trial Association and the Christian Legal Society, as well as Chair for the Ethics Committee. He also earned selection into the National Order of Barristers. After graduation he taught as an adjunct lecturer for Glenville State College and West Virginia State University and co-authored/taught How to Get Results in Collection of Delinquent Debts in West Virginia. He has been working in the debt collection industry since 1991.

James Atkins

Debt collection work has taught Jamie “that Debtors/Consumers, by and large, are just like every other group of people. The vast majority are good, honest and well-meaning. There are very few that are difficult.” He enjoys working with “an office full of very nice, very professional friends.”

Jamie advises creditors, “In most cases, documentation sufficient to prove a prima facia case is required to be submitted together with the complaint. Without it, the Judge will not grant summary judgment once the matter is otherwise ripe.” He also warns in the paper, “Through advertisement and news stories, the average WV consumer/debtor has a greater awareness of his consumer protection rights. The office of the West Virginia Attorney General spends considerable resources targeting out-of-state creditors who attempt collection efforts within the state borders without proper licensing and bonding.” You’ll want to read the paper to find out if the debt collection climate in WV is truly “Wild and Wonderful,“ as the state slogan says.

Jamie is a member of the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA) and a “faithful attendee of NARCA Conferences.” The firm has received awards for highest liquidation, lowest exceptions and best over-all firm in their “dollars-place” classification on multiple occasions. They support the local church, multiple local Little Leagues, Community Cupboards and several school athletic teams and music programs. Outside of work, Jamie plays and teaches music, and coaches Little League baseball.

The National List thanks Jamie for submitting this paper and for telling us something about himself and his firm. You can access the paper at http://www.nationallist.com/white_papers/westvirginia