GAINESVILLE – An Alachua County consumer alleges a company unlawfully sent her text messages to collect on an alleged debt.

Jacqueline Meekins filed a complaint on March 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Gainesville Division against T-Mobile USA Inc. alleging that the creditor violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that beginning in 2016, she was damaged by defendant's transmission of unsolicited text messages in an attempt to collect on alleged debt without any prior express consent. The plaintiff holds T-Mobile USA Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly engaged in an unlawful practice of using an autodialer to place calls and texts to cellular phone without prior express consent to place the calls.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant, actual damages, statutory damages of $500 per violation, treble damages of $1,500 per violation, attorneys' fees, costs, punitive damages, and other relief the court may deem proper. She is represented by Michelle F. Martin of Pastore & Dailey LLC in Gainesville.

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Gainesville Division Case number 1:17-cv-00056