About Us

How We Work

See All

Direct Services

Public Counsel provides free direct legal services and support or matches clients with pro bono advocates, ensuring they have a partner standing with them, their families, and our communities as they pursue justice.

Learn More

Policy Advocacy

Public Counsel addresses the root causes of inequities in our society by advocating for inclusive policy solutions in collaboration with grassroots coalitions and the communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

Learn More

Impact Litigation

Public Counsel files strategic impact litigation so entire communities get the justice they deserve. By setting legal precedents and challenging unjust laws, our cases spark large-scale change in our society.

Learn More

Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied on pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us in supporting clients, taking on high-impact cases, and strengthening our advocacy efforts.

Learn More

Social Work Integration

Public Counsel values an interdisciplinary approach to law and social work that strengthens trauma-informed legal advocacy and advances effective outcomes across its work. 

Learn More

Community Education

Public Counsel promotes healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, providing trainings, legal resources, and practical guidance that help people understand their rights, navigate complex systems, and take informed action.

Learn More

Resource Library

Popular Resources

See All

Guide

10/19/26

Trauma-Informed Deposition Preparation Guide

The Trauma-Informed Deposition Guide integrates social work values into legal practices in an attempt to reduce negative impacts on youth clients during deposition. The intention of this guide is to...

Learn More

Guide

08/18/26

Navigating COVID-19 EIDL Loan Repayment

This FAQ is designed for small business owners and nonprofit organizations nationwide that received an SBA COVID-19 EIDL and are now navigating repayment, delinquency, or default. It covers program basics,...

Learn More

Guide

08/10/26

California Nonjudicial Foreclosure Process – Primary Mortgage

This guide provides an overview of the California judicial foreclosure process for primary (first lien) mortgages, covering the full timeline from pre-foreclosure through the foreclosure sale — a minimum of approximately...

Learn More

How We Work

See All

Direct Services

Public Counsel provides free direct legal services and support or matches clients with pro bono advocates, ensuring they have a partner standing with them, their families, and our communities as they pursue justice.

Learn More

Policy Advocacy

Public Counsel addresses the root causes of inequities in our society by advocating for inclusive policy solutions in collaboration with grassroots coalitions and the communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

Learn More

Impact Litigation

Public Counsel files strategic impact litigation so entire communities get the justice they deserve. By setting legal precedents and challenging unjust laws, our cases spark large-scale change in our society.

Learn More

Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied on pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us in supporting clients, taking on high-impact cases, and strengthening our advocacy efforts.

Learn More

Social Work Integration

Public Counsel values an interdisciplinary approach to law and social work that strengthens trauma-informed legal advocacy and advances effective outcomes across its work. 

Learn More

Community Education

Public Counsel promotes healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, providing trainings, legal resources, and practical guidance that help people understand their rights, navigate complex systems, and take informed action.

Learn More

Popular Resources

See All

Guide

10/19/26

Trauma-Informed Deposition Preparation Guide

The Trauma-Informed Deposition Guide integrates social work values into legal practices in an attempt to reduce negative impacts on youth clients during deposition. The intention of this guide is to...

Learn More

Guide

08/18/26

Navigating COVID-19 EIDL Loan Repayment

This FAQ is designed for small business owners and nonprofit organizations nationwide that received an SBA COVID-19 EIDL and are now navigating repayment, delinquency, or default. It covers program basics,...

Learn More

Guide

08/10/26

California Nonjudicial Foreclosure Process – Primary Mortgage

This guide provides an overview of the California judicial foreclosure process for primary (first lien) mortgages, covering the full timeline from pre-foreclosure through the foreclosure sale — a minimum of approximately...

Learn More

Economic Justice

Challenging a Debt Buyer’s Widespread Use of Allegedly Fraudulent Evidence in Debt Collection Cases Statewide

Overview
Explore Sections

Case Overview

Our Organizational Client

Public Counsel represents Lisa Neville in a debt-collection lawsuit brought by Credit Corp Solutions, Inc., a debt buyer that claims Ms. Neville owes money on a charged-off credit card account. Ms. Neville denies Credit Corp’s claim and has filed a cross-complaint alleging that Credit Corp relied on allegedly manufactured assignment documents to sue her and other consumers across California.

The cross-complaint alleges that Credit Corp has used the same “page 6 of 81” spreadsheet template in multiple debt-collection cases, inserting different consumers’ information into what appears to be the same assignment record. Ms. Neville alleges that this practice allows Credit Corp to pursue collection lawsuits without valid proof that it owns the debts it seeks to collect.

Ms. Neville brings claims under the California Fair Debt Buying Practices Act, the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Unfair Competition Law, and fraud. She seeks public injunctive relief to stop Credit Corp’s alleged use of manufactured assignment documents, along with actual damages, statutory damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, and costs.

Public Counsel represents Ms. Neville with pro bono co-counsel Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. Since Public Counsel appeared in the case, the Court has granted Ms. Neville leave to file her cross-complaint, denied Credit Corp’s motion to compel arbitration, and reclassified the case as an unlimited civil action.

Court

Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles

Status

Pending

Case No.

25CHLC17110

Filed

04/16/2025

Public Counsel Legal Team

our Co-Counsel

Case Developments

FIling

05/27/2026

Ms. Neville Files Cross-Complaint Against Credit Corp

Ms. Neville filed her cross-complaint against Credit Corp. The cross-complaint alleges that Credit Corp relied on allegedly manufactured assignment documents in this case and in other debt-collection cases, and seeks public injunctive relief, damages, statutory penalties, punitive damages, attorney fees, and costs.

Ms. Neville’s Cross-Complaint Against Credit Corp

ruLING

05/20/2026

Court Denies Arbitration and Grants Leave to File Cross-Complaint

The Court denied Credit Corp’s motion to compel arbitration and stay the case. The Court also granted Ms. Neville’s motion for leave to file a cross-complaint.

ORDER Denying Motion to Compel Arbitration and Granting Leave to File Cross-Complaint 

FILING

04/20/2026

Credit Corp Files Reply in Support of Arbitration

Credit Corp filed its reply in support of its motion to compel arbitration and stay the proceedings, arguing that the alleged PayPal Credit arbitration provision applied to Ms. Neville’s claims.

Credit Corp’s Reply in Support of Motion to Compel Arbitration

FILING

04/14/2026

Ms. Neville Opposes Credit Corp’s Motion to Compel Arbitration

Ms. Neville opposed Credit Corp’s motion to compel arbitration. She argued that Credit Corp had not established an enforceable arbitration agreement covering her claims and that her public injunctive relief claim could not be forced into private arbitration.

Ms. Neville’s Opposition to Motion to Compel Arbitration

Filing

01/29/2026

Credit Corp Moves to Compel Arbitration

Credit Corp moved to compel arbitration and stay the case based on an alleged arbitration provision in a PayPal Credit agreement.

Credit Corp’s Motion to Compel Arbitration and Stay Proceedings

Filing

01/26/2026

Ms. Neville Files Reply in Support of Cross-Complaint Motion

Ms. Neville filed a reply brief arguing that leave to file her cross-complaint should be granted because California law favors resolving related claims in the same action and because the proposed claims arose from Credit Corp’s prosecution of the debt-collection lawsuit.

Ms. Neville’s Reply in Support of Motion for Leave to File Cross-Complaint

Filing

01/21/2026

Credit Corp Opposes Ms. Neville’s Cross-Complaint Motion

Credit Corp opposed Ms. Neville’s motion for leave to file a cross-complaint, arguing that the proposed cross-complaint was improper and should not be added to the case.

Credit Corp’s Opposition to Motion for Leave to File Cross-Complaint

Filing

11/18/2025

Ms. Neville Moves for Leave to File Cross-Complaint

Ms. Neville moved for leave to file a cross-complaint and to postpone the then-scheduled trial date. The proposed cross-complaint alleged that Credit Corp relied on false or misleading assignment documents in support of its debt-collection lawsuit.

Ms. Neville’s Motion for Leave to File Cross-Complaint

Filing

07/11/2025

Ms. Neville Files General Denial

Ms. Neville filed a general denial, disputing Credit Corp’s debt-collection claims and asserting affirmative defenses, including lack of standing, failure to state a claim, statute of limitations, and violations of debt-collection laws.

ms. neville’s GENERAL DENIAL

Filing

04/16/2025

Credit Corp Files Debt-Collection Lawsuit Against Lisa Neville

Credit Corp filed a debt-collection lawsuit against Ms. Neville seeking $2,064.89 on an alleged charged-off PayPal Credit account. The complaint attached documents that Ms. Neville later challenged as fraudulent or misleading evidence of assignment and ownership.

Complaint