Man sues three over debt collection practices

BECKLEY - A West Virginia man is alleging that he was subjected to unlawful debt collection practices.

Arnold G. Linkous filed a lawsuit Jan. 10 against Raleigh General Hospital LLC, Mitchell D. Bluhm & Associates LLC and CF Medical LLC, citing violations of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, violation of the West Virginia Computer Crime and Abuse Act, violation of the Telephone Harassment Statute, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

Linkous says he became in arrears to Raleigh General Hospital and the defendants began contacting him to collect the debt. According to the complaint, the defendants engaged in unreasonable, oppressive and abusive debt collection tactics.

The defendants' wrongful actions included unreasonably publicizing information about the plaintiff's debt and calling repeatedly or at unusual times or at times known to be inconvenient, according to the complaint.

Linkous is seeking an undisclosed amount of damages. He is being represented in the case by Fayetteville attorneys Ralph C. Young, Christopher B. Frost and Steven R. Broadwater Jr. of Hamilton, Burgess, Young & Pollard PLLC.

Raleigh County Circuit Court Case No. 13-C-17.