Established in 1996 for the Purpose of Assisting Creditors in Their Efforts to get Paid by Their Customers

You work hard to sell your product, but that does not translate into cash. You send invoices and get excuses (some legitimate, some not) as to why they have your product and your money. You send letter after letter and make telephone call after telephone call only to feel like you are beating your head against a wall.

The days of debtors' prison are gone. It's now time to think about other available alternative methods of how to collect money from a debtor.

Why do you need a lawyer in order to get paid?
A lawyer who specializes in collections will get you on the fast track to get your money. In Michigan, from the time a lawsuit is filed until a judgment is entered is about 90 to 120 days. The cost to file suit and get to judgment ranges from $200 to $500, plus contingency fees depending upon the amount of the claim. (Of course, each case is different.) Once a judgment is entered, Michigan has liberal laws which permit garnishment of wages and financial institutions, as well as execution on things such as houses and cars. Also, a judgment against an individual, as a matter of public record, will stay on their credit profile for ten years. While no one can guarantee you will get paid, you can rest easier knowing someone is using the law to work for you.

If someone owes you or your company, let us do the work to collect your money. We are experts in collecting debt. As experienced Detroit Collections and Creditors' Rights Attorneys, we provide a full range of collection services, including:

• National Litigation Network: Our Firm has the capacity to forward cases throughout the United States. Experienced collection attorneys participate in the L.J. Frank Network Group. All collections are handled on a contingency fee basis with a predictable flat fee cost advance program.
• Computers: Our Firm utilizes Steve Goldman's state-of-the-art Collection Master Software. This empowers us to handle volume and or single case placement in the most comprehensive manner.
• Contract Drafting and Reviews: Our Firm prides itself on keeping clients statused on case activity.

Each member of our Firm possesses extensive experience in the handling of pre-suit and the post-judgment collection of bad debts. Attorney Frank is experienced in practicing in both the state and federal courts. She has earned a reputation as being respected by her legal peers, as well as judges.

Our particular areas of collection expertise are consumer, retail and commercial collections. As skilled Detroit Collections and Creditors' Rights Attorneys, we are highly concerned with giving superior service to our clients. We insist upon using state-of-the-art technology, along with assertive legal and business strategies in order to consistently provide outstanding results.

LJ Frank, PC was established in 1996 for the purpose of assisting creditors in their efforts to get paid by their customers. Since then, we have assisted companies ranging in size from sole proprietorships with one receivable to some of the largest companies with hundreds of receivables.

We work directly with creditors as well as collection agencies and we aid creditors who supply goods or services to both retail and commercial debtors. We provide replevin services to leasing companies and banks. We assist bad debt purchasers with collecting their portfolios. We help factoring companies maximize the recovery on their receivables. We also help IT Consultant companies collect what is owed to them!

If you or someone you know in Michigan needs the assistance of an experienced Detroit Collections and Creditors' Rights Attorney, call L.J. Frank, P.C. today at 248-327-0404, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

Creditors' Rights in Bankruptcy

The following information is based upon general creditor bankruptcy guidelines and should not substitute for the competent legal counsel of an experienced creditors' rights attorney.

Upon a debtor filing for bankruptcy, a creditor should now:

1. Cease any collection action - including telephone calls, billing or law suits that might be pending against the debtor. The automatic stay protects the debtor and his property from all forms of collection during the bankruptcy. In Chapter 13, the stay also protects co-debtors on consumer debts.

2. File a claim with the court. The notice of the bankruptcy sent by the court clerk tells you where to file a proof of claim and the deadline for doing so. Act promptly since deadlines are strictly enforced in bankruptcy case.

Attach a copy of any contracts or judgment concerning your claim, or a summary of the claim, if the supporting documents are voluminous to the proof of claim form. Get the claim form online if the court did not send one to you.

3. Consider whether your claim is dischargeable. Certain kinds of claims are non-dischargeable in an individual's Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. Examples of non-dischargeable claims are certain obligations arising in divorce, debts incurred by fraud or willful and malicious acts by the debtor, or damages arising from drunk driving.

Consult a lawyer promptly if your claim arguably falls in one of those categories where you must file an adversary proceeding in the bankruptcy case to preserve your claim after bankruptcy: the time lines are very short in bankruptcy. The complete list of debts not dischargeable in Chapter 7 is found in 11 U.S.C. 523.

4. Determine whether your claim is secured by the debtor's assets. Secured creditors have a lien giving them specific rights to the property which is the collateral for their claim. Most often, those rights are created by, and described in, a deed of trust on real property, a security agreement on personal property, or a judgment lien.

Secured creditors have the best chance of getting relief from the automatic stay or "adequate protection payments" to prevent a decline in the equity available to secured their claim.

5. Share information with the trustee. If you suspect that the debtor's schedules aren't telling the whole story, which assets are concealed or have been transferred, contact the trustee and provide any documents or facts that might help the trustee recover money for the estate, or challenge the debtor's right to a discharge. Creditor vigilance is the best deterrent to abuse of the bankruptcy system. Creditors are entitled to question the debtor under oath about assets, liabilities and financial history at the first meeting of creditors or by separately scheduled examinations under Rule 2004 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.

6. Monitor the progress of the case. Some bankruptcies are dismissed for the debtor's failure to comply with the requirements of the Code. When that happens, creditors are free to pursue collection according to state law. Sometimes cases originally classified as "no asset" cases blossom into asset cases from which a dividend may be paid.

If you or someone you know in Michigan needs the assistance of an experienced Detroit Collections and Creditors' Rights Attorney, call L.J. Frank, P.C. today at 248-327-0404, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

If you or someone you know in Michigan needs the assistance of an experienced Detroit Collections and Creditors' Rights Attorney, call L.J. Frank, P.C. today at 248-327-0404, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
L.J. Frank, P.C.
16155 W. Twelve Mile Rd., Suite 6
Southfield, MI 48076
Telephone: 248-327-0404
Fax: 248-424-8396

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:

Lori J. Frank
Attorney Frank was born November 13, 1957. Born in France while father was an officer in the Air Force, Ms. Frank was raised primarily in Massachusetts. After obtaining her undergraduate from Boston University, Ms. Frank moved to Michigan. Ms. Frank was a Cum Laude graduate of Detroit College of Law. While at DCL she worked at Dana Commercial Credit where she became a supervisor of the Legal Recovery department. Since her graduation, Ms. Frank has come to specialize in the practice of collection law involving commercial, consumer equipment leasing work. She has a high level of litigation experience. Ms. Frank opened her own practice in 1996. Previously she was an associate attorney at Rice, Rice and Gilbert Et. Al.

Ms. Frank is on the Creditors' Rights Section of the Commercial Law League of America. She is a member of the Equipment Leasing Association and the United Association of Equipment Lessors. Ms. Frank is also a member of the Michigan Bar Association and licensed to practice in Federal Court. She is currently an active member of the Oakland County Bar Association and was the 1996-7 Chair of the Lawyer's Referral Services Committee. She is an avid golfer in her spare time.

Nicole Nesbitt
Nicole L. Nesbitt was born June 12, 1970. She is currently the Assistant Director/Paralegal for Lori J. Frank P.C. and a consultant for Rainmaker Consultants, Inc. Ms. Nesbitt has been a certified paralegal for ten (10) years. Immediately following graduation from the Paralegal program at the Academy of Court Reporting, Nicole was hired by Muller Muller Richmond Harms Myers & Sgroi. Being instrumental in the development of the Retail Division, Ms. Nesbitt gained extensive knowledge and experience in consumer and commercial collections. She also participated in the consumer bankruptcy sub-division of the department.

Later in her career at MMRHMS she was promoted to the position of Assistant Director/Legal Administrator for the firm. Ms. Nesbitt was in part responsible for the management of the paralegals, collectors, and legal support staff. She was also assigned a caseload of her own to handle as a paralegal. Nicole was a key player in developing and maintaining computerized programs and reports for the department to promote efficiency and quality service for clients. Ms. Nesbitt continues to utilize her skills and experience as paralegal, manager and consultant in developing the law firm of Lori J. Frank P.C. and Rainmaker Consultants Inc. In her spare time, Ms. Nesbitt enjoys traveling with her husband, playing tennis and volunteer work.