Weekly News Round Up Of The State’s Top Law Enforcement Officer – Texas Attorney General
Requests and Opinions, Travis County and Texas Child Support Division Conducts Child Support Roundup
Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton is the lawyer for the State of Texas and is charged by the Texas Constitution to:
- defend the laws and the Constitution of the State of Texas
- represent the State in litigation
- approve public bond issues
To fulfill these responsibilities, the Office of the Attorney General serves as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government, issues legal opinions when requested by the Governor, heads of state agencies and other officials and agencies as provided by Texas statutes.
The Texas AG sits as an ex-officio member of state committees and commissions, and defends challenges to state laws and suits against both state agencies and individual employees of the State.
Many Texans look to the Office of the Attorney General for guidance with disputes and legal issues. The agency receives hundreds of letters, phone calls and visits each week about crime victims’ compensation, child support, abuse in nursing homes, possible consumer fraud and other topics. To find out more about the Texas Attorney General, visit the official website at https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/.
WEEKLY NEWS ROUND-UP OF THE STATE’S
TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER…
THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL
State Consumer Protection Receive Rising Star Award for Obtaining $25 Million in Illegal Debt Collection Lawsuit
AUSTIN – The Texas Attorney General’s Office today announced that Consumer Protection Division Assistant Attorneys General Rick Berlin and Stephanie Eberhardt received the prestigious Rising Star award from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC).
NCLC honored Berlin and Eberhardt for their collaborative work prosecuting the unscrupulous owner of a debt collection agency – Samra Portfolio Management – that took advantage of unsuspecting Texans. In July, they obtained a $25 million judgment for the state of Texas in a case that lasted four years and involved dozens of depositions before finally ending in a three-week jury trial.
“It’s gratifying that Rick and Stephanie’s hard work and persistence to deter and halt unlawful debt collection practices have been recognized on a national level,” said Consumer Protection Division Chief Paul Singer. “This was truly a team effort by our office to help protect consumers, which is an essential function of the attorney general’s office.”
Established in 2015, the Rising Star award is presented annually by the NCLC’s Partners Council. The award honors attorneys who’ve practiced law 15 or fewer years and have made major contributions to consumer law by trying or settling a case of great success and significance.
Berlin and Eberhardt received the award Thursday night during the NCLC meeting in Denver, Colorado.
