Lou Wade helps his clients obtain payment for what they do, practicing primarily in areas involving creditors' rights, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and collection. He also provides advice and defenses for lawyers and collection agencies in cases alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. He provides legal services to small, mid-sized, and large businesses as well as to individuals. In his years of practice, Mr. Wade has been an associate in a small firm, captive counsel to a national company, founder of his own firm, and partner in a large, regional firm before joining McDowell, Rice. His clients include automotive lenders and numerous manufacturers, lenders, and collection agencies.

Mr. Wade assists in dischargeability litigation, motions to lift stay, objections to confirmation, preference litigation, director and officer litigation, accounts receivable litigation for bankruptcy estates, and defense of contempt motions for discharge and stay violations; pursues collection of commercial accounts (e.g., open account sales of goods and services involving building supplies, agricultural products, computer services, auto parts, legal services, and virtually any other product or service) and retail accounts (e.g., credit cards and student loans). By use of trained staff and a sophisticated software system, Mr. Wade efficiently and effectively pursues legal remedies on behalf of creditors.

Mr. Wade also defends lawyers and collection agencies in state and federal court in cases alleging violations of FDCPA; defends lawyers in claims involving alleged ethical violations; defends companies in claims by the Attorney General; pursues cases involving contract, real estate, construction, and other disputes between businesses; enforces security interests, foreclosures, replevins, and mechanic's liens; and seeks recovery under automobile dealer bonds. 
 

Presenter:  Service of Process: The Rules in Practice, Missouri Creditors’ Bar, Inc., 3/10/2017
Presenter:  Bankruptcy Avoidance Actions under 11 USC 523 & 727, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Pro Bono representation seminar, 1/19/2017
Presenter:  Bankruptcy and the Student Loan Office, National Credit Management, National Webinar, 12/13/2016
Presenter:  Mechanic’s Lien Waivers, NACM Construction Group, 8/23/2016 and KCAA, 11/11/2016
Presenter:  Practical Tips for Missouri Collection Professionals: Hot Issues, Dangerous Pitfalls, and Trick Problems, Lorman, 12/18/2015
Presenter:  Key Settlement Strategies in FDCPA Litigation, NBI, 6/18/2015

Representative Matters:

Maxwell v. St. Francis Health Center, et al., No. 17-4014-SAC-KGS, 2017 WL 4037732 (D. Kan. Sept. 13, 2017) – granting in part defendants’ motions to dismiss various claims, including unconscionable acts and practices claim under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, § 1692e(2)(1), (5) and § 1692f of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, wrongful garnishment, conversion, invasion of privacy, and outrage.

Covington v. Franklin Collection Services, Inc., No. 16-2262-JWL, 2016 WL 4159731 (D. Kan. Aug. 5, 2016) – granting defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings and dismissing Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claim, and denying Plaintiff’s request for leave to amend to assert a new Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claim.

Brooks v. Niagara Credit Solutions, Inc., No. 15-9245-JWL, 2015 WL 6828142 (D. Kan. Nov. 6, 2015) – granting defendant’s motion to dismiss Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claim.

Noble v. Noble, 456 S.W.3d 120 (Mo. Ct. App. 2015) – reversing trial court’s quashal of garnishments.