RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) – Two Virginia residents allege two lending companies are violating state lending statues and are charging high interest rates.
Renee Galloway and Isabel Deleon filed a complaint on behalf of themselves and all individuals similarly situated on Aug. 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Plain Green LLC and Great Plains Lending LLC citing the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs obtained loans from the defendants ranging from $300 to $3,000 and that the interest rates were 118 to 448 percent. They allege the defendants do not have a consumer finance license and that their loans were null and void. The suit states under Virginia law, an annual percentage rate higher than 12 percent cannot be charged unless the entity has a consumer finance license.
The suit states it also challenges the defendants' claim of sovereign immunity as they claim they are an arm of the Chippewa Cree Tribe and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and are protected by tribal immunity.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendants, award of declaratory, injunctive, and damages relief as pleaded; attorney’s fees; litigation expenses; costs of suit, and further relief as the court deems proper.
They are represented by Kristi C. Kelly and Andrew J. Guzzo of Kelly & Crandall PLC in Fairfax, Virginia and Leonard A. Bennett, Craig C. Marchiando and Elizabeth W. Hanes of Consumer Litigation Associates PC in Newport News, Virginia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia case number 3:18-cv-540