Lynn Ellen Coleman

I offer personal, compassionate assistance with debt and consumer law issues to persons in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina.

• Collections Defense
• Student Loan Law
• General Civil

• Free Consultation
  I offer a free online or telephone consultation.
• Credit Cards Accepted
  Debit cad only for bankruptcy. Credit card (all major cards) for other areas.
• Contingent Fees
  For certain consumer law cases only.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  I offer flat fees, contingency fees, and hourly fees depending upon the nature of the case.

North Carolina

Since 2000

Texas

1986-2000

St. Mary's University School of Law

J.D. | Law

1983 - 1986

Trinity University

B.S. | History, Political Science

1979 - 1982

North Carolina State Bar

Member

Current

National Association of Consumer Advocates

Member

2010 - Current

National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

Member

2009 - Current

North Carolina Bar Association

Member

1999 - Current

Q. Can I take someone to small claims court if they've filed for bankruptcy in NC?

May 9, 2025

A: Absolutely not. That would be a violation of the automatic stay. Chances are highly likely that your claim will be subject to the discharge injunction when the bankruptcy is closed, so you cannot sue them after the bankruptcy is over. Do not sue and do not contact the person demanding payment. If the Trustee has sent you a notice that says you may file a proof of claim, file the claim before the deadline. If this is a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and the notice you recieved says not to file claims at this time, this indicates that claims like yours will not be paid and you will never be able to ask this person to reimburse you or pay you anything. Consult a bankruptcy attorney for futher specific a ssistance. ... Read More

Q. Can I sue a private vehicle seller for not disclosing a salvage rebuilt title?

May 6, 2025

A: You can always sue. The question is, will you win and if so, how much. Even if you do win, will you ever be able to collect. I am doubtful that this is a case worth pursuing. If the title he signed over to you was a salvage rebuilt title, the fact that you acknowledged the sale was "as is" means that you will lose. In order to win, you have to prove a negligent or fraudulent misrepresentation or a willful disclosure. He DID disclose it had been in an accident and he did not attempt to hide the true nature of the title. You did not pay attention to the fact it was a salvage title. That means he didn't try to hide anything from you and he disclosed what needed to be disclosed.

Q. Can I sue someone from Craigslist for selling me a misrepresented dog breed?

March 18, 2025

A: You can always try, but the issue is, how likely would it be that you would win? How much are your damages (how much is the dog you received worth)? With no written contract and no requirement for papers, its a "he said, she said" situation. Court costs are around $180.00 for small claims. Do you know this person's real name and residential address? You have to sue in the county where this person lives, have their real name and address. You will not be compensated for your travel or missed time from work. You might lose because it's common sense to realize paying that little for a purebred dog is not realistic. It's impossible for any lawyer to give you a good opinion without seeing the ad and having a recording of the verbal representations as well as seeing the dog. I would give you a 50% chance of winning and I'm not sure it would be worth the time and effort. In addition, we have no wage garnishment here in North Carolina and many people have no assets worth taking to satisfy a judgment. You chances of collecting the money if you win are slim, and there's additional work serving additional paperwork after you get a judgment before the Sheriff can even try and collect anything for you if they do not pay. ... Read More