The photo showed dozens of naked and emaciated corpses piled in a heap, and that was all. I remember being viscerally shocked and frightened by what I saw, and I immediately realized that the dead people who appeared in the photo were the victims of human monsters.
I thought about that photo for weeks, and I finally comforted myself with the childish conviction that the death camps would never come to America--that Americans could never commit such savage acts.
I hope I get off work in time to see my kid's soccer game |
I was naive of course. As I grew older, I realized there are plenty of Americans who will do anything they are directed to do--no matter how much pain they inflict on other human beings.
The people who operated the Nazi death camps were, after all, ordinary people. They probably read their morning newspapers over breakfast and played with their children after work in the evenings. They labored for the Nazi death machine for a variety of mundane reasons--maybe they just needed a paycheck.
And this brings me to the lawyers who work for Educational Credit Management Corporation, perhaps the federal government's most aggressive debt collector against student-loan borrowers. ECMC's attorneys have gone into bankruptcy court time after time to oppose debt relief for distressed student-loan debtors. In the Roth case, for example, ECMC's legal counsel opposed bankruptcy relief for Janet Roth, an elderly debtor with chronic health problems who was living on less than $800 a month. ECMC harried Ms. Roth all the way to the Ninth Circuit's Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.
In a letter dated July 7, 2015, Lynn Mahaffie, a Department of Education bureaucrat, issued a letter advising creditors like ECMC not to oppose bankruptcy relief for student debtors if the cost of fighting a bankruptcy discharge did not make the effort worthwhile.
But that letter was just bullshit. The Department of Education and its loan collectors almost always oppose bankruptcy relief for student-loan debtors--whether or not it is cost effective to do so. For example, in Acosta-Conniff v. Educational Credit Management Corporation, an Alabama bankruptcy judge discharged Alexandra Acosta-Conniff's student loan debt. Conniff was a single mother of two children working as a school teacher, and the court reasoned quite sensibly that Conniff would not be able to pay off her student loans.
ECMC dispatched six attorneys to appeal the bankruptcy court's decision: David Edwin Rains, Kristofer David Sodergren, Rachel Lavender Webber, Robert Allen Morgan, Margaret Hammond Manuel, and David Chip Schwartz. Six attorneys--and Conniff didn't even have a lawyer!
Not surprisingly, ECMC won its appeal. Six lawyers against a single mother of two who can't afford an attorney--it was hardly a fair fight.
Conniff has a lawyer now, and she is appealing the district court's unfavorable decision to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. ECMC has a platoon of lawyers to represent it before the Eleventh Circuit, and who knows how much that costs?
But ECMC apparently doesn't care how much the appeal will cost, and the Department of Education obviously doesn't care either. Otherwise it would direct its loan collectors not to harass insolvent student-loan debtors in the bankruptcy courts.
Now I am not comparing ECMC's lawyers to Nazi death-camp workers. Being a debt collector's attorney is not intrinsically evil; and any misery inflicted on a student-loan debtor in a bankruptcy court is trivial compared to the horrors of Auschwitz. I feel sure ECMC's lawyers are all decent people.
Nevertheless, I personally could not sleep at night if I were representing ECMC in the bankruptcy courts against people like Janet Roth or Alexandra Acosta-Conniff. I would ask myself whether I am serving the interests of justice by helping ECMC deprive honest but unfortunate college-loan borrowers a fresh start in life.
But I don't imagine ECMC's attorneys ask themselves that question. And I doubt whether they have trouble sleeping at night. After all, the lawyers have their own student loans to pay off; and everyone has to make a living.
Note: A quick search in the Westlaw data base turned up 557 cases in which Educational Credit Management Corporation appeared as a named party.
References
Fossey, R. & Cloud, R. C. (2015). Tidings of comfort and joy: In an astonishingly compassionate decision, a bankruptcy judge discharged the student loans of an Alabama school teacher who acted as her own attorney. Teachers College Record Online, tcrecord.org. ID Number 18040.
ECMC v. Acosta-Conniff, 550 BR 557 (M.D. Ala. 2016).
In re Roth, 490 B.R. 908 (9th Cir. BAP 2013).
Natalie Kitroeff. Loan Monitor Is Accused of Ruthless Tactics on Student Debt New York Times, January 1, 2014.
I doubt whether they have trouble sleeping at night. After all, the lawyers have their own student loans to pay off; and everyone has to make a living.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI think that you should check this article out for some helpful tips on essay writing
ReplyDeleteThe blog is good enough, keep up writing such type of posts.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Home Page
However, it is important to make a decision that is not solely dependent on other people's recommendations. https://immigrationlawyer-toronto.ca/
ReplyDeleteSuperbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place..
ReplyDeleteעו"ד תעבורה
ssa
ReplyDeleteAll you need to carry out should be to explain your circumstances at length, along with the circumstances incorporated, plus an attorney will advise you upon accessible choices.theyec
ReplyDeleteAt the point when a legal counselor is occupied with a case he is to investigate the issues identified with that mischance as quickly as time permits. So they can continue with figuring the systems to go about as that is legitimately affirmed.read here
ReplyDeleteGreat write-up, I am a big believer in commenting on blogs to inform the blog writers know that they’ve added something worthwhile to the world wide web!.. ocean county law firm
ReplyDeleteHowdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Thanks https://www.gpwlaw-mi.com/
ReplyDeleteSomeone who has been in a same or a similar situation could tell you about their experience (good or bad) with their lawyer. DACA Attroney
ReplyDeleteA touch of comprehension of why the lawyer is how he is and regular courtesy can go far in dispersing any feelings of trepidation about chatting with lawyers.Website
ReplyDeleteHey, blogger, you have an awesome website and its content. I personally read your posts and like them.. Do visit to us too DQfansurvey
ReplyDeleteBe that as it may, it is imperative to settle on a choice that isn't exclusively subject to other individuals' proposals. A choice ought not be made until the point when you have met with the lawyer and felt happy with working with him/her.תביעה ייצוגית
ReplyDeletewoah !
ReplyDeleteim amazed, your blogs are amazing and helpful in all ways.Seo Expert in Pakistan
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAppreciating the hard work you put into your site and detailed information you offer. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed material. Privacy netting
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work crediteck.co.uk
ReplyDelete247 Developers provide the finest SEO services to help you reach the high ranks on a search engine. Working on Google guidelines, we develop result-oriented SEO campaigns for our clients including complete on-page and off-page optimization. That is how 247 Developers provide Best SEO Service in Pakistan.
ReplyDeleteVisit Now
I was surfing the Internet for information and came across your blog. I am impressed by the information you have on this blog. It shows how well you understand this subject. Criminal Lawyers
ReplyDeleteThank you for some other informative website. The place else may just I get that kind of information written in such a perfect method? I have a venture that I am simply now running on, and I’ve been at the glance out for such info. learn this here now
ReplyDeleteWhen your website or blog goes live for the first time, it is exciting. That is until you realize no one but you and your. nha cai w88.com
ReplyDeleteMachos Gracias for your blog article. Really looking forward to read more. Will read on...
ReplyDeleteافضل محامي عقاري جدة
Your Article is so good and informative thanks for sharing this content Securities Fraud Center
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI like tour post great articles. thanks for this post sharing with us .Dwarka Girls
ReplyDeleteThe best wat\y to deal this article is to serve a great and nice techniques for you.
ReplyDeletehttps://gettogether.community/profile/40537/
https://esplor.io/reena-jha
https://yizhanverse.mn.co/posts/26570761
https://network-1033912.mn.co/posts/26571157
When confronted with an issue that you think it needs legitimate consideration, you might wish to talk with a lawyer about your lawful freedoms as well as limitations quickly.
ReplyDeleteافضل مكتب محامي في الرياض
Finally, it is vital to by and by meet with the lawyer.
ReplyDeleteFrouharLaw
On the off chance that a borrower intends to have a mortgage of $200,000, and utilizing a 5% financing cost for both 15 and 30 years, the interest paid dramatically increases as the existence of the credit increments from 15 to 30 years.
ReplyDeletewww.toprankinmortgages.com
You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging.
ReplyDeleteelectric motorcycle under $5000
goruntulu show
ReplyDeleteücretli
P2GP
This blog post was full of valuable information. The author clearly has a deep understanding of the subject matter.
ReplyDeleteblack tarpaulin
Excellent article!
ReplyDeleteCoir Mats
Great job!
ReplyDeleteOutdoor Mat Rubber