A local man became distraught when he received a letter in the mail notifying him a warrant had been issued for his arrest, all because of a $67 fine.
Charles Roberts said in 2014 someone ran into his garage in Kansas City, Kan. The issue resulted in a housing violation and follow-up court dates.
Documents he provided to 41 Action News showed he eventually completed community service in exchange for paying the $50 in court fees.
“I thought the matter was done as of November of 2014,” explained Roberts.
That was until a letter showed up in his mailbox from the Law Offices of Linebarger, Goggin, Blair & Sampson, LLP.
Roberts said, “They informed me that a warrant has been issued by the court for my arrest over something that long ago, that I completely to me knowledge had taken care of.”
Attorney David Langston explained a missed court date may be to blame. “If you don't make that follow-up date, that's just like never going to court at all, and it is a missed court date which will trigger a warrant.”
Langston isn’t affiliated with this case but believes the threat seems a bit extreme, especially for the reported $67 fine.
“A collecting agency, whether that be a commercial collecting agency, or a law firm, is somewhat heavy handed by using the warrant language to perhaps encourage the person to pay," said Langston.
Wyandotte County has had a contract with Linebarger since 2011.
The Better Business Bureau gives the law firm an A+ rating but the site lists more than 200 complaints from people across the country, which are similar to Roberts’.
“This is not the right way to treat people,” Roberts remarked.
Langston recommended if someone were to get a notice like this in the mail to call the collection firm.
If there’s reason to believe someone paid the fines, Langston said to bring the receipts to the county clerk’s office to get the warrant lifted.
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Shannon Halligan can be reached at shannon.halligan@kshb.com.
