Debtor Research Techniques for 2023

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Privacy Laws, FDCPA, FCRA, and Other Compliance Updates and Pitfalls
   10:00 - 10:45, Lynda L. Laing
2. Searching Public, Government, and Employment Records
   10:45 - 11:45, Lynda L. Laing
   1. Background Searches for Aliases
   2. Public and Government Record Searches
   3. Social Security and Disability Information
   4. Criminal Background Checks
   5. Employment Skip Tracing
3. Obtaining Financial, Tax, Asset, and Real Property Information
   12:00 - 1:00, Robert M. Singer
   1. Recent Legal Developments
   2. Real Property Searches
   3. Bank and Credit Bureau Reports
   4. Motor Vehicle, Boat, and Aircraft Information
   5. Civil Judgment Searches
   6. Public Tax Information
   7. Business Record Searches and Subpoenas
   8. Utility Bills, Credit Card Statements, and More
4. Social Media and Online Search Strategies
   1:30 - 2:30, Robert M. Singer
   1. Recent Legal Developments
   2. Latest Social Media Platform Updates
   3. Internet Search Strategies for 2023
   4. Performing Database Searches
5. Overcoming Common Skip Tracing Issues
   2:30 - 3:45, Robert M. Singer
   1. Limited Leads
   2. Unlisted and Outdated Information
   3. Duplicate Names and Pseudonyms
   4. Intentional Skips and Skips with Criminal Intent
   5. Data Pathing Tips
6. Legal Ethics
   4:00 - 5:00, Evan P. Howell III
   1. Attorney Fees
   2. Conflicts of Interest
   3. Preserving Confidential Information
   4. Befriending Debtors Across Social Media
   5. Harassment

Accreditation Details:

Evan P. Howell III is a sole practitioner with his law office in Metairie, Louisiana. For more than 30 years, Mr. Howell has handled a range of bankruptcy matters for Chapter 11 debtors in possession; creditors' committees; debtors for Chapters 7 and 13; secured creditors; banks and financial institutions; unsecured creditors; and Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees. He has practiced before the U.S. Supreme Court; five federal courts of appeals; and bankruptcy courts in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Illinois, Colorado, Montana and Washington. Mr. Howell has been qualified as an expert witness for bankruptcy law and procedure in a federal district court. He has served and been appointed as a private mediator and arbitration judge. He has lectured on bankruptcy law for continuing legal education seminars, private clients, and for Tulane University's paralegal program and business school. He balances his bankruptcy law practice with collections, commercial transactions, and construction litigation. Mr. Howell earned his B.A. degree from Louisiana State University and A&M College and his J.D. degree from Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law.

Lynda L. Laing is a partner in the law firm of Strauss, Factor, Laing & Lyons in Providence, Rhode Island, where her practice concentrates in the areas of collections and litigation. Ms. Laing is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Rhode Island and American bar associations, the Commercial Law League of America, and the American Bankruptcy Institute. She served as chairperson of the Bench Bar Committee for the Rhode Island Bar Association. Ms. Laing earned her A.B. degree from Albion College and her J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University Law School.

Robert M. Singer is a sole practitioner with the Law Offices of Robert M. Singer, L.L.C. in Hamden, where he practices in the areas of commercial law, bankruptcy and collections. Mr. Singer is a past adjunct professor at Southern Connecticut State University and has written many articles on his areas of practice including "(Limited Liability Corporations) An Investment Vehicle for Future Income," Financial Freedom Quarterly. He is also the author of the book, Library of Connecticut Collection Law Forms. Mr. Singer is a member of the New Haven County Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association. He earned his B.S.B.A. degree in accounting from Bryant College, his J.D. degree from Western New England College, and his M.S. degree in taxation from the University of New Haven. Mr. Singer has litigated cases successfully before the Connecticut Supreme Court and Connecticut Appellate Court.