Federal Court Orders Additional AAA Arbitration in Dispute over Wakpamni Corporation’s Payday Lending

Here are the materials in Easeley v. WLCC II (S.D. Ala.):

1 Notice of Removal

1-2 Complaint

1-4 Raines Dec

2 WLCC Motion to Dismiss

6 Response

6-1 Arbitration Award

6-2 WLCC Motion to Dismiss Arbitration Proceeding

6-3 AAA Statement of Claim

10 Reply

13 Magistrate Report

14 WLCC Objection

15 Easley Response

16 Reply

18 DCt Order

Federal Court Nixes Settlement of Class Action against Western Sky and Related Companies

Here are the materials in Heldt v. Payday Financial (D. S.D.):

64 Joint Motion to Approve Settlement

82 Motion to Intervene

106 Intervenor Objections to Settlement

119 DCT Order

North Carolina Business Court Bars Western Sky from Lending in the State

Here is the opinion in State ex rel. Cooper v. Western Sky Financial LLC (N.C. Bus. Ct.):

2015_NCBC_84

Fourth Circuit Briefs in Arbitration Case Arising from the Wreckage of Western Sky

Here are the briefs in Hayes v. Delbert Services Corp.:

Hayes Brief

Delbert Services Brief

Amicus Brief

Lower court materials here.

Western Sky-Related Debt Collector Successfully Compels Arbitration in Virginia Case

Here are the materials in Hayes v. Delbert Services Corp. (E.D. Va.):

26 Delbert Motion

30 Opposition

31 Reply

38 DCT Order

An excerpt:

This matter cornes before the Court on the defendant’s motion [2]  to dismiss the amended complaint or, alternatively, to compel arbitration. (Dk. No. 30.) The plaintiffs, borrowers from internet payday lender Western Sky Financial, LLC, brought this action on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated against Delbert Services Corporation, a third-party debt collecter. The plaintiffs allege Delbert violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) in the course of its collection efforts. Delbert moves to dismiss based on the Loan Agreements’ forum-selection clause or on the basis of the tribal exhaustion doctrine. Alternatively, Delbert moves to compel arbitration. 

The forum-selection clause does not reach third-party debt collectors such as Delbert, and the doctrine of tribal exhaustion does not apply under the facts of this case. The language of the arbitration agreement, however, covers disputes with third-party debt collectors.

Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the motion to compel arbitration under the terms of the Loan Agreement and DISMISSES the claim without prejudice.

Al Jazeera Profile on Indian Country Payday Lending

Nick Nehamas’ profile, “The tribe that said no: How one rogue tribal member tried to drag the Oglala Sioux into payday lending.”