Phone: 612-294-2607
Fax: 612-294-2640
For more than 35 years, Richard Fuller has been advocating for victims of deceptive consumer practices. During that time, he has developed a reputation as one of the leading "go to" class action consumer protection lawyers in Minnesota. Richard is admitted to practice in all Minnesota state and federal courts.
He concentrates his practice representing plaintiffs in class actions, primarily in the following areas:
Home mortgage foreclosure defense
Foreclosures
Lender abuse
Consumer loans, loan overcharge
Predatory lending
TILA (Truth-in-Lending) actions
Usury
Breach of warranty
Breach of contract
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Richard has represented clients against many leading Minnesota businesses, such as:
Ameriquest
Bank of America
Countrywide
Rent-a-Center
Colortyme
Thorp Loan & Thrift
Valuevision
Northwest Airlines
Examples of the type of cases Richard has handled include:
Home Mortgage
Dougherty v. Town & Country Credit (In Re Ameriquest). A nationwide state class action involving loan overcharges and various abusive lending and foreclosure practices.
Hughes v. Bank of America. A nationwide class action involving the charging of discount fees without actually providing a discount.
Consumer Loans
Hohn v. Thorp Loan & Thrift. Minnesota Class action involving unlawful loan charges.
Fogie v. Thorn Americas, Inc. (Rent-A-Center). Minnesota class action involving usurious rent to own contracts.
Breach of Warranty
Rosenbaum v. Southdale Ford, Inc. Violation of Motor Vehicle Installment Sales Act.
Breach of Contract
In Re U.S. Bank Litigation. Multistate class action involving the release of personal banking information contrary to terms of banking agreement.
Buonomo v. Valuevision. Nationwide class action involving breach of contract to provide internet access in connection with the sale of computers.
Deceptive Trade Practices
Richardson v. Allina Health Systems, Inc. Minnesota class action involving misrepresentation copayment obligation.
Powell v. Curtis Mathis Corp. et al. Misrepresenting terms of contract and nature of merchandise.
He frequently lecturers to lawyers at continuing legal education conferences, and has published books and numerous articles on a variety of topics involving consumer protection, truth-in-lending, usury and mortgage and contract for deed foreclosure.
Richard received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota and his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. He is an active member of the National Consumer Law Center and is also a member of the Minnesota State and Hennepin County Bar Associations. Richard was a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis for 17 years, and a partner for 20 years at another Minneapolis law firm before becoming Of Counsel to the Schaefer Law Firm, LLC. in 2008.
Areas of Practice:
50% Consumer Protection
45% Credit/TILA
5% Bankruptcy
Litigation Percentage:
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
Minnesota, 1973
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1976
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1977
U.S. Federal Courts, 1974
Education:
University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1973
J.D.
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1968
B.A.
Published Works:
Consumer Law Institute Manual, Editor and Co-Author, 1994
Consumer Law in Minnesota, Minnesota CLE, 1986
Minnesota Real Estate, Minnesota CLE, 1980
Usury, Interest and the Minnesota Business (Co-Author), Minnesota CLE, 1984
Mortgage Contract for Deed Foreclosure Defense Manual, 1989
Editor and Co-Author, Consumer Law Institute Manual, 1994
The Role of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Preserving Environmental Values, 1994
Common Sense and Law About Credit Cards, Mansfield Tanick & Cohen, P.A., 2000
Representative Cases:
Fogie v. Rent-a-Center, 518 N.W.2d 544 (Minn. S. Ct. 1994)
Miller v. Colortyme, 518 N.W.2d 545 (Minn. S. Ct. 1994)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Guest Lecturer, William Mitchell College of Law, 1992 - 1994
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Hennepin County Bar Association
Member
Minnesota State Bar Association
Member
National Consumer Law Center, Boston, Massachusetts, 1979 - 1983
Midwest Regional Consultant
Past Employment Positions:
Legal Aid Society, Staff Attorney, 1973 - 1990
Mansfield Tanick & Cohen, P.A., Partner, 1986 - 2006