New Jersey Mom Wants Accountability After She Says Debt Collector Made Illegal Threats

A South Jersey mom, Gabby Lomas of Magnolia, has filed a proposed class‑action lawsuit against Pennsylvania‑based Apex Asset Management, alleging the company used illegal threats and deceptive tactics to collect her medical debt after childbirth.

What happened

Lomas received over 3,300 dollars in medical bills related to her pregnancy and delivery, even after insurance. She says collection efforts by Apex escalated into aggressive calls, texts, and letters that she believes violated both federal law and New Jersey’s newer medical debt protections.

According to court filings, Apex allegedly kept calling and texting her, and even contacted her husband, after receiving a written cease‑and‑desist request to stop communications. The lawsuit also claims Apex sent letters signed by a “Legal Collection Coordinator,” which allegedly created the false impression that attorneys were involved in the collection process.

Alleged illegal threats and violations

The complaint states that Apex threatened to report her medical debt to credit bureaus, even though New Jersey law now prohibits reporting medical debts for services performed after July 22, 2024. Her lawyers argue that threatening credit reporting in that context is both misleading and unlawful under state law.

The suit also invokes the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which limits harassment, false threats, and deceptive representations by third‑party collectors. Under the FDCPA, collectors must stop contacting a consumer if they receive a written cease‑and‑desist and may not misrepresent that a communication is from an attorney when it is not.

The lawsuit and potential impact

Lomas is the lead plaintiff in a proposed class action, meaning the case is brought not just for her, but potentially for other consumers who received similar communications from Apex. The suit seeks to hold the company financially accountable for alleged violations and to deter similar conduct by other collectors.

Her attorney has suggested that her experience reflects broader problems with abusive or misleading medical debt collection, and that stronger penalties are needed to change industry behavior. Apex Asset Management reportedly did not respond to media requests for comment about the allegations.

Consumer rights context

In general, under the FDCPA, consumers can request verification of a debt, demand that collectors cease contact, and sue for violations, and they can also file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission. Many states, including New Jersey, have recently moved to limit how medical debt can be reported on credit reports to reduce the long‑term harm from medical billing disputes.

An illustrative prior FTC case against New Jersey collectors shows that threats of arrest, contacting relatives, and misrepresenting attorney involvement have long been treated as serious FDCPA violations. Lomas says she is willing to pay what she legitimately owes, but wants the court to hold the company accountable for not following the rules.