Michelle Lecroy

· Perform work directly related to financial litigation, demonstrating a thorough and complete knowledge of the laws, regulations, and agency requirements to initiate and complete complicated debt collection action.

Responsible for conducting substantive legal research of Federal, state and local laws with the applicable to financial litigation with the ability to identify and interpret applicable law and apply to a set of facts.

· Review and analyze debt claims for compliance with the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act.

· Provide technical advice on financial litigation requirements and systems capabilities.

· Organize and maintain debt and case information, financial data, and case-specific discovery.

· Complex research and evaluation of debtor’s financial circumstances, recommending enforcement strategies to collect criminal and/or civil monetary impositions on a case-by-case basis.

· Proficient in automated financial litigation support technology to research, analyze and summarize relevant legal precedents.

· Determine and initiate a variety of enforcement, litigation, or trial-related documents.

· Responsible for communicating directly with debtors and their attorneys, Assistant United States Attorneys, court and agency personnel, and people and entities in the private sector, including financial institutions, real estate and title companies.

Provided a wide range of complex legal support services to one or more Assistant United States Attorneys involved in criminal and civil prosecutions associated with the Financial Litigation Unit. Assignments typically related to such areas as the collection of claims by various agencies against debtors arising from criminal and civil actions, impact of various judicial decisions in the financial litigation area, opinions, determinations, and rulings on financial litigation cases relevant to the Eastern District of California. Had authority to work out repayment plans within the District guidelines. Duties required discretion and independent judgment in the application of particular laws, regulations and precedents unique to federal debt collection and other affirmative litigation cases assigned to the District.

Reviewed and analyzed relevant financial information to determine the availability of debtors’ assets and the collectability of criminal and civil judgment. Evaluated cases to determine the need for additional information, advising the attorneys regarding the merits and weaknesses of collection efforts based upon applicable law, evidence and potential defenses. Prepared a variety of substantive legal documents and maintained a variety of trial, bankruptcy, and collection related documents. Conducted interviews of debtors, employers, and agency officials. Made initial decisions for debt compromise and write-offs. Served as one of the contact people for Financial Litigation cases. Calendared hearing and trial dates for bankruptcy cases. Provided training to other contractors and employees in the Financial Litigation Unit.

Performed specialized legal research and writing in support of civil programs including research and analysis of statutes, legislative intent, judicial precedent, agency rules and regulations.
Processed debt collection claims.
Reviewed and evaluated referrals to determine the need for additional information and evidence, and advised the attorneys regarding the merits and weaknesses of referral based upon applicable law. Recommended for or against commencement of judicial proceedings.
Made initial decisions for debt compromise and write-offs.
Reviewed and analyzed relevant financial information such as real estate documents, bank statements, loan applications, individual, partnership, and corporate income tax returns to determine the availability of a debtor’s assets and collectability of judgment.
Assisted in reviewing, preparing and organizing court filings and correspondence for bankruptcy cases. Calendared hearing and trial dates.