Severson and Werson

Scott Hyman is the Managing Director of the firm’s Orange County office. He specializes in the representation of financial institutions in all aspects of consumer transactions, risk management and compliance.

Mr. Hyman defends financial institutions in consumer-related litigation and unfair business practices claims brought by private parties or law enforcement. He also advises these financial institutions on compliance with state and federal disclosure and consumer protection laws, the Uniform Commercial Code, and fair debt collection, fair lending and fair credit reporting statutes, and performs risk management regarding these issues. Mr. Hyman has experience representing clients before state administrative agencies, drafting legislation relating to the regulation of consumer transactions, and lobbying on behalf of the industry on pending consumer legislation.

Mr. Hyman has published a number of articles and publications, and is a contributing author to Debt Collection Practice in California (CEB), first published in 1998 and updated annually.

Mr. Hyman is the administrator and lead author of Severson & Werson's California Automobile Finance Industry blog.

He is active in the American Bar Association Consumer Financial Services Committee, as well as a Member Attorney of ACA International, the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals. He is also a fee dispute arbitrator for the Orange County Bar Association.

Panel members Scott Hyman, Kristin Walker and Erin Kubota, spoke Saturday, April 17, 2010, before the California Creditors’ Bar Association on the topic of “Employment Claims Arising from Debt Collection Practices”.

Guest lecturer on Consumer Law, "The FDCPA and Lawful Collection Practices", at the University of San Diego School of Law (San Diego, California, June 2009).

The Consumer Financial Services Law Report recently published an article co-authored by Mr. Hyman and Joshua E. Whitehair entitled “Does the Litigation Privilege Protect against Suits Filed under California’s Rosenthal FDCPA?”, (Vol. 13, Issue 1, May 27, 2009). If you would like to receive a copy, please contact LRP Publications.

The Consumer Financial Services Law Report recently published Mr. Hyman’s article “Can the law be that unclear? 9th Circuit and California courts reach opposite conclusions on FCRA preemption of the CCRAA.”, (March 4, 2009). If you would like to receive a copy, please contact LRP Publications.

Co-Presenter, “Mortgage and Automobile Finance Litigation and Class Actions" with Kristin L. Walker at The Conference on Consumer Finance (Dallas, Texas, October 2008).

Co-Presenter, “Current Developments in Automobile Finance" with Kristin L. Walker at the CFSA Annual Convention (Carlsbad, California, September 2008).

Presented, "Pre-texting: By Any Other Name is Still ...? A Lively Exploration of the Business World's Newest Verb" before the San Francisco Bank Attorneys (San Francisco, California, November 2006).

Panelist, "Collection Law from Start to Finish" at the National Business Institute's Collection Law Workshop series (Irvine, California, November 2006).

Mr. Hyman shared his expertise as part of a seminar series hosted by the National Business Institute. Mr. Hyman’s lecture, entitled “California Collection Law, Start to Finish,” provided attendees with critical information needed to transform a successful judgment into a successful debt collection (Irvine and Pasadena, CA, November 2005).

The Consumer Financial Services Law Report recently published Mr. Hyman’s article “California’s Unfair Competition Law Does Not Confer Enhanced Remedies for Unfair Debt Collection Practices”, (Vol. 8, Issue 19, April 6, 2005). If you would like to receive a copy, please contact LRP Publications.

• Secured dismissal in defense of consumer finance company in matter brought pursuant to the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and California’s Rosenthal Act.

• Defended auto manufacturer and lender in dispute arising under the Song-Beverly Act.

• Speaker, "California's New Data Breach Law and How Automobile Finance Companies Can Protect Themselves" US Acceptance CFSA Independent Section Chair, Anaheim, California, November 10, 2011.
  
• Speaker, "Current Developments in Automobile Finance" CFSA Annual Convention, Bacara Resort, Santa Barbara, California, October 14-15, 2011.