Debt collector must pay $311K, says court

(CBS/AP) BILLINGS, Mont. - A North Dakota law firm accused of trying to collect a debt after the statute of limitations expired is now the one that owes money - a lot of money.

An appellate court has upheld a $311,000 jury award to a Laurel, Mont., man who sued the firm in 2007 over a violation of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Johnson, Rodenburg & Lauinger appealed the April 2009 award to Timothy McCollough.

The Billings Gazette reports the case was heard in July by a special panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Billings, including retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

The panel issued a decision Friday upholding the damages. They include $1,000 for violating the law, $60,000 in punitive damages and $250,000 for emotional distress.