Gulley v. Markoff & Krasny, etc.

Dist. Ct. did not err in dismissing for failure to state viable cause of action, plaintiff's action alleging that defendant violated Fair Debt Collection Practices Act while attempting to collect on four fines imposed on plaintiff by City of Chicago arising from parcel of real estate that plaintiff no longer owned. Dist. Ct. could properly find that instant fines are not "debts" as that term is defined under FDCPA since instant fines were essentially penalties imposed for breaking law, as opposed to consensual transactions covered by FDCPA.