Suzanne Begnoche, Attorney at Law
Suzanne Begnoche earned a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Before going into private practice, Suzanne was a staff attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc., which offers free representation to low-income citizens.
Suzanne is admitted to practice in all North Carolina state courts, in the federal courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and in the tribal courts of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She is a member of the N.C. State Bar, the 18th Judicial District Bar, andthe Orange County Bar Association.
Suzanne has served as chair of the Consumer Areas of Practice section for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. She is a current member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates. She was also a founding member of the North Carolina State Bar Association’s Privacy & Data Security section. She regularly speaks at national legal conferences, and she also participates in pro bono activities in the local community.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Suzanne was a project manager at several tech companies in Research Triangle Park. She also previously taught technical writing and composition courses at Penn State University.
News, Presentations, & Memberships
Spring Has Arrived, But the National Credit Security Freeze Is Here To Stay. NC Bar Blog (April 25, 2019). Suzanne Begnoche co-authored this article on credit report security freezes.
Legislation would make it easier for debt buyers to sue over old bills. WRAL (April 28, 2015). Suzanne Begnoche is interviewed about pending legislation to roll back regulations regulating activities of junk debt buyers.
Chrysler store faces punitive damages in suit alleging ID theft. Auto News (July 24, 2013). Coverage of a federal judge’s ruling in favor of Suzanne Begnoche’s clients’ claims in a lawsuit involving a security breach of customers’ information at a car dealership.
North Carolina Advocates for Justice Member Spotlight. North Carolina Advocates for Justice (2016). Interview of Suzanne Begnoche about her law practice.
Triangle hospitals plague financially distressed. News & Observer (April 24, 2012). Suzanne Begnoche is interviewed about medical debt collection issues and the jury verdict in favor of her client in the case of Russell vs. Absolute Collection Service, Inc.
Civil Remedies for Victims of Identity Theft. Trial Briefs (2013). Suzanne Begnoche authored this article about strategies for representing identity theft victims.
Debtor wins rare verdict in federal collections abuse case. Hamilton County Herald (May 13, 2011). Coverage of the jury verdict in favor of Suzanne Begnoche’s client in the case of Russell vs. Absolute Collection Service, Inc.
Wage garnishment bill would allow creditors broader access to paychecks. The American Independent (February 2, 2011). Suzanne Begnoche is interviewed about the possible effects of a proposed bill to institute wage garnishment in North Carolina to satisfy civil judgments.
Debt collection industry’s methods draw scrutiny. The Virginian-Pilot (January 30, 2011). Suzanne Begnoche is interviewed about North Carolina’s regulation of debt buyer lawsuits.
American Idol Winner in Lawsuit. United Press International (August 8, 2010). Suzanne Begnoche explains North Carolina laws on criminal conversation and alienation of affection.
Debt buyers in N.C. dip their toes into a newly pro-consumer pool. Dolan Media Newswire (June 7, 2010). Suzanne Begnoche is interviewed regarding a collection lawsuit brought against a consumer by debt buyer Cavalry Investments, LLC.
New debtor-protection legislation puts the big chill on debt buyers. North Carolina Lawyer’s Weekly (May 17, 2010). Suzanne Begnoche is interviewed about her opinion on the impact of the Consumer Economic Protection Act of 2009, which sets new rules for debt buyers who file collection lawsuits.
Magistrate: Non-debtor has standing to sue. North Carolina Lawyer’s Weekly (January 18, 2010). News coverage of a favorable decision in the case of Johnson v. Bullhead Investments, LLC, et al., in which Suzanne Begnoche represented a plaintiff who had been wrongfully sued over someone else’s debt.
“Identifying Claims against Furnishers,” NACA Spring Training CLE (co-presenter, April 2021).
“Responding to Identity Theft: Civil Rights and Remedies,” Durham County Bar Association CLE (February 2021).
“Cracking the Code: Credit Scores,” Consumer Rights Litigation Conference CLE (co-presenter, November 2020).
“Current Developments and Trends in Consumer Claims,” NCBA Privacy & Data Security CLE (September 2020).
“Successful Settlement and Mediation of FCRA Cases,” Consumer Rights Litigation Conference CLE (co-presenter, November 2019).
“The ABC’s of the FCRA,” NACA Fair Credit Reporting Act conference CLE (co-presenter, May 2019).
“Privacy Primer: Discovering, Handling, And Protecting Sensitive Personal Information,” Orange County Family Law Lunch & Learn (March 2019).
“Fair Credit Reporting Act Issues in Bankruptcy,” NCBA Bankruptcy Institute CLE (co-presenter, November 2018).
“Making Discovery Work for You,” NCLC Fair Debt Collection Practices Training Conference CLE (co-presenter, March 2018).
“Cracking the Code: What Attorneys Need to Know About Credit Scores and Credit Reports,” Mecklenburg County Bar Association CLE (March 2018).
“Bankruptcy and Consumer Disclosure Reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act,” NCBA Bankruptcy Institute CLE (co-presenter, December 2017).
“The Debt Trap,“ Virtual Justice Project panelist, North Carolina Central University School of Law (November 2017).
“Issue Spotting: Claims against Consumer Reporting Agencies,” NACA Fair Credit Reporting Act conference CLE (panelist, April 2017).
“Settlement Negotiation,” NACA Fair Credit Reporting Act conference CLE (panelist, April 2017).”
“Responding to Identity Theft: Civil Rights & Remedies,” NCAJ CLE Webinar (February 2017).
“The ABC’s of the FCRA,” NCLC Consumer Litigation Conference CLE (co-presenter, October 2016).
“Debt Buyer Update,” Legal Aid of North Carolina Taskforce CLE (co-presenter, October 2016).
“Debt Collection Defense: Trial Preparation,” NACA CLE webinar (co-presenter, June 2016).
“Fair Debt Collection Practice Act: ABC’s,” NCLC Consumer Litigation Conference CLE(co-presenter, November 2015).
“Defending Debt Buyer Lawsuits,” Legal Aid of North Carolina Taskforce CLE (November 2015).
“How Debts Are Collected,” NCLC Fair Debt Collection Practices Training Conference CLE (co-presenter, March 2015 and February 2016).
“Credit Reporting Law,” Orange County Bar Association CLE (April 2014).
“Responding to Identity Theft: Civil Rights and Remedies,” Durham County Bar Association CLE (February 2014).
“Debt Defense 101,” NACA CLE Webinar (February 2014).
“Basics of Collection and Exemption Law,” Call 4ALL CLE Webinar Series (March 12, 2013).
Panelist: “Representing Consumer Defendants in State Court:,” NCLC Fair Debt Collection Practices Training Conference (March 9, 2013).
“Walking the Minefield: Blowup Prevention & Damage Control for Non-Consumer Lawyers,” NCAJ CLE Webinar (February 27, 2013).
“Credit Reporting Rights and Remedies,” Durham County Bar Association CLE (January 31, 2013).
“FDCPA/State Debt Collection Fundamentals,” NCAJ Unfair Debt Collections CLE (November 30, 2012).
“Defending Debt Collection Lawsuits and Fighting Back with Counterclaims,” Legal Aid Consumer Taskforce (November 8, 2012).
“Credit Reporting: Consumers’ Rights and Remedies,” Fall Paralegal Conference (October 19, 2012).
“The 800 Club: Are You Part of the Pack? Rebuild, raise and protect your credit score,” Women’s Empowerment 2012 (March 17, 2012).
“Money Madness: Divorce and Financial Issues,” NCAJ Exploring the Intersections of Family Law : The Impact of Other Practice Areas on Your Client CLE (February 17, 2011).
“Medical Debt and The Law: Understanding Your Rights,” Women’s Center Financial Workshop (2010).
“Unfair Debt Collection Litigation,” Private attorney event hosted by M. Shane Perry, Attorney at Law (March 13, 2010).
“Credit Reporting: Consumer Rights and Remedies,” NCAJ Mountain Magic CLE (October 16, 2010).
“Debt and the Law,” Women’s Center Workshop Series (2009).
“Defending Consumers in Debt Collection Cases,” NCAJ Unfair Debt Collections CLE (December 10, 2009).
Named to “North Carolina Super Lawyers“, Consumer Law, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2018 – 2021)
Named to “North Carolina Rising Stars“, Consumer Law, Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2015 – 2016)
Clifton W. Everett, Sr. Community Lawyer Fellowship (2006)
Adam Lischer Memorial Scholarship (2004)