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govinfo:USCOURTS-flsd-0_26-cv-60004-0
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA LUCELY CORAL, Plaintiff, vs. AMERICAN EXPRESS NATIONAL BANK, et al., Defendants. / ORDER THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File the First Amended Complaint (the “Motion”) (DE [42]). Defendant American Express National Bank (“American Express”) partially opposes the Motion, specifically the addition of a claim under the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (“FCCPA”) . American Express argues that amendment would be futile, because Plaintiff does not state a claim under the FCCPA since the monthly bill statements are not communications about a debt. Under Daniels v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. , 34 F.4th 1260 (11th Cir. 2022) , monthly billing statements are subject to the FCCPA if there exists “a nexus between the communication and the collection of a debt.” Id. at 1267. The Daniels Court considered several facts demonstrating that the mortgage statements were communications connected with collection of a debt, including that the statements specifically stated they were “an attempt to collect a debt”; included language such as “loan due date,” “amount due,” “payment due date,” “interest-bearing principal,” and “interest rate”; and included a form to pay with a warning about late fees. Id. at 1268. Case 0:26-cv-60004-AHS Document 50 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/29/2026 Page 1 of 2 2 Whether American Express’s communications are subject to the FCCPA is a question of fact. Even though Plaintiff has not alleged that American Express’s communications included the type of debt-collection language at issue in Daniels, that is a question of proof, not a failure to state a claim. Plaintiff alleged that American Express harassed Plaintiff by making repeated communications about debt collection. Such allegations need further factual proof like the facts in Daniels to survive a motion for summary judgment, but are sufficient to state a claim. Amendment would not be futile under Forman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182 (1962). Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Motion (DE [42]) is GRANTED. Plaintiff shall file her Amended Complaint as a separate docket entry by June 1, 2026. DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this 2 9th day of May 2026. Copies furnished counsel via CM/ECF Case 0:26-cv-60004-AHS Document 50 Entered on FLSD Docket 05/29/2026 Page 2 of 2