Credit & Debt

Practicing law for over 26 years. Have handled over 6000 consumer bankruptcy cases. Additionally have handled personal injury cases through out my career. Most recently increased my practice to include consumer protection cases against creditors who harass individuals.

Barbara Sims Arthur, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, has practiced law in Chattanooga and Rossville since 1977. Barbara Sims Arthur is licensed in both Tennessee and Georgia. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Chattanooga (now the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga) in 1967. Earned her law degree from the George C. Taylor Law Center of the University of Tennessee, graduating third in her class. She served as law clerk of Justice Ray L. Brock, Junior, of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Barbara loves to cook and married a fine dish washer. She has raised three wonderful children. Her staff calls her the Steel Magnolia. She is friendly and patient, but tough and relentless when she has to be.

Ralph Goldberg has practiced law since 1975. He is a member of all courts in Georgia, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court of The United States. He has specialized in constitutional litigation, police misconduct, consumer law, and bankruptcy, and is recognized for his expertise and tireless advocacy of his clients.

A lifelong North Carolinian, Kristen was born and raised in Brevard, North Carolina. She attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro earning a BA degree summa cum laude in 1998 then law school at Wake Forest University where she was a recipient of the Wake Forest University Law Faculty Scholarship. Kristen has served as a law clerk for two federal bankruptcy judges – the Honorable J. Craig Whitley of Charlotte, North Carolina and the Honorable Thomas W. Waldrep, Jr. of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Since 2001, Kristen has concentrated primarily on bankruptcy matters representing debtors, creditors, and trustees in all aspects of consumer and business bankruptcy proceedings. Kristen is a member of the North Carolina State Bar and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. During her career, she has published articles on bankruptcy topics in national publications and authored a chapter in the North Carolina Bankruptcy Practice Manual. Kristen is the mother of twin girls. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, Pilates, and reading.

Dennis Spyra and Associates has represented thousands of individuals and businesses over the last 30 years. Attorney Spyra is a graduate of the West Virginia University, BA; University of Pittsburgh, MA; and the American University's Washington College of Law, JD. Attorney Spyra began his legal career as an attorney with the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C. The director of the United States Trustee's Office, at the Department of Justice recruited Mr. Spyra to open a new office in Pittsburgh, PA, to supervise bankruptcy cases on behalf of the federal government. During Attorney Spyra's tenure with the U.S. Trustee's office, he supervised and administrated cases in all chapters under the Bankruptcy Code. Attorney Spyra supervised and assisted with the Chapter 7 legal panel of Trustee attorneys in their effort to ferret out fraud and abuse of the bankruptcy process. This experience provided Attorney Spyra with a unique and comprehensive understanding of the bankruptcy process as an attorney and government prosecutor.

I have proudly focused my law practice on helping consumers who are harassed or sued by abusive debt collectors.

The Law Office of John A. Tatoian Esq. is a solo firm defined by the highest of ethical standards and personal attention. John A. Tatoian Esq. concentrates primarily on sophisticated business finance & negotiations, entertainment law, consumer rights & collections. Each client deals directly with Attorney Tatoian, not paralegals or assistants. Attorney Tatoian also writes on various ethical issues and provides commentary on legal topics of current interest. Attorney Tatoian is admitted to the state bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the federal bar of the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts and the federal bar of the U.S. District Court of Connecticut. Whether you need a strategic business structure designed to maximize tax benefits and protect the assets accumulated, or a litigator for business disputes, Attorney Tatoian will act on your behalf, aggressively and competently, to get you the results needed for future success. Just read what clients have said about him.

Jay B. Howd was born and raised in LaHarpe, Illinois, a small farm community in west-central Illinois. Jay graduated valedictorian of his LaHarpe high school class while attaining all-conference status in both football and basketball. Jay’s upbringing in LaHarpe was instrumental in teaching him the value of honesty, dedication and hard work. Jay graduated with honors from Southern Illinois University in 1989, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes. While in college, he served as president of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society of which he remains a lifelong member. Jay attended law school at Southern Illinois University. While there, he served as the Research Editor on the Board of Editors for the Southern Illinois Law Journal. Jay graduated from law school in December 1991 and started his own practice shortly thereafter. Although he is one of the few registered patent attorneys in southern Illinois, Jay has chosen instead to focus his attention exclusively on bankruptcy work out of a desire to help people in need of assistance. In 1998, Jay became a 50% owner of the Bankruptcy Clinic. In 2008, he became 100% owner. Today, he serves as the President and managing attorney for the firm which has offices in Carbondale, Marion and Mt. Vernon, Illinois. During his tenure at the Bankruptcy Clinic, Jay has counseled or co-counseled over 12,000 bankruptcy filings. He is passionate in his desire to make a difference in people’s lives. Jay finds great fulfillment in knowing his work has had a profound positive effect on the lives of the clients he has served through the years. Over the years, Jay’s bankruptcy experience has drawn positive media attention. He has been featured on numerous occasions by local television and newspaper affiliates throughout Southern Illinois. Jay has made Southern Illinois his home for over 30 years. He has been happily married to his wife, Donna, for 20 years. To contact Jay at Bankruptcy Clinic, PC, call 618-993-1300.

A native of Wellesley, Massachusetts, R. Richard Croce was admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1990 and The United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in 1991. Mr. Croce was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 2006 and is also admitted to practice before the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Croce earned his B.A. from Allegheny College and his J.D. from The University of Dayton School of Law. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and The Middlesex County Bar Association and The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, you do not have to work through them alone. The Laputka Law Office focuses on your debt/credit related issues. Our clients come from all walks of life. We understand that every client is different and that every client’s problems require individual attention and a personalized solution. Our guarantee to YOU, our client, is that we will offer you the best personalized solution to your problems at prices anyone can afford.