Douglas R. Sargent

Overview

Douglas R. Sargent is a partner in the Cannabis Law practice group at Greenspoon Marder. Mr. Sargent has a comprehensive understanding of cannabis laws across the U.S. He thoughtfully advises clients on legal and regulatory issues associated with operating within the cannabis industry, including licensing, compliance, regulatory issues, and litigation. Indeed, he has considerable experience litigating in the cannabis space, navigating complex matters unique to the industry. Mr. Sargent frequently writes and comments about the ever-evolving legal landscape for cannabis and its effect on related businesses.

In addition to his cannabis practice, Mr. Sargent has substantial experience in complex commercial litigation and arbitrations in jurisdictions across the country, and represents clients in consumer finance and Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) litigation in federal and state courts.

Mr. Sargent regularly represents mortgage lenders, servicers, trusts and other financial institutions in individual and class action lawsuits. These lawsuits often involve claims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) as well as state law claims for fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.

Mr. Sargent handles complex litigation matters involving breach of commercial contracts, fraudulent business practices, piercing the corporate veil, and alter-ego liability in federal and state courts as well as in arbitration proceedings. He also has significant experience representing clients in responding to class action and individual lawsuits asserting claims under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Mr. Sargent has obtained decisions in favor of clients in these high-exposure cases, including orders of dismissal, and he regularly consults with clients to develop and strengthen their TCPA compliance programs.

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 2020
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 2015
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2018
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 2016
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2007
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, 2013
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 2013
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 2016
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 2016
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, 2016
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2016
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, 2017
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, 2018
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 2018
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, 2018
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, 2018
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, 2018
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2019

Bar Admission

Illinois, 2006
Florida, 2016
Michigan, 2017
Ohio, 2018

Education

J.D., with honors, University of Michigan Law School, 2006
B.S., Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, 2003
- Dean’s List

Experience

Professional and Community Involvement

National Immigrant Justice Center Leadership Board, Former Member
Consumer Credit Committee, Chicago Bar Association, Former Vice President
Chicago Bar Association, Former Member
American Bar Association, Member

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, “Dispensary Ownership in New York: People With Marijuana Convictions To Get A Head Start,” April 28, 2022
Speaker, “Growing Use of ADR in Cannabis Disputes,” Chicago Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Event, April 7, 2022
Speaker, Illinois Women in Cannabis 2020 Conference, February 22, 2020
Speaker, “The Land of Lincoln (and Weed): An Analysis of Illinois’s Recreational Marijuana Law,” Celesq Attorneys Ed Center Webinar, July 23, 2019
Speaker, “What’s Next for CBD? FDA Speaks,” Celesq Attorneys Ed Center Webinar, June 10, 2019
Speaker, “Current Landscape of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act,” Chicago Bar Association, October 3, 2018
Speaker, “The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: 2018 Trends and Updates,” The Knowledge Group – Webcast, July 12, 2018
Speaker, “Sorting through the telemarketing chaos left by ACA Int’l v. FCC,” Data Protection Leader, July 2018
Speaker, “The Rules of Evidence: A Practical Toolkit,” National Business Institute CLE – Naperville, Ill., February 27, 2015

Awards

Recognitions

Crain’s Chicago Business, “ Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law,” 2021

Publications

Author, “Understanding MLB’s Partnership with Charlotte’s Web and Implications for CBD and Sports Going Forward“, Sports Litigation Alert, November 18, 2022
Co-Author, “New Mexico Health Department Quietly Issued a Last-Minute Cultivation License Before Handing Over Control of the Program” GM Cannabis Blog, September 15, 2021
Co-Author, “FDA and CDC Issue Warnings Regarding Delta-8 THC, Which Remains in Legal Grey Area” GM Cannabis Blog, September 15, 2021
Co-Author, “New Mexico Has Begun Accepting Cannabis Producer Applications; Here’s What You Need To Know And What’s Next” GM Cannabis Blog, August 26, 2021
Co-Author, “Are You Threatening Me? Northern District Says No in Debt Collection Case,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law, January 2019
Co-Author, “Seventh Circuit Encourages Gamesmanship In Debt Disputes,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law, October 2018
Co-Author, “Pierre v. Midland Credit: Three Significant Lessons for Debt Collectors,” LexisNexis® Emerging Issues Analysis, May 2018
Co-Author, “Zero-Balance Reporting of Mortgage Debt Post-Bankruptcy,” Journal of Taxation and Regulation of Financial Institutions, Winter 2018
Co-Author, “Pierre v. Midland Credit: Three Significant Lessons for Debt Collectors,” Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law, April/May 2018
Co-Author, “Zero-Balance Reporting of Mortgage Debt Post-Bankruptcy,” The Review of Banking & Financial Services, October 2017

In the News

Quoted, “How a Federal Judge in Oklahoma Impacted Gun Rights of Colorado Marijuana Users,” Westword, February 24, 2023
Quoted, “Genetics Storefront Opens Doors in Chicago After DEA Deems Cannabis Seeds Legal“, Cannabis Business Times, January 23, 2023
Featured, “Greenspoon Marder Nabs Ex-Locke Lord Cannabis Law Attys” Law360, July 7, 2021
Quoted, “Judge’s rejection of lawsuit vs collector over $0 interest, fees line item closes ‘fertile ground’ for litigation,” Cook County Record, January 25, 2019
Quoted, “Appeals panel: Property preservation companies OK to leave door hangers steering owners in default to collectors,” Cook County Record, August 24, 2018
Quoted, “Seventh Circuit decision continues trend favoring debtors over collectors in debt dispute lawsuits, attorneys say,” Cook County Record, June 1, 2018
Quoted, “Attorneys say recent decision by federal judge is ‘valuable precedent for debt collectors’,” Cook County Record, April 5, 2018
Quoted, “Attorneys say debt collection agencies must watch language after federal court ruling,” Cook County Record, March 5, 2018

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