CS-2026-00163 - Midland Credit Management, Inc. v. John Evans

What's This Case About?

Let’s be real: nobody tunes into CrazyCivilCourt expecting Shakespeare. We’re here for the drama, the pettiness, the “you’ve got to be kidding me” moments where grown adults end up in court over things that could’ve been settled with a Venmo and a sincere apology. But sometimes—sometimes—the legal system serves up a case so aggressively meh that it loops back around to being fascinating. Enter: a lawsuit over $1,964.84 in credit card debt. That’s it. That’s the whole case. No betrayal. No secret love child. No backyard wrestling ring built without a permit. Just… unpaid balances. Buckle up, folks. This one’s a rollercoaster. A very slow, paperwork-heavy rollercoaster.

So who are we talking about here? On one side: Midland Credit Management, Inc.—a debt collection company with the personality of a spreadsheet and the soul of a late-night infomercial. They don’t create credit cards. They don’t hand out rewards points. What they do is buy up defaulted debts from banks, like vultures at a financial buffet, then sue people to get their money back—plus legal fees, interest, and the emotional toll of being served papers. On the other side: John Evans, a man from Washington County, Oklahoma, whose only known crime appears to be failing to pay off two credit cards before they got sold to the debt collectors. Was he irresponsible? Was he going through a rough patch? Did he forget to update his auto-pay after switching banks? The filing doesn’t say. All we know is that at some point, John stopped paying, and now Midland wants their cash.

Here’s how we got here. Back in September 2021, John Evans opened a credit card with Comenity Bank—specifically, the Academy Sports + Outdoors card. Which, honestly? Kind of poetic. Academy Sports is where you go to buy fishing gear, camouflage hats, and maybe a new grill. It’s not exactly yacht money. So picture this: John’s out there living his best Oklahoma life, maybe picking up a new hunting vest or stocking up on Gatorade for his kid’s soccer game, swiping that card like it’s no big deal. But then, somewhere between 2021 and late 2022, the payments stopped. The last one posted? October 16, 2022. After that? Crickets. The account was officially “charged off” in May 2023—bank-speak for “we’ve given up on you ever paying, so we’re selling your debt to someone else.” That someone else? Midland.

But wait—there’s more! Because apparently, John also had a second credit card. This one was with The Bank of Missouri, linked to the Milestone brand—another retailer card, the kind you get at a gas station or a sketchy electronics store that offers “easy credit.” That account opened in July 2022, and surprise surprise, the last payment was also on October 16, 2022. Same day. Like he set a reminder on his phone: “Pay bills… or don’t.” That account got charged off in May 2023 too, and also got sold to Midland. So now, Midland owns both debts. They’re not mad. They’re just… businesslike. And in October 2025—two years after the debts were already written off—they file a lawsuit. Not a call. Not a strongly worded letter. A full-on lawsuit. In court. Over $1,964.84.

Now, let’s talk about what Midland is actually claiming. Legally, they’re suing for “indebtedness”—which sounds fancy, but really just means “you owe us money and you haven’t paid.” They’re not accusing John of fraud. They’re not saying he maxed out the cards and fled the country. They’re saying: records show he used the cards, stopped paying, and now the balance is due. They’ve attached affidavits—sworn statements—from Rachel Cantu, a “Legal Specialist” at Midland, who says she’s reviewed the electronic records and can confirm the amounts owed. She’s never met John. She’s never seen his signature. But she’s very confident he owes $800.50 on the Academy card and $1,164.34 on the Milestone card. And because Midland bought the rights to those debts, they’re now the ones holding the bag. Or, more accurately, the ones holding the court petition.

So what do they want? A judgment for $1,964.84—plus interest at the statutory rate (which in Oklahoma is 5% per year if there’s no contract rate, but let’s be honest, no one’s getting rich off that). They also want court costs, which probably cover the $100-ish filing fee and the cost of serving John with the lawsuit. Is $2,000 a lot? In the grand scheme of debt collection lawsuits? Not really. This isn’t a six-figure medical bill or a mortgage foreclosure. But for an individual? Yeah, it’s a chunk of change. That’s a car repair. A plane ticket. Two months of rent for some people. And yet, the way this is being pursued—through a formal lawsuit, with notarized affidavits from Minnesota, filed by a law firm with six attorneys listed on the signature block—feels wildly disproportionate. It’s like using a flamethrower to light a birthday candle.

And here’s the wildest part: this entire legal drama is based on records that Midland didn’t even create. They’re relying on data from the original banks, which they bought secondhand, plus their own internal collection notes. Rachel Cantu swears she’s reviewed the records and they’re accurate, but let’s be real—how many layers of digital handoffs have these numbers gone through? It’s like a game of telephone, but with debt. “John Evans owes $800.” “Wait, did you say $80?” “No, $800.” “Oh, okay, $8,000 it is.” The fact that this affidavit was signed in Minnesota, not Oklahoma, adds to the surreal vibe. John Evans is just minding his business in Washington County, and suddenly, a woman in St. Cloud is swearing under penalty of perjury that he owes money to a company he’s never heard of.

Our take? Look, we’re not here to defend deadbeat behavior. If you charge stuff on a credit card, you should pay it back. But this case is the financial equivalent of a zombie movie—debts rise from the grave, get reanimated by collection agencies, and then file lawsuits with the emotional warmth of a spreadsheet. The most absurd part isn’t that John didn’t pay. It’s that two years after the debt was charged off, after likely being reported to credit bureaus, after probably being sold through multiple debt buyers already, Midland decides this is worth a court case. And not just any court case—a fully documented, notarized, multi-affidavit legal production. For under $2,000.

We’re rooting for resolution, honestly. Either John pays up, or he fights it—maybe argues the debt isn’t properly documented, or that the statute of limitations has run (in Oklahoma, it’s three years for written contracts, so this is cutting it close). But mostly, we’re rooting for someone—anyone—to just pick up the phone and say, “Hey, can we work something out?” Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about justice. It’s about a machine that churns out lawsuits like widgets, and a guy who probably just forgot to pay his Academy Sports card. And that, folks, is the American debt collection system in a nutshell. We’re entertainers, not lawyers—but even we know that this? This is just sad.

Case Overview

$1,965 Demand Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

William L. Nixon, Jr.

LOVE, BEAL & NIXON, P.C.

Relief Sought

$1,965 Monetary

Plaintiffs

Midland Credit Management, Inc. business
Rep: LOVE, BEAL & NIXON, P.C.

Defendants

John Evans individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	in-debtedness	allegations of unpaid debts
2	in-debtedness	allegations of unpaid debts

Petition Text

1,192 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF WASHINGTON COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA Midland Credit Management, Inc. Plaintiff, vs. John Evans, Defendant. PETITION FOR INDEBTEDNESS COMES NOW Plaintiff, by and through its undersigned attorneys who hereby enter their appearance herein, and for cause of action against Defendant alleges and states: COUNT I 1. Comenity Bank, provided credit to the defendant on account number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX8359. Defendant defaulted on the obligation. The account has been assigned to Plaintiff. 2. Defendant owes Plaintiff $800.50. An Affidavit of Account is attached hereto and incorporated by reference. COUNT 2 1. THE BANK OF MISSOURI, provided credit to the defendant on account number XXXXXXXXXXXXX6883. Defendant defaulted on the obligation. The account has been assigned to Plaintiff. 2. Defendant owes Plaintiff $1,164.34. An Affidavit of Account is attached hereto and incorporated by reference. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for Judgment against the Defendant in the sum of $1,964.84, with interest at the statutory rate, all court costs, and for such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper. William L. Nixon, Jr., #012804 Harley L. Homjak, #019736 Gracelyn Porras Dillingham, #35852 Jenifer A. Gani, #021876 Daniela Westfahl, #36242 Mariah S. Ellicott, #36309 Benjamin F. Brackett, #36580 LOVE, BEAL & NIXON, P.C. Attorney for Plaintiff P.O. Box 32738 Oklahoma City, OK 73123 Telephone: 405-720-0565 E-Mail: [email protected] STATE OF OKLAHOMA Midland Credit Management, Inc, Plaintiff -vs- Evans, John, Defendant(s). AFFIDAVIT OF RACHEL CANTU Rachel Cantu, whose business address is 600 W. Saint Germain St Suite 200, St. Cloud, MN 56301-3616, certifies and says: 1. I am employed as a Legal Specialist and have access to pertinent account records for Midland Credit Management, Inc. ("Plaintiff" or "MCM"). I am a competent person over eighteen years of age, and make the statements herein based upon personal knowledge of those account records maintained by Plaintiff. Plaintiff is the current owner of, and was assigned all the rights, title and interest to Defendant's COMENTITY CAPITAL BANK/ ACADEMY SPORTS + OUTDOORS account XXXXXXXXXXXXX8359 (MCM Number 322804019) (hereinafter "the Account"). 2. I have access to and have reviewed the electronic records pertaining to the Account maintained by MCM and am authorized to make this affidavit on MCM's behalf. The electronic records reviewed consist of (i) data and records acquired from the seller or assignor when MCM purchased or was assigned the Account, which were incorporated into MCM's business records upon purchase or assignment, and (ii) data and records generated by MCM in connection with servicing the Account since the date the Account was purchased by or was assigned to MCM. 3. I am familiar with and trained on the manner and method by which MCM creates and maintains its business records pertaining to the Account, which consist of (i) data and documents acquired from the seller or assignor, and (ii) subsequent collection and/or servicing activities by MCM. The records are acquired or created, and are kept in the regular course of MCM's business. It was in the regular course of MCM's business for a person with knowledge of the subsequent collection and/or servicing activities recorded, and a business duty to report, to make the record or data compilation, or to transmit information thereof to be included in such record, or for such information to be posted in MCM's records by a computer or similar digital means. In the regular course of MCM's business, the record or compilation of the subsequent collection activities is made at or near the time of the act or event by MCM as a regular practice. 4. MCM's records show that Defendant(s) owed a balance of $800.50 as of 2025-09-22. 5. On or about 2023-06-23, Midland Credit Management, Inc became the successor in interest to this Account. 6. MCM's records show that: 1) the Account was opened on 2021-09-11; 2) the last payment posted to the Account on 2022-10-16; and 3) the Account was charged off on 2023-05-31. 7. If called to testify as a witness thereon, I could and would competently testify as to all the facts stated herein. Left Blank Intentionally I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing statements are true and correct. OCT 07 2025 Date STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF STEARNS Rachel Cantu Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on OCT 07 2025 by Rachel Cantu. Julie A Kimmes Notary Public - Minnesota My Commission Expires 01/31/2030 Notary Public STATE OF OKLAHOMA Midland Credit Management, Inc, Plaintiff -vs- Evans, John, Defendant(s). AFFIDAVIT OF RACHEL CANTU Rachel Cantu, whose business address is 600 W. Saint Germain St Suite 200, St. Cloud, MN 56301-3616, certifies and says: 1. I am employed as a Legal Specialist and have access to pertinent account records for Midland Credit Management, Inc. ("Plaintiff" or "MCM"). I am a competent person over eighteen years of age, and make the statements herein based upon personal knowledge of those account records maintained by Plaintiff. Plaintiff is the current owner of, and was assigned all the rights, title and interest to Defendant's THE BANK OF MISSOURI/MILESTONE account XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX6883 (MCM Number 323109813) (hereinafter "the Account"). 2. I have access to and have reviewed the electronic records pertaining to the Account maintained by MCM and am authorized to make this affidavit on MCM's behalf. The electronic records reviewed consist of (i) data and records acquired from the seller or assignor when MCM purchased or was assigned the Account, which were incorporated into MCM's business records upon purchase or assignment, and (ii) data and records generated by MCM in connection with servicing the Account since the date the Account was purchased by or was assigned to MCM. 3. I am familiar with and trained on the manner and method by which MCM creates and maintains its business records pertaining to the Account, which consist of (i) data and documents acquired from the seller or assignor, and (ii) subsequent collection and/or servicing activities by MCM. The records are acquired or created, and are kept in the regular course of MCM's business. It was in the regular course of MCM's business for a person with knowledge of the subsequent collection and/or servicing activities recorded, and a business duty to report, to make the record or data compilation, or to transmit information thereof to be included in such record, or for such information to be posted in MCM's records by a computer or similar digital means. In the regular course of MCM's business, the record or compilation of the subsequent collection activities is made at or near the time of the act or event by MCM as a regular practice. 4. MCM's records show that Defendant(s) owed a balance of $1,164.34 as of 2025-09-22. 5. On or about 2023-06-27, Midland Credit Management, Inc became the successor in interest to this Account. 6. MCM's records show that: 1) the Account was opened on 2022-07-29; 2) the last payment posted to the Account on 2022-10-16; and 3) the Account was charged off on 2023-05-18. 7. If called to testify as a witness thereon, I could and would competently testify as to all the facts stated herein. Left Blank Intentionally I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing statements are true and correct. OCT 07 2025 Date STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF STEARNS Signed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on OCT 07 2025 by Rachel Cantu. Julie A Kimmes Notary Public - Minnesota My Commission Expires 01/31/2030 OK038