CJ-2026-208 - Bank of America, N.A. v. James W. Williams

What's This Case About?

Let’s cut right to the chase: Bank of America is suing a guy in Oklahoma for $16,253.67—because he didn’t pay his credit card bill. That’s not the wild part. The wild part? The bank waited until after the account was already charged off—essentially written off as a loss—then turned around and sued anyway. And while this might sound like just another boring debt collection case (yawn), it’s actually a masterclass in how credit card companies keep you on the financial hook like a marlin at the end of a fishing line: slow, steady, and with compound interest that could make a loan shark blush.

Meet James W. Williams of Yukon, Oklahoma—a man whose name now lives in the annals of Canadian County civil court not for grand theft or domestic drama, but for failing to send a check to Bank of America. We don’t know what James does for a living, whether he’s a mechanic, a teacher, or just trying to keep the lights on in a 1,200-square-foot ranch on Shell Lane. But we do know this: at some point, he opened a Bank of America Visa Signature credit card, probably lured by promises of cash back, easy credit, and that smug sense of financial adulthood that comes with a plastic rectangle embossed with your name. Things were fine—until they weren’t.

The unraveling began quietly, as these things often do. James stopped making payments. The last one? February 10, 2025. By July 16, 2025, his balance had ballooned to $16,253.67—up from $15,998.72 just a month prior, thanks to $254.95 in interest charges alone. The statement practically screams desperation: “You're a valued customer,” it says, in a tone that’s equal parts corporate concern and thinly veiled threat, “and we want you to know we haven’t received your current payment.” Oh, and by the way, you’re over your credit limit, your account is restricted, and if you don’t pay, your APR might jump to 29.99%. The document even includes a terrifying table showing that if James had kept making only the minimum payment, it would take him 27 years to pay off the balance—and cost him nearly $37,000 in total. That’s not a credit card. That’s a financial time machine designed to extract every penny from your future self.

Then came the final indignity: on July 31, 2025, Bank of America officially charged off the account. In accounting terms, that means the bank decided the debt was uncollectible and moved it to the “probably never getting this back” column on their spreadsheets. They may have even sold it to a collections agency or written it off for tax purposes. But—and here’s the kicker—they didn’t just walk away. No, sir. On January 27, 2026, Bank of America, represented by the debt-collection law firm Nelson and Kennard, LLP (a firm that sounds like a villainous duo from a 1980s legal drama), filed a lawsuit in Canadian County District Court demanding James pay the full $16,253.67, plus court costs. The charge? Breach of contract. Translation: you agreed to pay us, and you didn’t. Shocking, we know.

Now, let’s talk about what’s actually happening in this courtroom drama—or, more accurately, what isn’t. There are no witnesses, no dramatic cross-examinations, no sobbing spouses. This is a paperwork war. Bank of America is asking the court to issue a judgment based entirely on the terms of the credit agreement and the transaction history—Exhibit 1, the last statement before charge-off, is their smoking gun. They’re not accusing James of fraud, identity theft, or even denying the debt. They’re saying: he used the card, he agreed to pay, he didn’t, and now we want our money. It’s as clean and clinical as a root canal.

And what do they want? $16,253.67. Is that a lot? Well, for most people in Yukon, Oklahoma, yes. That’s a used car. That’s a year of rent. That’s a down payment on a house, or a full college semester, or a lifetime supply of Top Ramen. But for a national bank with assets in the trillions? It’s a rounding error. Yet they’re still sending lawyers to court over it. Why? Because they can. And because every dollar recovered is a dollar that doesn’t go into the “loss” column. This isn’t personal. It’s algorithmic. Somewhere, a computer flagged James’s account as “litigation eligible,” and the machine kicked into gear.

Now, here’s where we, the peanut gallery at CrazyCivilCourt, lean in and whisper: What in the actual credit report is going on here? The most absurd part of this case isn’t the amount, or the fact that someone’s being sued over a credit card. It’s the theater of it all. The bank charged off the debt—meaning they told their investors, “Yeah, we’re not getting this back”—and then turned around and sued anyway. It’s like a restaurant writing off a bad check as a loss, then sending a private investigator to track down the diner for the $18.50 they owed on a burger and fries. And let’s not forget the statement’s passive-aggressive guilt trip: “We know you can bank anywhere. Thank you for choosing us.” Buddy, if this is what “choosing you” looks like, I’ll take my chances with a mattress.

We don’t know if James plans to fight this. He might not even know about the lawsuit yet. If he’s unrepresented—no attorney listed in the filing—he’ll either show up and try to explain his side, or he won’t show up at all, and the court will issue a default judgment. And once that happens, Bank of America can garnish wages, seize bank accounts, or place liens on property. All over a credit card that was already deemed a lost cause by the very company now demanding full repayment.

Look, we’re not here to defend credit card debt. If you charge $16,000 on a Visa and ghost the bill, you’ve got some explaining to do. But there’s something deeply ironic—and more than a little dystopian—about a system where a bank can simultaneously tell its shareholders, “We’ve taken a loss,” and tell a court, “We demand full repayment.” It’s a two-faced financial tango, and regular people like James Williams are the ones getting stepped on.

So where do we stand? We’re not rooting for deadbeats. But we’re also not cheering for billion-dollar banks that play accounting games while sending collection attorneys after middle-class Oklahomans. If James has a hard-luck story—job loss, medical bills, a run of bad luck—we hope he gets his day in court. If he just blew $16k on Amazon and decided not to pay? Well, maybe he deserves the judgment. But either way, this case is less about justice and more about the cold, mechanical grind of modern debt collection—a world where your credit score is your prison, and the warden is named Bank of America.

Case Overview

$16,254 Demand Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

Ashton Dewayne Sears

Nelson and Kennard, LLP

Relief Sought

$16,254 Monetary

Plaintiffs

Bank of America, N.A. business
Rep: Nelson and Kennard, LLP

Defendants

James W. Williams individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	breach of contract	failure to make required monthly payments on a credit account

Petition Text

2,531 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF CANADIAN COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. JAMES W WILLIAMS Defendant(s). Case No. CJ-2026-208 KHIRSTAN K. STRUBHAR PETITION COMES NOW the Plaintiff, by and through counsel, Nelson and Kennard, LLP, and herewith alleges the following and seeks redress as hereafter delineated. 1. Plaintiff is a national banking association, which transacts business within the State of Oklahoma. 2. Venue is proper in this County, as the Defendant(s) reside(s) in this County at the commencement of this action. 3. The last four (4) digits of the Defendant’s account number, used by the current creditor as of the date of default are XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX2147. 4. Plaintiff's claim arises when the Defendant(s) opened a credit account and failed to make the required monthly payments as agreed. The credit account charged off for non-payment on 7/31/25, the balance due at time of default was $16,253.67. A true and accurate copy of the last periodic statement provided to the Defendant(s) prior to charge-off is attached hereto as Exhibit 1. 5. The Defendant(s) breached the Contract by failing to make the required periodic payments. 6. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant(s) default, the total amount of debt claimed is $16,253.67. 7. The date of the last payment made by the Defendant(s) is February 10, 2025. 8. Plaintiff seeks court costs, and for such further relief as the Court may deem proper in the premises. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. prays for judgment against the Defendant(s), JAMES W WILLIAMS in the amount of $16,253.67, plus all costs herein expended, including but not limited to, court costs, sheriff's fees, and special process server fees; and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem proper in the premises. Dated this January 27, 2026 Nelson and Kennard, LLP By: Ashton Dewayne Sears, OBA # 35737 12596 W. Bayaud Ave., Ste. 120 Lakewood, CO 80228 Phone: 866-920-2295 [email protected] Attorney for the Plaintiff EXHIBIT 1 BANK OF AMERICA P.O. BOX 15284 WILMINGTON, DE 19850 JAMES W WILLIAMS 3424 SHELL LN YUKON OK 73099-4478 Customer Service Information: www.bankofamerica.com 1.800.421.2110 Mail billing inquiries to: Bank of America P.O. Box 672050 Dallas TX 75267-2050 Mail payment to: Bank of America P.O. Box 851001 Dallas TX 75285-1001 Account Summary/Payment Information Previous Balance $15,998.72 Payments and Other Credits $0.00 Purchases and Adjustments $0.00 Fees Charged $0.00 Interest Charged $254.95 New Balance Total $16,253.67 Total Credit Line $14,900.00 Total Credit Available $0.00 Cash Credit Line $4,490.00 Portion of Credit Available for Cash $0.00 Statement Closing Date 07/16/2025 Days in Billing Cycle 30 New Balance Total $16,253.67 Current Payment Due $414.00 Past Due Amount $2,615.00 Total Minimum Payment Due $3,029.00 Payment Due Date 08/13/2025 Late Payment Warning: If we do not receive your Total Minimum Payment by the date listed above, you may have to pay a late fee of up to $39.00 and your APRs may be increased up to the Penalty APR of 29.99%. Total Minimum Payment Warning: If you make only the Total Minimum Payment each period, you will pay more in interest and it will take you longer to pay off your balance. For example: <table> <tr> <th>If you make no additional charges using this card and each month you pay</th> <th>You will payoff the balance shown on this statement in about</th> <th>And you will end up paying an estimated total of</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Only the Total Minimum Payment</td> <td>27 years</td> <td>$36,842.00</td> </tr> </table> If you would like information about credit counseling services, call 866.300.5238. Visa Signature® Account# [REDACTED] 2147 June 17 - July 16, 2025 BANK OF AMERICA P.O. BOX 851001 DALLAS TX 75265-1001 JAMES W WILLIAMS 3424 SHELL LN YUKON OK 73099-4478 Account Number: [REDACTED] 2147 Payment Due Date: 08/13/2025 New Balance Total: $16,253.67 Total Minimum Payment Due: $3,029.00 Enter payment amount $ For change of address/phone number, see reverse side. Make your payment online at www.bankofamerica.com or Mail this coupon along with your check payable to: Bank of America IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ACCOUNT PAYING INTEREST - We will not charge you any interest on Purchases if you always pay your entire "Grace Period Balance", as defined in the next two paragraphs, by the Payment Due Date. Specifically, you will not pay Interest for an entire billing cycle on Purchases if you Paid In Full the two previous Grace Period Balances on your account by their respective Payment Due Dates; otherwise, each Purchase begins to accrue interest on its transaction date or the first day of the billing cycle, whichever date is later. We will begin charging interest on Balance Transfers and Cash Advances on the transaction date. If you do not have an active Custom Pay Plan, your Grace Period Balance will be the New Balance Total. New Balance Total (also referred to as the "Statement Balance") is the total billed amount as of the Closing Date of a billing cycle, as shown on your monthly statement, plus any adjustments for subsequently returned payments. If you have an active Custom Pay Plan, your Grace Period Balance will be the Interest Saving Balance as shown on your monthly statement plus any adjustments for subsequently returned payments. The Interest Saving Balance is your New Balance Total minus, any balances subject to a Custom Pay Plan, plus any Custom Pay Plan Payment(s) due, as shown on your monthly statement. TOTAL INTEREST CHARGE COMPUTATION - Interest charges accrue and are compounded on a daily basis. To determine the Interest charges, we multiply each Balance Subject to Interest Rate by its applicable Daily Periodic Rate and that result is multiplied by the number of days in the billing cycle. To determine the total interest charge for the billing cycle, we add the interest charges together. A Daily Periodic Rate is calculated by dividing an Annual Percentage Rate by 365. HOW WE ALLOCATE YOUR PAYMENTS - Payments are allocated to posted balances. We will first allocate the amount of your payment equal to the Total Minimum Payment Due to any Custom Pay Plan Payment due, then to the lowest APR balances in turn (including transactions made after this statement). Payment amounts in excess of your Total Minimum Payment Due will be applied to balances with higher APRs before balances with lower APRs, and finally to any Custom Pay Plan balances. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PAYMENTS BY PHONE - When using the optional Pay-by-Phone service, you authorize us to initiate an electronic payment from your account at the financial institution you designate. You must authorize the amount and timing of each payment. For your protection, we will ask for security information. To cancel, call us before the scheduled payment date. Same-day payments cannot be edited or canceled. YOUR CREDIT LINES - The Total Credit Line is the amount of credit available for the account; however, only a portion of that is available for Bank Cash Advances. The Cash Credit Line is that amount you have available for Bank Cash Advances. Generally, Bank Cash Advances consist of ATM Cash Advances, Over the Counter (OTC) Cash Advances, Same-Day Online Cash Advances, Overdraft Protection Cash Advances, Cash Equivalents, and applicable transaction fees. MISCELLANEOUS - Promotional Rate End Date: This date is based on a future statement closing date. If you change your Payment Due Date, this date could change. The New Balance Total which appears on this statement is not a payoff amount and may be subject to additional interest charges when you pay in full after your statement closing date. Virtual cards are the digital form of your eligible physical credit cards stored within a digital wallet. CALCULATION OF BALANCES SUBJECT TO INTEREST RATE Average Daily Balance Method (including new Purchases): We calculate separate Balances Subject to an Interest Rate for Purchases and for each Introductory or Promotional Offer balance consisting of Purchases by: (1) calculating a daily balance for each day in the current billing cycle; (2) adding all the daily balances together; and (3) dividing the sum of the daily balances by the number of days in the current billing cycle. To calculate the daily balance for each day in the current billing cycle, we: (1) take the beginning balance less any Purchases assigned to an existing Custom Pay Plan; (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day's daily balance; (3) add new Purchases, new Account Fees, and new Transaction Fees; (4) subtract Purchases assigned to a new Custom Pay Plan; and (5) subtract applicable payments and credits. If any daily balance is less than zero we treat it as zero. Average Balance Method (including new Balance Transfers and new Cash Advances): We calculate separate Balances Subject to an Interest Rate for Balance Transfers, Cash Advances, and for each Introductory or Promotional Offer balance consisting of Balance Transfers or Cash Advances by: (1) calculating a daily balance for each day prior to the current billing cycle that had a Pre-Cycle balance - a "Pre-Cycle balance" is a Balance Transfer or a Cash Advance with a transaction date prior to the current billing cycle but with a posting date within the current billing cycle; (3) adding all the daily balances together; and (4) dividing the sum of the daily balances by the number of days in the current billing cycle. To calculate the daily balance for each day in the current billing cycle, we: (1) take the beginning balance; (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day's daily balance; (3) add new Balance Transfers, Cash Advances and Transaction Fees; and (4) subtract applicable payments and credits. If any daily balance is less than zero, we treat it as zero. To calculate a daily balance for each day prior to the current billing cycle that had a Pre-Cycle balance, we: (1) take the beginning balance attributable solely to a Pre-Cycle balance (which will be zero on the transaction date associated with the first Pre-Cycle balance); (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day's daily balance; and (3) add only the applicable Pre-Cycle balances, and their related Transaction Fees. We exclude from this calculation all transactions posted in previous billing cycles. For the complete terms and conditions of your account, consult your Credit Card Agreement. This account is issued and administered by Bank of America. Bank of America is a registered trademark of Bank of America Corporation. ©2025 Bank of America Corporation PAYMENTS - We credit mailed payments as of the date received, if the payment is: (1) received by 5 p.m. local time at the address shown on the remittance portion of your monthly statement; (2) paid with a check drawn in U.S. dollars on a U.S. financial institution or a U.S. dollar money order; and (3) sent in the return envelope with only the remittance portion of your statement accompanying it. However, mailed payments need not be sent in a return envelope if we sent you a statement without a return envelope. Payments received by mail after 5 p.m. local time at the remittance address on any day including the Payment Due Date, but that otherwise meet the above requirements, will be credited as of the next day. Payments made online or by phone by 11:59 p.m. ET will be credited as of the date they are made. Credit for any other payments may be delayed up to five days. Cash payments made with our tellers will only be accepted with valid identification. No payment, including those marked with paid in full or with any other restrictive words, shall operate as an accord and satisfaction without the prior written approval of one of our senior officers. We process most payment checks electronically by using the information found on your check. When you provide a check as payment, you authorize us to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account (or process it as a check or paper draft). When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day we receive your payment. Checks are not returned to you. If you have authorized us to pay your bill automatically from your savings or checking account with us, you can stop the payment on any amount you think is wrong. To stop payment, you must contact us at least three business days before the automatic payment is scheduled to occur. Change of Address/Phone number: Online at www.bankofamerica.com Please do not add any written communication in this space JAMES W WILLIAMS | Account # 2147 | June 17 - July 16, 2025 Transactions <table> <tr> <th>Transaction Date</th> <th>Posting Date</th> <th>Description</th> <th>Reference Number</th> <th>Account Number</th> <th>Amount</th> <th>Total</th> </tr> <tr> <td>07/16</td> <td>07/16</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON PURCHASES</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>240.14</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>07/16</td> <td>07/16</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON BALANCE TRANSFERS</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>14.81</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>07/16</td> <td>07/16</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON DIR DEP&CHK CASHADV</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.00</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>07/16</td> <td>07/16</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON BANK CASH ADVANCES</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.00</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="6">TOTAL INTEREST CHARGED FOR THIS PERIOD</td> <td>$254.95</td> </tr> </table> <table> <tr> <th>Total fees charged in 2025</th> <th>$223.00</th> </tr> <tr> <th>Total interest charged in 2025</th> <th>$1,709.99</th> </tr> </table> Interest Charge Calculation Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the annual interest rate on your account. <table> <tr> <th>Type of Balance</th> <th>Annual Percentage Rate</th> <th>Promotional Transaction Type</th> <th>Promotional Offer ID</th> <th>Promotional Rate End Date</th> <th>Balance Subject to Interest Rate</th> <th>Interest Charges by Transaction Type</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Purchases</td> <td>19.24% V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$15,185.40</td> <td>$240.14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Balance Transfers</td> <td>19.24% V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$936.23</td> <td>$14.81</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Direct Deposit and Check Cash Advances</td> <td>23.49% V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$0.00</td> <td>$0.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bank Cash Advances</td> <td>23.49% V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$0.00</td> <td>$0.00</td> </tr> </table> APR Type Definitions Daily Interest Rate Type: V = Variable Rate (rate may vary) Important Messages You're a valued customer and we want you to know that we haven't received your current payment due. Please send your payment due today. If you've already mailed it, thank you. Your statement balance exceeds the Total Credit Line. To ensure uninterrupted use of your account, please make a payment to bring your balance under the Total Credit Line. There is no fee for being over your Total Credit Line. When this statement was created, the account's Credit Line was in a restricted status and not available for use. You can request a copy of this statement in either Braille or Large Print by calling 800.432.1000 or going to bankofamerica.com and enter Visually Impaired Access from the home page. Your Reward Summary <table> <tr> <th>.00</th> <td>Base Cash Back Earned</td> </tr> <tr> <th>.00</th> <td>Total Cash Back Available</td> </tr> </table> Make the most of your rewards program today! We know you can bank anywhere. Thank you for choosing us.