CS-2025-74 - BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. v. IVANES E DIAZ LEON

What's This Case About?

Let’s be honest: we’ve all gotten that sinking feeling when the credit card bill lands in the inbox and the number is higher than we’d like. But unless you’re Ivan Diaz Leon of Tulsa, Oklahoma, you probably haven’t had Bank of America itself show up in court demanding $5,931.49 like a medieval debt collector with a law degree and a really good dental plan. That’s right—America’s second-largest bank, a financial titan with over $3 trillion in assets, has filed a lawsuit in Tulsa County District Court… over a little under six grand. It’s like Godzilla suing a goldfish for trespassing.

Now, who is Ivan Diaz Leon? Honestly, we don’t know much. The filing doesn’t tell us if he’s a struggling single dad, a freelance artist who maxed out his card during a creative dry spell, or just a guy who really, really wanted that Peloton and thought he could outrun the consequences. What we do know is that he had a Bank of America credit card, presumably opened in good faith, with a credit limit of $7,000. At some point, things went sideways. The last payment he made? October 6, 2023. That’s over a year ago. Since then, the account has been radio silent—no payments, no communication, just the slow, quiet creep of interest piling up like dust on an unused treadmill. By May 11, 2024, the balance had bloated to $5,931.49, all of it unpaid. The bank declared the account “charged off” on May 31, 2024—bank-speak for “we’ve given up on you paying voluntarily, so now we’re coming for you legally.” And thus, the lawsuit was born.

So what exactly happened? According to the filing, nothing particularly dramatic—just the slow-motion financial unraveling that millions of Americans know all too well. Ivan opened a credit card. He used it. He stopped paying. The interest kept ticking. The bank sent statements. The “Important Messages” section on his final bill even gently nudged him: “We haven’t received your current payment due. Please send your payment today.” It’s almost sweet, in a passive-aggressive corporate way. But Ivan didn’t pay. And now, here we are.

Bank of America isn’t accusing him of fraud, identity theft, or some elaborate Ponzi scheme involving gift cards and offshore accounts. No, the claim is far more mundane: breach of contract. In plain English? You signed a contract saying you’d pay back what you borrowed. You didn’t. Now we want our money. It’s the financial equivalent of returning a borrowed lawnmower with the engine in pieces and being told, “Well, you agreed to return it in working order.” The bank is demanding $5,931.49—plus court costs, sheriff’s fees, and “such other and further relief as the Court may deem proper,” which sounds ominous but probably just means they want the judge to say, “Yep, Ivan, you owe the bank. Pay up.”

Now, is $5,931 a lot? Well, it’s not chump change. For context, that’s about two months’ rent in Tulsa, or a decent used car. It’s also not a life-ruining sum for a bank that could buy and sell the entire city of Tulsa and still have change left over. But for an individual? That’s real money. And the kicker? The interest rate on that balance was a jaw-dropping 28.24% for purchases—nearly 30 cents on every dollar, per year. And if Ivan had taken out a cash advance? 29.99%. That’s not just high—that’s “medieval moneylender sharpening his quill” levels of interest. The statement even warns him: if he only pays the minimum, it’ll take 20 years to pay off, and he’ll end up shelling out over $15,000 in total. That’s more than double what he currently owes. It’s like being told you can pay off your car over two decades… and by the end, you’ve paid for three.

So why are we even covering this? Because it’s a perfect microcosm of the modern American debt machine. A guy falls behind. The interest compounds. The bank waits, then pounces. The legal system becomes a collection agency with gavels. And the whole thing is so routine that Bank of America outsourced the lawsuit to a law firm in Colorado—Nelson & Kennard, a firm that specializes in exactly this kind of debt collection. Their attorney, Ashton Dewayne Sears, didn’t even sign the petition by hand; it’s a scanned signature, like a robot lawyer from the future automating human financial misery. This isn’t a high-stakes drama. It’s not a scandal. It’s just… business. And that’s what’s so wild. This is happening right now, in courtrooms across the country, every single day. Thousands of cases just like this—banks vs. people over a few thousand bucks, each one a tiny tragedy wrapped in legalese.

Here’s the thing we’re rooting for: transparency. Not for Ivan to win—though hey, if he finds a forgotten receipt proving the bank overcharged him, we’re here for it. And not for Bank of America to back down—though it’d be nice if they offered a payment plan instead of straight-up suing. No, what we want is for people to see this. To realize that credit cards aren’t free money. That interest isn’t just a footnote. That a $5,000 charge today can become a $15,000 burden tomorrow if you’re not careful. And also—let’s be real—for the bank to maybe, just maybe, send a human instead of a robot the next time someone misses a payment. A phone call. A letter that doesn’t sound like it was written by an AI trained on 1980s credit memos. Something that says, “Hey, we see you’re struggling. Let’s figure this out.” Because right now, the system is designed to profit from failure, not prevent it.

But hey, that’s not how capitalism works. That’s how people work. And until the banks start acting like they’re dealing with humans instead of balance sheets, we’ll be here—covering the petty, the absurd, and the quietly devastating, one $5,931 lawsuit at a time.

Case Overview

Petition

Jurisdiction

DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA

Filing Attorney

Ashton Dewayne Sears

Nelson & Kennard

Relief Sought

$5,931 Monetary

Plaintiffs

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. business
Rep: Nelson & Kennard

Defendants

IVANES E DIAZ LEON individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	breach of contract	failure to make required monthly payments

Petition Text

3,121 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. IVANES E DIAZ LEON Defendant(s). Case No. CS-2025-00074 MELISSA EAST PETITION COMES NOW the Plaintiff, by and through counsel, Nelson & Kennard, 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) either reside(s) in this County at the commencement of this action, or the contract which is the subject matter of this action was made, executed, and delivered in this County. 3. The last four (4) digits of the Defendant’s account number, used by the original creditor as of the date of default are XXXXXXXXXXXXXX1385. 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 5/31/24, the balance due at time of default is as follows $5,931.49. 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 $5,931.49. 7. The date of the last payment made by the Defendant(s) is October 6, 2023. 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), IVANES E DIAZ LEON in the amount of $5,931.49, 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 December 2, 2024. Nelson & Kennard By: [signature] Ashton Dewayne Sears, OBA # 35737 12596 W. Bayaud Ave., Ste. 120 Lakewood, CO 80228 Phone: 866-920-2295 Attorney for the Plaintiff EXHIBIT 1 BANK OF AMERICA P.O. BOX 15284 WILMINGTON, DE 19850 IVANES E DIAZ LEON 1414 S CANTON AVE TULSA OK 74112-6310 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 $5,795.45 Payments and Other Credits $0.00 Purchases and Adjustments $0.00 Fees Charged $0.00 Interest Charged $136.04 New Balance Total $5,931.49 Total Credit Line $7,000.00 Total Credit Available $1,068.51 Cash Credit Line $200.00 Portion of Credit Available for Cash $200.00 Statement Closing Date 05/11/2024 Days in Billing Cycle 30 New Balance Total $5,931.49 Current Payment Due $193.00 Post Due Amount $1,436.00 Total Minimum Payment Due $1,629.00 Payment Due Date 06/08/2024 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 border="1"> <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>20 years</td> <td>$15,187.00</td> </tr> </table> If you would like information about credit counseling services, call 866.300.5238. 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 interest on Purchases on the next statement if you pay the New Balance Total in full by the Payment Due Date, and you had paid in full by the previous Payment Due Date. We will begin charging interest on Balance Transfers and Cash Advances on the transaction date. 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 Periodic Rate 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. If your account has balances with different APRs, we will allocate the amount of your payment equal to the Total Minimum Payment Due to the lowest APR balances first (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. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PAYMENTS BY PHONE - When using the optional Pay-by-Phone service, your 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. © 2024 Bank of America Corporation 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. We do this by: (1) calculating a daily balance for each day in the billing cycle; (2) adding all the daily balances together; and (3) dividing the sum of the daily balance by the number of days in the billing cycle. To calculate the daily balance for each day in this statement's 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 Purchases, new Account Fees, and new Transaction Fees; and (4) 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. We do this by: (1) calculating a daily balance for each day in this statement's billing cycle; (2) calculating a daily balance for each day prior to this statement's 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 this statement's billing cycle but with a posting date within this statement's billing cycle; (3) adding all the daily balances together; and (4) dividing the sum of the daily balances by the number of days in this statement's billing cycle. To calculate the daily balance for each day in this statement's 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, new 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 this statement's billing cycle that had a Pre-Cycle balance: (1) we take the beginning balance attributable solely to Pre-Cycle balance (which will be zero on the transaction date of the first Pre-Cycle balance); (2) add an amount equal to the applicable Daily Periodic Rate multiplied by the previous day's daily balance; (3) and 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. 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. 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 will be credited as of the date of receipt if made by 5 p.m. Central. Credit for any other payments may be delayed up to five days. Cash payments made with our tellers will only be accepted with a valid identification (ID). No payment 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. Each check authorizes us to create a one-time electronic funds transfer (or process it as a check or paper draft). 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 credit card 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, your letter must reach 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. 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>05/11</td> <td>05/11</td> <td>Interest Charged</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>136.04</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>05/11</td> <td>05/11</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON PURCHASES</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.00</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>05/11</td> <td>05/11</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON BALANCE TRANSFERS</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.00</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>05/11</td> <td>05/11</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON DIR DEP&CHK CASHADV</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.00</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>05/11</td> <td>05/11</td> <td>INTEREST CHARGED ON BANK CASH ADVANCES</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>0.00</td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="6"><b>TOTAL INTEREST CHARGED FOR THIS PERIOD</b></td> <td><b>$136.04</b></td> </tr> </table> <table> <tr> <td>Total fees charged in 2024</td> <td>$156.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Total interest charged in 2024</td> <td>$649.40</td> </tr> </table> Interest Charge Calculation Your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is the annual interest rate on your account. <table> <tr> <th>Type of Balance</th> <th>Annual Percentage Rate</th> <th>Promotional Transaction Type</th> <th>Promotional Offer ID</th> <th>Promotional Rate End Date</th> <th>Balance Subject to Interest Rate</th> <th>Interest Charges by Transaction Type</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Purchases</td> <td>28.24%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$ 5,860.94</td> <td>$ 136.04</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Balance Transfers</td> <td>28.24%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$ 0.00</td> <td>$ 0.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Direct Deposit and Check Cash Advances</td> <td>29.99%V</td> <td></td> <td></td> <td></td> <td>$ 0.00</td> <td>$ 0.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bank Cash Advances</td> <td>29.99%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. 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. Please see important information entitled “Your Billing Rights” on the following pages. Your Reward Summary .00 Base Cash Back Earned .00 Total Cash Back Available Make the most of your rewards program today! ¿Estados de cuenta en español? ¡Podemos hacerlos para usted! Llame al 800.688.6086 o visite su centro financiero más cercano. Se aplican exclusiones. No se encuentra disponible para cuentas Corporativas, Merrill, Private Bank y Pequeñas Empresas. Statements in Spanish? We can do that for you! Call 800.432.1000, or visit your nearest financial center. Exclusions apply. Not available for Commercial Mellon, Private Bank and Small Business accounts. YOUR BILLING RIGHTS Keep This Document For Future Use This notice tells you about your rights and our responsibilities under the Fair Credit Billing Act. What To Do If You Find A Mistake On Your Statement If you think there is an error on your statement, write to us at: Bank of America P.O. Box 672050 Dallas, TX 75267-2050 In your letter, give us the following information: • Account information: Your name and account number. • Dollar amount: The dollar amount of the suspected error. • Description of problem: If you think there is an error on your bill, describe what you believe is wrong and why you believe it is a mistake. Note: It is very helpful if your letter includes the transaction date and the reference number for the charge, if available. You must contact us: • Within 60 days after the error appeared on your statement. • At least 3 business days before an automated payment is scheduled, if you want to stop payment on the amount you think is wrong. You must notify us of any potential errors in writing or electronically using online or mobile banking. You may call us, but if you do we are not required to investigate any potential errors and you may have to pay the amount in question. What Will Happen After We Receive Your Letter When we receive your letter, we must do two things: 1. Within 30 days of receiving your letter, we must tell you that we received your letter. We will also tell you if we have already corrected the error. 2. Within 90 days of receiving your letter, we must either correct the error or explain to you why we believe the bill is correct. While we investigate whether or not there has been an error: • We cannot try to collect the amount in question, or report you as delinquent on that amount. • The charge in question may remain on your statement, and we may continue to charge you interest on that amount. • While you do not have to pay the amount in question, you are responsible for the remainder of your balance. • We can apply any unpaid amount against your Total Credit Line. After we finish our investigation, one of two things will happen: • If we determine there was a mistake: You will not have to pay the amount in question or any interest or other fees related to that amount. • If we do not believe there was a mistake: You will have to pay the amount in question, along with applicable interest and fees. We will send you a statement of the amount you owe and the date payment is due. We may then report you as delinquent, including to credit reporting agencies, if you do not pay the amount we think you owe. If you receive our explanation but still believe your bill is wrong, you must write to us within 10 days telling us that you still refuse to pay. If you do so, we cannot report you as delinquent without also reporting that you are questioning your bill. We must tell you the name of anyone to whom we reported you as delinquent, and we must let those organizations know when the matter has been settled between us. If we do not follow all of the rules above, you do not have to pay the first $50 of the amount you question even if your bill is correct. Your Rights If You Are Dissatisfied With Your Credit Card Purchases If you are dissatisfied with the goods or services that you have purchased with your credit card, and you have tried in good faith to correct the problem with the merchant, you may have the right not to pay the remaining amount due on the purchase. To use this right, all of the following must be true: 1. The purchase must have been made in your home state or within 100 miles of your current mailing address, and the purchase price must have been more than $50. (Note: Neither of these are necessary if your purchase was based on an advertisement we mailed to you, or if we own the company that sold you the goods or services.) 2. You must have used your credit card for the purchase. Purchases made with Cash Advances, for instance from an ATM or with a check that accesses your credit card account, do not qualify. 3. You must not yet have fully paid for the purchase. If all of the criteria above are met and you are still dissatisfied with the purchase, contact us electronically using online or mobile banking or in writing at: Bank of America P.O. Box 672050 Dallas, TX 75267-2050 While we investigate, the same rules apply to the disputed amount as discussed above. After we finish our investigation, we will tell you our decision. At that point, if we think you owe an amount and you do not pay, we may report you as delinquent.