Traci Cotton is the Section Manager of the Claims & Bankruptcy section. Attorneys are Kevin Brown, Hannah Huckaby, and Kent Kostka.
Staff are Jillian Dubay, Mary Freeman, Jose Martinez, Lyn Palmer, Stephen Reynolds, Nadia Stewart, and Angela White. The accountant for the section is Tikoa Legendre.
This section is responsible for the collection of delinquent student loans, estate claims, certain hospital accounts and related liens, physician accounts, bankruptcy claims and miscellaneous business accounts for UT System and its institutions. Contracts that relate to collections issues, such as contracts between institutions and outside collection agencies, are also reviewed by the Claims Section. The section also advises institutions regarding various legal and business issues relating to receivables management.
In general, delinquent student loans are routinely referred by the institutions to OGC for litigation pursuant to National Direct Student Loan guidelines and/or OGC guidelines. Delinquent hospital and physician accounts, as well as the bankruptcy, estate and miscellaneous accounts, are referred in accordance with UT System business procedures and OGC guidelines.
Collection of these claims/accounts is attempted through negotiated settlements or lawsuits. The authority to litigate is granted to the section attorneys by the Attorney General.
