Now I'm working through the damages calculation under different rules. Rule 2 applies a $1,000 penalty for a defective validation notice. Rule 3 multiplies five violations by $750 each, capped at $3,000. For Rule 4, I'm counting three separate communications—the January 2 letter, January 25 letter, and February 10 complaint—each at $1,500, which totals $4,500 and stays within the cap. I'm noting that the January 2 letter contained a false threat about immediate suit, but multiple false statements in the same communication only count once. Now I need to determine whether the January 2 letter qualifies under Rule 4, since it predates the formal dispute.

The January 2 letter does count—Rule 4 isn't limited to post-dispute communications. For Rule 5, the cease request was delivered January 13, and I'm counting three calls after that (January 15, 22, and February 3) at $500 each for $1,500, staying under the $2,000 cap. The January 18 call to the employer is