IN debt collection law, can I be sued for the same debt twice

Unfortunately, this happens quite often. There are companies called "debt buyers" who buy debts from creditors for very little, then aggressively pursue the debtors. This process is not necessarily accurate, and it is not unusual for them to obtain debts that are invalid, time-barred or otherwise not what they seem. They get no file details, just pursue and then sue all debtors. If you are not careful, you may wind up with a judgment against you for a debt you may not owe.

There are attorneys who are knowledgable in defending against debt buyers and often will take your case without charging you up front. This can be very tricky. The National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization. NACA maintains a web site at www.naca.net where it lists geographically consumer law attorneys all over the US. If you don't already have an attorney, please look there for someone in your area who can help you.

Don't try to do it yourself. You may well have the right to recover damages as well as to defend this suit. You need an attorney who is knowledgable in consumer debt collection defense.

You need an attorney to help file a counterclaim for this wrongful lawsuit. You should be able to get your attorney fees paid under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.