HMMM: Another #BigLaw Loss Results in a Finding SMS Messages Are Calls– And Suddenly Things Aren’t Looking So Good

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This is not Chet Wilson

Not long ago the score was 3-3 on the issue of whether SMS messages were calls under the TCPA’s DNC provisions.

But then #biglaw got involved and.. yeah.

The last three cases on the subject have all broken toward SMS messages being covered by the TCPA’s DNC provisions and all three were brought to you by biglaw.

In the latest case Chet Wilson v. Better Mortgage Corp. 2025 WL 3493815 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 5, 2025) a guy whose number literally ends in all 9s (i.e. 999-9999) defeated a biglaw effort to throw his case out on a motion to dismiss.

Better Mortgage (questionable name) argued the SMS message sent to Wilson’s number were not solicitations because SMS messages are not “calls” to begin with.

The Court disagreed, however, adopting dictionary definitions from the early 1990s (I’m serious) to conclude Congress intended the word “call” to include any communication by telephone–including SMS messages.

Notably this guy Chet Wilson’s number is ALL OVER the internet.

Its a contact number for a realtor in Oregon who is not named Chet Wilson.

A staff directory for a local public works.

Its listed for a self storage company and even as an exemplar court form in Oregon.

But he keeps winning and #biglaw keeps losing.

Sigh.

So again, 6-3 in favor of Texts are Calls and this one seems like it is slipping away from TCPA defendants.

If you want to make sure you’re in the best possible position to DESERVE TO WIN in TCPA suits be sure to talk to “The Best TCPA Firm in the Country”- Troutman Amin, LLP. Rates rise Jan 1 so contact us now!

Chat soon.

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Published by Eric "Czar" Troutman

The Czar of TCPAWorld Eric Troutman is one of the country’s prominent class action defense lawyers and is nationally recognized in Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) litigation and compliance. He has served as lead defense counsel in more than 70 national TCPA class actions and has litigated nearly a thousand individual TCPA cases in his role as national strategic litigation counsel for major banks and finance companies. He also helps industry participants build TCPA-compliant processes, policies, and systems. Eric has built a national litigation practice based upon deep experience, rigorous analysis and extraordinary responsiveness. Eric and his team feel equally at home litigating multibillion dollar telecommunications class actions in federal court as they do developing and executing national litigation strategies for institutions facing an onslaught of individual TCPA matters. They thrive in each of these roles – delivering consistently excellent results – while never losing sight of the client experience. While many firms now tout TCPA expertise, Eric has been there from the beginning. He built one of the country’s first TCPA-only defense teams and began serving as national TCPA counsel for his clients nearly a decade ago. This perspective allows him to swiftly develop the right litigation strategies for dealing with recurring problems, without wasting time on tactics that are bound to fail. Eric’s rich historical perspective and encyclopedic knowledge of the TCPA landscape also make him an invaluable resource to institutional compliance teams struggling to comply with the shifting regulatory landscape. No task is too small – or too big. Indeed, Eric and his team have helped build TCPA-compliant systems and processes for some of the largest and most complex corporate entities in the country. He commonly works with in-house compliance counsel to build and implement enterprise and business-line specific TCPA solutions, performs TCPA audits and drafts and reviews proposed TCPA policies and procedures. He and his team also have the technical expertise necessary to assist call centers seeking to develop TCPA-resistant call path architecture or to modify existing telephony and software integration to better insulate from potential TCPA exposure. Eric has built a reputation for thought leadership. An avid blogger and speaker, he has been at the forefront of the industry’s effort to push for clarity and a return to sanity for the TCPA for years. He was selected to advocate for the financial services industry on important TCPA issues before the Federal Communications Commission and co-authored the nation’s only comprehensive practice guide on TCPA defense. In his spare time, Eric leads defense teams representing banks and other financial services companies in consumer finance litigation matters. He has experience representing clients in UCC, TILA, RESPA FCRA, CCRA, CLRA, FDCPA, RFDCPA and FCCPA claims, as well as in fraud and bank operations issues.

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  1. Pingback: HMMM: Another #BigLaw Loss Results in a Finding SMS Messages Are Calls– And Suddenly Things Aren’t Looking So Good – JD Supra – CampaignSMS

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