A new civil nature of suit (NOS) code, 485, Telephone Consumer Protection Act (abbreviated TCPA), became active July 1, 2019 and the Northern District’s Civil Cover Sheet (Form JS-CAND-44, Revision 07/19) has been revised to include the new code. The latest version of the JS-44 form is available from our website’s Civil Forms page.
The TCPA restricts telephone solicitations and the use of automated telephone equipment, including automatic dialing systems, artificial or prerecorded voice messages, SMS text messages, and fax machines. It also specifies several technical requirements for fax machines, auto-dialers, and voice messaging systems—principally with provisions requiring that the identification and contact information of the entity using the device be contained in the message.
The new version should henceforward be used for all civil cases.