An Army veteran who was left disabled after suffering spinal and head injuries in the line of duty claims that not only did a did a debt collector attempt to illegally garnish his disability payments, but that an employee of the collection agency told him he “should have died” after a judge sided with the vet.

Courthouse News reports on the case filed in federal court by the vet and his wife against the Minnesota-based collection agency.

In an misguided attempt to collect on $6,000 of the vet’s defaulted student loan, the agency garnished the vet’s disability payments, which are supposed to be exempt from such actions. Yet the collectors were able to convince the couple’s credit union to freeze their account.

So the couple went to court to get this matter resolved, where the judge sided with the couple and the collections folks agreed to release the money “right away.”

But according to the lawsuit, out in the parking lot, the agency’s lawyer allegedly told the couple they would need an attorney to get their money back.

So when the husband called the agency’s office and explained what had happened, he alleges that a paralegal told him, “F— you! Pay us your money! You can’t afford an attorney. You owe us. I hope your wife divorces your a–. If you would have served our country better you would not be a disabled veteran living off social security while the rest of us honest Americans work our a– off. Too bad; you should have died.'”

The lawsuit seeks actual damages, statutory damages, and punitive damages for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, conversion, privacy invasion, and malicious infliction of emotional distress.

The Worst Debt Collector in the World? [CourthouseNews.com]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.