Short answer
Yes, Cohn & Dussi is legit. Cohn & Dussi, LLC is a genuine, active creditors'-rights collections law firm headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, and it practices in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is a real law firm, not a scam. That said, "legit" does not mean "ignore it." A law firm can sue, and a lawsuit you overlook can turn into a court judgment with real consequences for your paycheck and bank account. The most important move you can make is to figure out what kind of debt you are dealing with, then respond to any court paperwork on time. Everything below walks through how to do that calmly and correctly.
Who they are
Cohn & Dussi is a law firm that pursues collections on behalf of creditors. Unlike a call-center collection agency, a law firm can take you to court, obtain a judgment, and then move to enforce it through garnishment or a levy. Importantly, this firm works both commercial (business-to-business) and consumer accounts, and it operates across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. If you have received a letter or a court document from a firm identifying itself as Cohn & Dussi in Woburn, MA, that is consistent with a real, operating creditors'-rights practice. The presence of a real firm behind the letter is exactly why you should treat any deadline it references seriously rather than assuming it will go away.
First: is this a consumer or a business debt?
Before you decide how to respond, answer this question, because it changes the rules entirely. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) protects consumer debt only -- debts you took on for personal, family, or household purposes, such as a credit card, a personal loan, or a medical bill. Business and commercial debts -- balances tied to a company, a partnership, a vendor account, or a business line of credit -- are not covered by the FDCPA, and they are not handled through consumer debt settlement. Cohn & Dussi pursues both kinds, so you cannot assume which bucket yours falls into.
If the account is a business debt, the consumer-protection tools described on this page (30-day validation, FDCPA conduct limits, consumer settlement offers) generally do not apply. Commercial balances are usually resolved through a negotiated workout or a direct payment arrangement with the creditor or its counsel, and any personal-liability pledge you signed may complicate who is on the hook. If the account is a personal consumer debt, then the FDCPA and the strategy in the next two sections apply. When you are unsure, look at what the debt was originally for and whose name and purpose the account was opened under. If you still cannot tell, treat it as a legal question worth asking an attorney before you respond in writing.
The #1 risk: a lawsuit
With a collections law firm, your single greatest risk is a court case. If you receive a summons and complaint, do not ignore it -- read the deadline and act on it. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as elsewhere, you typically have a limited window to file a written answer with the court. Filing that answer preserves your defenses and keeps the case contested. Miss the deadline, and the court can enter a default judgment against you without hearing your side.
A default judgment is where a paper dispute becomes a financial one. Once a creditor holds a judgment, it can pursue enforcement tools such as wage garnishment and bank levies, subject to your state's exemptions. That is why "respond on time" is the most valuable sentence on this page. Even if you think you owe the money, answering the lawsuit keeps your options open -- you can still negotiate, raise defenses, or challenge whether the plaintiff has proven its case. Silence forfeits all of that.
Validation, the SOL trap, and settling (consumer accounts)
The rest of this applies only if your account is a personal consumer debt. An attorney who regularly collects debts is still a "debt collector" under the FDCPA, so the law firm does not get a pass on those rules. Within 30 days of first contact, you can demand written validation -- proof of the amount and the creditor. If the party suing is a debt buyer rather than your original creditor, go further and demand the chain of title: the documents showing the debt was actually sold and assigned to them. Debt buyers do not always have clean paperwork, and that gap can be your leverage.
Watch the statute of limitations (SOL) trap. Old debts eventually pass the SOL, after which a lawsuit can be defeated on that ground -- but a single payment or a written promise to pay can restart the clock and revive an otherwise time-barred debt. Do not make a "good faith" payment on an old account before you understand the SOL implications. If the debt is genuinely owed and current, an unsecured consumer balance is negotiable. Try to settle in writing before any judgment is entered, and keep the signed agreement showing the account is resolved. Remember that if a creditor forgives more than $600, you may receive a 1099-C, and the forgiven amount can count as taxable income. Finally, stay alert to impostor red flags: real firms work through letters, court filings, and traceable payments -- not gift cards, wire transfers, crypto, threats of arrest, or a refusal to put anything in writing.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your rights and timelines vary by state; consider consulting a qualified attorney, a nonprofit credit counselor, or legal aid.