Jacob Buller: The Serial TCPA Litigator Who Took on Bernie Sanders, Then Got Arrested
Jacob Buller, a 34-year-old Minnesota resident and professional UX designer, became a documented serial TCPA litigator when he and co-plaintiff Cody Olson sued the Bernie 2020 presidential campaign over unsolicited automated text messages. The case was filed in June 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and alleged that the Sanders campaign used an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) to send political text messages without prior express consent, in violation of the TCPA.
Buller is not a one-time consumer plaintiff or occasional filer. He is a serial litigator whose business model is built around pursuing statutory damages through high-volume TCPA lawsuits, particularly targeting political campaigns, automated marketing systems, and organizations using mass texting platforms.
Legal commentators, defense firms, and courts have closely followed his litigation activity. His lawsuit against Bernie 2020 contributed to legal arguments limiting reliance on the “volunteer sender” defense in political texting cases. However, his profile became more complex in November 2025, when he was arrested in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and charged with impaired driving, dangerous operation, and possession of fentanyl. These charges have been cited by defense firms challenging his credibility and adequacy as a class representative.
The overall record presents a mixed picture of a serial TCPA litigator whose legal standing is now being evaluated alongside his recent criminal charges.
Important Distinction: Jacob Buller’s Multiple Identities
Jacob Buller is associated with three distinct identities that must not be confused.
Jacob Buller (Minnesota) is the TCPA serial litigator who sued the Bernie 2020 campaign over automated text messages.
Jacob Olson (Alberta, Canada) is a commercial lawyer at Walsh LLP specializing in business, estates, and farming law. He is unrelated to TCPA litigation.
Jacob Brian Olson (Texas) is a federal criminal defendant in unrelated proceedings and has no connection to TCPA litigation.
This article focuses exclusively on Jacob Buller of Minnesota.
Who Is Jacob Buller? UX Designer Turned TCPA Litigator
Jacob Buller is a Minnesota-based serial TCPA plaintiff known for litigation involving political campaign messaging systems and automated SMS outreach.
He works professionally as a Lead UX Designer and Product Strategist and has experience designing systems for major technology and enterprise clients. His technical background is often cited in relation to his ability to identify structural flaws in automated marketing platforms, which are frequently the subject of his lawsuits.
Professional Profile
Full Name: Jacob Buller
Age: 34 (as of November 2025)
Location: Dakota County, Minnesota
Occupation: UX Designer and Product Strategist
Employers: Fjord, Chapter SF
Clients: Facebook, Google, UberEats, USPTO
Legal Role: Serial TCPA plaintiff
Litigation Pattern
Buller’s TCPA filings typically involve:
Unsolicited text message campaigns
Automated Telephone Dialing System claims
Political campaign messaging disputes
Class action lawsuits against political organizations
Recycled phone number claims involving reassigned users
High-frequency or “staccato” messaging patterns used as evidence of automation
His UX background is often cited as relevant because it gives him technical insight into how messaging systems and automation platforms function.
Landmark Case: Buller v. Bernie 2020 Inc.
Jacob Buller gained national attention after filing a class action lawsuit against the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign.
Case Details
Court: U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Case Number: 0:20-cv-01368
Filed: June 15, 2020
Plaintiffs: Jacob Buller and Cody Olson
Defendant: Bernie 2020 Inc.
Counsel: Consumer Justice Center P.A. and Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron
Judge: Eric C. Tostrud
Core Allegations
The complaint alleged that the campaign sent unsolicited text messages using automated systems without consent.
Jacob Buller allegedly received a text on October 17, 2019 from a campaign-affiliated number that promoted Bernie Sanders content. Cody Olson received a similar message the following day from a different number.
Both plaintiffs claimed:
No consent to receive campaign texts
Use of automated dialing technology
Standardized message templates with minor personalization
Spoofed or invalid originating numbers
Use of peer-to-peer messaging systems that functioned as automated tools
Harm Alleged
The complaint also described technical and privacy-related harms including:
Intrusion into personal privacy through unsolicited messaging
Consumption of mobile data and battery power
Reduced device performance due to message processing
Loss of storage and system resources
Statutory privacy violations under the TCPA
Legal Framework Used in the Case
The lawsuit relied on several legal authorities:
47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(A)(iii) prohibits autodialed or prerecorded calls without consent.
FCC guidance confirms political messages are not exempt when using automated systems.
Satterfield v. Simon & Schuster established that SMS messages qualify as “calls” under TCPA.
Marks v. Crunch San Diego expanded the definition of ATDS functionality.
Pederson v. Trump reinforced an expansive interpretation of automated dialing systems in Minnesota courts.
Political Campaign Messaging and Legal Theory
A key legal issue in the case involved peer-to-peer political messaging systems.
Campaigns argued that volunteers manually sent texts, removing TCPA liability. Buller’s position challenged this by arguing that platforms using pre-scripted messages and bulk targeting systems still qualify as automated systems under TCPA definitions.
This argument contributed to ongoing legal debate about whether political messaging platforms can avoid liability by inserting human involvement into automated workflows.
Key Legal Developments from Buller’s Litigation
Buller’s case contributed to several evolving TCPA interpretations.
Political campaigns are not exempt from TCPA requirements.
Peer-to-peer messaging systems may still qualify as ATDS technology.
New owners of reassigned phone numbers may still bring TCPA claims.
Soundboard and hybrid messaging systems may qualify as prerecorded voice systems.
Messaging frequency patterns can be used as evidence of automation.
Criminal Arrest (November 2025)
In November 2025, Jacob Buller was arrested in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
He was found asleep inside a running vehicle at an intersection. Police reported that the vehicle was in drive, and Buller was holding a cellphone with an active text conversation open.
He was charged with:
Impaired driving due to drugs or alcohol
Dangerous operation of a vehicle
Possession of fentanyl
Driving without a license
Failing to wear a seatbelt
Using a handheld communication device while driving
Drug recognition evaluation indicated impairment by drugs, and approximately two grams of suspected fentanyl were recovered.
He was released on an appearance notice with a court date scheduled for January 2026.
Impact on TCPA Litigation
Defense firms have begun using these charges to challenge Buller’s adequacy as a class representative. They argue that recent criminal allegations may affect credibility, fairness, and suitability to represent a class in consumer protection litigation.
Courts are now being asked to evaluate whether his personal legal issues affect his ability to serve in representative litigation roles.
UX Design Background
Jacob Buller also works as a UX designer and product strategist.
He has worked for Fjord and Chapter SF and has contributed to projects for major clients including Facebook, Google, UberEats, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
His experience in system design is frequently referenced in relation to his ability to identify flaws in automated messaging systems, which forms the basis of his TCPA litigation approach.
Comparison With Other Serial Litigators
Jacob Buller differs from other TCPA litigators due to his focus on political campaigns and messaging systems.
He operates primarily in the District of Minnesota and targets political organizations rather than commercial telemarketing sectors like energy or lead generation. His litigation strategy focuses heavily on voter data systems, peer-to-peer messaging, and automation workflows.
Unlike many serial litigators, he also has recent criminal charges that are now being used in procedural challenges.
What This Case Means for Political Campaigns
Political campaigns are not exempt from TCPA rules.
Volunteer messaging systems may still create liability.
Automated or scripted texting platforms can qualify as ATDS systems.
Reassigned numbers create ongoing compliance risks.
Data enrichment increases exposure to wrong-number liability.
Messaging frequency patterns can be used as evidence of automation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacob Buller is a documented serial TCPA litigator known for suing political campaigns over automated text messages. He is best known for the Bernie 2020 case involving alleged unsolicited SMS outreach.
He is also a UX designer with experience at major technology firms, which is often cited in relation to his understanding of messaging systems.
In November 2025, he was arrested in Canada and charged with impaired driving and fentanyl possession, which is now being raised in litigation to challenge his adequacy as a class representative.
His case helped advance legal discussion around political texting, peer-to-peer messaging systems, and TCPA liability for voter data-driven outreach.
Final Thoughts
Jacob Buller represents a unique category of TCPA litigant who combines technical UX expertise with high-volume litigation targeting political messaging systems.
His lawsuit against the Bernie Sanders campaign contributed to evolving interpretations of automated texting liability in political contexts. At the same time, his 2025 criminal charges have introduced new challenges to his credibility in ongoing litigation.
The result is a complex legal profile where technical expertise, serial litigation activity, and personal legal issues intersect in ongoing TCPA enforcement debates.
Sources
Class Action Complaint: Buller v. Bernie 2020 Inc.
https://www.classaction.org/media/buller-et-al-v-bernie-2020-inc.pdf
Law360 Report on Bernie Campaign TCPA Case
https://www.law360.com/articles/1283117/sanders-presidential-campaign-hit-with-suit-over-auto-texts
LinkedIn Profile (Jacob Buller)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-buller/
Federal Case Filing Document
https://www.classaction.org/media/buller-et-al-v-bernie-2020-inc.pdf
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available court records, legal filings, media reports, and official documents. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.