The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles Sues Fake Legal Aid Provider

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2003--The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) has filed suit against the California Law Clinic. The suit alleges, among other matters, unauthorized practice of law and deception or corruption in the practice of law, unlawful solicitation, violation of the paralegal statute, trademark infringement, and false advertising.

According to Toby Rothschild, LAFLA's General Counsel, "The California Law Clinic is masquerading as a legal services provider, trading on our good name and reputation. This company lists numerous permutations and phone numbers in the White Pages -- Legal Aid South Broadway, Legal Aid North Broadway, Legal Aid Crenshaw, Legal Aid Compton, Legal Aid Hotline and so on -- but the various numbers ring through to just one office. Not only are the owners of this venture deliberately confusing the public, they are not doing what they purport to offer.

“People have been duped by one of the supposed legal aid offices run by California Law Clinic”

"People have been duped by one of the supposed legal aid offices run by California Law Clinic," Rothschild continued, "thinking they had gone to one of our six offices. Too many have gone to these pretenders with a serious problem such as an eviction, an abusive spouse or suddenly and inexplicably being cut off their social security, desperately seeking help. These folks, many working poor or seniors on fixed income, have paid money for legal work that too often was not performed or done poorly -- all under the guise of California Law Clinic being us. This has to stop."

LAFLA provides the most comprehensive range of free legal services to poor and indigent persons in our communities. Every day our lawyers and paralegals help tenants enforce their rights to safe and decent housing; assist women and children escape domestic violence; protect senior citizens from losing their homes; and help low wage workers receive fair compensation.

The international law firm of Jones Day represents LAFLA in this matter.

For more information about the suit, contact Toby Rothschild at 323-801-7978, LAFLA Executive Director Bruce Iwasaki at 323-801-7990, or Maria K. Nelson of Jones Day at 213-489-3939.