Consumer Law

Fighting for justice for indigent victims of consumer fraud and abuse is the hallmark of Public Counsel's oldest project, the Consumer Law Project ("CLP"). Since its inception in 1977, CLP's staff of experienced consumer attorneys and paralegals have worked with thousands of pro bono lawyers in the private bar representing low-income consumers who have fallen prey to a variety of scams. Read More

Contact Information

For more information about our services and our intake hours, call:

(213) 385-2977 x 700 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:00-4:00pm (for Consumer issues)
(213) 385-2977 x 704 Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00-4:00pm (for the Debtor's Assistance Project and Bankruptcy issues)

News
Publications
Video
Seminars & Clinics
Useful Materials

Shocking Case Puts Patient Dumping Back in the Spotlight Public Counsel helped expose the problem of patient dumping by Los Angeles hospitals and change it. But a new case featured in the Los Angeles Times puts the issue back in the spotlight.
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OUR STORIES
Public Counsel Finds Representation for Woman After Attorney Abandons Her After paying an attorney $1700 to represent her in a bankruptcy case, a monolingual Spanish speaker found that her attorney had abandoned her.
Protecting Debtors from Fraud and Abuse Many debtors at Public Counsel's Bankruptcy Self-Help Desk have received incompetent advice from bankruptcy petition preparers.
Fighting Loan Modification Fraud in the Bankruptcy Court An elderly couple visited Public Counsel's Bankruptcy Self-Help Desk because they were afraid of losing their home. Public Counsel's pro bono volunteers helped to stop the foreclosure process.
Helping a Single Mother Recover $2,000 Public Counsel assisted a single mother with an autistic child to recover $2,000 that had been garnished before she filed for bankruptcy.
Golfers Tee Off for Public Counsel's Debtors Assistance Project Golfers teed off for a good cause at the Earle Hagen Memorial Golf Tournament benefiting Public Counsel's Debtors Assistance Project. Public Counsel has assisted thousands of Californians facing possible bankruptcy with free legal advice through its clinic in downtown Los Angeles.
Public Counsel Uncovers Foreclosure Rescue Scam Public Counsel successfully represents bankruptcy identity theft victim and uncovers large-scale fraud by foreclosure rescue scam company; perpetrators under arrest.
'We Are Public Counsel': Snapshots from the 2011 Pro Bono Awards Public Counsel celebrates the attorneys and professionals who helped us provide free legal help valued at $88 million last year and change thousands of lives. "Our honorees are talented attorneys and professionals and they are making our city and nation a better place to live," said President and CEO Hernan Vera.
Bankruptcy Self Help Desk Gives Debtors Some Peace of Mind Public Counsel's Bankruptcy Self Help Desk assists in understanding and preparing filings in bankruptcy cases - in this instance helping a family avoid foreclosure while negotiating a loan modification.
Our Stories Archive
Patient Dumped by Los Angeles Hospital and Lost in Skid Row Sues Over Negligence In the latest case of Southern California patient dumping, Public Counsel and attorney Steven D. Archer of Kiesel, Boucher & Larson LLP filed a lawsuit on Friday, February 3, against White Memorial Medical Center and Dr. Michael Hernandez. The lawsuit centers on Jesse Bravo, a married father of four who discharged him without his consent or his family’s knowledge. He was lost on Los Angeles' Skid Row for two days.
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CONSUMER ALERTS
Banking Information Request Scam Consumers should be extremely wary of telephone calls requesting sensitive banking information. These "robo-calls" asks call recipients to verify sensitive account information. Criminals use this information to take over victims' bank accounts, apply for credit cards or obtain cash.
Property Reassessment Solicitations Consumers in Los Angeles County are warned to be on the alert for mail solicitations from private companies offering to "assist" homeowners with the filing of property tax reassessment forms for substantial fees of $179 or more. This is a service the County Assessor's Office provides for free.
Foreclosure Rescue Scams Many consumers are faced with a mortgage they can no longer afford and are facing foreclosure. Unscrupulous opportunists are profiting from this crisis. They promise quick results for a fee but actually provide nothing.
Home Rental Fraud Many houses have been vacated by homeowners facing foreclosure. Con artists are profiting from this crisis by posing as landlords and renting vacant homes to unsuspecting renters. They offer enticing properties at below-market rental rates. In reality, they are stealing your money and leaving you homeless.
Consumer Alerts Archive
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PRESS RELEASES
Justice Department Reaches $335 Million Settlement to Resolve Allegations of Lending Discrimination by Countrywide Financial Corporation The Department of Justice today filed its largest residential fair lending settlement in history to resolve allegations that Countrywide Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries engaged in a widespread pattern or practice of discrimination against qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers in their mortgage lending from 2004 through 2008.
Press Releases Archive
ABA Journal: Force for Good: Public Counsel Law Center's New App Connects Lawyers, Clients The American Bar Assn. Journal writes about Public Counsel's new smartphone app, Force for Good, which lets users refer cases, and allows volunteer lawyers to take a case and provide updates.
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NEWS CLIPS
Los Angeles Lawyer: The ABCs of California Foreclosure Law The real estate meltdown that began in late 2007 has resulted in an unprecedented number of loans in default and a substantial upsurge in foreclosures across the country. California continues to be one of the states hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis.
LA Times: Foreclosures expected to rise, pushing home prices lower Banks are getting more aggressive with the 3.5 million U.S. homes with seriously delinquent mortgages, setting the stage for a big wave of foreclosure action this year.
NY Times: Unemployed mortgage holders get extension on payments Although home foreclosure rates appear to be stabilizing and unemployment is slowly coming down, there are still millions of jobless borrowers who are at risk of losing their homes because they cannot afford their monthly payments.
Huffington Post: Standing up for consumers Richard Cordray, the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, says he intends the CFPB to exercise its full authorities -- with respect to both banks and nonbanks -- to help those markets operate fairly, transparently, and competitively.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: 'Yo-yoing' practice by car dealers irks customers 'Yo-yoing' is a deceptive practice by used car dealers aimed at getting customers to buy a car other than the one the buyer is interested in, or paying a higher interest rate to get the car s/he wants
LA Times: A vicious cycle in the used-car business Sign, drive, default, repossess and resell - that's the game at Buy Here Pay Here dealerships.
Daily Journal: Working to avert bankruptcy crisis Self-help clinics are lifeline for a court deluged with debtors who are unrepresented.
Daily Journal: Litigators take up the fight for state court funds Public Counsel is part of a major new effort to protect California courts from cuts that hurt the public.
LA Times: Defendant in numerous Public Counsel lawsuits awaits trial on real estate felony charges Timothy Barnett is charged with 23 felonies for allegedly tricking five people into unknowingly granting him title to their homes. Public Counsel staff attorney Patrick Dunlevy, who has filed lawsuits on behalf of several people who said they had lost their homes to Barnett, is quoted.
News Clips Archive

All You Need to Know About Identity Theft Identity theft (or ID theft) is when someone else uses your personal information, like your name, Social Security number or address, without your permission.
Bankruptcy Resources These publications will provide you with the information you need to file bankruptcy, or deal with issues that arise in your bankruptcy case.
Recursos de Bancarrota Estas publicaciones le proporcionan con la informacion que necesite para archivar la bancarrota, or para manejar con asuntos que surgen dentro de su bancarrota.
Understanding Wage Garnishment and Your Options Wage garnishment is a legal process requiring an employer to withhold a portion of a person's earned wages to repay someone who won a lawsuit against the employee.

Foreclosure Prevention and Loan Modification Clinics Public Counsel staff provide legal information to clients attending foreclosure prevention and loan modification clinics at Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services
Bankruptcy Self Help Desk Public Counsel's Bankruptcy Self-Help Desk provides walk-in bankruptcy advice on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Bankruptcy Pro Se Clinic If you are interested in filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, this interactive workshop will discuss bankruptcy and alternatives to bankruptcy, and teach you how to complete the bankruptcy petition and schedules yourself.
Magnolia Place Legal Clinic Public Counsel's legal clinic at the Magnolia Place Family Center provides general intake concerning a broad array of legal issues including consumer scams, landlord-tenant, government benefits and immigration issues.
Toberman Legal Clinic Public Counsel's legal clinic at the Toberman Family Source Center provides general intake concerning a broad array of legal issues including consumer scams, landlord-tenant, government benefits and immigration issues. This clinic serves clients of the Toberman Family Source Center.
Public Counsel CARES: Connecting Angelenos to Resources and Essential Services Public Counsel CARES, formerly known as the General Relief Advocacy Project (GRAP), is a legal advocacy project that takes place in the LA County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) welfare offices. Through the project, volunteer attorneys and students assist impoverished, hungry, and homeless clients with emergency shelter, food, health, transportation, and other social service needs.
Disability Benefits Clinic on Skid Row Public Counsel's Skid Row Disability Benefits Clinic assists residents of the New Image Emergency Shelter or Skid Row Housing Trust in obtaining SSI, SSDI, and Veteran's benefits.
Homeless Youth Legal Clinic at My Friend's Place Public Counsel's homeless youth legal clinic at My Friend's Place provides a broad range of free legal services and educational workshops for homeless and runaway youth.
PATH Legal Clinic Public Counsel's legal clinic at People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) provides comprehensive legal intake and referrals to homeless individuals.
Appellate Self Help Clinic Public Counsel's Appellate Self Help Clinic helps pro se litigants represent themselves in civil appellate matters
Pro Per Guardianship Clinic Public Counsel's Skadden Arps Pro Per Guardianship Clinic assists with legal guardianship petitions for adults caring for children whose parents cannot or will not properly care for them. The clinic also assists with petitions for visitation and termination of guardianship.
Proskauer Federal Pro Se Clinic Public Counsel's Proskauer Federal Pro Se Clinic assists unrepresented litigants in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Banking and Payment Systems Using credit vs. debit cards, cashing checks and opening bank accounts, and shopping for money wire transfers.
Bankruptcy Find out answers to frequently asked questions about bankruptcy, how to use credit wisely after bankruptcy, and your legal rights during and after bankruptcy, in these publications from the National Consumer Law Center and Nolo Press.
California Department of Consumer Affairs Links The California Department of Consumer Affairs helps consumers learn how to protect themselves from unscrupulous and unqualified individuals.
Cell Phones and Phone Bills How to buy a cell phone, dealing with cell phone problems, and what to do about mysterious charges on your phone bill.
Consumer Issues for Immigrants Learn how to avoid dishonest immigration consultants, and about other consumer-related issues for immigrants
Credit Cards What to think about before taking out a new card, advice on the new credit card protections, and how to legally settle your credit card debt.
Credit Counseling, Credit Reports, Credit Scores, and Credit Repair Find out the truth about credit counseling, credit reports, credit scores, and credit repair.
Debt Collection Find out how to get real help with debt problems, and dealing with debt collection harassment.
Disputes with Attorneys The Los Angeles County Bar Association and California State Bar each offer methods for dealing a dispute you might have with an attorney you have hired.
Foreclosure and Mortgage Issues Learn how to save your home from foreclosure, avoid high-cost home loans, and other resources for homeowners.
IRS Information Useful information from the IRS, including offers in compromise, the collection process, and taxes and bankruptcy.
Issues for Older Consumers Find out more about issues pertaining to older Americans, including bankruptcy, identity thefty, credit cards and reverse mortgages in these publications from the National Consumer Law Center.
Payday Loans Payday loans are short-term cash loans based on personal checks held for future deposit or on electronic access to the borrower's bank account.
Resources for Renters Help for renters who are about to be evicted, and tenants who are renting properties that have fallen into foreclosure.
Self-Help Legal Access Centers Located throughout L.A. County, Self-Help Legal Access Centers provide information about court procedures, distribute required court forms, provide trained legal professionals to review court forms after they have been filled out, host workshops, and provide one-on-one assistance.
Student Loans Find out more about dealing with student loan debt, bankruptcy and student loans, debt forgiveness, deferment, forbearance, and repayment options.
Useful Websites These links provide information on legal resources, general consumer information, legal services, resource centers, car information, helpful financial tools, retailer and trade associations, and government websites.
Surviving the Economic Challenge - Useful Materials for Individuals and Families Have you or someone in your family lost your home or job? Are you or your family struggling to stay in your home and meet your financial obligations due to the economic downturn? This document contains helpful information about legal issues that you may be facing, and referrals to social service agencies that can assist with your specific needs.