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Business Law
Fraud
False Advertisement

Brockey v. Moore

Published: Sep. 16, 2000 | Result Date: Aug. 3, 2000 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: 137416 Verdict –  $600

Judge

Richard A. McEachen

Court

Shasta Superior


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Gary W. Rhoades
(Office of the Santa Monica City Attorney)


Defendant

Rodney J. Key


Facts

The four plaintiffs individually contacted the defendant to help them fight evictions by calling a local number they found in the Shasta County telephone book under the listing "Legal Aid." The plaintiffs believed they were contacting the local nonprofit Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) law office. After wiring money to the defendant at a Modesto address, which they were told was Legal Aid's processing center, the plaintiffs received legal pleadings which they then took to LSNC's real local office, where they retained their present attorney. The attorney sent a letter to the defendant asking him to return the plaintiff's money and to cease doing business under a misleading name. The defendant failed to respond.

Result

The plaintiffs were also granted injunctive relief.

Deliberation

three hours

Poll

10-2 (that Moore violated the 1993 California Unlawful Detainer Assistants Act, engaged in the unauthorized practice of law and acted with fraud, malice or oppression)

Length

five days


#93137

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