Legal Aid Wins Case Against 30-Year-Old Beach Curfew
In a victory for preserving access to California’s coastline for all people in Los Angeles, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) and co-counsel from Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, recently settled their case against the city of Los Angeles, marking the end of their court challenge questioning the legality of a 30-year-old […]
Students Defrauded by Marinello Schools of Beauty Granted Belated Discharges
After watching a TV commercial praising Marinello’s cosmetology program, Lydia Luna excitedly envisioned a bright future as a hair stylist. She thought enrolling at Marinello Schools of Beauty would be her ticket to a steady job. “I was starting my life from the bottom up,” said Lydia, who wanted to launch a new career after […]
Students Defrauded by Marinello Schools of Beauty Obtain Belated Discharges After Filing Suit Against the Department of Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 10, 2018 Contact: Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: Robyn Smith (rsmith@lafla.org) (213) 640-3906 National Consumer Law Center: Jan Kruse (jkruse@nclc.org) (617) 542-8010 BOSTON – Following a federal lawsuit filed by the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and the National Consumer Law Center against the U.S. Department of Education and […]
Lawsuit Challenges Long-Term Department of Education Policy Used to Deny Debt Relief to Students Harmed by For-profit Schools
Yesterday, the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles filed a lawsuit in federal court against Betsy DeVos in her official capacity as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The complaint alleges that for over 20 years the Department has used an informal evidence policy to improperly deny debt forgiveness to borrowers whose schools […]
Lawsuit Filed Challenging U.S. Department of Education’s Refusal to Discharge Loans of Students Defrauded by California-Based Marinello Schools of Beauty
LOS ANGELES – The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and National Consumer Law Center filed a lawsuit yesterday in federal court against the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Betsy DeVos on behalf of three student loan borrowers defrauded by the for-profit Marinello Schools of Beauty (“Marinello”). At the time of its closure, Marinello […]
Tentative Settlement Reached in Beach Curfew Litigation
Today, plaintiffs Francesca de la Rosa and Jataun Valentine and attorneys from the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton LLP, announced the tentative settlement of their lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles. Ms. Valentine and Ms. de la Rosa filed the lawsuit in 2015 against the City for […]
City Council Approves Settlement Protecting Property Rights of Homeless People
Los Angeles, CA (June 14, 2017) – This morning the Los Angeles City Council approved a settlement that puts an end to the illegal seizure by the Los Angeles Downtown Industrial District of homeless people’s unattended belongings. The settlement brings to a close a 2014 lawsuit brought by the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA […]
Ordinance Prohibiting Discrimination Against Voucher Holders Upheld
SANTA MONICA, Jan. 31, 2017 — In a major victory for tenants, a court on Monday upheld a Santa Monica ordinance that bans discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders. The anti-discrimination ordinance was passed in May 2015 after the city received multiple complaints from prospective tenants that landlords were refusing to accept their housing vouchers. […]
Historic Agreement Leads to Better Access for Limited English Proficient Speakers in Los Angeles Superior Court
LOS ANGELES, September 21, 2016 — An agreement between the Department of Justice and Los Angeles Superior Court that expands interpretation services and other language access will mean greater civil court access for plaintiffs and defendants who speak limited English. The agreement, announced Tuesday, stipulates that the court must provide free interpretation services for all […]
City Ordered to Stop Seizing Homeless People’s Property
LOS ANGELES, April 14, 2016 — The City of Los Angeles has been ordered to stop the seizure and destruction of homeless people’s property. The preliminary injunction from a U.S. District Judge stems from a lawsuit, Mitchell v. City of Los Angeles, that was filed in mid-March by Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, The […]