LAFLA and NCLC Advocates Testify Before House Subcommittee on Closed School Discharges
WASHINGTON — Representatives from the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and the National Consumer Law Center provided testimony today before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment — offering perspectives on improving the federal loan discharge process for borrowers harmed by sudden school closures. “The [U.S. Department of Education’s] […]
Legal Victory for Unhoused Residents of City of Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3, 2021 — In a legal victory for unhoused people in Los Angeles, an appellate court on Thursday affirmed a ruling of the U.S. District Court in April 2020, which prevents the City from enforcing a provision of the municipal code that allowed the City to seize and immediately destroy homeless people’s […]
Preventing Displacement in Gentrifying Communities
LAFLA’s Housing and Communities Workgroup supports efforts to prevent the displacement of gentrifying neighborhoods and their residents. One way we achieve this is through nonprofit assistance, providing free legal help to organizations fighting to keep residents in their homes and increase their economic, educational, and wellness opportunities. “Safe and affordable housing is absolutely necessary for healthy, […]
LAFLA, Team Call for City of LA to Stop Displacing Unhoused People During Pandemic
On Monday, Dec. 21, attorneys with Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and Schonbrun Seplow Harris Hoffman and Zeldes LLP sent a letter to the City of Los Angeles, calling for the City to stop displacing people during encampment cleanups. According to the attorneys, “Given the unprecedented and uncontrolled level of community spread of COVID-19 […]
Court of Appeal Says California Must Replace Electronically Stolen Food Benefits
Decision reverses lower court ruling; says Department of Social Services is responsible for replacing food benefits stolen from Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card holders Los Angeles, CA — The California Court of Appeal has ruled that the Department of Social Services must replace CalFresh benefits (formerly “food stamps”) when they are electronically stolen from recipients. […]
Judge Finds City of LA in Contempt of Court Order
A federal judge has found the City of Los Angeles in contempt of a Court order that forbids the City from seizing and destroying bulky items based solely on their size — because the City posted notices that bulky items are prohibited in several neighborhoods. In August, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and co-counsel Kirkland […]
LAFLA Files Motion Holding City of LA in Contempt of Court Order
Today, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles filed a motion in Garcia v. City of Los Angeles, arguing the City should be found in contempt of the Court for posting notices that bulky items are prohibited and will be seized. Our motion alleges the City is violating the Court’s order earlier this year that forbade […]
Judge Orders City of Los Angeles to Stop Seizing and Destroying Unhoused Residents’ Large Personal Items
LOS ANGELES, April 13, 2020 — In a victory for people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, today, a judge ordered the City of Los Angeles to stop enforcing a provision of a city ordinance that allowed the City to seize and immediately destroy homeless people’s belongings, based solely on the size of the item. The Court found that the […]
L.A. Man Sues City After Car Towed and Sold Over Two Parking Tickets
Car Auctioned Despite Man’s Participation in Community Assistance Parking Program LOS ANGELES, October 17, 2019 — A person experiencing homelessness, Joseph Safuto, has sued the City of Los Angeles, challenging the city’s practice of towing vehicles as a mechanism for collecting debt – in this case two unpaid parking tickets that resulted in a lapsed […]
Immigration Advocates Sue U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for Systematic Delay in Processing U Visa Applications
LOS ANGELES, October 4, 2019 — A group of survivors of violent crimes including rape, sexual assault, and domestic abuse sued the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today, for failing to process their U visa and employment authorization applications in a timely manner—violating the bureau’s obligation under federal law. The Legal Aid Foundation of […]