1. The goal of too many Family Court judges is to provide a full employment act for attorneys and therapists.
2. In forty years, The Commission on Judicial Performance has not removed even one Family Court judge. Not even the one adjudicating in the case of Trevor Nolan, who died in 12 days.
Judicial reaction to the death? Based on a "hunch" and zero evidence the jurist responsible for the death of the child, decided the surviving brother suffered from neglect, and kept the surviving child away from the mother another Thirty months. It would have been longer had not one attorney stepped up to the plate.
3. The Council on Judicial Performance, seldom Performs.
We recommend creating and/or purchasing a judicial report at USAjudges.com
Ron Lais Warning: The domain "LaisLaw.com" formerly owned by convicted felon and former attorney Ron Lais, was recently re-created.)
We recently discovered an updated picture of the soon to be released Ron Lais, on Laislaw.org. Seems any number of people remember being ripped off by the guy.
Also, Lais' son Geoff Lais and Claudine Little have kept the illusion of Ron Lais having any skills, alive. It may be they will assist their father in his new efforts. Buyer beware. Particularly since we hear he's hooked up with a new law firm.
How Lais Treated His Friends/Clients
Consider how Lais treated the "Clients" he duped, as noticed by Orange County Columnist, Frank Mickadeit, who attended part of the trial.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Ron might be more charmin' if he got a dog
The real crime was staring me in the face
FRANK MICKADEIT
Register columnist
fmickadeit@ocregister.com
The News
I got to thinking more about the Peter Yarrow's anti-bullying program I wrote about yesterday, and that got me thinking about how I've been writing about the Ron Lais case in completely the wrong context.
Lais is charged with multiple felony counts of pretending to be an attorney, which clients say led to mishandled child-custody cases and the loss of thousands of dollars in fees. That's why he's was prosecuted.
But when you communicate one-on-one with the accusers, their anger seems focused just as much, if not more, on something there's no law against: being a bully.
Some were single mothers with little money. When they finally got fed up with Lais' handling of their cases and started asking for their money back, the Charmin' Ron disappeared, they said. He bullied them, they said, by throwing his superior legal knowledge in their faces, picked on them personally, and sued or threatened to sue for defamation. Here's an e-mail he sent Rachel Seagrave in response to one of hers. Imagine getting this from your lawyer:
"Rachel: This is the kind of crap you continue to generate. You just don't get it, do you? We have a lot of very happy clients, all of whom have paid us $5,000.00! Get a life besides having more children than you apparently can afford. There will never be a refund. We performed the services, whether you want to admit that or not. Ron Lais."
Italics mine. Lais said he only sent that e-mail after getting nasty ones from her. Perhaps. But after hearing similar stories about Lais on other, unrelated, cases, I'm seeing a trend. Seagrave might have the last laugh, though. She testified against him last week.
[as predicted, at the sentencing, Lais continued explaining why he was right and everyone else was wrong, or doesn't "understand." It helped cement his fate.]
If the reader is interested in past articles about Defendant Lais prior to his forced resignation, please contact us for those from the Wall Street Journal, The Columbus Dispatch, and The Orange County Register.
Lais sued one Dave Palmer for outing him on Palmer's website. But helpfully, Orange County Judge Francisco F. Firmat; a former law school classmate and buddy of Lais, agreed Mr. Palmer was hurting Lais' con artist business...although he knew he was suspended at the time.
When finally Forced to resign, by The State Bar LAIS, immediately began a "Consulting" business, as the basis for his con. Victims were not informed his business was SUSPENDED; by the secretary of State.
But with such friendly members of the bench Lais realized he would continue to get away his scam for years. And so he did.
Eventually, the Orange County DA *finally* decided to prosecute Lais...about 12 years after the State Bar lurched into action at their typical, glacial speed.
But absent a cause of action, what Lais does best is delude himself. What he does second best though, is lie. Presumably if he doesn't die in prison, Lais will continue to maintain he is licensed to practice law in India.
And perhaps because he realizes reporters have no way to check prior to their deadlines, some reporters will actually print that, thus enabling Lais to dupe people anew.
However, either story below from the Orange County Register might provide a few clues as to his state of Lais' self-importance and the quality of his mental state.
Lais alternates from writing Orange County officials from prison, because he feels because his brother and sister-in-law are California Department of Corrections officers, he should be allowed to serve his sentence in a federal facility...(he's so special) and threatens to sue the Orange County Register, Again. (See section under "follow up.")
Because mainstream seldom addresses non-lawyers practicing law, the public faces many problems when attempting to navigate family court. Ron Lais knew this and acted with a callous disregard for his "clients" leaving in his wake, a long stream of his victims in worse shape than before.
However it turns out a number of former attorneys turned "consultants" are costing their clients thousands while doing harm. Even in prison, as in the case of Ron Lais, these individuals to maintain it's "others" who are responsible for their situation. Fourteen year Folsom prison sentence. (Section under "follow up.")
Little Protection: The long history of the State Bar not stopping Lais from preying on others has come to an end. We continue to forward Lais victims to the State Bar, which as of September 06, continues to pay restitution.
In another state, in another completely misguided report, Media showered praise on Fran Johansen, the lone official from the Arizona State Bar in charge of the "unauthorized practice of law." (Why the State Bar has just one attorney in this area suggests the Bar's real commitment to the public.)
Unfortunately, Johansen, spent ten years in this position, not contacting the local DA. Ten years. It was ten years before she thought to contact the local DA.
At that point Johansen finally experienced a "light bulb moment" and contacted a Phoenix DA to stop this "Mediator."
Meanwhile, it looks like convictions against former attorneys like Ronald E. Lais, who continue to practice law online, ripping off their "clients" is beginning to spread. At least in Arizona.
Karpin follows serial con artist, former attorney, Ron Lais.
A little history on that. Back when Lais was suspended from the practice of law, and before his resignation, Lais caught the attention of the Wall Street Journal with his scam, "Child Custody Legal Network"
Sometimes these "attorneys" switch practice areas.
Lais transferred closer to the scene of his crimes, the Mens Colony Prison. He writes of not being able to make court appearances due to race riots. For those wishing to write Lais, his CDC number is F00971.
What took so long?
Meanwhile, California State Bar officials continue to encourage victims to apply for compensation through the Client Security Fund.. Although not doing so circumvents the criminal justice system, few of the many individuals the State Bar who know those practicing law without a license, forward these cases to the District Attorney.
There is however, the occasional breath of fresh air.
ARCHIVED:
Background: LAIS. As the case wound down: RONALD E. LAIS SENTENCED TO FOURTEEN YEARS IN PRISON. (Update: Will be released October of 2010).
After a month in the Orange County Jail, Lais didn't score too well in the prisoner classification category. Tightest security level is Four.
Lais scored a Three. See below for background.
September 23, 2005 -
Disagreeing with a probation report in which the probation officer stated Lais wouldn't be a danger to others, Orange County Superior Court Judge William Froeberg told Ex-attorney and Twenty-five time convicted felon, RON LAIS, that he "preyed upon people when they were at their most vulnerable, and displayed a high degree of callousness towards his victims."
Earlier in the hallway, LAIS was overheard cheerfully telling his party of six, (family members) that nothing was going to happen today, and there was nothing to worry about.
He was wrong. Judge Froeberg went on to say LAIS "showed no remorse...and, as his statement to the court indicated, his behavior was likely to continue."
Judge Froeberg then recounted a long list of victims who paid LAIS over Two Hundred Thousand dollars, each who received either a bad result, or a delay of their case, and sentenced LAIS to Fourteen years and change to the State Prison.
Sporting a tired brown suit and fresh haircut, LAIS appeared stunned as he was handcuffed and led away, coatails hiked up in the back.
Until the September 23, 2005 sentencing, LAIS remained free on bail after his July conviction. He moved his game to the Bay Area, and began operating under the name of "Ron Lewis."
Judge Froeberg said LAIS "Earned" his sentence.
Also, please Email us all detail, immediately, as we expect an appeal, and wish to remind the court of additional victims, not featured at the first trial.
The operators of this site would appreciate hearing from any of Lais' "clients" or "potential clients" as well as the names of any attorneys currently working with him in any capacity.
Sacramento attorney Lawrence Samelson,60 was arrested on numerous felony charges, while Ronald Scott, posing as an attorney was not located. Samelson posted bond. Think he'll stick around to see what happens at his? Atwood Legal Center.
Other states and jurisdictions have finally begun to realize the devastation forced-to-resign, suspended, or disbarred attorneys inflict upon families. Happily, arrests are beginning to sprinkle the landscape.
In the future, check the bar record and skip hiring "Consultants."
As Lais reported on one of his websites:
"There is no reason, nor is there any requirement, that I mention my California State Bar controversies to anyone at this point. My credentials hopefully speak for themselves." - Ron Lais
Lais was right on that score. His credentials spoke to his expertise. In fact they spoke so LOUDLY it's part of the reason why he's now a multiple count, convicted felon.
We've verified the felonious Lais has recorded against him, over a million dollars in tax liens and judgments.
Little wonder Lais was declared a vexatious litigant. Little wonder it drove him crazy. It's not that the imprisoned Lais can't recognize himself as a complete and utter failure; it's being knocked out of the game.
Fortunately, the State Bar reimbursed Five Thousand Dollars accepted by attorney Merritt L. McKeon on behalf of Mr. Lais, while she undoubtedly knew Lais was suspended from practicing law, at the time she accepted payment. Ms. Mckeon later ran for public office. Fortunately, she lost. Corporate confidence, indeed. Then she testified at his Trial, claiming she remembered nothing, but was Very cozy with him prior to testifying, in the hall. Court observers blanched at her hot pink Minnie Mouse shoes, and garish lipstick.
Listed below by county, are attorneys we'd avoid, by county. And
Linked directly to the State Bar site, (when operational), is a Summary of monies paid to clients, after their lawyers abandoned them
However, the California State Bar has a long history of ignoring the complaints of those hiring attorneys in family law. We expect it to continue.
On December 12, 2002; Bob Parsons, Vice-President of the Board of Governors presided over the Bar's hearings...ostensibly held for public input. Topics range from attorney competency, discipline, etc. Last year, seven members of the public, (out of the millions who weren't aware of the hearings), spoke.
In 2003, several instances were cited as evidence of things going from bad to worse in family court. However, when the operators of this site, called back to offer the committee a two minute suggestion of how to get the word out these "hearings" were available to the public, Parsons refused to put the call through; evidencing yet another example of the State Bar's bad faith. We'll call for next year's dog-and-pony show, too. Hope springs eternal.
MARIN COUNTY Sandra Acevedo
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Please click to sections entitled: Kids Speaking out, Kids Killed, Domestic Violence, Bad Cop and site Summary.
Other particularly bad actors, separate from those listed below, are profiled under: County of Injustice.
Although this site is dedicated to family law, a special mention goes to:
LINGARAJ BAHINIPATY
a convicted sexual predator and, personal injury attorney, deserves special mention.
The main focus of the divorce industry is: Judges churning business. Judges, repping for "Experts" and therapists and "visitation centers" promote the industry. As such, there is an awful lot of crime committed, "in the best interests of the children."
Deadly examples are noted.
The bias of CPS and one California judge, resulted in a death sentence in a record setting, twelve days, for Trevor Nolan.
To protect yourself, your children, and to keep your financial assets, yours; we suggest mitigating possible damage in the case of attorneys and therapists, with a Preemptive strike.
Prior to any 'official' action, we recommend discovering which therapists the courts usually recommend, (call your local bar association), and visiting that therapist or attorney, exactly once.
Do Not execute a retainer agreement.
If the attorney pushes, recognize the request for what it is: a sales pitch. Move on.
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