The Justice Network
HALT, Help Abolish Legal Tyranny
HALT, Help Abolish Legal Tyranny
http://www.halt.org/
HALT (Help Abolish Legal Tyranny) - an Organization of Americans for Legal Reform, Inc. was founded in
1978, by four pioneering legal reformers - Paul Hasse, Matt Valencic, Bob Tigner and Kathy Ekedahl. In the three decades since then HALT has matured into the nation's largest legal reform
organization, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest group of more than 50,000 members.
"Instead of working for all Americans, too often our legal system arbitrarily denies us access and unfairly shields unethical lawyers from answering for their misconduct," explains HALT Executive
Director Jim Turner. "Sadly, when this happens, it's not justice; it is legal tyranny."
Dedicated to providing simple, affordable, accountable justice for all, HALT's Reform Projects challenge the legal establishment to improve access and reduce costs in our civil justice system at both
the state and federal levels.
HALT's educational program has provided over a million copies of self-help books and public educational materials to help citizens understand the legal process and better manage their legal affairs.
Its self-help series includes Using a Lawyer... And What To Do If Things Go Wrong, Do-It-Yourself Law, The Easy Way to Probate, Small Claims Court, Your Guide to Living and Other Trusts, If You Want
to Sue a Lawyer: A Directory of Legal Malpractice Attorneys, and Everyday Contracts.
HALT, Help Abolish Legal Tyranny
CONTACT HALT
Email: HALT@HALT.org
Phone: 1-888-FOR-HALT
(202) 887-8255
Fax: (202) 887-9699
Ste. 510, 1612 K ST NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
"Ordinary citizens, not lawyers, should run the disciplinary process. If a jury made up of non-lawyers is good enough to decide a murder case or a million dollar lawsuit, it's certainly capable of determining whether a lawyer has cheated a client."
Complaints against attorneys are exploding
BLIND OVER-SIGHT?: Complaints against attorneys are exploding, but critics say the disciplinary system is slow and protects the profession. Now, the Bar has begun to review how it protects the public from lawyer misconduct
Miami Daily Business Review
November 3rd, 2003
by Laurie Cunningham
The first grievance letter regarding Miami lawyer Louis Robles arrived at The Florida Bar office in December 1998. By 2000, the pile of letters had grown to more than
25. Then 50. Letter after letter, the complaints were the same: "We signed the settlement papers, but have not received any money," one Washington couple wrote.
"I have called Mr. Robles' office about 40 times, only to get the run-around," an Orlando man wrote.
"These lawyers are charging me for everything," a retired Ohio laborer declared, "including the use of their computer, interest incurred in their borrowing money from somebody else to do my case,
fees for doctors I have never seen, fees for the food the lawyers ate, the car they drove and every phone call they made."
"Can't anyone stop this man or slow him down?" another deplored. Read more here
November_7_2003_Daily_Business_review.pd[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [2.3 MB]
Appeal, Supreme Court of Illinois
Brief of Amicus Curiae Halt
In Support of Appellee Cripe
The issue presented by this case can be stated simply: Whether lawyers enjoy a blanket exemption from the requirements of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act. Amicus Curiae HALT
-- An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform respectfully submits that there is only one answer to this question, "No."
Adobe Acrobat document [67.3 KB]
District of Columbia
Court of Appeals
In the Matter of
MARK M. HAGER, ESQUIRE
No. 00-BG-995,
Bar Docket No. 31-98
Brief Amicus Curiae of Halt, Inc.
An Organization of Americans For Legal Reform
In Support of Disbarment of Respondent For His Misconduct
The issue presented in this disciplinary proceeding is whether the Court of Appeals will allow an attorney who enriched himself by betraying his clients' trust to continue to practice in the District
of Columbia.
Adobe Acrobat document [61.0 KB]
HALT, How Accessible Is The Civil Justice System?
Adobe Acrobat document [32.6 KB]
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