Broomfield-based Daniel Ketelsen had quite the scam going on. Doing business as several different companies, including "Legal Aid," Legal Aid U.S.," and "Legal Aid, LLC," Ketelsen and his employees demanded upfront payment for legal services, which neither he nor his employees were qualified to provide.
After payment was received, the client would be informed that no one at Legal Aid was licensed to practice law and could not represent the client in court. In fact, Legal Aid did not even represent itself in court, failing to show up for a hearing or complete discovery requirements, resulting in a default judgment against the company. According to Attorney General John Struthers, the lawsuit against Ketelsen and his companies was filed in February 2009 "on suspicion that Legal Aid U.S. misled consumers to believe it was a local state-subsidized legal aid organization and licensed to provide legal services and advice."
Today, Denver District Judge Herbert Stern placed a permanent injunction on Ketelsen so he is not allowed to form any business purporting to provide legal services or even have "law" or "legal" in the name. Additionally, Ketelsen will have to pay close to a quarter-million in restitution to his former clients, as well as $100,000 in penalty fees.
Comments
Unbelieveable. Just believeable. Enough said.
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