Founded in 1992 by U. C. Berkeley (Boalt Law School) graduate Jeffrey Wilens, the Law Center has successfully prosecuted numerous class and individual actions against payday loan companies, creditors, automobile dealerships, lending institutions, timeshare marketers, and other businesses for racketeering, consumer fraud, false advertising, unfair business practices, credit reporting and debt collection violations.

Typically, Mr. Wilens will represent the consumer in his or her dispute with the business for a small or no initial fee, and will thereafter pursue litigation as necessary on a contingency fee basis. If the consumer is successful, he or she will usually be reimbursed for any initial legal fees.

Examples of actual and potential recoveries by consumers can be found in the PENDING LAWSUITS and SUCCESSFUL CASES sections. It can be seen that the individual consumer can receive significant monetary compensation even in the case of relatively modest damages. Moreover, most consumer protection laws authorize a separate award of attorney’s fees, which maximizes the consumer’s recovery.

Appellate Law Practice

Jeffrey Wilens has represented criminal or civil parties in appellate and writ proceedings since 1986. He is one of a handful of California lawyers to have been certified by the California State Board of Legal Specialization in two fields:

• Appellate Law (1999-2009)

• Criminal Law (1994-2004)

As of December 2002, there were only 201 attorneys in California certified as specialists in appellate law and 356 attorneys certified in criminal law out of more than 100,000 attorneys.

Mr. Wilens is licensed to appear before the United States Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, four federal districts courts and all California State courts. He can ably represent plaintiffs or defendants in any court in the country.

Achievements

THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES OF CONSUMER RECOVERY* ARE ALL BASED ON ACTUAL CASES HANDLED BY THIS OFFICE JUST IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. Please note the results portrayed below are dependent on the facts of each specific case. Your results will differ if based on different facts.

·        Class Action settlement for $40 million to Fairbanks Capital customers for improperly handling of mortgage loans (this firm was not lead counsel)

·        Class action settlement for $13.4 million to users of RealNetworks for Internet privacy violations.

·        Class action settlement for $10 million to employees of Lenscrafters for meal and rest period violations.

·        Class action settlement for $10 million to Ralphs Grocery Stores’ customers who were denied vacations promised in a store promotion. (not lead counsel)

·        Class action settlement for $8.6 million to merchants using Cardservice International for illegal cancellation fees.

·        Class action settlement for $3 million to employees of EZ-Lube for meal and rest period violations.

·        Class action settlement for $2.6 million to merchants using A-1 Leasing, Duvera Billing Services and E-Commerce Exchange based on deceptive “virtual terminal” leases.

·        Class action settlement for $2.5 million to American Express customers for illegal convenience check offers. Other national banks paid $212,500 to four consumers in separate convenience check lawsuits.

·        Class action settlement for $2.4 million to merchants using Axin Financial Services and E-Commerce Exchange based on deceptive “virtual terminal” leases.

·        Class action settlement for $2.3 million to tenants of Evergreen Royalle Motel in Anaheim, CA for forcing tenants to move out every 28 days.

·        Class action settlement for $2 million to Citibank personal bankers deprived of meal and rest breaks.

·        Class action settlement for $2 million to Ameriquest customers overcharged a prepayment penalty.

·        Class action settlement for $1.5 million against a prominent law firm for legal malpractice in a former class action. This was a precedent establishing case leading to a published appellate court decision.

·        Class action settlement for $1.45 million against Vitamin World for violating meal and rest period rights of workers in California.

·        Class action settlement for $1.355 million against American Laser Clinics for a deceptive refund policy and lack of physician supervision.