Clients

Mass Tort Attorneys Face New Challenges in Complying with ABA Guidance: Ensuring Accountability and Ethics for Clients

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Plaintiffs’ lawyers handling mass tort cases across the United States are faced with the challenge of adhering to new guidelines issued by the American Bar Association (ABA). On February 16, 2024, the ABA introduced a set of regulations aimed at ensuring compliance with ethical standards and best practices in the field of mass litigation. This development places additional responsibilities on attorneys as they navigate the complex landscape of class action lawsuits. The ABA’s guidance underscores the importance of attorneys’ duty to communicate effectively with their clients and maintain transparency throughout the litigation process. It emphasizes … Read more

Ghanaian Immigration Lawyer Faces Up to 15 Years in Jail for Exploiting Vulnerable Clients and Deceiving the US Immigration System

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New York – A Ghanaian immigration lawyer based in the Bronx, New York, is facing up to 15 years in jail for orchestrating a massive immigration scam that defrauded vulnerable immigrants and caused financial loss, deportations, and denied Green Card applications. Kofi Amankwaa, along with his son Kofi Amankwaa Jr. and several associates, scammed hundreds of clients by charging exorbitant fees for fraudulent services promising to secure Green Cards for them. Simultaneously, they submitted false petitions accusing the clients’ children of abuse under the Violence Against Women Act to expedite their immigration applications. According to … Read more

Bronx Immigration Lawyer Charged with Fraud and Deportations in Scam Targeting Clients

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Bronx, New York – Attorney General Letitia James announced charges against immigration lawyer Kofi Amankwaa for allegedly defrauding clients from 2016 to 2023. The scheme resulted in some clients having their green cards denied and others being deported. Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, also filed criminal charges against Amankwaa and his associates for their involvement in the “large-scale immigration fraud scheme.” According to the lawsuits, Amankwaa and his office illegally filed thousands of petitions under the Violence Against Women Act, falsely accusing clients’ children of abuse against their … Read more

Sanctions Imposed on Tom Girardi’s Son-in-Law and Former Law Partner for Failing to Safeguard Clients’ Settlement Funds

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Los Angeles, California – Two lawyers connected to Tom Girardi’s defunct law firm have been sanctioned by a State Bar judge for failing to adequately protect clients from Girardi’s misappropriation of settlement funds. The judge’s decision last week imposes restrictions on David Lira, Girardi’s son-in-law and former employee, and suspends the law license of Keith Griffin, another attorney who worked with Girardi for two decades. Judge Phong Wang’s ruling prevents Lira from controlling bank accounts that hold client money and requires him to work under the supervision of another attorney until an upcoming trial. During … Read more