Supervisors Vote to Explore Ban on Predatory Solicitation Around County Buildings
Hahn proposal comes after investigation found recruiters offered cash to vulnerable people to file fraudulent lawsuits against County
Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and coauthored by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell that will explore the feasibility of establishing buffer zones around certain County buildings in which aggressive solicitation would be prohibited. The proposal comes in response to an LA Times investigation that found the Downtown LA Law Group targeted vulnerable people in line for county benefits and paid them to file fraudulent lawsuits against the County.
“The families who turn to LA County for help are already some of our most vulnerable, some at the end of their ropes. No one should be able to exploit that vulnerability to make a quick buck,” said Supervisor Hahn. “Whether it’s help getting food to feed their families, cash assistance, healthcare, or job opportunities, LA County is a critical safety net for thousands of residents. It’s our job to protect them, and that has to include keeping them safe from bad actors out to prey on them.”
The motion calls on various County departments to report back to the Board in 60 days on potential legal framework, enforcement opportunities, and a possible ordinance in coordination with cities to ban predatory solicitation around public-serving County facilities, particularly Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) offices. The report back will also include recommendations for public education to inform county clients about predatory solicitation.
“Our County buildings are meant to be safe places where all residents can access the public services they need without being subjected to predatory solicitations – that ultimately hurt our communities as a whole. I am proud that we are taking this significant step toward passing an ordinance that protects our most vulnerable residents from those who seek to exploit them,” said Supervisor Mitchell, Second District.
The LA Times investigation, published on October 2, found that seven plaintiffs in a record $4-billion settlement by LA County for victims of sexual abuse were paid to join the lawsuit. The report alleges that the Downtown LA Law Group paid recruiters to aggressively target people standing in line outside of a Department of Public Social Services office in South Los Angeles. Customers have also reported to DPSS staff about being solicited for copies of documents containing sensitive information, including EBT cards, WD2 wage statements, Social Security Award letters, and Unemployment/Disability statements, in order to qualify for vendor-offered products and services.