Local News in Brief : Court-Ordered Gift Made
A court-enforced $5,000 contribution from a Los Angeles firm convicted of violating state consumer protection laws has been presented to a group offering free legal aid to immigrants.
The contribution will help defray the costs of the Pro Bono Attorney Project, which gives assistance to immigrants applying for citizenship under the federal government’s amnesty program.
City Atty. James K. Hahn, whose office prosecuted El Norte Inc., the company that made the contribution, presented separate $2,500 checks to officials of Catholic Charities and the Jewish Federation Council. The two groups jointly operate the Pro Bono organization.
Officers of El Norte pleaded no contest in January to violating several state consumer protection laws. The firm had been accused of taking advantage of immigrant clients who sought help to file for amnesty. The firm and its officers were also fined more than $19,000.
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