A local attorney has accused a prominent Los Angeles law firm of employing an actor dressed as a cowboy to solicit clients for lucrative lawsuits related to the Chiquita Canyon landfill. The allegations have surfaced amid ongoing investigations into the Downtown LA Law Group (DTLA) for potentially unethical and illegal client recruitment practices.
Oshea Orchid, a lawyer representing residents affected by noxious fumes from the Chiquita Canyon landfill, filed a complaint with the State Bar of California detailing an encounter on February 4, 2024. She claims a man, who admitted to being an actor hired by DTLA, approached residents in Val Verde, a small community near the landfill, offering legal services. Orchid alleges DTLA paid the actor $5,000, provided Western attire, and instructed him to impersonate a local cowboy to attract clients. The actor reportedly gave Orchid a pair of chaps, which she presented as evidence in her complaint.
California law prohibits non-attorneys from directly soliciting clients for lawsuits, a practice known as capping, due to concerns that it can lead to the exploitation of victims. DTLA, however, has denied these allegations. A spokesperson for the firm stated that the individual was hired merely to distribute informational flyers and accused Orchid of filing the complaint to eliminate competition in the litigation. The firm suggested this was a tactic by a rival firm to gain an advantage.
The accusations against DTLA come at a critical juncture for what is described as significant environmental justice litigation in Southern California. DTLA is reportedly involved in approximately 1,300 claims out of 10,000 filed concerning the landfill. The firm is currently under investigation by the State Bar and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, stemming from prior reporting that alleged DTLA clients were paid to fabricate claims in a separate $4 billion sex abuse settlement case. Some of those clients later recanted their accusations.
Orchid expressed concern that DTLA's alleged actions could jeopardize potential payouts for her neighbors, who she aims to help relocate due to the landfill's impact. Attorneys for the landfill owners have also raised concerns about potential fraud tainting the lawsuits. Despite these allegations, a DTLA attorney, Andrew Morrow, has argued in court filings that the claims are based on speculation and are unrelated to the current landfill litigation.
Further complicating the situation, residents of Val Verde have reported being bombarded by recruiters offering incentives, such as gift cards and cash, in exchange for signing legal documents, often without fully understanding the implications. Some residents, particularly Spanish speakers, have stated they believed they were signing petitions or agreeing to work with Orchid, only to find out later that they had inadvertently retained DTLA. In response to these concerns, DTLA announced plans to transfer much of its landfill caseload to another firm, Carpenter & Zuckerman, which has also faced scrutiny for its client acquisition methods in other cases.
