WATERTOWN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) – New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Dec.14 that a consent order and judgment has banned Derek Distenfield and his businesses from conducting legal document preparation business for New York consumers unless certain consumer protection conditions are met.
Distenfield’s business, NextGenJustice (formerly known as Legal Docs By Me), provided legal document preparation for consumers in Watertown and Syracuse. According to Schneiderman’s office, Distenfield and his businesses engaged in disingenuous business practices that included bait-and-switch pricing and preparing complex legal documents using non-lawyers with no legal training.
"No person or business is above the law," Schneiderman said. "This settlement sends the message that all businesses must abide by the laws of New York, the orders of the courts in this state, and that my office will not stand idly by while hardworking New Yorkers are defrauded."
Supreme Court Justice James P. McClusky signed the consent order. Assistant Attorney General Alicia M. Lendon and Investigator Chad Shelmidine handled the case, under the supervision of assistant attorney general in charge Deanna R. Nelson and Executive Deputy Attorney General for Regional Offices Martin J. Mack.