BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Legal Newsline) — A couple have filed a class action lawsuit against an Illinois-based law firm alleging it used a "fast fee scheme" to abuse federal bankruptcy courts and exploit its financially distressed clients.
Angela and William Cook filed a complaint April 3 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama against Deighan Law LLC, Law Solutions Chicago LLC and Upright Law, which is a service of Deighan, alleging violation of the RICO Act and other claims.
The plaintiffs claim the defendants operated a "fast fee scheme" that included business owner Brian Fenner of Sperro LLC paying UpRight's attorney's fees in bankruptcy cases. In exchange, UpRight would allow Fenner to arrange its client's surrender of their vehicle to him.
The plaintiffs allege Fenner would then use Sperro to "exploit" mechanic's lien laws in various states by charging the clients excessive fees for towing and storage and also conducting "sham auctions."
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama case number 1:20-CV-00457