AUSTIN (Legal Newsline) — Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Friday announced a judgment against an Austin-based legal services provider that allegedly provided unauthorized legal advice, document preparation and other immigration-related services.
Under the terms of a court order, Just for People Inc., its directors and its affiliates must pay $480,000 in civil penalties and more than $195,000 in restitution for alleged violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Travis County District Court granted the state’s request for a permanent injunction against Just for People, ordering that the firm be dissolved and prohibiting it from providing or offering unauthorized immigration consulting services.
Earlier this month, Just for People’s two directors, an employee and affiliates were prohibited from providing unauthorized legal services.
On April 18, Travis County District Court issued permanent injunctions against Elizabeth Gabriella Paneque, the firm’s director and president; Frank Alarcon Marimon, the firm’s director and vice president; Lead God, the firm’s affiliate; and Anthony Burgos, the firm’s employee.
Paneque, Marimon and Burgos must pay $930,000 in civil penalties to the state if they violate any future provisions of the court order. The three individual defendants also must make monthly payments into a restitution fund created as part of the order.
Since 2002, Abbott has shut down more than 75 unauthorized legal services providers throughout the state.