We are investigating a group known as Civil Rights Legal Defense Team, operating out of St. Louis. They have been charged with defrauding about 25 prisoners in Missouri of $43,000--taking legal fees and doing nothing. They claim to work nationally.

Please contact below number/e-mail if you have ever dealt with this group.

Thanks.

Alan Mills
Uptown People's Law Center
4404 North Broadway
Chicago, Illinois 60640
tel. 773-769-1411
fax 773-769-2224
e-mail alanmill@aol.com

So sad that there are so many that ply on the pain of others.
All recieve their comeupence from God... just hope these guys get theirs sooner than later!

I HAVE NOT, BUT I HAVE ONE IN WEST VA WHO IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING.... IN FACT HE HAS TAKEN $9600.00 FROM ME ALONE AND RENEE HAS PAID HIM $2,500.00.

THE NAME OF THAT PLACE IS
NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONSULTANTS
P O BOX 595 SUITE 401
US HIGHWAY #219
PETERSTOWN, WEST VA 24963

GROVER C. JONES

HE HAS ALSO OPENED AN OFFICE IN CHARLESTON, S.C. HE DOES THE VERY SAME THING AS THE ABOVE GUY.... THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS HE IS AN EX-CON... HE WAS AN ATTORNEY BUT THEY TOOK HIS LICENSE.... AND ON TOP OF THAT HE IS 67 YEARS OLD...

LETS DO STOP THESE PEOPLE.... THIS IS A VERY SAD SITUATION.... AND I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY MANY MORE OUT THERE....

DONNA

Donna,

I forgot to tell you. I called WV Clerk of Court and they have still not served Grover with the lawsuit. I called the sheriff's office and they told me they have been short handed because alot of officiers are on vacation. I ask them to please try to put this on their list of things to do.

I'm starting to get a real bad feeling about this. Have you called the Better Business Bureau yet? I haven't but I'm going to.

Donna & Renee,

I had a company try & rip me off recently , & I filed a complaint with the State Attorney Generals Office. This didn't have any thing to do with what we are talking about, but in my discussions with the state attorney, they told me that they investigate things like what happened to you, & the more people who file complaints the higher up the list it goes. It shows a pattern of conduct, intent, & with a lot of victims it's easier to prove their case. You should file a complaint with your State Attorney Generals office, cause others probably have done so too, & you may get something going against this guy.-----Ken

Budswoman...
You can tell me that it is none of my business, but what exactly did you pay him to do..just curious.
That's a lot of money to pay a 'consultant' for anything.

You couldn't even sue him in small claims court....too much money.

Anyway, hope you learned to investigate before you invest.
Best wishes always
Jerry

tej4real

I myself paid him $2600.00 to File a Parole hearing in November 2001. Then I paid him another $5,900.00 for a Appeal he did for us. That last money was also to include another Parole Partition and presentation for November 2002 which we will never get.

Then, Renee had the visitation problem that is discussed in other forums and she paid him another $750.00 to get some help with this. Also, He asked for $3,600.00 to file a Habeus Corpus. Renee has paid him $1,800.00 of this. No Habeus Corpus has ever been filed at all. She has asked for her money back and has never received.

I have asked for all my paperwork I sent to him to be returned and I have not received it either.... We have filed a small claims suit in the West Va courts but they have not even served the papers as of July 3rd.

This man is a real shister... All prison inmates especially in North and South Carolina must be made aware of him...

Sincerely
Donna

I thank you for the information concerning the Civil Rights Legal Defense Team. They took my son and me for $3000 and all we got was a questionnaire and a request for $1000 more or nothing more would be done on my son's behalf. i emailed Alan Mills. I will keep you informed when I have a reply.

I Know Ken is right when he's talking about the more 'numbers' in regards to people being taking advantage of for services not performed will result in faster results. Donna and Renee, is there any way you could print something in the paper asking for other people who have been unfairly 'serviced' by this man. I know one has to be careful of slander and such...we have investigative teams here that people can contact for stories such as these, with out local news. Just an idea?!

I just read the message about Civil Rights Legal Defense Team. As soon as I finish this post I will be e-mailing Alan Mills.
I am so excited and happy to know that at last someone is really going after the real CRIMINALS.
Crivil Rights Legal Defense got me for $11,000. the story is so long and incrediable the way they made you believe you could sit back and relax because now everything was going to be ok. They maqde my life a living h*** and at the same time my son was getting 47 years for a crime that never happened.
I'm finally gonna see some real true Justice

Jean94701,
Please share all the details with us.
David

love muffin...I know it is different in every state, but here in Texas you can serve the person yourself. It may be worth looking into for ya'll. You can send a copy of the citation to the person by certified mail, that way you have proof that recieved it. It is the same thing as being served by an officer. You really should check on that in your state. Do you have an attorney working on this suit for you or are you going at it pro se?

David,
I would love to share my horror story with everyone. I prayed to God to let me see real justice with big shot attorneys, and Civil Rights. Now I just say thank you God.

Ok here goes. My son Bobby was living with a nightmare girl for the past 3 years. Bobby was past the wild days of trouble and drugs, but she wasn't. Bobby worked on goverment jobs so he had to be drug free. Bobby was sure he could change her, my mom and I knew better. She was trouble.
Once a week Bobby was moving back home,a few days later he'd go back. One night Bobby came by my house and said mom I'm telling her I'm going to my old girlfriend, then I'm turning my pager off and going on with my life.
Two hours later he returned. I ask what happened, he said she went crazy, cussing me, throwing things, ect. as I was getting ready to leave, she was crying and said Bobby I don't have money for gas or cigs will you buy me some. She followed him to the gas station and they went their seperate ways. No violence of any kind.
Two days later, the police surrounded my moms house with shotguns looking for Bobby. He wasn't home but they said he was wanted because two days ago he went to Amanda's house with a sawed off shotgun and threatened to kill HIMSELF. He held Amanda and her 16 year old druggie neice hostage for 4 hours. (this is funny) did he harm them? NO, ok did he threaten them? NO, was there any violence? NO, but he went into the house uninvited, (burglary !st) (he lived there) and he held them against their will (2 counts of kidnapping) and the baby was asleep in his bed (child endangerment). where's the gun? we didn't find one but hes still wanted. Did you know he has a handicapped hand and can't hold a shotgun? he's still wanted.
The next evening (his birthday) they pulled him over, they beat him so bad, stomped his bad hand, drug him on the sidewalk, gravel in both knees, his head was split open in 3 places.
His friends called me at 4 AM and said Jean help him. When I called they said he refused medical treatment. I knew better, it took me 3 days of calling internal affairs, state reps, news stations, and the govener to finally get him medical help.
I hired the first attorney, (one of the best in Mo.) he said this is a shame what they've done to that boy, this was a domestic incident, but I'll need 20,000 my mom and I paid it. He never went to even see Bobby. This went on a couple of months, then he called me and said this is real serious and they are offering a 15 year plea, I think he should take it.
Then I hire another attorney, ex Judge very well known. He said my God what are they doing to this kid this is a domestic incident but I'll need 25,000 so mom and I paid it. He never went to see Bobby. One month later he says bring me alibi witness's that will say Bobby wasn't there that night.
Bobby went crazy and said no way mom, I was there but I did nothing wrong. Then the attorney said oh well the best I can do is a 9 year plea. This time I wrote the bar assoc. determion to do something about this, (big mistake). The attorneys done nothing wrong and now my sons life was really in danger.
On to the 3rd attorney, big shot, well known. He says what the h*** did the kid do wrong this was a domestic incident, but I'll need 20,000 mom and I paid him. He never went to see Bobby, would'nt return my calls, I'm now out of money, morgaged everything I could,maxed out all credit cards and still gonna lose my son.
I find an ad in the Riverfront Times for Civil Rights Legal Defense. I called crying and said I don't know what to do. I was talking to John Tiller. I said I can't afford another attorney and I can't find out if anythings been filed, or my sons court dates or whats going on, ect. John says we have an attorney that works with this office but I'm only a paralegal, but you can hire this office and we can work real close with you and find out all information, we just can't represent Bobby in court. You really need us because you should'nt have to do anything, with us you can relax and we'll let you know if something isn't right. Only 3.000 I thought oh boy we need this company, so mom paid 3.000. Now my real trouble starts. John and his assistant Piper Jesse start sending letters to everyone demanding to know whats going on.
Piper (the assistant) calls me and said on my next visit she wanted to go with me so she could ask Bobby some questions. I thought this is great someone is finally helping my son.
I'm running out of room so I'm gonna have to make part 2, but now is when it gets real good.

Anxiously waiting. ;)

Part 2

I took Piper to the workhouse, told them she was out of town family and they let her in. She talked to Bobby but never really ask him anything inportant, we leave and she takes me to lunch.
Instead of legal talk shes talking about his dreamy eyes, his cute smile, ect. I thought this was odd but-------------
Then she calls me and asks me if she can come to my house she wants to ask me something. I agreed. She tells me she has started writing Bobby cause she can't get him off her mind. Then Bobby calls me and all he talks about is Piper. But he also says mom somethings not right. Within 3 weeks she writing love letters, shes gonna wait on him and have his baby. She starts going to moms house, calling her grandma and telling mom shes gonna have Bobbys baby. Then all of a sudden she did'nt get paid and she might have to move. Mom gives her 300.00. I made sure that didn't happen again.
She started writing letters to the workhouse superviser saying that Bobby had better get treated right or there would be trouble. Bobby was almost beat to death in the hole by guards. We got an emergency protection order and Bobby was transfed to the county workhouse.
This happened March 7, 00 on Mar 8, John called me and said we need to start a civil lawsuit quick, we have no time, but I need 2.500 to do it. Of course mom paid it. on Mar 9, Al Harris attorney goes to the courts and says he's now Bobbys attorney he called the other attorney and siad hes taking over and needs all Bobbys files. On Mar 11 john called and said no more worries Al Harris is now Bobbys attorney. I didn't know what to do. Theres alot more in-between but this is the good parts.
After 2 years Bobby is going to trial and hes got an attorney nobody ever heard of, with Piper sitting next to him.
Now the trial, this attorney keeps asking Bobby what questions to ask. For 1 whole week Piper was allowed to sit in the holdover cell with Bobby. I was in shock. Bobby said mom you wouldn't believe the things that happened in that cell. By then I was ready to lose my mind. I have all her love letters, and the last letter she wrote him, talking about the things she did to him in the cell. She also wrote the Judge a few letters. I contacted Civil Rights Legal Defence and told them I would put them out of business if they was ever involed with my son again, but I still had their attorney in trial with my son.
The prosecutor was allowed to bring a 12 gauge pump shotgun in for the jury to view (there was no gun) and during closing arguement she pulled that pump back, it scared the whole jury, and I almost passed out.
We had medical experts waiting to testify to the fact that Bobbys hand could not hold the weight of a sawed off shotgun, also medical letters, and resent x-rays. The Judge would not allow any of this because the attorney forgot to inform the Judge.
It was a hung jury 6-6 so we go to trial again. The attorney says I need 5.000 more, the trial was in 1 month, and I had no ideal what to do, so mom paid him.
The 2nd trial was a circus the things the prosecutor was allowed to do, at one point the Judge told our attorney, sit down Mr. Harris and shut up.
We knew Bobby was gone. The jury was allowed to get up and examine the gun, no medical experts allowed.
Bobby got 47 years.
Oh sure we've appealed, with another attorney, 10,000 more, mom paid it.
Right now we are on the 29.15 it was filed 9 months ago. We have a public defender that I've tryed for 7 months to get ahold of.
This is some of the better parts. I spend every free minute doing something that pertains to legal, and someday I'll bring my son home because I know he was convicted of a crime that never happened.

Jean,

I am totally blown away by your story. I believe every single word you've written, I'm just so overwhelmed!
I am also very sorry that this has happened.
Please keep us updated as to what happens next?
God bless.

[WARNING] This person has been charged with multiple counts of FRAUD against inmates families! Please go to this link for more details: http://www.riverfronttimes.com/issues/2002-07-24/feature.html/1/index.html

Dear Folks:

I am a paralegal who worked for Civil Rights Legal Defense Team in St Louis. I left there in July, 2002. For the past two months since I left, I have had over 75 calls from previous clients from Civil Rights Legal Defense Team in St Louis who were wronged by the attorneys. This situation is strange, because I was the front person that the attorneys used to talk with thse clients. I was the ONLY person in that office who had a genuine interest in helping people with their problems. You know why? Because I was there. I saw the abuse; I was abused for helping inmates with what I thought was wrongfiul action by staff and guards. I experienced physical abuse and mental abuse. I wanted to help. Initially, me and an attorney designed this firm, but I didn't realize that this attorney was so irresponsible. He became so sad to the extent that he would lie about daily cases where he said he had handled the cases and he had never been in court and warrants issued for our clients which included my daughter and son's traffic cases on many occasions. One day, three courts were looking for him; we paged him; we called his cellphone and called his house, but no one could find him. Finally, around 4:00 P.M. I went tyo his house and he came to the door in his robe and stated he had been watching TV, including cartons all day. Well, soon after, he was disbarred and another clown took over, this time a female. She lied in stating she had experience in civil rights and habeas corpus, when in fact, she never had written one, and to be honest, she probably still has not written one. She is accused of taking money and not doing any work. (THIS IS THE TRUTH) In fact as late as a couple of days ago, a client made contact with me stating she had retained this female attorney in August, and she has never talked with the physical client at the prison.
This later attorney was only interested in lining her pockets with cash and not doing any real work for anyone.
I was used as the clients were by these attorneys placing me in front street, talking with clients and them reaping the rewards.
Well, the time has come for a lawsuit. An attorney in the St Louis area is filing a massive suit against her in behalf of many many clients and I am assisting him to the fuillest extent. Chief Disciplianry Counsel in Missouri has allowed her to practice because one of the committee members is one of her friends. Basically, they are condoning all her stealings. Again, if anyone has complaints on CIVIL RIGHTS LEGAL DEFENSE TEAM, contact Chief Disciplinary Counsel in Missouri and voice your rightful opinions.

JOHN TILLER
PARALEGAL

Wow, now that's what I call INSIDE INFORMATION! I'm not in St. Louis but my two brothers and sisters are -- I'll be sure to tell them to look out for this type of thing (they're in and out of the system unfortunately) and also not to refer anyone else to this agency. Obviously, this type of agency needs "several" attorneys to work the case loads but that doesn't make up for STEALING in any case! God bless you for sharing the TRUTH so that others may not be "had" for thousands and thousands of dollars.

IN REPLY TO JEAN'S STORY:

Her story wasn't half of it; Piper who had worked under me at Civil Rights had been accused of having oral sex with Jean's son in the holding cell while he was being held through certain proceedings at trial. I really do not know why the attorney permitted her to be in there so many times, but I am sured Piper conned him under some sort of ploy. Piper was so insecure and I don't know why we kept her after this incident, but there were so many starnge happenings with her relating to clients. She really abused clients and I really blame myself in so many ways in keeping her.

JT
PARALEGAL

I'd like to know "just what" did 'Piper' stand to gain from her behavior? This is utterly unprofessional, sleezy, "streetish", and whorish -- I mean, her disposition reminds me of a crack-addict, or a sex-addict at best! It's not your fault JT, we all find ourselves in some strange, uncomfortable, questionable situations and don't react instantly. God bless.