BENTON – Robot lawyers harm real lawyers, the Miller King firm in Alton alleged on March 15 in a complaint for injunction against artificial intelligence provider Do Not Pay.
Kevin Green of Goldenberg Heller in Edwardsville filed the complaint in U.S. district court, proposing to certify Miller King as class representative for all firms in the nation.
As an alternative Miller King would represent a class of Illinois firms.
Green claimed Do Not Pay originally meant “do not pay parking tickets” but has come to mean “do not pay lawyers.”
He described it as a subscription service that purports to use artificial intelligence.
He claimed the defendant appeals parking tickets, drafts contracts, prepares estate documents, registers trademarks, files lawsuits, and provides scripts to read in court.
He claimed every jurisdiction in the U.S. regulates the practice of law and prohibits those without a license from engaging in it.
Green alleged Do Not Pay infringes on rights of those who are properly licensed, “particularly small law firms whose services overlap with those offered by Do Not Pay.”
He claimed Miller King provides services in personal injury, wrongful death, family, criminal, traffic, estate, probate, worker’s compensation, business, municipal, and mediation.
He asserted federal jurisdiction over Do Not Pay as a California business that directs its activities at Illinois.
Green claimed some states categorize unauthorized practice as a misdemeanor or felony.
He claimed Illinois law provides that no person shall receive direct or indirect compensation for legal services other than a licensed attorney.
He added Illinois law provides that attorneys and firms have standing to bring a cause of action for unauthorized practice.
Green alleged Do Not Pay’s website represents that it allows people to “fight corporations, beat bureaucracy and sue anyone at the press of a button.”
He claimed customers pay $36 for two months with automatic renewal.
The website allegedly offers to annul marriages, break leases, cancel timeshares, remove liens, fight workplace discrimination, reduce property taxes, and file complaints against any company.
Green added that it offers to draw up a lease without wasting money on a lawyer.
He claimed the website posted a picture of founder Joshua Browder with a statement that Do Not Pay can generate more than 30 types of legal documents automatically.
He claimed Browder calls himself general counsel for consumers.
He alleged Browder said in a Bloomberg interviewed that legal advice isn’t rocket science.
“Do Not Pay’s commercial advertising and promotion has worked,” he wrote.
Green claimed Do Not Pay attracted numerous investors from 2016 to 2021 and doubled its valuation to $210 million.
He claimed it had 250,000 subscribers.
Browder allegedly stated last June that Do Not Pay initiated 1,000 small claims against a single company in 42 states.
Green claimed Browder stated in January that Do Not Pay processed more than two million cases.
He claimed Miller King raised common questions suitable for class action.
For a national class of law firms, he sought relief under the Lanham Act, which prohibits statements in commerce that deceive, confuse, or cause mistake.
Green asked whether Do Not Pay used false or misleading representations.
He asked whether material deceptions influenced purchasing decisions.
He also asked whether Miller King and the class have been or are likely to be injured.
He asked whether Do Not Pay disparages the services of others by false statements.
Finally, he asked whether Do Not Pay should disgorge its profits and in what amount.
For Illinois firms, he sought relief under the state’s Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, similar in purpose to the Lanham Act.
He also sought relief for violation of Illinois Supreme Court rules and state law prohibiting practice without a license.
He asked for an injunction against unlawful practices, a contempt order with an appropriate penalty, and an order to engage in corrective advertising.
Goldenberg Heller lawyers Thomas Rosenfeld, Thomas Horscroft, and Daniel Levy also represent Miller King.
Miller King's website identifies its members as Patrick King, Stephanie King, William Miller, Anthony Dos Santos, Bryan Dooling, and Andrea Schrader.