Class Action Against LegalZoom Isn’t Valid Unless State High Court Finds UPL Violation

A plaintiff cannot sue LegalZoom.com Inc. for alleged violations of a state statute prohibiting the unauthorized practice of law unless and until the Ohio Supreme Court has declared that the company engaged in unauthorized practice, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ruled July 19 (Lowry v. LegalZoom.com Inc., N.D. Ohio, No. 4:11CV02259).

Judge Benita Y. Pearson dismissed a putative class action complaint filed by a former LegalZoom customer who alleged that the legal document company violated Ohio Rev. Code §4705.07, which creates a private cause of action for any person damaged by a party ...