CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office has filed a petition seeking more than $49,000 owed to consumers by a California-based law firm that unlawfully offered debt settlement and negotiation services in the Mountain State.
Matthews Law Firm Inc., based in Tustin, California, was offering debt settlement and negotiation services to consumers in West Virginia, a legal practice that is only permitted within the state by practicing lawyers licensed in West Virginia. The petition was filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
“My office will fight for the return of consumers’ hard-earned dollars,” Morrisey said. “Any business that violates state law will be held accountable.”
The petition argued the law firm and owner Arturo Matthews Jr. failed to honor a settlement that required the firm to cease its debt settlement and negotiation practices in West Virginia and pay more than $62,000 in refunds to affected consumers.
To date, Matthews Law Firm has failed to meet the bulk of its financial obligation, making payments of just $12,500. That leaves a remaining balance of $49,548.99.
The petition seeks full payment to the state, including interest, costs and attorney’s fees, from Matthews, in his capacity as the sole owner and officer of the law firm.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 17-P-379