The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati (LASGC) has filed a federal lawsuit against Legal Aid Alternative, arguing that the for-profit's use of the term "legal aid" constitutes trademark infringement.

LASGC filed suit after learning that potential clients were approaching Legal Aid Alternative, listed next to LASGC in the phonebook, only to be turned away or charged a fee for useless documents.

"They do that just to prey on people who don't know any better," said Lou Gilligan, an attorney with LASGC, in an article from the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It's just disgraceful."

In its November 7 issue, LSC Updates reported on the San Francisco-based law firm of Morrison & Foerster's lawsuit against the Legal Center for Legal Aid, another "phony" legal aid organization. This suit was filed, in part, on behalf of the LSC-funded Bay Area Legal Services and Legal Services of Northern California.

To read, "Legal Aid sues copycat," in the Cincinnati Enquirer, click here.