State sues do-it-yourself legal firm

The lawsuit also charges the Santa Barbara, Calif.-based company as well as Tennessee-based operators Vincent and Shannon Gould with violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act.

The lawsuit alleges that the Goulds and We the People prepared legal documents, including bankruptcy and divorce petitions, for their customers to file in court.

The state charges that the company gave consumers the false impression that they could represent themselves on these matters at little risk to themselves.

A spokesman for the company denied the attorney general’s charges.

“We categorically deny the charges of the unauthorized practice of law,” Peter Shankman said.

Neither the Goulds nor any other franchise owners give legal advice to consumers, he said.

The company’s Web site says it has more than 80 offices in 22 states. The firm’s business model has withstood legal challenges in other states, Shankman said.