RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LegalZoom's lawsuit against the North Carolina State Bar will move forward after Special Superior Court Judge for Complex Business Cases James L. Gale denied in part and deferred in part the North Carolina State Bar's Motion to Dismiss the lawsuit earlier this week. The suit alleges violations of the state's Monopoly Clause, violations of LegalZoom's due process rights, and commercial disparagement.
"The ruling allows LegalZoom to move forward in its efforts to expand North Carolinians' access to the justice system," said Chas Rampenthal, General Counsel of LegalZoom. "We look forward to the day when the interests of one small group of people – attorneys in North Carolina – are not put above the interests of the many citizens of North Carolina who are allowed by law to create their own legal documents or purchase prepaid legal service plans."
This lawsuit follows ongoing attempts by the North Carolina State Bar to prevent LegalZoom's operations in the State of North Carolina and to prohibit citizens of North Carolina from using self-help legal documents and prepaid legal service plans in the state.
In the twelve years since its founding, LegalZoom has responded to a number of requests from state bar associations and other governmental agencies across the country. LegalZoom has always cooperated fully with all inquiries and continues to operate in all 50 states, including the State of North Carolina.
About LegalZoom.com
LegalZoom is the leading online provider of services that meet the legal needs of small businesses and consumers in the United States. We are not a law firm, and we do not provide legal advice. We provide self-help legal documents at our customers' specific direction and general information on legal issues generally encountered. Independent, licensed attorneys participate in our attorney network to provide services to our customers through our legal plans. The company is headquartered in Glendale, California, with additional offices in Austin, Texas and San Francisco, California. For more information, visit www.legalzoom.com.