A lawsuit filed by Downtown LA Law Group does not mean the claim against you has merit. It means a deadline has started. Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 412.20, most defendants have thirty calendar days from the date of service to file a written response, and missing that deadline can result in a default judgment entered without a trial. If you are a homeowner, a landlord, or a small business owner in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, or Yolo County who has just been served with a summons and complaint from this firm, this article covers three things: what is publicly documented about Downtown LA Law Group’s litigation practices, exactly what your response deadline requires, and why representation from an attorney who appears regularly in the local courthouse changes the trajectory of a case like yours.
Three Things to Do Before the Clock Runs Out
Confirm the exact date you were served and calculate your deadline from that date, not from any date printed on the complaint itself. Personal service, where a process server hands you the papers directly, starts the thirty-day clock immediately. Substituted service, where the papers are left with another adult at your home or workplace and then mailed to you, extends the deadline to forty days from the date of mailing.
Locate any insurance policy that might apply to the claim. Homeowner’s, commercial general liability, auto, and employment practices liability policies frequently cover the categories of claims this firm files, and most policies require prompt notice as a condition of coverage. Tendering the claim promptly preserves your right to a defense, even from a carrier that later disputes coverage under a reservation of rights.
Retain counsel before the deadline arrives, not after it. An attorney needs time to review the complaint, evaluate coverage issues, and prepare a proper response. Waiting until the final days of a thirty-day window compresses that work into a weekend and forecloses options, such as a stipulated extension, that are only available before the deadline passes.
Who Is Downtown LA Law Group
Downtown LA Law Group is a California personal injury firm founded in 2013 by Daniel Azizi and Farid Yaghoubtil, who are cousins, along with Salar Hendizadeh, a friend of Azizi’s since elementary school. Operating from its headquarters in the Arts District of Los Angeles, the firm has grown into one of Southern California’s largest personal injury practices, built on aggressive advertising and a contingency-fee model in which clients pay nothing unless the firm recovers a settlement or verdict.
The firm advertises that it serves clients statewide, twenty-four hours a day, and states that its attorneys will meet clients at home, at work, or at any location a client finds convenient anywhere in California. Its stated practice areas extend well beyond the car accident cases most associated with its advertising: premises liability and slip and fall claims, dog bite injuries, toxic mold exposure, tenant disputes, assault and battery, employment claims including wrongful termination, harassment, and discrimination, product liability, and medical malpractice. Several of these categories, particularly premises liability, dog bites, tenant disputes, and employment claims against small employers, routinely name an individual homeowner or a small business as the defendant rather than a large insured corporation. That is the population this article is written for.
Our Attorney Has Over 25 Years of Experience in Law and Finance
For the last fifteen years, he has been litigating and advising on transactions related to business, real estate, and estate planning matters. Our attorney also has nearly ten years of accounting experience, including his prior career as a financial analyst and accountant in the securities and finance industry. You can feel secure knowing that his broad experience and understanding allows him to keep a watchful eye on all aspects of a lawsuit or transaction. Read More…
What Is Publicly Documented About the Firm’s Litigation Practices
Three separate, independently sourced developments are currently on the public record concerning how Downtown LA Law Group builds and litigates its cases. None of them determines whether the specific claim against you has merit, and the firm disputes wrongdoing in each instance described below. Nevertheless, all three are relevant to how a defendant should approach a complaint filed by this firm, particularly the damages portion of that complaint.
Pending State Bar Disciplinary Charges
Beginning in March 2026, the California State Bar filed a notice of disciplinary charges against founding partner Salar Hendizadeh, alleging that he helped the firm engage in the unauthorized practice of personal injury law across eight states, including Texas, Florida, Maryland, Arizona, Iowa, Michigan, Tennessee, and Virginia, by signing up clients without associating local counsel. In June 2026 the State Bar expanded the case to add founding partners Daniel Azizi and Farid Yaghoubtil, along with litigation attorney Igor Fradkin. The charges allege the firm operated under multiple brand names, including Union Injury Law Firm, Normandie Law Firm, and Lone Star Injury Law Firm, and marketed itself as Texas’s top injury law firm while handling roughly forty to forty-five Texas matters without a properly licensed Texas attorney on staff for most of that period. The charges further allege the firm continued using a departed Texas attorney’s name and credentials in its marketing for years after he left and asked the firm to stop. California’s State Bar Chief Trial Counsel has stated publicly that attorneys who practice in jurisdictions where they are not licensed, or who allow staff to perform legal work in those jurisdictions, put clients at risk.
These are charges, not findings. The matter is pending before the State Bar Court, and any California attorney’s current license status and disciplinary history, including this firm’s attorneys, can be verified directly through the State Bar’s Attorney Search tool, linked in the resources section below.
The Los Angeles Times Investigation and the $4 Billion County Settlement
Downtown LA Law Group became a central player in a $4 billion settlement between Los Angeles County and claimants alleging childhood sexual abuse in county juvenile facilities, litigation that proceeded under Assembly Bill 218, which reopened previously time-barred abuse claims. A Los Angeles Times investigation reported allegations from multiple former clients and former employees that recruiters for the firm paid individuals to join the litigation, and that some recruits were allegedly encouraged to describe abuse they had not experienced. The investigation also identified court records showing that more than sixty of the firm’s clients had medical bills exceeding the amount of their eventual settlements once the firm’s fees and medical liens were subtracted, with the firm’s fee in some of those cases exceeding three-quarters of the total recovery. The firm has not been criminally charged in connection with these allegations. Both the State Bar and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office have opened investigations that remain ongoing.
Uber’s Federal Racketeering Lawsuit
On July 20, 2025, Uber Technologies filed a civil racketeering lawsuit against Downtown LA Law Group, attorney Igor Fradkin, a second law firm, and an Encino spine surgeon in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, case number 2:25-cv-06612. Uber’s complaint alleges that the defendants operated a scheme in which claimants involved in minor Uber-related collisions were referred to a small group of preferred medical providers who performed unnecessary procedures and issued bills far above market rate, inflating the medical specials used to justify large settlement demands against Uber’s mandatory one-million-dollar rideshare insurance policy. In one example cited in the complaint, a claimant represented by Downtown LA Law Group reported pain levels near zero following a minor collision, was referred to a surgeon for a procedure billed at more than one hundred eight thousand dollars, and an independent medical expert retained by Uber valued the reasonably necessary care at ten thousand three hundred seventy-five dollars.
Downtown LA Law Group has denied the allegations, describing Uber’s suit as an attempt to suppress legitimate injury claims and stating that Uber settled every case at issue rather than testing the claims at trial. As of June 2026 the case remains in active litigation. The defendants have moved to dismiss Uber’s claims and to strike its state-law claims under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16, and no court has ruled on the merits of either side’s position.
None of the three developments above proves that the specific complaint naming you as a defendant is weak or overstated. What they establish is that a federal court, a state regulator, and an investigative newsroom are currently examining, in parallel, how this firm calculates and documents damages. A defendant served with a complaint from this firm is entitled to apply the same scrutiny to the medical records, liens, and damages calculations underlying the claim against them before agreeing to any settlement figure built on those numbers.
Guiding Legal Counsel Is Here to Help
An Out-of-Area Law Firm Does Not Change Which Court Hears Your Case
Downtown LA Law Group’s Los Angeles address has no bearing on where your case will be tried. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 395, venue for a personal injury action is proper either in the county where the injury occurred or in the county where the defendant resides; for most other civil claims, venue follows the defendant’s county of residence. A Sacramento resident sued over an incident at a Sacramento business will be sued in Sacramento County Superior Court. A Roseville landlord sued over a tenant dispute will be sued in Placer County Superior Court. The firm’s location in downtown Los Angeles changes none of that.
What it does change is who is more comfortable in that courtroom. A firm built around volume litigation in Los Angeles County courts, appearing before Sacramento or Placer County judges only occasionally, does not carry the same familiarity with local law and motion practice, individual judges’ calendars, or local jury tendencies that counsel who appears in those same courthouses every month carries. That familiarity affects scheduling, the tone of settlement negotiations, and, if the case proceeds to trial, jury selection.
The Sacramento-Region Legal Landscape
Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo counties are served by separate superior courts, each with its own local rules, its own self-help resources, and its own bench of judges who see the same categories of local counsel appear before them term after term. Sacramento County Superior Court’s Civil Self-Help Services operates out of the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Courthouse downtown. Placer County Superior Court’s Self-Help Center operates out of the Bill Santucci Justice Center in Roseville. Both are free public resources, listed with direct links below.
A defendant choosing counsel to answer a complaint filed by a large, heavily advertised Los Angeles firm generally has three options. One is to do nothing and accept a default, which is rarely advisable given the consequences described in the next section. A second is to retain a large national insurance-defense firm, if a policy applies, which typically means representation by an assigned associate carrying a substantial caseload spread across multiple insurers and multiple counties. A third is to retain a solo or small local firm that appears personally in the Sacramento-region courthouses on a regular basis, where the attorney handling the intake call is the same attorney who appears at the case management conference, argues any motion, and tries the case if it does not resolve. For an individual homeowner or a small business owner who has never been sued before, that third option generally provides the most direct access to the person actually making decisions about the case, without the overhead of a large firm’s cost structure being billed back through the fee.
Your Response Deadline in Detail
California law requires a defendant to file a written response with the court within thirty calendar days after the summons and complaint are served. If the papers were left with another adult at your home or workplace and then mailed to you, a method called substituted service, the deadline extends to forty days from the date of mailing. If the thirtieth or fortieth day falls on a weekend or a court holiday, the deadline moves to the close of business on the next court day.
If a defendant fails to respond in time, the plaintiff may file a request for entry of default, and the court can then enter judgment for the amount demanded without a trial and without hearing the defendant’s side of the case. According to the California Courts Self-Help Guide, a default judgment can be enforced through wage garnishment, bank account levies, and liens against real property. California Rule of Court 3.110(d) permits the parties to stipulate, without a judge’s involvement, to a single fifteen-day extension of the response deadline, which can provide the room needed to retain counsel and prepare a proper answer rather than a rushed one. That stipulation must be agreed to by plaintiff’s counsel, however, and is not something a defendant can grant unilaterally.
How Guiding Legal Counsel, APC Can Help
Ronald R. Roundy founded Guiding Legal Counsel, APC after more than a decade practicing civil litigation, including real estate disputes, business disputes, and premises-related claims of the kind Downtown LA Law Group files most often. Before practicing law, he worked in institutional finance, experience he applies directly to the damages, medical lien, and settlement-structure analysis described in the Uber litigation above.
Guiding Legal Counsel is a solo practice with offices in Rocklin and Sacramento, operating on a model in which the attorney taking your call is the attorney who reviews your complaint, evaluates your insurance coverage and any tender obligations, negotiates with opposing counsel, and, if necessary, tries your case. There is no associate handoff and no rotating cast of case handlers. For an individual or a small business served with a complaint for the first time, that continuity matters as much as any single legal argument.
A free consultation covers the complaint itself, your response deadline, any applicable insurance coverage, and an initial assessment of the claims and damages alleged against you.
Call Before Your Deadline Passes
Guiding Legal Counsel, APC offers a free consultation to individuals and small businesses in the Sacramento region served with a complaint by Downtown LA Law Group or any other firm. Call (916) 818-1838 or contact the firm online to schedule a consultation before your response deadline runs. Bring your summons and complaint, your proof of service, and any applicable insurance policy information to the call.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do I have to respond after being served with a complaint in California?
A defendant generally has thirty calendar days after service of the summons and complaint to file a written response with the court, under Code of Civil Procedure section 412.20. If the thirtieth day falls on a weekend or court holiday, the deadline extends to the next court day. Substituted service adds ten additional days.
What happens if I miss the response deadline?
The plaintiff may request entry of default, and the court can enter a default judgment without a trial and without considering your side of the case. A default judgment can be enforced through wage garnishment, bank levies, and property liens. A default can sometimes be set aside, but only on narrow grounds and within strict time limits, so the better course is to respond on time.
Is Downtown LA Law Group a real, licensed law firm?
Downtown LA Law Group is a licensed California personal injury firm founded in 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles. It is also, as of mid-2026, the subject of pending California State Bar disciplinary charges against several of its attorneys, alleging unauthorized practice of law in multiple states, deceptive advertising, and illegal fees. Pending charges are allegations, not findings of misconduct, and any consumer can verify an attorney’s current license status directly through the State Bar’s Attorney Search tool.
Does it matter that Downtown LA Law Group is based in Los Angeles while I live in the Sacramento area?
It does not change which courthouse hears your case. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 395, venue in most personal injury and general civil actions is determined by where the defendant resides or where the incident occurred, not by where plaintiff’s counsel keeps its office. What changes is the practical advantage of retaining defense counsel who appears in that same courthouse regularly.
Should I contact Downtown LA Law Group directly to try to resolve the case before hiring my own attorney?
Speaking with the opposing party’s counsel without independent representation is unwise. Any statement made in that conversation can become part of the record, and a firm representing the party suing you has no obligation to protect your interests. Retain your own counsel first and let that attorney manage all communication with plaintiff’s counsel.
Does my insurance cover a lawsuit filed by Downtown LA Law Group?
It depends on the claim. Homeowner’s, commercial general liability, auto, and employment practices liability policies frequently cover the type of claims this firm files, including premises liability, slip and fall, dog bite, and certain employment-related claims. If coverage may exist, tender the claim to your carrier immediately, since most policies require prompt notice and the insurer typically has a duty to provide a defense even if it later disputes coverage.
How much does it cost to hire a defense attorney in the Sacramento region?
Fee structures vary by case type and by whether an insurer is already providing a defense. Guiding Legal Counsel, APC offers a free initial consultation to evaluate the complaint, the applicable deadlines, and the available defense strategy before any fee arrangement is discussed.
What should I bring to a free consultation?
Bring the summons and complaint exactly as served, the envelope or proof of service showing the date you were served, any insurance policy declarations pages that might apply, and any correspondence already received from Downtown LA Law Group or its investigators.
Local and Official Resources
Sacramento County Superior Court, Civil Self-Help Services: saccourt.ca.gov
Placer County Superior Court, Self-Help Center: placer.courts.ca.gov
California Courts Self-Help Guide, “What Happens if You’re Sued”: selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
California Legislative Information, Code of Civil Procedure section 412.20: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislative Information, Code of Civil Procedure section 395 (venue): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
State Bar of California, Find Legal Professionals / Attorney Search: calbar.ca.gov
State Bar of California, Recent Disciplinary Actions: calbar.ca.gov
Sacramento County Bar Association: sacbar.org
Placer County Bar Association: placerbar.org
