Office of the Attorney General and Reporter
Robert E. Cooper, Jr.

Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper has filed suit against a woman and her business previously located in Nashville for allegedly using misleading advertisements promoting the sale of “international driver’s licenses,” and using the term “notario publico” without the required disclaimer.

Attorney General Cooper filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Division of Consumer Affairs, naming Mirella Garcia, individually and doing business as Centro de Apoyo al Immigrante. The lawsuit alleges she violated the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and the Notaries Public statute. The business was previously located at 2517 Nolensville Pike in Nashville...read the full Mirella Garcia, Centro de Apoyo al Inmigrante press release.

Michael H. Sneed of Nashville, who on February 24, 2009 was suspended from the practice of law for 18 months, has agreed to be enjoined and to no longer practice law while his license is suspended.

Sneed signed the agreement, which was entered today by Davidson County Circuit Court Judge Joseph P. Binkley, Jr. Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper filed suit against him alleging that by continuing to act as an attorney and advertise his services after his suspension Sneed was violating the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. The State’s complaint also alleges that Sneed’s actions violated Tennessee’s Unauthorized Practice of Law statutes...read the full Michael Sneed injunction press release.

Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper has filed suit on behalf of the Division of Consumer Affairs against a Middle Tennessee man for allegedly providing legal services without a license after being suspended from the practice of law by the Supreme Court of Tennessee.

The suit, filed in Davidson County Circuit Court, alleges Michael Sneed provided legal services to consumers after his license was suspended. The complaint also alleges the defendant misled consumers about his ability to represent them in legal matters...read the full Michael Sneed press release.

Attorney General Bob Cooper, on behalf of Mary Clement, the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, filed three settlements and two lawsuits today involving companies allegedly using misleading advertisements promoting themselves as a “notario publico” in Tennessee.

The Spanish translation of “notary public” is “notario publico,” or in the plural “notarios publicos.” In many Spanish-speaking countries, a notario publico is a civil-law notary, or an attorney who has been specially appointed to grant public faith to certain common, everyday transactions. As a result, consumers often believe these individuals and the related transactions involve a higher level of trust and accuracy...read the full Notario Publico press release.