Legal Aid's Impact
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Fighting Against Predatory Practices
Legal Aid DC’s Consumer Law Unit works with clients to help them navigate daunting debt cases that threaten their homes, savings, and livelihoods. Consumer attorneys provide not only legal representation at key moments but also spend time talking clients through all their options — whether that’s fighting to erase an unlawful debt entirely, renegotiating terms, or working toward a settlement agreement.
For clients facing foreclosure or those who suddenly find themselves with tens of thousands of dollars in debt hanging over them, having a Legal Aid attorney on their side is a defense against predatory practices and a chance to avoid being saddled with debt they may never be in a position to repay.
One recent client, for example, received a hearing notice because a debt collector was trying to revive a 12-year-old judgment against her for a debt she never knew existed. Living with a disability and relying on a fixed income, she was terrified by the prospect of having to figure out a way to repay the debt. Her Legal Aid attorney stepped in, prepared a defense, and told the collector they were planning to contest the case. The collector agreed to withdraw the request to revive the judgment, and she was relieved of a life-altering debt.
Preventing Foreclosures
Most of Legal Aid’s consumer work goes beyond taking on cases that come to us through one of our intake channels, our courthouse project, or through the DC Debt Collection Hotline. But this year, through a new partnership with Legal Counsel for the Elderly and DC Affordable Law Firm, we began proactively reaching out to DC residents at risk of losing their homes because they were behind on property taxes.
Every year, the DC government holds a property tax sale, where it auctions off tax liens on properties with $2,500 or more in overdue taxes. These sales can quickly lead to foreclosure, and more than 3,200 liens were sold in this July’s tax sale.
Together with our legal services partners, we sent letters to 576 residents whose primary residence was to be included in the tax sale, informing them about their options and available legal help. We then were able to provide information, advice, and assistance to 24 homeowners. Legal Aid plans to expand our advocacy and outreach in this area in 2026 so that fewer residents are at risk of losing their homes.
Advocating for Consumers
In collaboration with Legal Aid’s Systemic Advocacy & Law Reform team, the Consumer Law Unit continued to push this year for strengthened consumer protections. Legal Aid joined several other legal services organizations in an amicus brief in the DC Court of Appeals and testified to the DC Council in support of strengthening the Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
“I would not have been able to handle this case without Ms. Jojo and Ms. Amy ... To give some encouraging words to someone in my situation: It’s OK to ask for help. Help is out there, and everything doesn’t have to fall back on your shoulders.” — Eyanna Kittrell
Client Spotlight: Fighting A $50K Insurance Lawsuit
When a 2021 car accident totaled her vehicle, 26-year-old Eyanna Kittrell was shaken but grateful that her daughter and two younger brothers were unharmed. Three years later, she was shocked to learn that the other driver’s insurance company was suing her for $58,465 — even though Ms. Kittrell hadn’t caused the accident.
Ms. Kittrell, who didn’t have insurance at the time of the accident, turned to Legal Aid DC. Her attorneys Amy Kaplan and Jojo Schmidt gathered evidence, deposed the other driver, and helped her show that the other driver bore responsibility for the accident. With their support, Ms. Kittrell reached a settlement in June 2025 to pay only $5,000 through an affordable payment plan.