OMAHA – Omaha Tenants United says the Nebraska Commission on Unauthorized Practice of Law is accusing the organization of unauthorized law practice, citing the groups demand letters to landlords.
- Omaha Tenants United (OTU) faces accusations of Unauthorized Practice of Law in Nebraska.
- The accusations stem from demand letters OTU sent to various landlords.
- The organization has obtained an attorney and is filing an appeal.
Omaha Tenants United, a group that helps tenants organize against property management companies, has been accused of practicing law without a license. According to the organization, the state has asked it to stop working with tenants.
Seth Cope, co-founder of Omaha Tenants United, stated on April 3 that he received a letter from the Council of Discipline and the Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee.
The organization was providing legal advice and negotiating without a license, according to the group’s work, which included sending demand letters to property managers on behalf of tenants.
“This is an attack on the idea that tenants are able to stand up for themselves and organize against landlords at all,” according to Cope.
According to Cope, the committee has requested that the organization no longer work with tenants. Tenants United disagrees and has hired an attorney to file an appeal.
KMTV contacted the Metropolitan Omaha Property Owners Association and the council regarding discipline; we are still waiting for a response.