Court Affirms Conviction of Non-Lawyer Who Filed Mold Lawsuits

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's Court of Appeals on July 25 denied the appeal of a woman who held herself out as an attorney while representing homeowners complaining of mold contamination. State of Minnesota v. Hillbrant, No. A05-820 (Minn. Ct. App.).

The court also affirmed the trial court's order that Diane Lynn Hillbrant pay a total of $19,698.45 in restitution to two defendants in those mold actions for the cost of responding to the claims.

Hillbrant was convicted in April 2005 of five counts of unauthorized practice of law, which is a criminal offense under Minn. Stat. § 481.02, subd. 1 (2002). …