The section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) in Bahia suspended, on Monday (6), four lawyers from Salvador suspected of participating in a scheme known as predatory law, which consists of the mass filing of lawsuits with similar requests to a specific person or group.
Lawyers are also investigated for forgery and use of false documents, as well as embezzlement. The suspension was determined by the Court of Justice of Bahia (TJ-BA).
O g1 He tried to contact Solino e Oliveira Advogados Associados and is awaiting a response.
According to a survey carried out by the Bahia State Justice Intelligence Center (CIJEBA) of the Court of Justice, lawyers’ offices have filed several legal actions in recent years, including in the courts of the Special Consumer Defense Court, before various institutions financial, using adulterated documents.
The investigations also showed that several legal actions were filed without the knowledge of the parties, or in favor of a deceased plaintiff, as if he were still alive. It was also common for proof of residence to be tampered with, with the documents being used for different authors, only changing the name of the holder.
Between 2020 and 2022, just one of them filed 2,653 lawsuits against a single bank. Together, the offices total around 32 thousand processes distributed in TJ-BA.
MP-BA launches operation that investigates law firms in Bahia
The actions of the offices drew the attention of the Bahia Justice Intelligence Center, which passed the case on to the Group to Combat Criminal Organizations and Criminal Investigations (Gaeco) of the Public Ministry of Bahia (MP-BA).
In addition to the execution of warrants, the suspension of the practice of law by those investigated and the unavailability of assets in the order of R$ 309,151.00 from two law firms and their partners were determined.
The operation, launched by Gaeco, resulted from a criminal investigative procedure that investigated the crimes of use and forgery of private documents and misappropriation, provided for in articles 298, 304 and 168 of the Brazilian Penal Code.
Eight prosecutors participated in the operation, with the support of the Civil Police, through the Coordination of Special Operations and Resources (Core) and six lawyers appointed by the OAB-BA.
On April 24, when the MP’s operation was launched, by means of a note, the firm Solino e Oliveira Advogados Associados, represented by lawyers Pedro Francisco Guimarães Solino and João Luiz de Lima Oliveira Junior, reported that it “received with surprise and indignation the accusations”. [Confira nota na íntegra abaixo]
Statement note Solino e Oliveira Advogados Associados
“With regard to Operation Data Venia, initiated by the Public Ministry of the State of Bahia, the firm Solino e Oliveira Advogados Associados, represented by lawyers Pedro Francisco Guimarães Solino and João Luiz de Lima Oliveira Junior, comes out to clarify that it was received with surprise and indignation accusations, which, in fact, represent a clear attempt to criminalize the regular and combative practice of law, in the search for the preservation of the rights of its clients and constituents, the majority of whom are retirees and pensioners, who suffer from arbitrary and abusive practices perpetrated by large and powerful financial institutions that operate in Brazil and that need to be brought to the attention of the Judiciary.
We are absolutely confident about the regular practice of law by all those who make up our team and are entirely at the disposal of the Authorities (Police, Public Prosecutor’s Office and Judiciary) to provide all the information, data and materials necessary for the smooth running of investigations and the full clarification of the facts, when, in the end, justice will prevail.
We take this opportunity to reassure and reaffirm to our clients, friends and collaborators the integrity, suitability and transparency of our office in each demand entrusted to us.”
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