Lawyer Calls DUI Group a Biased ‘Racket’

LOS ANGELES (CN) - The National College for DUI Defense is a "racket" that denies certification to women and minorities, and is and "has always been a white male group of good ol' boys" that "gave away" certification to white men, but makes women take a written test - and won't certify women even if they pass it, a female attorney claims in Federal Court.

Deandra Grant, of Texas, accuses the National College for DUI Defense of civil rights violations and gender discrimination.

The defendant, "a Washington corporation with a one-person office without any other staff located in Alabama ... has the discretion to determine which attorney can become 'Nationally Board Certified in DUI Defense,'" Grant says in her complaint. "This certification is approved and accredited by the American Bar Association, located in Chicago, Illinois."

Grant claims that the defendant requires only women to take its written test, and that it denied her certification even though she passed the exam.

"The defendant destroys copies of all documents related to the test to cover up this racket. The destruction of evidence is the protocol instituted by defendant to further their racketeering," Grant says in the complaint.

"(D)efendant has always been a white male group of good ol' boys, and has substantial underrepresentation from women and minorities and is hostile towards said groups," the complaint states.

The NCDD claims on its website that it is a "diverse" organization, with 1,000 members across America. A search of California in the website's "Find an Attorney" feature this morning turned up 10 women among 105 attorneys, and two attorneys, first names Lynn and Jamie, who might be women, but whose pictures are not posted. However, only five attorneys are designated as "Board Certified" - all are men. On the NCDD's Illinois page, just three of the 36 attorneys listed are women, and just one is Board Certified - a man.

Grant's complaint states: "Defendant openly and blatantly gave away the certification approved and accredited by the American Bar Association to far less qualified males than plaintiff. Plaintiff and other women are required to 'pass a written test' to obtain this certification. But, the white males are not required to take the test as long as they are long-standing 'good ol' boys.'

"Females, such as the plaintiff is one example of a woman being forced to take the test and then denied certification based on a test that is graded arbitrarily by the 'good ol' boys.' The 'good ol' boys,' grade their tests fraudulently, grading the tests to keep women from getting the certification."

Grant claims the NCDD has a history of denying certification to qualified women, and claims that "only one woman has ever been granted the certification."

Grant is represented by Okorie Okorocha, with the California Legal Team, of Pasadena, who is listed on the defendant's Find an Attorney web page, but not as Board Certified.

Grant seeks damages for gender discrimination and civil rights violations, and a civil penalty of $25,000.

The NCDD did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

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