Fraud Victim Attorney in Orange County, CA
Fraud is more than just numbers on a balance sheet. It’s calculated dishonesty that affects real people with real losses. Someone bent the truth to take your money or property. You have the power to fight back and hold them accountable. Speak with an Orange County fraud victim lawyer at The Brewer Law Firm about your rights and possible legal remedies.
Hire The Brewer Law Firm Today
Attorney Mike Brewer built his career in courtrooms. As a former prosecutor for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, former LA Stalking and Threat Assessment Team member, and former U.S. Attorney in the Organized Crime Section, Mike approaches every case with a prosecution-level strategy on behalf of his victims.
Mike graduated cum laude from Tulane Law School and served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps. He has been named a Super Lawyer in 2024, 2025, and 2026. This highlights his dedication to his clients; however, awards and recognition are not guarantees of case results, and the selection criteria varies by organization.
The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book showed California had 238,705 fraud reports and over $1.6 billion in fraud losses in 2024. That’s the most losses in the country. Having an experienced Orange County fraud victim attorney on your side matters.
What Qualifies as Fraud in California?
Fraud is defined under California Civil Code § 1572 as a false representation of a material fact, made with knowledge of its falsity and with intent to defraud. Generally, the following elements are required to assert a claim for fraud:
- An untrue statement of a material fact
- Knowledge that the statement was untrue
- Intent to deceive the victim
- Justifiable reliance on that untrue statement
- Damages
Fraud in Orange County can take many shapes and forms, including investment fraud, wire fraud, elder financial abuse, real estate fraud, and identity-related fraud.
Your Rights as a Fraud Victim in Orange County
Passed as Proposition 9 in 2008, California’s Marsy’s Law amended the California Constitution to allow crime victims to have a meaningful role in the criminal justice process. Marsy’s Law – Article I, Section 28, warrants victims the rights to dignity, to be heard, to obtain restitution, and to have their own attorney.
This is important because the District Attorney who prosecutes criminal cases works for the people of California, not you. Marsy’s Law allows you to exercise your legal right to hire your own attorney and appear in court under your own name. At The Brewer Law Firm, we exercise those rights to their fullest extent, including placing a victim’s attorney at the counsel table so you can tell your story directly.
What an Orange County Fraud Victim Attorney Does
When you retain an Orange County fraud victim attorney, you have someone in your corner advocating for you. Mike Brewer and his team have spent years working in both prosecutor’s offices and law enforcement, understanding how fraud cases are constructed and where they fail.
At The Brewer Law Firm, we can bridge the gap when law enforcement chooses not to move forward or when an investigation doesn’t go far enough. We can analyze the evidence in your case and present it to the court. Only you stand to benefit from our private representation.
What to Expect When You Hire a Fraud Victim Lawyer in Orange County, CA
When you hire a fraud victim lawyer, they start by reviewing your case. Our team can evaluate the fraud incident, the evidence available, and determine if further investigation may reveal facts previously overlooked in the original process.
Next, our law office can craft a strategy unique to your circumstances, whether it be advocating for your rights at hearings, pursuing restitution, or presenting new information to the court via private prosecution.
Under Marsy’s Law, you are entitled to be present and informed of your case every step of the way.
Orange County Superior Court is located at 700 Civic Center Drive West in Santa Ana. They oversee civil and criminal cases for those who live in Orange County. Having an attorney who is familiar with these courts can have a meaningful advantage.
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FAQs About Orange County, CA Fraud Victim Laws
If I Am the Victim of Fraud, Can I Have My Own Lawyer Even if There Is Already a Prosecutor Working on My Case?
If you are the victim of fraud, you can have your own lawyer. California’s Marsy’s Law gives crime victims the right to hire their own lawyer separately from the prosecutor. Remember, the prosecutor works for the state, not for you personally. Your attorney can represent you in court, assert your rights during hearings, and tell your story; things the prosecutor may not have the time or resources to do while handling many other cases.
What Is the Difference Between Civil and Criminal Fraud in California?
Criminal fraud charges are brought by the state against the perpetrator. The offender can be fined or sentenced to prison for committing fraud. Civil fraud is typically a case brought by the victim against the perpetrator to recover monetary damages. Criminal and civil charges can be filed at the same time. A fraud victim lawyer can work on your civil case. They can also represent you in any criminal proceedings, seeking restitution and justice on your behalf.
How Much Does a Fraud Lawyer Usually Cost in Orange County?
Fees for a fraud lawyer vary in Orange County based on the complexity of your case, the investigation needed, and the legal strategy to be employed. Many attorneys take cases on a contingency basis, while others charge by the hour or flat fee. The Brewer Law Firm can inform you of all fee options during your case review. In most cases, the cost of inaction (lost money, no restitution) is far greater than the cost of representation.
How Difficult Is It to Prove Fraud in Court?
It can be challenging to prove fraud in court. You must satisfy the burden of proof on each of the five required elements with complete and organized documentation. Contracts, correspondence, financial documents, and witness testimony all come into play. Complex schemes and long-term patterns of deception can be even more difficult. A lawyer who has prosecuted fraud cases knows what evidence you need and how to present it.
Contact an Orange County Fraud Victim Lawyer at The Brewer Law Firm
Fraud victimizes you. The Brewer Law Firm is committed to exhausting all options so that Orange County fraud victims have their day in court.
Former prosecutor Mike Brewer is a trial attorney with an impressive track record and over three decades of legal experience. Today, he works exclusively for victims, the ones the system was meant to serve. Contact The Brewer Law Firm today to schedule a case review.
