Board of Supervisors Supports Effort to Protect Veterans from Predatory Practices • Board of Supervisors • 01/13/2026

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The Inyo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a letter of support for Senate Bill 694 (Archuleta), which provides critical protections for California veterans by addressing the growing problem of "claim sharks" taking advantage of those who served.

The bill specifically prohibits unaccredited individuals and companies from charging veterans for assistance with filing or preparing federal benefits claims, and establishes penalties for entities that misrepresent their qualifications or engage in deceptive practices.

"California's veterans deserve access to trustworthy, competent support when pursuing the benefits they have earned through their service," states the letter, which was brought forward for approval at the request of Chairperson Trina Orrill. "SB 694 is a meaningful step toward ensuring that those who have served our nation are protected from predatory actors who seek to profit from their needs."

According to Inyo County Veteran Services Officer Gordon Greene, these unscrupulous players not only charge veterans for services that are available from reputable entities for free, they often inflate the charges into the thousands.

"Senate Bill 694 addresses a documented and ongoing problem that the VA itself has been warning veterans about for years," he told the Board. "These companies exploit a loophole where there are effectively no penalties, only profits. Some charge veterans thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, often taking a cut of future disability benefits for services that are already available for free through County Veteran Service offices and accredited veteran service organizations."

He added, "The VA has made it clear that veterans should never be charged to file an initial disability claim, and that only VA accredited representatives and authorized personnel should assist with those claims."

To further illustrate this point, Greene shared an unfortunate anecdote involving a local resident.

"A surviving spouse used one of these companies and they took a huge portion of a retro check from her. And then on top of that, they were taking a percentage of her monthly check," he said. "When she found out about this, she contacted that organization and asked them to stop. And in turn, they reported to the VA that everything was a lie, and the VA took away her benefits. I was able to help her get everything reinstated, but that's what these organizations do and how they operate."

Supervisor Will Wadelton, a veteran himself, urged fellow service members to utilize the services of their local veteran service officer.

"Don't pay any money. Come talk to Gordon. Heck, if you live in a different county, come on over, talk to Gordon. We'll get you covered," he said.

The Inyo County VSO can be reached at (760) 873-7850. More information is available at https://www.inyocounty.us/services/veteran-services.

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