Spreading the word about the Campaign for Justice…

Franz Wright, Bill Lowe, Jonathan Falk

 Jonathan Falk (Legal Aid Society) and colleagues Franz Wright (Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC) and Bill Lowe (Harris Beach PLLC) were on a mission in November to spread the word about the Campaign for Justice to Rochester attorneys in the early years of their careers. Targeting attorneys under age 40, they engaged 20 law firms and legal organizations, getting 202 young attorneys to contribute to the campaign.

“The goal was percentage participating,” explained Falk, CFJ Co-Chair, talking about the Law Firm Challenge which ran Nov. 6-29. “And 10 of the 20 organizations had 100% participation by their under-40 attorneys.”

LawNY staff and volunteers

The phonathon portion of the CFJ kicked off November 15, and dozens of volunteers have been making phone calls to colleagues and friends seeking pledges toward the $270,000 campaign goal. There are more than 2200 names in the Campaign database, so it takes a lot of volunteers to get through the list.

Staff at Legal Services of Western New York have been making calls to attorneys with no record of donating to the Campaign – and there are quite a few names. Among them, many who don’t know about the great need for civil legal services in our own community where so many live in poverty.

 

Karen Schaefer

“If every lawyer in the greater Rochester area would donate the value of one billable hour, we’d easily make our goal, but not every lawyer knows about the Campaign and how this single fundraiser serves three legal service organizations: LawNY, Legal Aid Society of Rochester, and VLSP,” Karen Schaefer, CFJ Co-Chair explained.

So, if you are reading this and haven’t yet donated to this year’s campaign, go to https://www.vlsprochester.org/campaign-for-justice and make a donation now. Get that payment in before December 31 to get a tax break on your 2017 charitable deductions.

Written by Nora A. Jones
 

Volunteer attorneys present options regarding tenants’ potential eviction

It’s almost 5 p.m. Monday at the Irondequoit Public Safety Building and I am directed into Room B where volunteer attorneys from the NYS Appellate Division, Fourth Department are checking in with VLSP staff attorney Karen Chung to learn about the issues that brought numerous tenants to Town Court this evening.

Since January 2016, Alan Ross, AD4th Deputy Court Clerk, has worked behind the scenes to ensure VLSP has attorneys to staff the Tenant Town Court Program twice a month.  From the Office of Attorneys for Children, Linda Kostin also helps recruit volunteers, facilitating training and collaboration for new law clerks cycling through the Fourth Department.

John T. Ryan and Gabriela Wolfe are both on two-year assignments as court attorneys, Ryan starting last August, and Wolfe now in her second year.

Ryan, who spent two years as an associate at a small firm before coming to the Appellate Division noted, “In tenant court, there is no time to make sure you are perfect on the law, it is about understanding your client’s situation and finding a solution that works best for them.”

Wolfe, a 2016 Syracuse Law graduate, added: “I have participated approximately 5 times and always come away feeling as if I have directly and positively impacted someone’s life.  It can be challenging to meet and represent a client within such a tight timeframe, but it is certainly worth the almost palpable look of relief on the faces of those clients I am able to help.”

            Nicole Thompson is finishing her Monroe Community College Paralegal Certification program and is volunteering with VLSP to meet the pro bono requirement of her legal certification program.  She’s quick to greet clients looking for help and gets their basic information collected on some forms on a clipboard.  

 “I plan to come back and volunteer in the future,” Thompson said.

Once clients were all checked in Thompson had the opportunity to observe Linda Kostin’s discussion with a client about a payment schedule for overdue rent.  Kostin and the attorney for the landlord were able to negotiate a settlement with payments spread over several weeks.  The court accepted their terms and eviction was avoided.

This particular Monday evening there are four tenants seeking relief from imminent eviction.  Most hinge on money owed.  The problem is, most tenants do not know their options or how to go about negotiating a payment plan the landlord will accept. 

“Most clients don’t know what their options are, and having a volunteer attorney walk through the choices goes a long way towards calming the panic a notice of eviction puts into people,” VLSP attorney Karen Chung explained. 

Additional attorneys from the Appellate Division who currently volunteer for the program include Michael G. Paul, Michael Tuohey, Lisa Paine, Adam Oshrin, Joe Dinolfo, Kristen Henderson, Kristen Warner, Erin Sanger, Cory Schoonmaker, Jon Caterero, Michael Staszkiw, and Maria Gaige.

Because many of the court attorneys involved are on two-year assignments at the Appellate Division, reinforcements have been needed at times to meet client needs.  That’s where Nixon Peabody, LLP came to the rescue on several occasions.  Special thanks to Darren Miller and Daniel Brennan for responding to the plea for help.

Written by Nora A. Jones

Thanks to All Who Made Art of Lawyering a HUGE SUCCESS

VLSP’s 2017 Art of Lawyering fundraiser was truly the best one yet—especially in terms of raising
funds. More than DOUBLE the proceeds compared to the 2015 Art of Lawyering.

And we couldn’t have done it without all of you who attended, all of you who donated your artistic offerings, all of you who entertained us and all of you who provided food and beverages at no cost.

A round of applause for the donation of the Village Gate venue by Stern Management and numerous other sponsors whose in-kind or financial contribution helped enormously! And a special shout-out to Sedgewick Business Interiors for the fabulous office chair to auction; W. B. Mason for the amazing Yankees package; and Bellangelo Estates for the one-of- a-kind winery guest house package.

A toast to Constellation Brands for their sponsorship and donation of wine, along with a toast to the many attendees who bid successfully on a wide variety of creative items and packages.

Looking at the specific numbers, the 2017 net proceeds totaled $24,804.

The FUN factor also seemed to surpass all previous Art of Lawyering events.

“The Village Gate space evokes a spirit of fun,” one guest noted.

“I never saw a LIVE mannequin before,” admitted another.

Special Counsel, the Lisa Winter Group, Danielle Ponder, and Biodance Dance Company added to the festive atmosphere just as Lento, India House, Good Luck, Black Button Distillery, Get Caked Bakery, California Rollin’, The Olney Place, Rooster Hill Vineyards, and Wright Beverage pleased the discriminating palate.

The 2017 event co-chairs, David Tennant and Mary Ognibene, were seen giving “high fives” to all their committee members for several days after the event. For those interested in helping with the 2019 Art of Lawyering – get on board now by contacting David Tennant: dtennant@nixonpeabody.com.


Written by Nora A. Jones

Rochester’s PSAP initiative going strong at 8 months

Launched in February 2017, the Federal Pro Se Assistance Program (PSAP) has been operating out of the Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building each Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. Starting this fall, those hours have expanded to include Fridays, noon to 2 p.m. also.

The PSAP was started by U.S. District Court Judge William Skretny in 2013 in Buffalo as a
collaboration between the University at Buffalo School of Law and the U.S. District Court of the Western District of New York.

In order to expand to Rochester, VLSP joined the effort to help coordinate volunteers to staff the program walk-ins. In the months since February, approximately 42 pro se individuals have been helped in 18 sessions. With fall semester underway, there will be 22 sessions to staff. VLSP Staff Attorney Karen Chung is still recruiting experienced federal court litigators or appellate attorneys to help with PSAP through the fall.

Vicki Economou (Rochester) and Emily Stouffer-Quinn (Nunda) were the UB law students selected for the initial Rochester launch. Both commuted to Buffalo for classroom work, but the PSAP program gave them the opportunity to get face-to- face client experience.

Lindsay Hartley and Emma Molodetz, both from Rochester, were the UB Law participants through the summer term, and they are staffing the fall semester sessions as well.

More and more pro se litigants are seeking relief in federal court, and such cases provide unique learning opportunities for law students, while moving cases forward in the very over-scheduled district court.

Professor Bernadette Gargano, who teaches the pro se civil litigation practicum at UB Law,
explained: “Students screen unrepresentated litigants for financial eligibility for the program and gather background information for the volunteer attorneys who will in turn offer limited scope legal assistance on civil claims being pursued in the WDNY.”

The volunteer attorneys who have participated in the PSAP program in Rochester to date include: Siddarth Bahl (Brenna Brenna & Boyce), Jared Cook (Adams Bell Adams PC), Justin Cordello (Cordello Law PLLC), Joseph Gawlowicz (Trevett Cristo), Barbara Heyne (solo practice), Timothy Hoover (Hodgson Russ LLP), Cindy Lapoff (Trevett Cristo), Michael Ognenovski (Thomson Reuters), David Rothenberg (Geiger & Rothenberg LLP), Ernest Santoro (Ernest D. Santoro, Esq. PC), Mark Whitford (Barclay Damon LLP), and Lisa Paine(Fourth Department, Mental Hygiene).

Written by Nora A. Jones

OH WHAT FUN! at the Art of Lawyering fundraiser

In an upbeat, social atmosphere, guests assembled for the 6th VLSP Art of Lawyering fundraiser on Oct. 19.

“The best one yet,” said one faithful attendee who stuck around until bid sheets were collected.

More food, more entertainment, and more auction items all contributed to the festive atmosphere at Village Gate.

At left, Judi Fonzi, Mary Grace Piazza, and Jim Fonzi enjoy a glass of Constellation’s donated wine before moving on to peruse the nearly 70 auction packages ranging from original art work to experiences like dinner parties and theatre tickets.

“I can’t believe I won the knitting lessons,” squealed Josie Sheppard as she bounced around the checkout table. “I can’t believe I am going to learn to knit!”


A performance by Biodance took advantage of the vast Village Gate space as the quartet of dancers made their way through the crowd. Black Button Distillery offered samplings of some fine adult beverages and Special Counsel serenaded the first 90 minutes of event.

“Thanks to all who attended, all who contributed, and all who came out for one of the most worthwhile events of the year,” noted David Tennant, event co-chair.

Long-time VLSP Executive Director Sheila Gaddis was there along with her successor, Tina Foster.

A live mannequin served as part of the entertainment, and the cash and carry boutique had some highly sought-after “lawyered up” tee shirts, wearable art designed by famed Texas lawyer/artist Charles Fincher who supported Art of Lawyering in 2015 and again this year.

Written by Nora A. Jones

Bob Hooks shares his experience ‘outside his comfort zone’

Willow Domestic Violence Center (formerly Alternatives for Battered Women) has provided services in the Rochester community for nearly 40 years. Many still think of it as ABW but the Willow Center’s new name and location have helped it broaden its reach.

Robert Hooks, partner at Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP, has 30 years of commercial litigation experience, and for nearly a decade, he has been stepping far outside his comfort zone to participate in the advice clinics held at Willow Center every other month.

“VLSP staff attorney Mary Beth Conway explains the services offered by VLSP and Legal Aid, and we listen to what the attendees have to say,” Hooks shares. “Most abused individuals are in relationships where their partner also controls the finances. They don’t understand their property rights or how the system works.”

Conway is the perfect Willow Center liaison as she also holds a Child Custody Clinic at VLSP offices twice a month and has years of experience in family/matrimonial law.

“The Willow Center clinics are very much a general advice clinics,” Conway says. “It is a group setting and there is always an opportunity for the individuals to ask questions.”

“There is never the same fact pattern,” Hooks adds. “Women from out-of- state or other countries often raise cross jurisdictional complications. The clinic participants may be from the city, the suburbs, or surrounding counties. Sometimes we see men who are abused. It is often women, but not
only women. They all have a story and they refuse to give up. The survivor instinct crosses all economic, age, and racial divides.”

Margaret Kreiss, Counseling Program Coordinator at Willow Center explains: “Domestic violence survivors often face multiple legal barriers in ultimately finding safety for themselves and their families. Willow has partnered with VLSP for over 15 years to meet this need, and to advise and empower survivors.”

Kreiss has been with Willow Center for nine years and adds, “The help and guidance VLSP and Mary Beth have provided our survivors is truly amazing.”

Written by Nora A. Jones

Debt Clinic volunteers make such a difference

If VLSP were to create an in-house dictionary, David MacKnight’s photo could logically go with the entry for Debt Clinic since he has volunteered at the clinic virtually since its inception in 1986, when MacKnight had a mere 10 years of experience at the firm now known as Lacy Katzen LLP.

“The people who come in for debt advice have generally become wedged into financial situations they just cannot extricate themselves from,” MacKnight acknowledged.  “Often their earning capacity has been compromised through illness or disability.”

The Debt Management Advice and Consultation Clinic consists of two sessions, each held in alternate months.  The first session, held at the Federal Court in Rochester, involves an experienced bankruptcy attorney providing general advice to a group about the debt collection process, how to handle harassing phone calls, and information about Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. 

   “The clients who come to the first clinic often assume they need to file for bankruptcy, but that isn’t always the best solution, or the necessary next step,” MacKnight explained.

Individuals who attend the first group session are then assessed for eligibility to attend a second session which consists of one-on-one consultations with experienced bankruptcy attorneys.  VLSP has a panel of volunteers that includes at least 25 names.  Some of those names, like MacKnight, are active all year every year, as are many of his colleagues.

“I think any attorney who practices bankruptcy law has an inner desire to help individuals,” MacKnight added, when asked about his loyalty in volunteering. 

VLSP Staff Attorney Karen Chung oversees the Debt Clinic, ensuring volunteers are available for each clinic, and that includes paralegal volunteers as well. 

“We have two very dedicated paralegals from Thomson Reuters who have years of experience at the clinic, said Chung, in reference to long-time volunteers Karen Drysdale and Patricia Carey.

So maybe we need multiple photos attached to the Debt Management Advice and Consultation Clinic entry in our VLSP Monroe County, Inc. glossary of terms.

Written by Nora A. Jones

What do all of these items have in common?

Photo on metal by Ross Lanzafame

Keurig K145

Vintage brooch necklace by Mary Chao

Two luxury box seats for a 2018 Yankees game

2 tickets to a 2017-18 Geva production

Beginner & intermediate knitting lessons

Still life by Jill Paperno

All will be up for bid at the Oct. 19 Art of Lawyering

Advance tickets now available for $30 at https://www.vlsprochester.org/art-of-lawyering

$35 at the door.  Reception and silent auction from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Rochester’s Village Gate.

Food and beverages donated by:  Lento,  Good Luck,  Black Button Distilling,  California Rollin’,  Wright Beverage, India House Restaurant, Get Caked Bakery, Rooster Hill Vineyards, The Olney Place …& more

Music and entertainment while you shop. Auction closes at 7:45. Come early, bid often.

Cash & Carry Boutique will again feature Art of Lawyering beer glasses and other novelties including aprons, potholders, dish towels, and edible art.

Written by Nora A. Jones

Fundraising committee still accepting artwork for Art of Lawyering

T

he October 19 Art of Lawyering (AOL) event is taking shape and the deadline for donating art work or artistic experiences is August 31, 2017.

From left:  Lewis Migliore, David Tennant,
Brittany Belknap, Nora Jones, Mary Ognibene,
Louise Spinelli and Carrie Schreiner. 

AOL Committee members pictured here are holding sample art donations already submitted. Thanks to Jill Paperno (oil paintings), Richard Margolis (photo books), John M. Schmidt (watercolor) and many others who have signed up to participate.  We can still use more!   Easy sign up :  https://www.vlsprochester.org/art-of-lawyering.

It is of course more difficult to “picture” some of the intangible experiences that will also be offered at the October 19 silent auction to be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Village Gate, but there will be plenty of experiential items to bid on, too.  An hour of piano playing by MCBA Foundation Board Member John Williams;  dance lessons by Jay Reust, knitting lessons, a month of ballet lessons for a child, a family membership to Writers & Books plus $100 towards classes.  

How about a New York Yankees home game of your choice in the 2018 season… two luxury box tickets donated by W.B. Mason.  Some may argue that isn’t really an artistic experience, but what the heck.  We are pleased to have this donation and you’ll have a chance to bid on it!

An art donation valued at $50 or more earns at least one admission ticket for the October 19^th event which will include delightful food and beverages from Lentos, California Rollin,’ Black Button Distilling, Get Caked and other local favorites. 

Tickets to the event can be secured online for $30 in advance:  https://www.vlsprochester.org/art-of-lawyering or $35 at the door.  Free valet parking will be offered at the Goodman St. entrance so you don’t have to worry about parking! 

Written by Nora A. Jones

A local story about cabbage

The Finger Lakes region is rich in agriculture and many of the crops require intense physical labor during the harvest.  Take cabbage, for example. 

I know you’ve seen these cabbage fields as you head to the family cottage or take the kids camping. 

The town of Phelps in Ontario County is known as the Sauerkraut Capital of the World. Maybe you’ve been to the annual festival.

New York State is third in the nation in the business of growing cabbage.

But who picks all that cabbage?

Lucky for us, there are immigrants willing to do this seasonal, back-breaking work.  Unfortunately, not all such workers have proper documentation, and in today’s political climate, that creates stress for the whole family.

Family Preparedness Clinics are being offered in rural settings around Rochester through the partnership of Volunteer Legal Services Project, Inc., the Worker Justice Center of New York (WJCNY), and the Cornell University Farmworker Program. 

The Jan. 25, 2017 executive order signed by President Donald Trump significantly changed the enforcement priorities for removal of undocumented immigrants.  The danger of deportation reaches rural families where one parent may be undocumented, and detention and deportation may occur because of a routine traffic stop.

“An undocumented working parent may be detained while innocently being a passenger in a car that was stopped for an expired registration,” explained VLSP staff attorney Vasanthi Pillai.  “His or her children are U.S. citizens, and the family may suddenly be torn apart.”

Volunteer attorneys meet with families at the Family Preparedness Clinics to talk about procedures for legal permanent residence, naturalization, and related matters, along with setting up parental designation documentation appointing a third party to provide basic child care in their absence.  Many of the families also seek the appointment of a power of attorney so their financial affairs can be managed in the event they are suddenly detained or deported.

Four clinics were held between April and June in Elba, Sodus, Brockport and Geneseo.  VLSP Executive Director Sheila Gaddis created the program in response to a significant need in our agriculturally rich region.  More clinics are being scheduled.

The threat of deportation carries with it the potential consequences of the U.S.-born children being deported along with the parent simply because the family has no other plan in place. 

Farm owners also worry about immigration enforcement as most crops have a short window for harvest – four to six weeks – and having workers detained or deported can mean crops rot in the field. 

So next time you have a side of coleslaw or a serving of sauerkraut, I hope you’ll remember the people that helped put that cabbage on your plate and say a little prayer for their safekeeping.

Written by Nora A. Jones  

FUN for you -- FUNdraising for VLSP

If you attended Art of Lawyering in 2015, you already have an idea of how much fun it is to browse a one-of-a-kind silent auction while being entertained with music, food, beer tasting, and to wander around a unique repurposed building: our very own Village Gate.

A sneak peek at the entertainment for Oct. 19

·         Special Counsel (jazz ensemble with attorney-musicians you know)

·         Jay Ruest demonstrating dance lessons which will be up for bid

·         Josh & Natalie Pincus – musical duo with pop song vocals

·         Monroe County Assistant DA Daniel Ponder on guitar

·         Lisa Winter –singer/songwriter

Textile by Jean McCreary

Several local artists from the Neighborhood of the Arts have contributed their artwork to this year's auction along with some of the perennial attorney-artists who have wowed us with previous work.  Join the list of contributing artists, including:   Henry Avignon, Alan Singer, Richard Harvey, Jeanne Bowman, Hon. Jerry Alonzo, Jean McCreary, Richard Margolis, Ross Lanzafame, Nicole Black, Jill Paperno. 

So what are you waiting for?  

Mark your calendar for the October 19 event; contribute a piece of art before the end of August; see link above to purchase tickets in advance and/or to register a donation; invite your friends and family for a fun evening out. 

In addition to pottery, jewelry, textiles, woodwork, paintings, and more, you will have the opportunity to bid on various experiences, such as a memoir-writing class, art lessons at Anderson Alley, a luxury box for two at a 2018 Yankees game of your choice….  DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION YET!                                              

See prior blog posts to learn more about VLSP programs and volunteers helping many low-income families.

Written by Nora A. Jones

   

Extraordinary dedication demonstrated by McKnight awardees

The William E. McKnight Award for Pro Bono Service includes a long list of deserving honorees and for 2017 two more names join the prestigious list:   Alissa Fortuna-Valentine and Derrick Spatorico. 

Derrick Spatorico & Laura Smalley on Law Day

Here's what you need to know: Spatorico, a partner at Pheterson, Spatorico, Neilans LLP, is not new to taking VLSP cases.  He’s been very generous with his time. But his dedication to a mortgage foreclosure lawsuit spanned three calendar years and involved 1,125 pro bono hours.  The case culminated in a trial in January 2017 with Spatorico getting a judgment for his client to keep the home. 

Alissa Fortuna-Valentine

Fortuna-Valentine, an associate at Phillips Lytle LLP, accepted a family law matter for VLSP after another Phillips Lytle attorney helped the client obtain access to the court.  Because of the urgency of the custody matter, she needed to devote more than 126 hours in a short period of time.  It was a difficult and complex case – outside of her primary field, but she embraced the challenge and made a difference.   Her zealous representation of a father in a custody matter put her on this year’s list of McKnight awardees.

The VLSP award is named in honor tof the first African-American partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, who was dedicated to equal justice. He was a member of the VLSP board in its formative years and a key volunteer in handing difficult and complex immigration cases for people with no means to pay. 

In recent years, the following individuals have also been recognized with the McKnight award, each with their own stories of making a difference. 

2016: Matthew Fero, Andrew Martin, and Gary Van Graafeiland

2015: Sandra Williams

2014: Sanjeev Devabhakthuni, John Garrett, and Marla Pilaoscia

2013: Michael Schnittman, Karen Smith Callahan, Steven Carling

Written by Nora A. Jones

Paralegals gain client exposure via Help Center

The Paralegal Studies Certificate Program at Monroe Community College requires work-related experience, including some pro bono work, so a partnership with Volunteer Legal Services Project, Inc. has worked well for many years.

More recently paralegal students have helped to staff the Seventh Judicial District and
Rochester Central Library Help Centers, assisting VLSP staff attorney Scott MacPherson and VLSP paralegal Danielle Sharp with filling the 22.5 hours-per- week schedule.

The ABA approved paralegal studies program at MCC is headed by Michael Martella. The
curriculum was developed in partnership with the Monroe County Bar Association and the Paralegal Association of Rochester.

Judi Bogart, MCC paralegal at Help Center

“Since 2015, we’ve had about 40 paralegals gain experience at the Help Center,” MacPherson, who oversees the Help Centers for VLSP, said. “Paralegals tend to be very good with procedures and can provide assistance with forms.”

MCC’s Martella explained: “The students need internship experience and we ask that at least 10% of that experience is pro bono. The students get excellent paralegal experience under the supervision of VLSP’s staff attorneys while those in our community who vitally need civil legal services have access to help.”

In its fifth year of operation, the number of people seeking Help Center guidance has grown year after year. In 2016, the Help Centers served 2,831, compared to 2,305 in 2015.

“MCC Paralegal Program graduates have also landed jobs at VLSP, and students have come back to the classroom with experiences that are not only practical but impactful,” Martella continued.

To qualify for the approximately 15-month paralegal program, students must already have an Associates or Bachelors Degree. MCC students have gained pro bono experience through VLSP clinics and office work for a number of years, but the Help Center experience provides a new array of work-related experience.

Written by Nora A. Jones

Please put October 19th on your calendar now…

How is it possible that our community can be so rich with talented artists, and yet have an economic profile that includes a very large population living below the poverty level?  It is that exact paradox the Art of Lawyering fundraiser seeks to address as it plans its Thursday, October 19 auction and entertainment from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Village Gate on North Goodman.

You’ll want to save the date for a fun evening of “gallery browsing” as Volunteer Legal Services Project hosts a silent auction with all types of art and artistic experiences up for bid.  There will be food, beverages, and musical entertainment – and more!  So that’s October 19; tickets are $30 advance or $35 at the door.  (Save the date card designed in collaboration with School of the Arts.)

We have already secured a few items for the auction from within the Neighborhood of the Arts, along with a handful of items from artistically-blessed members of the legal community. But we also seek pottery, sculpture, dinner parties, framed paintings and photographs, jewelry, textile art, and you name it.  Donated items are needed by August 31, but we’d love to know your intentions in advance so we can plan our gallery.  If you have art to donate, please take a moment now to go to the VLSP website and under the Art of Lawyering link, fill out the DONATE ART form.  www.vlsprochester.org/donate/art-of-lawyering.html

At least one artist from Anderson Alley has agreed to donate some art lessons and another provided a signed copy of one of his books of photography that captures local history.

In an era of alternate facts, some of our “art” may not be what you expect, e.g. we have a Kuerig Office Pro Brewing System up for bid this year…. Thank you FM Resources for your creative contribution!

There will be free Valet Parking at the Goodman St. entrance of Village Gate for the Oct. 19 evening of art.

Written by Nora A. Jones         

Campaign for Justice celebrates its MAGnificent donors

Valerie Kulik, CFJ Co-Chair Tom Durkin, 

Jeff Leichtnam and Amir Karahasnovic of D4 LLC

The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) was the setting for the Justice Society Donor Reception to conclude the 2016 campaign for civil legal service funding known as the Campaign for Justice. Those in attendance enjoyed the opportunity to network with colleagues, vendors, event sponsors, and many of the Campaign for Justice Cabinet members.
      

Individual donors who contribute $350 or more to the annual campaign are invited to the reception. For the third year in a row, Canandaigua National Bank, D4 LLC, Constellation Brands, and Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC have sponsored the event at no cost to the three organizations who benefit from the Campaign:  Volunteer Legal Services Project, Inc., Legal Aid Society of Rochester, and Legal Assistance of Western New York.  

 “We are blessed to have the caliber of attorneys working in the civil legal services,” Campaign Co-Chair Andrew Brown noted. “It is the community’s most vulnerable who benefit from the Campaign funding.”

 With $267,000 pledged to date, the leadership is still hopeful  that the $13,000 gap from goal will be filled in very soon.

Family Court Judge Joan Kohout
and Helen Zamboni

CFJ Co-Chair Andrew Brown with 

Steve Martin of Canandaigua National Bank 

and former CFJ chair Tom Richards.

      

William Lowe, Mike Schnittman, 

James McElheny, and Phil Spellane

Flor Colon and Valerie Bradley

March Madness Begins…

Whether or not you are a fan of college basketball and the way it takes over television networks and water cooler conversations this time of year, please join me in recognizing our own local spin on March Madness, courtesy of an annual fundraiser for civil legal services.

March 31 ends the fiscal year for the 2016 Campaign for Justice – and this year (like many) it is a mad scramble to the finish line. With days ticking by, the numbers are inching slowly toward the $280,000 goal – but they aren’t there yet.

On March 9 the, the gap from goal was $16,965 (or 94% complete); the next day the numbers shifted $600 to the good putting the balance at $16,365, putting us just over 95% of goal. Hooray!! But, if the pace doesn’t pick up for the last three weeks of March, this is going to be a nail-biter.

CFJ Co-chair Andrew Brown stated: “We are extremely grateful to all those who have already contributed and now make a special plea to others to help us close the gap in the coming days.”

The Justice Society Donor Reception is already scheduled for March 23 5:30- 7:30 at the Memorial Art Gallery for individual donors who contributed $350 or more to this year’s campaign. The social gathering includes remarks by U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth Wolford.

Looking back to last year’s CFJ Donor Reception, it appears the Campaign had $283,935 in pledges. However, 12 months later, there is still a $10,000 gap in the 2015 paid pledges to pledge commitments. So let this be an appeal to pledge fulfillment for BOTH campaigns.

The Justice Society was created to honor individuals at and above a certain dollar-level. For this year’s campaign individual donors comprised 40% of the contributions and 15 vendors also pledged at least $350 to this year’s Campaign.

Written by Nora A. Jones

A Latin lesson... for the public good...

Pro bono publico is the full Latin phrase that is often shortened to pro bono in day-to-day speech. It’s about 50 years since I took Latin 101,* but a recent Facebook quiz (48 questions!) refreshed my memory. For the exact translation of “pro bono” the answer choices were (a) for free; (b) for the good.

Curriculum vitae also popped up among the questions: is it (a) one’s accomplishments or (b) the course of one’s life?

In the course of Derrick Spatorico’s life (Pheterson Spatorico LLP), he took on a pro bono case in March 2015 that finally concluded in January 2017.

When he responded to a VLSP urgent call for volunteers in early 2015, he never imagined spending hundreds of hours over the course of some 23 months. Empire Justice was defending a husband and wife facing eviction and a partition action based on foreclosure on a second mortgage. They needed co-counsel to defend the wife as the developer filed a complaint against the now elderly couple.

“Had I known it would take so many months of work, I would have thought twice about taking the case,” admitted Spatorico. “It ended up being the right decision because this lady really needed my help. As I get older, I see more and more people who are in need of good legal services. I encourage my young associates to donate time every year.”

Vasanthi Pillai, VLSP staff attorney overseeing the case assignment, was pleased to share the news that the trial ended in January –with a result favorable to the home owners.

Without Mr. Spatorico’s dedication, for the public good, the result would have been different. And pro bono work has been a part of his life experience in the course of his career.

Written by Nora A. Jones 

 *Took 3 years of Latin at Ashtabula High School 1967- 1970; got a 93% on the FB quiz.

Just $21K to go... says CFJ Chair Andrew Brown

February is here, bringing back more hours of daylight and the promise of spring. Whether or not the ground hog saw his shadow doesn’t change that fact that there are only about 6 more weeks until the 2016 Campaign for Justice ends.
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Pledges currently stand at just over 92% of the $280,000 goal. Just a little over $21,000 is needed to reach this year’s goal. In the grand scheme of things, $21k is not that much, but without it, the civil legal service agencies would leave an even wider gap in the unmet needs of Rochester’s poverty level residents.

Assistance with tenant evictions, child custody, and consumer debt are just some of the areas where a lawyer’s help and guidance will likely make a significant difference in outcome. Even now we only meet some of the community’s needs, and the full Campaign for Justice goal is needed to maintain status quo.
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For those campaign donors who were putting off their pledge until the new year, the time is now to make your contribution. Campaign Cabinet members, volunteers, and legal agency staff have likely phoned or nudged you a couple of times, so your follow through now is most welcome.

A LawNY team reaches out to potential donors