Community > Pro Bono Representation of the Indigent
PDF Representation of a Client in a Predatory Lending Matter
The victim of predatory lending, 85 year-old Mary recounts a day five years ago when she was approached by a door-to-door mortgage broker. Befriending the elderly African-American widow, the broker made his pitch. He said that he represented a mortgage lender who could loan Mary money to pay off her bills, that she would pay lower mortgage payments, and get a lower interest rate than she had on her existing mortgage. It seemed like a good deal, and she accepted it.
Unbeknownst to Mary, most of her precious equity was swallowed up in excessive charges and broker fees, and she never received the lower payments and interest rate promised. Instead, her mortgage expense substantially increased, quickly depleting her meager monthly government check. Consequently, less than a year after the broker’s visit, she found herself in foreclosure. Adding insult to injury, Mary could do little to defend her home because while the lender’s lawyers pushed ahead, she lay in a hospital bed with an ailment, saddled with medical bills, and financially incapable of hiring counsel. Helpless against the lender, a Miami-Dade Court entered a foreclosure judgment.
Learning of Mary’s plight, Mary’s former employer reached out to litigators at the Miami office of the Firm. After interviewing Mary, examining her mortgage documents, and conducting a deposition of the door-to-door broker, the firm was able to set aside the foreclosure judgment and assert various counterclaims on Mary’s behalf. Eventually, the Firm obtained a favorable settlement on Mary’s behalf which allowed her to keep her home. The Firm’s attorneys and paralegals put in 475 hours over three years to bring this case to a successful conclusion.
Current Representation of Elderly Client in a Predatory Lending Matter
The Firm is currently representing a sixty-nine year-old infirm widow, who was swindled out of the home that she owned and resided in for more than twenty years by a predatory lending offering to help pay her modest past due tax bill and make repairs to her home. Using predatory practices and deceptive means, the defendant tricked the widow into signing numerous documents, which effectively stripped her of all her interest in her property. The widow never intended to transfer title to the property and never received any consideration for the transfer. The defendant subsequently mortgaged the property and then sold it to a third party. The widow only learned of this scheme when she received an eviction notice.
This case was referred to the Firm from Legal Services of Greater Miami. We have answered the eviction complaint and filed counterclaims alleging fraud and violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. We are vigorously trying to return to the widow what is rightfully hers. To date our firm’s attorneys have provided over 825 hours of free legal services on this matter.
Representation of an Indigent State Inmate in a Federal Lawsuit
Attorneys from the Firm represented an indigent state inmate in a federal lawsuit alleging that prison officials violated his First Amendment rights by punishing him for filing grievances about correctional officers' conduct. With the Firm's assistance, the case survived summary judgment and proceeded to a jury trial. The Firm’s attorneys and paralegals worked over 400 hours on this case.
Pro Bono Matters for Residents of the Covenant House
Our Fort. Lauderdale office handles pro bono matters on behalf of the residents of the Covenant House Florida, a not-for-profit corporation serving runaways, the homeless, and at-risk youth under 21, including teen parents and their babies. The matters handled include assisting with immigration issues, consumer disputes, and landlord-tenant matters. Our attorneys have worked more than 85 hours on legal matters for these residents.
Representation of Children in Foster Care through Lawyers for Children America
Several of the Firm’s attorneys represent children in foster care through Lawyers for Children America. In these cases, the Firm’s attorneys represent the child on a volunteer basis, as representation is not mandated in Florida. During the past two years, our attorneys have successfully served as attorneys ad litem for four children in the dependency court system. These cases concluded when the children were adopted or aged out of the dependency court system. We currently have five pending cases.
Bankruptcy Cases
Our bankruptcy attorneys regularly handle pro bono cases. Last year alone, our attorneys provided over 100 hours of free legal services to those facing bankruptcy and unable to afford legal services.
Legal Services for Veterans
One of our attorneys in our Fort. Lauderdale office volunteers her time and legal expertise to help veterans with veteran’s benefits, disability, tax and social security issues. Last year she devoted over 100 hours to providing this service.
Participation in South Florida Ghetto Reparations Work Payment Program
The Firm is participating in a pro bono project to assist Holocaust survivors fill out applications for a reparations program recently initiated by the German government to compensate residents of ghettos during World War II for work performed on a voluntary basis. The German government’s definition of “voluntary work” is work performed without a threat of death or work performed by a laborer who had some control over how the work was performed. The Firm’s participating attorneys pre-screened potential claimants, attended a firm-sponsored clinic on December 15, 2008, and have assisted potential claimants through home visits. To date, the Firm’s attorneys have devoted over 300 hours to this project as well as substantial staff support necessary for the clinic. The Firm worked together with many other local law firms and attorneys to service the South Florida community.