Working Together for Justice 2014 Annual Report Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc. 1975-2014
President s Page by: Major Scott Ballou It has truly been my pleasure and honor to serve as the 2014 President of the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society. Over the course of this last year you ll be proud to know that the Legal Aid Society has continued its long tradition of community service. The men and women who staff the Seminole County Legal Aid Society, including Ms. Silvia McLain, are the real reasons for the success and the tremendous accomplishments denoted in this report. Beyond the employees of the Seminole County Legal Aid Society, there are many others who volunteer their time in the furtherance of the goals and objectives of the organization. These accomplishments and our future successes are dependent on the many attorneys, and their staffs, who work tirelessly on the pro bono cases that are referred to them each and every day by the Seminole County Legal Aid Society. Within this past fiscal year the Seminole County Legal Aid Society, working closely with its partners and attorneys in Seminole County, have begun an initiative working with Veteran s Court and on veteran s projects. In all we have assisted 56 veterans with legal needs. One such case was a veteran who is a widowed father of two minor children. The Legal Aid Society is assisting this man and his children in establishing a guardianship and trust for the property of his deceased wife and the proceeds of her life insurance policy. The Seminole County Legal Aid Society is working with developmentally disabled foster children who have applied for benefits with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Unfortunately, many of the children in the foster care system are denied eligibility when applying for these benefits. The goal of this initiative is to change that reality and ensure that these vulnerable foster care children receive benefits that will significantly improve their lives. Over the course of 2014 the Legal Aid Society provided free services to 1,101 impoverished residents of Seminole County. Pro bono attorneys handled 134 cases and, 82 attorneys provided an in lieu of service contribution of $350 apiece. Staff and pro bono attorneys presented 64 legal seminars to the community, including three presentations on Advance Directives to senior citizens in three cities: Longwood, Oviedo and Sanford. I would be remiss if i did not take the time to acknowledge my fellow Board members. This diverse team has made my term as president stress-free, and pressed us to continue fulfilling the mission of the Seminole County Legal Aid Society. We greet the future with anticipation that 2015 will allow us to continue and further the good work that has become the practice of the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society. We look forward to continuing our working relationship with the partners and exceptional attorneys who represent and support our organization. Scott Ballou
Table of Contents Page Mission and Achievements 1 Domestic Violence Project 2 Attorneys Fighting for Seriously Ill Children 3 Disabled Child Advocacy Project 4 Veteran Project 5 Elder Legal Advocacy Project 5 A Place to Call Home Housing Project 6 Legal Education & Community Involvement Project 7 Access to Justice 8 Pro Bono Report 9-13 2014 Volunteers and Interns 14 Volunteers in Action 15-16 2014 Award Recipients 17-22 Board of Directors 23 Legal Aid Staff 24 2014 Silent Auction Donors 25 2014 Pro Bono Recognition Sponsors 26-30
Mission and Achievements The Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society set out in 1975 to provide free, quality legal advocacy to economically-disadvantaged residents of Seminole County with the objective of improving their quality of life and enhancing their self-sufficiency. We are proudly celebrating 39 years of service. Seminole County residents with incomes at or below 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Level are financially eligible for our legal services. Priority is given to financially eligible persons who have an urgent legal problem, which if not addressed, would result in a substantial deterioration in living conditions. These conditions can vary from a loss of housing to the deterioration of safety as a consequence of domestic violence, abuse or neglect. These services are provided through the unified efforts of pro bono attorneys, staff attorneys, dedicated support staff, volunteer law and college students and laypersons, along with the strong leadership of a devoted board of directors. As a result of this collaboration, we are able to provide legal assistance in various areas of the law such as family, housing, employment, bankruptcy, guardianship of the disabled and incapacitated, immigration, juvenile, elder, foreclosure and consumer. Our program is funded by the generous contributions of our volunteer attorneys, Seminole County, Heart of Florida United Way, the Florida Bar Foundation, Ryan Foundation, Harper Family Charitable Foundation, Galloway Foundation, City of Altamonte Springs and numerous Federal and State Grants. This past fiscal year, our volunteer and staff attorneys served 1,101 families, which included 1,344 children, with their legal needs. We obtained $292,129.68 in child support and alimony to sustain needy families. Volunteer attorneys donated pro bono legal services valued at an estimated $273, 525 and contributed $27,220 in lieu of service donation. We have developed a number of special projects to serve the individual needs of the economically disadvantaged. These projects are detailed in the following pages. 1
Domestic Violence Project Since 2007, we have received funding from a Federal grant to provide free legal services to victims of domestic violence in Seminole County. The federal grant ended in March of 2014. We have been fortunate to recently receive a grant from Seminole County Community Assistance to continue to provide these vital services to our community. Along with continued funding from the Galloway Foundation and Ryan foundation, we are able to assist victims of domestic violence and their children with their legal needs. This past year, we were able to assist 72 victims including 83 of the victims children. Florida Department of Law enforcement reports, for 2013, that there existed 2,422 incidents of domestic violence in Seminole County (including one murder and eighteen incidents of rape). About 80% of domestic violence incidents go unreported. An estimated 60,000 adults are victimized annually in Central Florida along with the tab associated with domestic violence including judicial, child abuse, medical and mental health care is about $226 million annually in Central Florida. The often unseen cost of domestic violence is its impact on young children. Children from abusive homes live in fear and often suffer emotional and behavioral problems. As a result, they perform poorly in school and are much more likely than other children to abuse drugs and alcohol and to drop out of school. To help break this cycle of violence, Legal aid provides aggressive representation in obtaining injunctions for victims with young children. Domestic violence does not only happen to adults. Forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend, and approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. - Dianne Feinstein 2
Attorneys Fighting for Seriously Ill Children A child s serious illness is among the most heart wrenching crisis parents ever face. And at the same time they cope with their family s fears and suffering, they must also struggle with the financial and legal burdens that often result from a child s illness. In 2013, an attorney who understood firsthand what a family with a seriously ill child goes through asked Legal Aid to develop a program to help families like his. He believed that attorneys could help comfort and stabilize these stricken parents by offering legal advice on the issues unique them, such as resolving coverage disputes with insurance companies; handling government paperwork for financial assistance; offering consumer debt counseling and bankruptcy representation. Our first case for this project involved Brian, a sweet 6 year child, who was diagnosed with Tuberous sclerosis is a rare multi-system genetic disease that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. A combination of symptoms may include seizures, intellectual disability, developmental delay, behavioral problems, skin abnormalities, lung and kidney disease. His family needed assistance to resolve a legal matter which would enable the family to better provide for Brian. A staff attorney for the legal aid program agreed to provide these services. Hiring an attorney can be financially impossible for many families already overwhelmed with a child s illness-related expenses. The Attorneys Fighting for Seriously Ill Children program confronts this barrier by providing pro bono services so that families may focus on what is most important the needs of their child. In order to qualify for the program, parents with seriously ill children must have a gross household incomes of less than $50,000 and uninsured medical bills equal to or more than their gross income. Legal Aid s attorneys meet first with qualified families to evaluate their needs. If litigation is required, Legal Aid may refer the matter to another pro bono or private attorney. 3
Disabled Child Legal Advocacy Project Angie Zarvatski's son, Coda, had his 18th birthday last year, making him an adult. But he's autistic, seldom speaks and cannot care for himself. His mother needed court approval to continue as his legal guardian. But she's a single mom and could not afford a lawyer. She turned to the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society. Lawyers there took on the case and got the job done. "They were a blessing," Zarvatski said. "They held my hand all the way through all the steps." In 2014, Legal Aid has helped seven families establish guardianship for their disabled children and filed more than one hundred annual guardianship reports with the court. These children have been diagnosed a disability such as Autism, Cerebral palsy, Spina bifida, Prader-Willi syndrome, Intellectual disabilities or Down syndrome. When the child turns 18 years of age, the parent needs legal assistance to obtain guardianship and continue to make decisions for the child. Harper Family Charitable Foundation assists with the funding of the Disabled Children Advocacy Project. Helping Disabled Foster Care Children This year, the legal aid program expanded the Disabled Child Advocacy Project to include services for developmentally delayed foster care children involved in a dependency case in Seminole County. Currently, we are assisting seven (7) developmentally disabled children apply for benefits with the Agency with Persons with Disabilities. Children with disabilities were found to be at greater risk of becoming victims of abuse and neglect than children without disabilities. The study showed that children with disabilities are 1.8 times more likely to be neglected, 1.6 times more likely to be physically abused, and 2.2 times more likely to be sexually abused than children without disabilities. 4
Veteran Project Florida has the second-largest population of homeless veterans in the nation, behind California. From 2008 to 2010, the population of homeless veterans in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties nearly doubled to 1,250. Three-quarters live on the streets, in abandoned buildings or cars or in camps. We commenced a Veterans project in February 2014 to provide free legal services to low income Veterans and Families to enhance their stability. We have been able to help 56 veterans with various legal issues. We have also partnered with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Clermont Vet Center to provide free office space every third Wednesday of the month to provide free services to Seminole County Veterans. The goal of the Vet Center program is to provide a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral services to eligible veterans in order to help them make a satisfying post-war readjustment to civilian life. Elder Legal Advocacy Project Seniors are a growing and vital segment of our community. Our Elder Legal Advocacy project seeks to protect seniors. The goal is to preserve the quality of life of senior citizens, enhance their independence by providing legal advice and help to defend their legal rights to preserve their respected place in the community. This fiscal year alone our project has assisted 102 elderly individuals with free legal services regarding evictions, predatory lending in mortgage foreclosures, garnishments, collection matters, guardianships, temporary custody by extended family and property maintenance issues. The project this year has partnered with Meals on Wheels, Inc. to provide the seniors in Seminole County with advance directives, including living will, power of attorney and designation of health care surrogate. 5
A Place to Call Home Housing Legal Advocacy Project According to a study recently released by the Federal Government, Orange, Seminole, and Osceola Counties combined rank second for both the total number of homeless people and for the total number of homeless veterans. The goal of the A Place to Call Home Project is to achieve housing security for Seminole County s low-income residents by providing legal assistance to resolve a housing problem or dispute that threatens families loss of their home. In 2014, Legal Aid represented 340 individuals and families who faced the loss of their homes. The effects of mortgage foreclosure and eviction extend far beyond the individuals who lose their homes. The costs include increased crime and neighborhood blight, along with reduced property values and tax revenue. Homelessness affects the community. Each chronically homeless person in Central Florida costs the community roughly $31,000 a year, The price tag covers the salaries of law-enforcement officers to arrest and transport homeless individuals, largely for nonviolent offenses such as trespassing, public intoxication or sleeping in parks, as well as the cost of jail stays, emergency-room visits and hospitalization for medical and psychiatric issues. It also has a profound affect on the children. Recent study shows that 40 percent of homeless children were still suffering from developmental and mental concerns a year after they were rehoused. Homelessness has an adverse effect on children s educational progress because of problems relating to accessing schools, attendance, and the isolation that children can feel due to their circumstances. Evidence suggests that homeless children tend to have lower academic achievements which can increase the likelihood of insecure or low-paid jobs or unemployment in the future. Legal assistance in housing cases levels the playing field and encourages parties to work together to save the home, to maintain community stability and reach a more favorable outcome for all parties. 6
Legal Education and Community Relations Project This past fiscal year we have partnered and coordinated our efforts with various organizations and community groups to meet the ever growing needs of our community s most vulnerable citizens. Collaborating with these organizations and Pro Bono lawyers enhances our ability to serve the legal needs of low income residents of Seminole County. There were a total of 64 educational seminars or staff presentations conducted this fiscal year. The following are a few examples: Christian HELP: Every month our staff attorneys make legal education presentation to the Central Florida Job initiative project to assist participants overcome legal issues that can deter their ability to find employment. Habitat of Humanity: Every quarter one of our pro bono attorneys makes a presentation to the participants about legal issues that can deter home ownership. Goodwill Industries: Every quarter our pro bono attorneys provide a legal presentation on expungement of a crime to help the participants find employment. Children Medical Services: One of our staff attorneys made a legal presentation concerning guardian advocacies to their nurses and social workers as part of their continuing education requirements. Over 25 participants attend the event as well as the presentation was simultaneously broadcasted to other offices. Meals on Wheels: Our pro bono attorneys and staff attorneys provide numerous presentations at meal sites concerning advance directives and assisted the participants in completing the advance directives. Safehouse: Staff attorneys provide presentations to the victims of domestic violence at the shelter concerning family law issues. Guardian Ad Litem: Staff attorneys and pro bono attorneys represent foster care children as attorney ad litem. Seminole County Child Abuse Task Force: Staff members attend the monthly meetings of the taskforce. Seminole County Domestic Violence Task Force: Staff attorney Yvonne Alonso participates in the Taskforce comprised of victim advocates, assistant state attorneys, law enforcement, and employees of domestic violence shelter. Greater Orlando Human Trafficking Task Force: Staff Attorney Sue Selsky participates in Bi monthly meetings to address the issue of Human Trafficking in central Florida. 7
Access to Justice In Seminole County, there are thousands of low-income individuals and families are trying to deal with difficult legal problems alone. For these families, access to justice is elusive, or worse, unattainable. Our clients are impoverished people who face real problems: The abused mother and child who need a safe home. The disabled veteran who is facing eviction. The mother of an 18 year old disabled child who needs to obtain guardianship. Case Highlight: Sarah applied for assistance with obtaining a Dissolution of Marriage from her estranged Husband. When applying, Sarah reported a significant history of domestic violence due in large part to her Husband s substance abuse. She was fearful of her Husband having unrestricted or unsupervised visits/timesharing with their two young children and desperately needed child support. With our assistance, Sarah brought her case to trial. The Judge entered a Final Judgment dissolving the parties marriage, granting the Husband supervised visits/ timesharing through a monitored visitation center, and requiring the Husband pay ongoing, monthly child support and more than $20,000 in retroactive child support. "It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope." - Robert F. Kennedy 8
Pro Bono Project Volunteer Attorneys donated over Seven Hundred Eighty-one and a half (781.5) hours valued at approximately $273,525 to render legal aid to the impoverished in Seminole County. These services include advice and counsel, pro se assistance and legal representation in court. Volunteer Attorneys contributed Twenty Seven Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty-Two dollars ($27,220) to the legal aid program representing in lieu of service donations. Volunteer Attorneys provided legal services to one hundred and thirty-four (134) low-income families in Seminole County. Volunteer Attorneys conducted 8 educational seminars and contributed 54.5 hours. This included Habitat for Humanity, Expunction workshops in partnership with GoodWill and Advance Directives workshops in partnership with Meals on Wheels, Etc. Pro Bono Family Law Legal Advice Clinic We have established a weekly family law advice clinic at the legal aid office located in historic Longwood. At this clinic, low-income residents of Seminole County are provided legal advice or brief legal services at no cost by pro bono attorneys. The individuals learn how to enforce child support or draft parenting plans or receive instructions concerning the correct manner to complete pro se pleadings by using the family law forms adopted by the Florida Supreme Court. Approximately thirty (30) individuals receive this valuable service each month. We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill 9
Pro Bono Attorneys Working with Indigent Senior Citizens in Conjunction with Meals on Wheels Attorney Steven Kramer conducts Advance Directives workshop for Meals on Wheels, Inc. in Longwood, Florida. Pro Bono Attorney Randy Bryan conducts an advance directive presentation in Oviedo. Attorney Joanna Caccioppoli conducts Advance Directives workshop for Meals on Wheels, Inc. in Longwood, Florida. This was an outstanding service for seniors in our community. Sherry Fincher Execu ve Director of Meals on Wheels September 25, 2014 10
Pro Bono Attorneys Working with Indigent Citizens in Conjunction with Goodwill Pro Bono Attorney, Robert Fisher conducting an expunction workshop. As a result of the workshops and the committed assistance from Legal Aid we are able to offer services that continue to improve and strengthen our community. Our job centers are successful due to the strong bonds that we hold with our community partners. Our partnership with Legal Aid allows us to provide services to a population that has multiple barriers to employment and self-sufficiency. - Anthony W. Brown Goodwill Coordinator Habitat Seminole-Apopka is grateful that the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society continues to partner with us in providing essential tools to our new homebuyers. - Gayle Fleming Family Services Director The ability to provide pro bono services to people who need legal representation but cannot afford it is an important responsibility and obligation of every attorney. But it is so much more. It is a gift of compassion to the community, its individuals, and its families that demonstrates the spirit of generosity and the heart of those who have trained for a noble profession in law. It is one of the core values that defines the legal profession and a privilege we, as attorneys, should sincerely honor by giving our services to those less fortunate. Barbara Coenson, Pro Bono Attorney 11
Attorneys participating in Pro Bono Panel 2014 J. Manuel Acevedo, Esq Brett Anthony, Esq. Bryant Applegate, Esq. Aaron Baghdadi, Esq. Laura Ballard, Esq. Beth Banerjee, Esq. David Barden, Esq. Christine Barrett, Esq. Marie Benjamin, Esq. Neal Blaher, Esq. Francis Brink, Esq. Nadine Brown, Esq. Randy Bryan, Esq. Susan Buhring, Esq. Carsandra Buie, Esq. Karl Burgunder, Esq. Joanna Caccioppoli, Esq. Shannon Campbell, Esq. Delton Chen, Esq. Andrew Chmelir, Esq. Evelyn Cloninger, Esq. Barbara Coenson, Esq. Stephen Coover, Esq. Heather Culp, Esq. Vicky Levy Eskin, Esq. Karen Estry, Esq Samuel Filler II, Esq. Robert Fisher, Esq. Jennifer Frank, Esq. Donna Goerner, Esq. Rachel Gorenflo, Esq. Erin Greene, Esq. Adam Haba, Esq. John Hamilton, Esq. Keith Hill, Esq. Amanda Jacobson, Esq. Thomas Janke, Esq. James Keeter, Esq. Steve Kramer, Esq. Steven Laurence, Esq. Michael Leetzow, Esq. Justin Leise, Esq. Norman Levin, Esq. Carmen Love, Esq. John Mahaffey, Esq. Richard Mamele, Esq. Joseph Mancuso, Esq. Winston McClean, Esq. Robert McIntosh, Esq. Mark McMillan, Esq. Michael Merrill, Esq. James Miller, Esq. Laura Moffett, Esq. Steven Nauman, Esq. Deborah O'Brien, Esq. Douglas Oswald, Esq. James Partlow, Esq. Shivon Patel, Esq. Thomas Peppler, Esq. Andrea Perkins, Esq. Linda Phipps, Esq. Michael Presutti, Esq. Lisa Ramsey, Esq. Taras Rudnitsky, Esq. Anjali Sareen, Esq. Neil Saydah, Esq. Justin Seekamp, Esq. Debra Simms, Esq. Megan Sladek, Esq. Marlon Smikle, Esq. Craig Sonner, Esq. Chris Sprysenski, Esq. Joseph Stella, Esq. Michael Tierney, Esq. Jonathan Torres, Esq. Raymond Traendly, Esq. Arlene Vellon, Esq. Stephanie Vollrath, Esq. Deborah Warner, Esq. Scot Warner, Esq. Tamesha Watson, Esq. Richard Weisberg, Esq. William Wieland, Esq. Stephanie Woods, Esq. Ben Zaeri, Esq. Philip Zyne, Esq. 12
Attorneys who Contributed in Lieu of Service donation Gary Abriola, Esq. Sandra Ambrose, Esq. A. Bryant Applegate, Esq. Matthews Bark, Esq. David Beers, Esq. Terry Bledsoe, Esq. Joseph Blitch, Esq. Brian Bolton, Esq. Robert Bonner, Esq. Michael Brehne, Esq. Jonathan Bukowski, Esq. Damon Chase, Esq. Zachary Cheek, Esq. Katherine Christy, Esq. Barbara Coenson, Esq. Richard Copeland, Esq. Michael Cortes, Esq. Michael Crofts, Esq. Michael De Filippo, Esq. Jeanie Dubinski, Esq. Harris Dvores, Esq. Maria Espinosa, Esq. Nicholas Evangelo, Esq. Debra Fields, Esq. John Finnigan, Esq. Robert Fisher, Esq. Richard Fox, Esq. Thomas Freeman, Jr., Esq. Bridget Friedman, Esq. Martin Friedman, Esq. Mary Gannon-McMurry, Esq. Ann Marie Gilden, Esq. Ian Gilden, Esq. James Gordon, Esq. Karen Greene, Esq. Jacquline Grossi, Esq. Veronica Harvey, Esq. George Helm III, Esq. Robert Hoogland, Esq. John Iriye, Esq. Harry Jacobs, Esq. John Jones, Esq. Gary Kaleita, Esq. Mary Beth Kelly, Esq. David Lane, Esq. Ian Larson, Esq. Marcia Lippincott, Esq. Anna Long, Esq. William McCabe, Esq. Bill McCollum Jr., Esq. Silvia McLain, Esq. Paul Moyer, Esq. Mark Nation, Esq. Jennifer Nelson, Esq. Amanda O Dell, Esq. Linda Lu Parkinson, Esq. Thu Pham, Esq. Thomas Pilacek, Esq. Vincent Profaci, Esq. Christopher Reed, Esq. Guy Rizzo, Esq. Krista Rogers, Esq. Thomas Rogers, Esq. William Roy Jr., Esq. Taras Rudnitsky, Esq. Dominick Salfi, Esq. Michael Saporito, Esq. Cameron Shackelford, Esq. Kellye Shoemaker, Esq. Monte Shoemaker, Esq. Elaine Silver, Esq. Susan Silver, Esq. Thomas Speer, Esq. Christopher Sprysenski, Esq. Leslie Stewart, Esq. Paul Thompson, Esq. James Vickaryous, Esq. Helen Von Dolteren-Fournier, Esq. Deborah Gallagher Warner, Esq. Scot Warner, Esq. Michael Wilson, Esq. 13
Volunteers and Interns College Students Brian Cohen (University of Central Florida) Rafael Colmenares (University of Central Florida) Latoya Laing (University of Central Florida) Zholey Martinez (University of Central Florida) Eileen Mendez (University of Central Florida) Maria Mootiram (Seminole State College) Nicholas Simons (University of Central Florida) Victoria Willingham, (Seminole State College) Bright Future Volunteer Jordan LeGrand (Lake Brantley High School) Law Students Karrie Goldwire Simmons (Barry University Law School) Michelle Gregory (Barry University Law School) Cynthia McGee (FAMU Law School) Donald Morrell (Barry University Law School) Alexis Peterson (FAMU Law School) Matthew Witlicki (Barry University Law School) 14
Volunteers and Interns Danielle Price, UCF Intern, conducts applicant interviews to determine eligibility. Latoya Laing, UCF Intern, conducts applicant interviews to determine eligibility. Brian Cohen, UCF Intern, conducts applicant interviews to determine eligibility. Eileen Mendez, UCF Intern, conducts applicant interviews to determine eligibility. Jordan LeGrand, Bright Future Lake Brantley High School Volunteer. Zholey Martinez, UCF Intern, conducts applicant interviews to determine eligibility. Victoria Willingham, SSC Legal Studies Intern. Maria Mootiram, SSC Legal Studies Intern. 15
Volunteers and Interns Rafael Colmenares, UCF Intern, conducts applicant interviews to determine eligibility. Nicholas Simons, UCF Intern, conducts applicant interviews to determine eligibility. Donald Morrell, Barry Law Student Intern. Michelle Gregory, Barry Law Student Intern. Karrie Goldwire-Simmons, Barry Law Student Intern. Matthew Witlicki, Barry Law Student Intern. 16
2014 Awards of Distinction Attorney of the Year Arthur Bryant Applegate Seminole County Attorney Bryant Applegate, an Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent rated attorney, has spent his entire legal career representing governments at all levels, national clients and non-profits on a wide range of issues, both as in-house and trial counsel. He has represented numerous local governments and constitutional officers in the State of Florida. He is a former Senior Counsel for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Ethics Advisor in the Office of Counsel to the President of the United States, and Co-Director of America s Affordable Communities Initiative. Former clients include the United States Inter Agency Council on Homelessness, Catholic Charities, the National Association of Realtors, the National Community Stabilization Trust and the Urban Land Institute. While serving at the Federal level, Mr. Applegate traveled throughout the country working with state and local governments on overcoming regulatory barriers to affordable and workforce housing. He also served as HUD s representative in New Orleans on the Federal task force overseeing emergency recovery efforts immediately after Hurricane Katrina. He established a pro-bono program helping families with seriously ill children and has twice been nominated for state judgeships. He is also the recipient of the 1994 Florida Young Lawyers Division Legal Aid Public Service Award and the Orange County, Florida Legal Aid Society s Award of Excellence. While working in Washington DC, Mr. Applegate also organized and operated an emergency cold-weather shelter for homeless families in Jefferson County, West Virginia. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors for the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law. The unsung heroes in our great profession are those that commit to pro bono service to those in dire need. Whether one works on just one case or dozens, the reward of hearing a client say thank you or getting a tearful hug from a mom or dad of a very ill child, will more than compensate for the time involved in helping those in need. For the greatest compensation comes from the heart. - Bryant Applegate 17
President Award Matthew Scott Ballou Married to Tesha Scolaro Ballou, Esq. Father of three daughters. Employed with the Seminole County Sheriff s Office1984 present. Thirteen years assigned to various investigative assignments including: Burglary, Arson, Major Crimes, City County Auto Theft Bureau, Financial Crimes, Federal Department of the Treasury Task Force Agent. Promoted through the ranks to the current rank of Major. In that capacity I oversee the Department of Youth Services which includes: The Juvenile Assessment Center, The Juvenile Detention Center, The Youth Intervention Services Unit, The Police Athletic League, The Division of Child Protective Services, The Crimes Against Children Unit, Innocent Images Federal Task Force; Adjunct Professor at Seminole State College of Florida 2002 2014; Basic Law Enforcement Academy; Patrol Techniques/Community Policing, Physical Training, Vehicle Operations. Education: Columbia College 2008; Criminal Justice / Political Science; FBI National Academy 2006; Executive Leadership Development. Major Ballou was unanimously elected to serve as President of the Legal Aid Board for the 2014 term. We are honored to have such a distinguished representative from the Seminole County Sheriff serve as president of our Board. Community Partner Award SafeHouse of Seminole As the CEO of the Seminole County Victims Rights Coalition (doing business as SafeHouse), Jeanne focuses on meeting the needs of at-risk women and children in the community. She raises funds and awareness for SafeHouse and its high-impact community programs serving survivors of violence by educating, cultivating and acquiring individual, corporate and foundation benefactors and volunteers as well as foundation and government grants. After receiving her Bachelor s Degree in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida, Jeanne moved to New York, graduating from New York Law School and returning to Florida in 1990. She was then tapped as a Prosecutor for the Offices of the State Attorney for both Orange and Seminole Counties, subsequently serving as Division Chief for Seminole County s Domestic Violence Division. She spent years battling domestic violence and fighting for victims rights, laying the groundwork for her commitment to helping women and her success with SafeHouse. The Legal Aid Program and Safehouse has had a successful collaborative program to assist victims of domestic violence with their legal needs for the last 7 years. 18
Young Lawyer Service Award Brett Anthony Brett M. Anthony, Esq. was born and raised in Altamonte Springs, FL. He attended Lake Mary High School before enrolling at the University of Miami to earn his Bachelor of Science in Education. Upon graduation, Brett returned home to work for Seminole County Public Schools and the Upward Bound Program at Rollins College to assist underprivileged high school students in the Central Florida area. Afterwards, Mr. Anthony decided to pursue a law degree and was awarded his Juris Doctor in May 2012 from Stetson University College of Law. During law school, Brett served as the American Bar Association s Law Student Division Liaison for Armed Forces Law, became a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children, and prepared tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. In addition, he interned with the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense and the Office of the Attorney General of Florida to gain practical experience. From an academic standpoint, he also earned the Book Award in International Human Rights for his paper entitled, An International Approach to Abolition of the Death Penalty in the United States: Utilizing Article 51 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to Eliminate Optional Protocols and Subject the USA to Article 40 Reporting Requirements. Since admission to the Florida Bar, Brett has worked as an Associate Attorney for Bouldin & Associates, P.A. in St. Petersburg, FL and the Tampa office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. before returning home to open the Anthony Law Firm. Attorney Anthony assisted a legal aid client who was a stay at home mother for 14 years with a dissolution of marriage involving 4 minor children. Attorney Anthony also is assisting a client who was married for 10 years with a history of domestic violence with a dissolution of marriage involving 3 minor children. Young Lawyer Service Award Aaron Baghdadi Aaron Baghdadi, Esq. graduated from FSU Law and was admitted to the bar in 2008. He was a public defender in the 5th circuit until April of this year, when he went into private practice on his own. Attorney Baghdadi assisted a veteran with a divorce modification so that he would be able to see his son more as the adverse party was keeping the minor child from the client. Attorney Baghdadi also assisted a single mother of a minor child establish child support to provide for the needs of the minor child. 19
Pro Bono Service Award Vicki Levy Eskin Ms. Eskin began her legal career at the 9th Circuit State Attorneys office in Orange County and then served as an assistant Public Defender in the Orange County Public Defenders office for six years, at which time she entered into private practice as a sole practitioner under the name Vicki K. Levy, and then formed Levy & Associates, P.A. of Central Florida, where she is the principal owner. Ms. Eskin is a member of the Florida Bar, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. She is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator, County Court Mediator, and as an Appellate Mediator for the Fifth District Court of Appeal for Florida. Vicki Levy Eskin is an active member and leader in the General Practice Solo Division of the American Bar Association, and served three years as the National Solo and Small Firm Conference Chair for that Division. She is also active in the local community, having won the 2008 Seminole County Community Activist award from the Guardian ad Litem program and serves on several advisory boards addressing the needs of children, the elderly, and those with mental health issues. She recently served as an ABA Advisor to the Uniform Law Commission Committee which drafted the model code addressing Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets and the parallel committee drafting legislation in that area for the RPPTL division of the Florida Bar. She has written and lectured on preserving digital assets, international estate planning and other areas of estate and trust practice. For over thirty years, she has actively volunteered with programs addressing the needs of foster care children and those aging out of the foster care program. She has one son, two stepchildren, and six grandchildren, and is married to Paul Eskin. Attorney Eskin conducted a pro bono Foreclosure mediation for a family who were actively seeking a loan modification and trying to save their home. Attorney Eskin also assisted a senior with an annuity issue as the company would not allow her to withdraw her funds so that she could meet her monthly needs. Pro Bono Service Award Karen Kay Estry Karen Estry is a native Floridian and long-time resident of Central Florida. The focus of her legal practice is in family law, probate, and civil litigation. She is a member of the Seminole County Bar and the Volie A. Williams, Jr., Inns of Court. From 2012 to 2013 she taught at Seminole State College as an adjunct professor in the legal studies program. Karen is also active in the local community, having been elected to serve on the governing board of Deltona Alliance Church, Deltona, Florida. Attorney Estry generously assisted a senior client whose husband passed away, who was the sole signer of the mortgage note. The client needed assistance completing documents to become executor/administrator of estate to be able to keep her home. 20
Pro Bono Service Award Minh Nguyet Han Minh Han is a graduate of the University of Florida. The focus of her legal practice is family law. She is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Family Law Mediator. Since 2012, she has taught at Seminole State College as an adjunct professor in the legal studies program. She currently serves as a committee member of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee. Attorney Han has generously donated her time to conduct bi-monthly advice clinics for the past year, contributing to over 25 pro bono hours. Pro Bono Service Award Deborah Marie Rusoff O'Brien Deborah O Brien is an AV rated attorney who heads up the Orlando office of Chicago -based Lowis & Gellen LLP. Licensed in Florida and Illinois, Deb has been litigating civil cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts for more than 20 years. She tries medical malpractice and other catastrophic injury cases, and also represents corporations and municipalities with respect to a wide variety of matters including contractual disputes, labor and employment, civil rights, negligence and premises liability. In addition, Deb is experienced in construction litigation, and has handled intellectual property disputes involving trademark/tradename infringement, unfair competition and right of publicity claims. Deb also handles guardianship and dependency matters. Deb is proud to provide pro bono legal service through the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society. She has also served as a moot court judge in competitions sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association, IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, and the University of Central Florida, and as a mock trial judge in competitions sponsored by the FLREA. Deb has also served as a law student mentor, and has tutored high school students confined to the Chicago Juvenile Detention Center through a program sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association. Additionally, Deb served as a volunteer on the Florida Voting Rights Legal Team during the 2008 and 2012 general elections, and previously served as chairperson for one of Seminole County s School Advisory Councils. Deb obtained her B.S. in Business Administration with High Honors from the University of Florida. She received her J.D. from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she was a Lowell Thomas Scholar, and graduated with Honors. While in law school, Deb served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Charles R. Norgle in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She was also active in the Kent Moot Court Society, and served as a Moot Court Associate Justice. 21
Pro Bono Service Award Linda Karen Phipps Linda graduated from the University of Miami school of Law with a JD cum laude. She has practiced family law in Central Florida since 1980 and is semi retired. She received two previous awards for pro bono service, one from the Orange County Bar Association and one for the Seminole County Bar Association; has served as a pro bono GAL in both circuits and chaired one of the Orange County Grievance Committees. Her involvement in the community has included serving as a member of the Executive Committee of the Central Florida Sierra Club, a well as serving on the Board of the Seminole Community Mental Health Center. Linda is married to Jerry Handshuh. She has three stepchildren and an 8 year old step grandson. Attorney Phipps has generously donated her time to conduct bi-monthly advice clinics for the past year, contributing to over 16 pro bono hours. My pro bono work including recent efforts reminds me of why I went to law school in the first place. It has been some of the most gratifying of my career. The adults and children have been among the most deserving, interesting and appreciative of clients. This past year I have had the additional pleasure of working with the lawyers and staff of the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society. They set the standard for competent and dedicated legal professionalism. - Linda Phipps "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead, anthropologist 22
2014 Board of Directors Major Scott Ballou President Angela Kersenbrock Vice President Damon A Chase, Esq. Secretary and Treasurer Maria E Espinosa, Esq. Director Thomas G Freeman Jr., Esq. Director Steven D Kramer, Esq. Director Robert McIntosh, Esq. Director Jaimon Perry, Esq. Director Assistant Dean Melvin Rogers Director Frederic Ric Stanley, Jr., Esq. Director 23
Seminole County Legal Aid Staff Silvia McLain, Esq. Executive Director Allan Andino Florida Registered Paralegal and technology Specialist Sue Selsky, Esq. Staff Attorney Denice Garza Florida Registered Paralegal Yvonne Alonso, Esq. Staff Attorney Renee Martinez Legal Assistant Sarah Maxwell, Esq. Staff Attorney Charity Steinbach Case & Pro Bono Coordinator Janice Blachstein Part time Bookkeeper Kayana McKinney Receptionist and Assistant Coordinator Silvio Infante Part-Time File Clerk Kayana joined the legal aid office in July of 2014 as our receptionist and assistant coordinator. She is a graduate of Seminole State College. She graduated with a Business and Information Management Bachelor of Science Degree. She greets all clients and volunteers to our office and makes them feel welcome. She is a great addition to our office. 24
2014 Silent Auction Donors ORLANDO FLAG CENTER GalleryRuck, LLC Greg Hess 25
2014 Pro Bono Recognition Event Sponsors Working Together for Justice Olympic Sponsor Platinum Sponsor Scot and Debbie Warner Jennifer Frank Gold Sponsor A. Bryant Applegate Matthews Bark Michael Crofts Steve Kramer William McCabe Silvia McLain Silver Sponsor Sandra Ambrose Ann Marie Gilden Ian Gilden William Orth Dr. Flora Pinder Christopher Sprysenski Bronze Sponsor Maria E Espinosa Robert McIntosh Robert Rasch Ric Stanley 26
Sponsors 27
Sponsors Bryant & Lynn Applegate Michael L Crofts, P.A 172 W Warren Avenue Longwood, FL 32750 28
Sponsors William McCabe 1250 S US Highway 17 92 Ste. 210 Longwood, FL 32750 Silvia McLain Seminole County Legal Aid Society 101 W Palmetto Avenue Longwood, FL 32750 (407) 834-1660 Ext. 108 Email: silvia@scbalas.com 29
Sponsors Legal Aid clients and visitors can enjoy the outside area of the Legal Aid building located in Historical Longwood. Through frugal management the mortgage on our building was retired and the majority of funds are dedicated to direct legal services to assist the disadvantaged in our community. 30