IMPACT REPORT
2020
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LASNNY Across the region PLATTSBURGH
Low-income housing lawyers worry New York’s extended eviction ban leaves out some renters www.lasnny.org/2020evictionNCPR
Client Profile – Rebecca Thompson
www.lasnny.org/RebeccaT
SARATOGA AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam legal office launches online intake
www.lasnny.org/2020Amsterdam
COVID-19 court slowdown cranks up stress for survivors of domestic violence www.lasnny.org/2020DV
ALBANY Lillian Moy speaks at Albany County COVID briefing
www.lasnny.org/2020AlbanyCOVID
ALL OFFICES
Judge denies motion to dismiss lawsuit against St. Clare’s Corporation www.lasnny.org/2020StClares
LASNNY provides COVID-19 civil legal assistance
www.lasnny.org/2020COVIDLegalLine
LASNNY Pleads with Governor to Restore the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP www.lasnny.org/2020NOEP
Meeting the Need: Albany Law School COVID Response Corps www.lasnny.org/2020ALS
2020 IMPACT REPORT
Executive Director It has been a harried 2 years here at LASNNY. For me, this Impact Report addresses the long, strange, stressful time we have come to call “The Pandemic”. I had hoped we would be more squarely in post-pandemic than we are in Third Wave. During these 24 months, LASNNY has done everything it could to respond to COVID-19. From going out of the office when we went on PAUSE, to a gradual and safe return of staff to most of our offices, we have kept serving clients at the forefront of all of our actions. At the start, we launched a new and enhanced web presence. This includes updated and translated COVID-19 Legal Lifelines; a new, service-areawide Legal Line; web-based resources for clients and for our staff. We responded to the almost daily changes in the law by changing our focus on client needs, and by developing expertise as well as virtual clinics to serve pro bono and legal aid clients. We were lucky to have jobs and did them as best we could. During this time, we helped our communities respond to the pandemic. We became and continue to be part of the front line emergency COVID-19 response. We helped clients access, maintain, and keep unemployment benefits We developed new programming to help low wage workers, many of them Black and Brown, and many of them essential workers. We continued our internal race equity education and all that this journey entails. Our Board adopted, unanimously, a new priority: Obtain equitable treatment, services, and outcomes for people of color. This entails more than merely representing many people of color. That is just the starting place. Seeing race equity legal issues and impacts is the key. We conducted an analysis of our legal services and whether we were serving the proportion of people of color that we might expect.
The statistical results will help us understand and drive community engagement in the years to come. We did our best to further strategic access to justice planning. We learned more about the impact of the digital divide on our clients, even as the pandemic continued to keep much of our outreach virtual. The cases in this impact report were largely started prior to the pandemic. Most were brought to completion in the last 24 months, requiring lawyers and clients to work differently together. We are proud of the impact we have had on our clients’ lives during this pandemic. The last 24 months have taught us that we can be large and still be nimble; that we can learn more about our internal race equity challenges, to improve our response to the challenges our Black and Brown and rural clients face. I am proud of everything we have done to do better on race equity and crisis legal services. While housing has always been a significant part of our work our participation in the rental assistance program and preparation for the lifting of the eviction moratoriums have become more significant these past 2 years. I hope you join me in thanking the staff and Board members of the Legal Aid Society. We found our way through a difficult time keeping client services and our values at the forefront throughout. I hope that you will be moved to continue your support of our work. We cannot do our work without your strong support. Thank you.
Lillian
Victor Mazzotti, Esq., President Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, LLP
Thomas R. Adams, Esq.
Katherine Mastaitis, Esq.
Jasmine Ceniceros
Roni Minter
Karla W. Buettner, Esq., 1st Vice President Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, P.C.
Susan Christopher
Rosemarie Perez-Jaquith
David Cost, Esq.
Vicki J. Prager, Esq.
Sanjeeve Desoyza, Esq.
Morgan Ruthman, Esq.
James Fleury
Mark Schneider, Esq.
Julie Garcia, Esq.
Todd Tigewell, Esq.
Lloyd G. Grandy II, Esq.
Vincent L. Valenza, Esq.
James E. Hacker, Esq., Treasurer E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy Lisa Mills, Esq., Secretary Fitzsimmons & Mills, P.C.
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2020 Board of Directors Benjamin Fishman, 2nd Vice President
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PAI Director My tenure as the PAI Director began as 2020 came to an end, in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic. As we reflect, it is impossible to ignore the innumerable changes and challenges that shaped the way we delivered pro bono services to clients. With growing pandemic-related unemployment, a mounting housing crisis, and the emotional stress caused by the disruption to our normalcy, the need for pro bono legal services has never been higher. This growing demand necessitated a quick transition by the PAI department to ensure that our programs could virtually meet our clients’ needs. Despite initial challenges in the transition process, our panel of volunteers continued to remotely give their time and talents to our clients. Ryland Wiseman worked diligently with our family law volunteers to ensure that our pro se divorce clinics migrated smoothly to a virtual platform. With help from volunteers and the Albany OUTlaw student organization, the department hosted its first two virtual transgender name change clinics with great success. We held several CLE’s on timely topics such as unemployment benefits and landlord-tenant law. We are proud to say the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)
PAI Volunteers
Mallory Gibson recognized three of our volunteers with its Presidential Pro Bono Service Award. Kelly Curro received the Individual Award for her work in the 3rd Judicial District, David Pratt received the Individual Award for his work in the 4th Judicial District, and Joseph Pinto received the state-wide award for a Senior Attorney. This successful transition to remote platforms is attributable to our amazing volunteer panel, my predecessors, and department staff. In 2021, I’m excited to see the return of programs which were halted due to the pandemic. Although Ryland continues to run Attorney for the Day in both Troy and Albany City Courts, we expect that once the eviction moratorium is lifted in January 2022 this will be one of our busiest programs. We expect to return to Glens Falls City Court and are considering expanding to other courts. It has been a very rewarding first year, and everyone I’ve had the privilege to meet has been both welcoming and incredibly helpful. I look forward to working with our current and future pro bono attorneys to ensure that the needs of our clients are addressed and cared for as we navigate the aftermath of COVID-19.
2020
Private attorneys provide important civil legal services through LASNNY’s PAI (Private Attorney Involvement) Program, which encourages and supports attorneys who offer pro bono services to low-income residents of Northeastern New York. Support for PAI volunteer attorneys includes client and case screening, CLE credits, free training, secondary professional liability insurance and reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses. Listing is of PAI Volunteers from January 2020 through December 2020
Over 75 Hours Joseph Pinto Frida Shawgi 25 - 75 Hours J. Michael Boxley Mark Rehm Morgan Ruthman Marissa Wiley 10 - 25 Hours Ira Bloom Nicole Helmer Simon Daniel Hurteau Michael Katz
Rebekah Kennedy Paul Kietzman Erin Lynch Ezinne Okoko Arthur Siegel 10 Hours or less Justin Birzon Martin Cirincione Laurie Cohen Kelly M. Curro Sharon Couch Debonis John Dormin Vera Johnson
Joseph L. Kay Matthew R. Ludemann Hildy Marinello Gwenn Mayers Justin Myers Steve Nguyen Michael O’Connor Lianne Pinchuk Jeff Pohl Vicki Prager Erica Rangel Dana Salazar Randy Schaal
Jane-Marie Schaeffer Lawrence Schillinger Breanna Staffon Lewis Steele Alex Turnello Raysheea Turner Jessica Vinson David Wainberg Kathy Walter Eric Weinhold Mia Wolfe
2020 IMPACT REPORT
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2020 Justice For All Annual Campaign The Annual Fund for the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York Thanks to our donors who contributed to the 2020 JFA Campaign, improving access to justice for our low income neighbors throughout Northeastern New York.
PLATINUM
($499 and up/attorney)
Couch White, LLP
Nixon Peabody LLP
LaMarche Safranko Law PLLC
Rivkin Radler LLP Spada Law Firm
Barclay Damon LLP Bernhardt Karp, Attorney At Law
SILVER
Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC
($250 to $324/attorney)
Peter Coffey, Esq.
Breslin Law Group
Dreyer Boyajian
Buckley, Mendleson, Criscione and Quinn, P.C.
E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy, LLP Farrell Fritz, P.C. Fitzsimmons & Mills, P.C. John F. Maxwell, Attorney At Law Jonathan P. Harvey Law Firm PLLC Law Firm Of Alex Dell, PLLC Law Office Of Mark S. Mishler, P.C. Law Offices Of Mark A. Schneider Law Offices Of Ronald J. Kim, PC Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, LLP Robert A. Becher, Attorney At Law Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, LLP
GOLD
($325 to $498/attorney)
Thorn Gershon Tymann & Bonanni, LLP Young/Sommer LLC
SUPPORTER
Carlisle Law Firm, P.C.
Anderson, Moschetti & Taffany, PLLC
Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall, LLP
Barbaruolo Law Firm, P.C. Caffry & Flower
Donnellan Law, PLLC
Friedman, Hirschen & Miller, LLP
Gordon, Tepper & DeCoursey, LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Greenberg & Greenberg
Lemery Greisler LLC
Heslin Rothenberg Farley Mesiti
Lemire & Higgins, LLC
Hodgson Russ LLP
McMahon & Coseo, P.C.
Jean Mahserjian Esq. P.C.
Meyers & Meyers, LLP
Joy M. Smith Attorney At Law PLLC
Nolan Heller Kauffman LLP
Lavelle & Finn, LLP
Powhida & Cano PLLC
Law Offices Of Eugene M. Sneeringer, Jr.
Stephanie A White Law PLLC
Law Offices Of Stephen Johnston
Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes P.C. Brian F. Mumford PLLC
Capezza Hill LLP
Sullivan, Hess & Youngblood, PC
Marinstein & Marinstein Maynard, O’Connor, Smith & Catalinotto, LLP
The Altman Law Firm The Shartrand Law Firm Vella, Carbone & Associates, LLP
CORPORATE ABS Solutions Capitol District Supply Co. Commerical Coverage, Inc. Junior League Of Albany MK Dignum Insurance Agency, Inc. Pioneer Bank Foundation Slocum DeAngelus & Associates PC Stewart’s Shops Corp.
BAR ASSOCIATIONS Albany County Bar Association Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association Warren County Bar Foundation
OTHER GE Foundation - Matching Grants Community Foundation For The Greater Capital Region SEFA/United Way of the Adirondack Region SEFA/United Way Of The Greater Capital Region
TO PLEDGE TO THE CAMPAIGN, CONTACT DEANNE GRIMALDI AT (518) 689-6336, DGRIMALDI@LASNNY.ORG OR DONATE ONLINE AT WWW.LASNNY.ORG.
List of Firm Donors appears in The Annual Business Review Book of Lists, www.lasnny.org, LASNNY newsletter, Annual Impact Report, ACBA Court of Appeals Dinner Program Book and ACBA Newsletter
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Financials
2020
REVENUE State, County & City Grants $ 2,625,751.37 Legal Services Corporation $ 1,117,713.25
2020 PRIVATE, FOUNDATION, CORPORATE & OTHER FUNDING • Adirondack Foundation
Judiciary Civil Legal Services $ 3,609,326.00
• Albany Law School
COVID-19 Recovery Funds $ 1,465,909.96
• B’nai B’rith Gideon Foundation
Interest on Lawyers Accounts $ 1,453,237.13 Other Federal Funds $ 306,185.21 Individuals, Corporations, & Law Firms $ 262,473.07 Other $ 577,483.62 TOTAL REVENUE.......................... $ 11,418,079.61
• B ehavioral Health Services North, Inc. (BHSN) • C apital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc (CDPHP) • Carl E. Touhey Foundation • C atholic Charities of Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie Counties • C atholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties • C ommunity Foundation of the Greater Capital Region • Equal Justice Works • F amily Counseling Center of Fulton County, Inc. • Healthy Alliance IPA • H ortense and Louis Rubin Community Health Fund • Hunger Solutions New York
EXPENSES
• Impact Fund
Personnel:
• Lifespan of Greater Rochester
Lawyers............................................ $ 4,786,303.86
• Key Bank Foundation • Marjorie Rockwell Fund
Non-Lawyers................................... $ 1,922,853.56
• M echanicville Area Community Services Center, Inc.
Fringe Benefits............................... $ 2,350,830.59
• MVP Healthcare
Operating: Space & Utilities............................. $ 360,366.73 Office & Related Expenses......... $ 303,281.15 Contract Services.......................... $ 508,784.72
• N orth Country Impact Project / New York Bar Foundation (NYBF) • Nutrition Consortium • S CAP Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) • S chenectady Community Action Program (SCAP)
Library............................................... $ 81,057.80
• S t. Lawrence Valley Renewal House for Victims of Family Violence, Inc.
Client Litigation Expenses.......... $ 16,390.40
• S ubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Travel & Training............................ $ 61,437.52 Miscellaneous................................ $ 355,566.67 TOTAL EXPENSES........................ $ 10,746,873.00
• Wellspring, Inc. • W illiam Gundry Broughton Charitable Private Foundation, Inc.
2020 IMPACT REPORT
By the Numbers
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HOUSING 2,540 households assisted who were facing eviction, foreclosure, substandard housing, illegal lockouts, and other housing issues to help prevent homelessness.
FAMILY
CASES BY TYPE
2,287 families striving for stability through protection orders against domestic violence, child custody, divorce, legal name changes, adoption, and guardianships.
INCOME & BENEFITS 1,928 households in need of income supports such as SNAP, health insurance, veteran benefits, unemployment benefits, Social Security, and disability benefits.
ADVANCE PLANNING, WILLS & ESTATES 418 people assisted with wills to ensure that estates pass to their loved ones, provided advice and assistance with advance planning documents including powers of attorney, health care proxies, living wills, and the family health care decisions act.
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 160 individuals helped with protecting their rights surrounding immigration or naturalization, mental health, physical disability, criminal record expungement, and civil rights.
Housing............................................... 2540 Family................................................... 2287 Income & Benefits.............................. 1928 Consumer Debt..................................... 729 Advance Planning/Wills/Estates........ 418 Employment........................................... 233 Individual Rights................................... 160 Health........................................................ 17 Other....................................................... 383
11,505
18,381 People Benefited
Extended Service Cases Handled
2,196
555
1,526
Cases Handled
COVID related cases handled
Cases Involved U.S. Veterans
1,445
Cases Involving Domestic Violence
28.9% 26.0% 21.9% 8.3% 4.8% 2.6% 1.8% 1.3% 4.4%
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Client Profile
“Easing the Worry”
The phrase “unprecedented times” was commonly used to describe the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, but for Ms. Keenya Bemis, the terms isolating and worrisome are more fitting. As an educator and after-school program leader, the pandemic removed the interpersonal interactions that were the heart of Keenya’s daily life. As a mother, the unpredictability of financial security threatened her ability to provide for her family. Amidst isolation and worry, Keenya managed the burdens of the pandemic, but the summer presented a series of trials too heavy for her to bear alone. Keenya lost her source of income. Although able to receive federal assistance, this assistance initially created more problems than it did solutions. However, the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, through the advocacy of Attorney Anthony Mohen, provided Keenya Bemis the support necessary to ease her worries. Ms. Bemis teaches for the Schenectady City School District ten months a year and spends her summers leading an all-day STEAM camp for the Liberty Partnership Program at Schenectady County Community College. The height of the pandemic forced Keenya to quickly adapt to remote learning, which she explains as very challenging due to the lack of facial interaction because “many students would not turn on their cameras.” When the unparalleled school year came to an end, Keenya learned that Liberty Partnership Program would not be employing her for the summer. Receiving this news worried Keenya greatly. She explains, “We were living on the last paycheck; not knowing how we were going to manage for the next few months was a big issue.” Without the source of income she depended on, how was Keenya Bemis supposed to survive? Knowing that teachers were not usually eligible for unemployment benefits during the summer months, Ms. Bemis did not plan on applying. However, she received an email from her union explaining that she might be eligible for pandemic unemployment assistance. Keenya applied and was approved for federal assistance. Starting late June of 2020, Keenya claimed benefits for four weeks until she returned to school in July for a few days of professional development. Due to the break in her claim, Ms. Bemis stopped claiming benefits despite being out of work until the end of August.
What was initially a saving grace quickly became a hassling headache. In October of 2020, Ms. Bemis received notices stating she was ineligible for benefits due to having a reasonable assurance of returning to work in the next school year. She was charged with an overpayment of $4,038. Keenya explains that she was again “worried and unsure of how she was going to afford the repayment.” While reviewing the notice, she observed that it mentioned the ability to seek representation and contacted the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, where she received counsel from Senior Attorney Anthony Mohen. Mr. Mohen states that “The experience with Ms. Bemis demonstrates the urgent need for civil legal assistance to help New Yorkers meet basic needs during the pandemic.” Mr. Mohen did just that. He provided Ms. Bemis with quality legal counsel determining she was indeed eligible for Pandemic Assistance during her summer unemployment. With this information, Ms. Bemis requested a hearing that took place in April of 2021. Mr. Mohen represented Keenya and won! The decision found that Keenya was entitled to collect benefits for her months of unemployment and that there was no overpayment. Not only did Ms. Bemis not owe any money, but as a result of the decision, Ms. Bemis was able to claim for the final weeks she was without work, receiving an additional $504 in retroactive benefits! The onset of the deadly coronavirus ravaging globally was enough to worry any of us. Coupling the global mania with financial insecurity and unpredictability increased the worry for Keenya Bemis. Finding a source of vital assistance and then being told you must repay it made the worry into a burden too great for Keenya to bear alone. The support of Mr. Mohen was instrumental to Keenya, who notes that “[h] e was very helpful, kept me regularly updated and without his assistance, I would have been very stressed out and unsure of how to deal with this issue.” The assistance of Anthony Mohen and the Legal Aid Society gave Ms. Keenya Bemis the support necessary to ease her worry. Mr. Mohen reminds us that, while “Ms. Bemis was fortunate because she called Legal Aid and had representation in her hearing,” “[f]or every client like Ms. Bemis we serve, there are likely many others who were unable to receive this assistance.”
2020 IMPACT REPORT
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Justice For All Annual Fund Donations & Pledges Received in 2020 INDIVIDUAL DONORS
Thank you to all of our generous supporters, who in 2020 donated and pledged over $400,000. Together you helped secure basic needs, protected and preserved legal rights, provided equal access to justice, and dignity for our clients.
$2,500 & UP
M. Cornelia Cahill & Richard Sise M. Sherry Gold CC Ann G. Horowitz E. Stewart Jones Jr. & Kimberly Sanger Jones CC Lewis Black Family Fund Patrick L. Seely F. Michael Tucker CC Elizabeth Walsh & Christopher Maier
$1,000 TO $2,499
Mathew P. Barry CC Melissa & John Bennett Glen T. Bruening Eleanor M. DeCoursey Andrew J. Kaier Jean Mahserjian McMaster-Evans Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Lillian M. Moy SU Cornelius & Martha Murray William S. Myers Peter Racette SU Susan P. Read Marjorie Tsang G. Kimball Williams & Margaret Gillis
$500 TO $999
Anonymous John & Mary Ann Allen CV Evalyn & Joseph Basloe Ira M. Bloom Charlotte & Charles Buchanan John R. Casey Thomas P. Connolly Charles B. Dumas Alice Green Deanne L. Grimaldi SU, CC Howard & Mary Jack P. Kambeseles Tara L. Moffett Marlene Morales SU Thomas J. O’Connor Troy Oechsner Mari-Anne Pisarri Morgan S. Ruthman SU Daniel Rutnick CV Peter H. Schiff & Nancy Willie-Schiff Franklin Siegel Christian J. Soller Edward O. Spain Barbara Steigerwald Leslie K. Thiele Tompeter/Mugno Family SU
Bruce J. Wagner Richard L. Weisz Joanne M. White Amy & William Yates Melissa M. Zambri
$200 TO $499
Anonymous (3) SE Lynne E. Ackner Jeffrey & Martha Baker Anna C. Bayly Frank V. Bifera Todd K. Bishop Jean & Rachel Blaudeau Robert Callahan Robert M. & Joan F. Cantwell George B. Ceresia Linda J. Clark Robert G. Conway Jr. David Cost Marshall Coulter SU Brian M. Culnan Karen Diligent Stephen M. Dorsey Fiona Farrell William C. Foster Thomas F. Gleason Richard G. Greene Susan Griskonis Michale Hamel Richard C. Heffern Leonard Herman & Guido Loyola Hon. Robert and Sandra Jacon Hon. Grant & Rosemarie Jaquith Judith & William Kahn Neil H. Lebowitz Hon. Howard A. Levine Florence Mastro CC Kathryn McCary John D. Moran Timothy P. Morrison Elizabeth M. Morss Miguel G. Ortiz George M. Pond The David M. & Deborah A. Quinn Charitable Fund Sarah Rapke Robert W. Redmond Sandra D. Rivera Claudia A. Ryan William Sacks CC Samili Saha Robert Salkin SE James R. Sandner CC George L. Sarachan James & Robin Sevinsky Harvey Silverstein Leslie E. Stein Henda S. Strasser
Dennis J. Tarantino Joseph & Mary Teresi Meave M. Tooher CC Ida L. Traschen Randolph F. Treece Edward J. Trombly John J. Warner Mary M. Withington
$100 TO $199
Anonymous (11) SE, CV Richard Anderson, Jr. Mary Beth & Matt Babcock Catherine M. Bennett Sherry Bishko Michael J. Boxley Jeffry & Patricia Brozyna Kristina A. Burns Vito C. Caruso Stuart M. Cohen Robert G. Conway Jr. Deborah Damm O’Brien April Daryanani Dominick J. De Cecco Jondavid Delong CC Bonnie Devine SE Jason M. DiMarino Kevin Donovan Allegra Edelman Marla Eglowstein CV Victoria Esposito SU Kelly D. Fisher Sheila Foglietta Damara Fredette Anthony R. Furciniti Kevin P. Glasheen Simeon L. Goldman CV Tomoko Goto CC Stephen E. Gottlieb Michael A. Greco Lee Greenstein Bristow Hardin William M. Harris John F. Harwick Michael Hernandez SU Christian F. Hummel Robert A. Hussar L. Foster James Judith Karpen William Katt Donna Kerwin Robert B. Keyes Donald T. Kinsella Mark L. Koblenz Richard Kruger Helga Landeau Bryan LaVigne James A. Lombardo Oksana Ludd Erica Ludwick SU
Kevin Maney Thomas J. McDonough Harry P. Meislahn Amanda J. Miller Katherine Nadeau Anne M. Nardacci CV Mary C. O’Neill Lee A. Palmateer Beverly Pimsleur Richard Pine Joseph & Patricia Pinto Mark L. Powers David W. Quist Maurice T. Rasheed SE Michael Rhodes-Devey Steven A. Rodway Joan B. Rogers Karen Rogers Robert R. Romaker SU Carl Rosenbloom Jena R. Rotheim Ira P. Rubtchinsky Ruth A. Rundell Colm P. Ryan Kathryn Sanderson Thomas & Florence Scalere Tina Sciocchetti Diane & Jim Scotton Darius Shahinfar Laurie Shanks Debra L. Smith Valerie and Harold Solomon Becky Steiner Peter M. Thaisz SE Peter C. Trimarchi Kenneth G. Varley CV Hima Vatti Joseph Villano Patricia E. Watkins CV Richard M. White Joan Wick-Pelletier Benjamin Wilkinson Richard R. Wissler
$99 & UNDER
Anonymous (5) SE Florence E. Abrams Martin D. Auffredou Brenda Baddam R. Linn Baker Diana K. Bangert-Drowns Robert A. Barker Mary Ann Cleaves & Anthony Bernini Brenda Bertram Christine Blackman Robert Braine Anthony C. Brankman Claudia K. Braymer Carol Carusone
2020 IMPACT REPORT
Deidre A. Chalkowski Edna Chandler Allison Chin-Leong Susan Christopher Chris Condiles Joanne D. Crum Kimberly Cummins SU Pam Davis Richard Debrick Jim Demasi Phil Drum Suzanne M. Dugan Shawna Fitzsimmons CV Marcy I. Flores Paul Ford CC Jacqueline Foster CV Francine Frank E. Kristen Frederick & Bill Bortis Mark D. Frering Brad M. Gallagher Karen A. Halaco Ellen Harris Maxwell Heintz Barbara M. Hillyard Nancy Hodes Thea M. Hoeth Frank V. Insero Kathleen Jordan SU Patricia O. Kahn Karleen I. Karlson Karen Kaufmann Thomas K. Keefe Steven M. Klein Kristen Kornak SE Robert & Lise Lalonde Allen F. Light
Anne M. Malak Paul H. Mason SE Stephen J. Mastaitis Joan Mathews Gabrielle McBath CC Ellen M. McDonald Amy Mitz Shyam S. Mohanka David A. Munro Christine M. Napierski Shalini Natesan Michael P. Naughton Kevin Nelson Michael & Rhonda Novack CV Janet H. Obrien-Aram Andrew Oritis Deborah M. O’Toole Elaine Owles Tracy Petersen CV, CC Carol M. Pinkowski David A. Pratt CC David Price Martin J. Ricciardi Kathleen Robichaud Richard L. Rodgers Sarah Rosenbluth CV Karen Russell Walter Ryan Mary Frances Sabo David Schwartz Ekin Senlet Timothy Service JoAnn Shartrand David Solimeno Susan E. Spang Sara Stratton
Patricia Sturm Kevin Suh Margaret Surowka Judith C. Tate Barbara K. Thomas Paul H. Tocker Christine V. Torey Christine C. Traskos Paul Vasquez Loida Vera Cruz Mark F. Volk Mary Jane Walsh Tammy Weinman
Anonymous James B. Ayers Jeffrey & Martha Baker Richard J. Bartlett* Charlotte S. Buchanan David & Kathleen Burke Paul M. Callahan Peter and Mary Coffey John R. Dunne* Deanne Grimaldi Leonard Hermann E. Stewart & Kimberly Jones, Jr. Thomas V. Kenney, Jr. Amelia M. Klein Skip & Merri* Meislahn
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Jenifer Whiston Norman E. Whitaker Gwendolyn M. White Kathleen A. Whiteford Virginia M. Wolfgang Jennifer C. Zegarelli & Daniel A. Jacobs CV CC = Capital Campaign CV = COVID-19 Appeal SU = Sustain SE = SEFA
Tim & Carmelina Morrison Lillian M. Moy Miriam M. Netter* Thomas J. O’Connor Patricia Rodriguez & Robert Colborn The Ruthman Family Arthur and Ronnie Siegel Keith St. John Henda and Samuel Strasser Leslie Thiele and Ken Larsen F. Michael Tucker Wendy L. Wahlberg G. Kimball Williams & Margaret J. Gillis Mary Withington *deceased
The Guardians of Justice are a group of individuals committed to securing justice for future generations through support of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York’s permanent endowment fund. Please contact Deanne Grimaldi at dgrimaldi@lasnny.org or (518) 689-6336 for more information about including LASNNY in your planned giving through either direct donation or in your estate.
HONOR & MEMORIAL GIFTS In Honor of Jessica Barry Ellen Harris
In Honor of Ed Kaplan Amy Mintz
In Honor of Patricia Rodriguez Judith Stein
In Honor of Tina Sciocchetti Franklin Siegel
In Memory of Rex Shiels Ruthman Anna C. Bayly Sherry Bishko Jean & Rachel Blaudeau Robert & Joan Cantwell Capitol District Supply Co. Commerical Coverage, Inc. Dominick J. De Cecco Jim Demasi Charles B. Dumas Francine Frank E. Kristen Frederick & Bill Bortis Michale Hamel Nancy Hodes E. Stewart Jones, Jr. & Kimberly Sanger Jones Junior League Of Albany
William Katt Lemery Greisler LLC Gabrielle McBath Harry P. Meislahn Lillian M. Moy Beverly Pimsleur Karen Rogers Mary Frances Sabo Kathryn Sanderson Thomas & Florence Scalere Diane & Jim Scotton Slocum, DeAngelus & Associates PC Becky Steiner Christine V. Torey Joan Wick-Pelletier
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Client Profile
Ensuring stability for a single mother and her children
The goal of the Homeowner Protection Program is to keep people like Christine M., a single mom of three who also works full time, in their homes. Christine came to the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and was introduced to attorney Stuart Thalblum, together they were able to ensure the stability for her family that she was hoping for. A few years ago, Christine fell behind on her mortgage and entered foreclosure. For a while, she tried to find a solution to the foreclosure on her own. She says, “I was diligent and did everything the banks asked me to do, but it wasn’t having an effect.” The lenders and bank employees kept changing, making for a very slow and complicated process. Eventually, Christine filed for bankruptcy, but still couldn’t sort out the mortgage payments. She remembers, “I felt like there was no way out. I found myself getting deeper and deeper into a hole.” Finally, Christine got to get in touch with the Legal Aid Society of Northern New York (LASNNY), to see if they could help. Christine says, “I work for a non-profit and we make a lot of referrals to LASNNY, so I’m familiar with the organization.” But because she is employed full time and earning a moderate income, she wasn’t sure if she would meet the requirements. Fortunately, Christine met the criteria and was able to get the assistance she needed. Christine says, “I was referred to Stuart Thalblum and he was amazing about taking the burden off my shoulders and letting me know what my options and rights were.” She continues, “Stuart and the entire LASNNY staff were great about walking me through the entire process.” Stuart gives Christine a lot of credit for the successful outcome. He says, “She did most of the work on her application and I stepped in to straighten out some of the legal issues (i.e. bad faith and shortcomings of bank).” This case was a bit complicated because the mortgage was not serviced by one of the big banks and a very small law firm represented it. Because Stuart and Christine were dealing with smaller firms, negotiations took a lot longer. Their initial goal was a mortgage modification, but the process was neither easy nor straightforward. Stuart attended settlement conferences over the course of a year, but the banks rejected Christine’s modification application multiple times. They claimed she still owed money, but in actuality these debts had been wiped out thanks to bankruptcy. Fortunately, Stuart’s experience in bankruptcy proceedings allowed him to find and present these resolutions to prove that she was in the clear. During settlement conferences, the bank initially offered two alternatives: $67,000 as payment over 12 months or a “short pay off,” which would require paying off a reduced amount in full. In a stroke of luck, Christine received a substantial monetary inheritance during this time. At the
final settlement conference in December 2020, the bank’s counsel asked if she would consider a short pay off option instead of a reinstatement. After conferring with Stuart, she offered $55k and the bank accepted. The new mortgage modification came with a 4% interest rate and a 12-year increase in loan life, both things Christine felt comfortable with. Even after the modification was in place, Stuart remained diligent. Christine says he kept fighting to make sure every last detail was ironed out, specifically issues regarding paying the homeowner’s insurance out of escrow. And finally, Stuart made sure that the case was dismissed so that the foreclosure no longer shows up on title reports. Everything wrapped up in the spring of 2021 and Christine is currently living in her home and managing payments. Christine credits Stuart’s diligence for her case’s outcome. She says, “I can’t say enough good things about him. He always went above and beyond and was available to answer questions whenever I needed him.” For others in a similar situation, she urges them to get in touch with LASNNY, even if they’re not sure if they’ll meet the criteria. LASNNY’s grants have varying income requirements and mortgage modification programs typically have higher thresholds, with the goal of keeping homeowners in their homes. *Names and details have been changed to protect the privacy of the client and her family.