2012 annual report - Connecticut Legal Services

CONNECTICUT LEGAL SERVICES INC.
ANNUAL REPORT 2012
CLS Helps Family Avoid
Homelessness
R
ita*, her two adult children, and her three
young grandchildren live in an apartment that
she can afford only with the help of a Section
8 housing voucher. An electrical fire started
in the building’s attic, and her apartment
sustained significant water damage. The fire department
turned off the electricity to the building, and the fire marshal
declared Rita’s apartment uninhabitable. The Red Cross paid
for the six members of Rita’s family to stay in one hotel room
for two nights, and the city paid for an additional five nights.
In the meantime, the landlord repeatedly threatened to lock
Rita and her family out of the apartment and remove their
belongings in order to make repairs. The landlord also entered
the apartment without the family’s consent and attempted to
pressure Rita and her family to vacate without having another
place to live. Fortunately, the city Department of Health and
Social Services referred Rita and her family to Connecticut
Legal Services for help.
Rita’s CLS attorney advised her of her rights as a tenant:
The landlord could not enter her apartment without prior
notice and consent, the landlord could not remove any of the
family’s personal belongings, and Rita’s rights had not ended
because she currently lived in a hotel. Rita’s attorney also
advised her that a lockout is both a civil and criminal matter
and to call the police if the landlord tried to deny the family
access to the apartment or remove their belongings. When
the family confronted the landlord with this information, the
landlord contacted her attorney, who in turn contacted Rita’s
CLS attorney to discuss the family’s position. After these
conversations, the landlord stopped entering the apartment
without Rita’s permission and stopped pressuring the family
to move. Rita’s CLS attorney also contacted the Department of
Health and Social Services to explain the city’s obligations and
the family’s right to emergency shelter under the Connecticut
Uniform Relocation Assistance Act. The city immediately
contacted the family, provided emergency shelter at the hotel,
and helped the family find a safe place to live.
* all names and identifying information have been changed to
protect our clients’ confidentiality.
Service
Area,
Offices,
and Staff
Connecticut Legal Services is a private, not-for-profit law firm dedicated to improving
the lives of low-income people by providing access to justice.
In the CLS service area—all of Connecticut except the greater Hartford and New Haven
areas—more than 200,000 people are financially eligible for services (2010 census).
CLS has six full-service offices, four satellite offices, and one administrative office.
On June 30, 2012, the CLS staff consisted of
47.39 FTE lawyers
1.90 FTE paralegals
13.78 FTE legal assistants
.90 FTE child welfare advocates
7.71 FTE administrative staff.
Vernon
Willimantic
New Britain
Waterbury
Meriden
Middletown
New London
Bridgeport
South Norwalk
Stamford
Full-Service Offices
Satellite Offices
Administrative Office
Distribution
of Cases
CLS Attorneys Work Together
to Help Disabled Family
Housing and
homelessness
25%
In 2011–2012, Connecticut Legal Services received
approximately 18,663 requests for service. We
responded by opening 3,981 new cases for legal
representation and counseling. We also worked on
3,672 cases opened in previous years. Our services
in these 7,653 cases benefited approximately 17,553
household members.
Consumer
(mostly for
elderly)
18%
In addition to working on individual cases, CLS
conducted 176 community legal education events
attended by 6,158 people and provided 67
instances of advice to human services agencies and
other professionals
serving the poor.
Domestic
violence,
divorce, child
support,
and other
family matters
17%
Distribution of 7,653
Cases Handled in Fiscal
Year 2011–2012
Health
(including
Medicaid,
Medicare,
and nursing
home
matters)
9%
Intellectual
disabilities
1%
Immigration
2%
Education
and
juvenile
law
10%
Social
Security
8%
Public
benefits and
employment
9%
Other
cases
1%
eff is a 25-year-old man
who has intellectual
disabilities. He was
referred to Connecticut
Legal Services for help accessing disability
services and Social Security benefits. When
Jeff’s CLS attorney met his family, she
discovered that his entire family urgently
needed legal assistance. Jeff’s father is a
veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
He had not been able to get Social Security
disability benefits because he could not
remember to go to the doctor. The family had
no income and had been unable to pay rent for
six months; their landlord had begun eviction
proceedings. Jeff’s CLS attorney worked with
a CLS housing attorney and a CLS benefits
attorney to help the family access services and
benefits and avoid homelessness.
Jeff’s housing attorney represented the
family in the eviction and was able to
preserve the family’s housing by reaching
an agreement with the landlord. The CLS
benefits attorney acquired free oil for the
family during the winter, secured free cell
phones for the mother and aunt, located
cash assistance for the father through the
Sailors, Soldiers & Marines fund, facilitated
medical treatment for the father’s suspected
war-related injuries, secured food stamps for
the father and mother, and obtained medical
records for the mother and father to assist
them in establishing eligibility for disability
benefits. Today, Jeff and his family receive the
disability benefits to which they are entitled,
can pay their rent in full every month, have
the services they need to help them maintain
stability, and no longer live in danger of
becoming homeless.
CLS Helps Abused Woman
Find Safety
C
elia is a survivor of
long-term domestic
violence. During
one physical clash,
she called the police
for help but was arrested because she
scratched her abuser while defending herself.
(Domestic violence victims often are arrested
for defending themselves.) After that final
incident, Celia fled the family home in public
housing and applied for her own public
housing unit. Unfortunately, Celia didn’t
know she could have sought legal assistance
to possibly keep the unit and force her abuser
out. After being denied public housing
because of her assault arrest, Celia contacted
Statewide Legal Services, which referred her
to Connecticut Legal Services.
Celia’s CLS attorney referred her to the Center
for Women and Families for safety planning,
counseling, and assistance in advocating
with the housing authority for admission.
Her counselor confirmed that Celia was a
victim of domestic violence and contended
that her arrest was a mistake because she
had been defending herself. The counselor
also helped Celia fill out a certification of
domestic violence form for public housing.
Working with Celia’s counselor, the CLS
attorney requested a formal grievance
hearing with the housing authority, and the
counselor testified that Celia was the victim,
not the attacker. The housing authority
director who heard the case reversed the
denial and is working to get Celia safe public
housing.
2011–
2012
Board of
Directors
and
Advisory
Council
Officers
Richard Orr, Esq.—Chair
General Counsel: University
of Connecticut
Kevin Rasch, Esq.—Vice Chair
Assistant Vice President
and Counsel: Government
Relations, Massachusetts
Mutual Life Insurance Co
Greg Daniels, Esq.—Secretary
Commission Counsel/
Legislative and Administrative
Manager: Freedom of
Information Commission
Tonya Johnson—Treasurer Director
of Program Operations:
Connecticut Coalition Against
Domestic Violence
Executive Committee
Aaron Bayer, Esq.—Partner:
Wiggin & Dana LLP
John Casey, Esq.—Counsel:
Robinson & Cole, LLP
Ross Garber, Esq.—Partner:
Shipman & Goodwin LLP
Thomas Goldberg, Esq.—Partner:
Day Pitney LLP
Amy Haberman, Esq.—Partner:
McCarter & English, LLP
Directors
Henri Alexandre, Esq.—
Marlborough, Conn.
Gregg C. Benson, Esq.—
Vice President and Assistant
General Counsel: Pfizer Inc.
Elwin Bresette—North Stonington,
Conn.
Gregory B. Butler, Esq.—Senior Vice
President and General Counsel:
Northeast Utilities
Rosa J. Correa—Bridgeport, Conn.
Gary Gold, Esq.—Counsel:
Gold & Levy
Joy Haenlein—Director of
Communications and External
Relations: Abilis
Ulysses Hammond, Esq.—Vice
President of Administration:
Connecticut College
Mike Hanley—Senior Consultant:
Partnership for Strong
Communities
Frank Judge, Esq.—Vice President
and General Counsel: Armored
Auto Group, Inc.
Carolyn Wilkes Kaas, Esq.—
Associate Professor of Law:
Quinnipiac University School
of Law
Michael Kaelin, Esq.—Principal:
Cummings & Lockwood LLC
Josh Koskoff, Esq.—Partner: Koskoff,
Koskoff & Bieder, PC
Ivy McKinney, Esq.—Vice President
and Deputy General Counsel:
Xerox Corporation
Howard Rifkin, Esq.— Executive
Director: Partnership for
Strong Communities
Isabella Squicciarini, Esq.—Partner:
Carmody & Torrance LLP
Thomas Sullivan—
Assurance Partner:
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Sally J. Tolles, J.D., J.C.L.—
Coordinator and Judge: The
Tribunal
Advisory Council
Officers
Vivien Blackford, Esq.—Principal: Vivien Blackford & Associates
Peter Kelly, Esq.—Partner: Updike,
Kelly & Spellacy, P.C
Members
Timothy Bates, Esq.—Partner:
Robinson & Cole, LLP
David Carson—Hartford, Conn.
Marilyn J. Ward Ford, Esq.—
Professor: Quinnipiac
University School of Law
Joel Freedman—Glastonbury,
Conn.
Jay Malcynsky, Esq.—Partner:
Gaffney, Bennett & Associates
James H. Maloney, Esq.—President
and General Counsel:
Connecticut Development
Resource Corporation
Leslie O’Brien—Director of
Constituent Services: Senate
Democrats
Margaret Sweetland Patricelli—
Simsbury, Conn.
Mitchell Pearlman, Esq.—
Government Information
Consultant; Former Executive
Director: Freedom of
Information Commission
James T. Shearin, Esq.—Partner:
Pullman & Comley, LLC
Richard Slavin, Esq.—Partner: Cohen
and Wolf, P.C.
Stanley Twardy Jr., Esq.—Partner:
Day Pitney LLP
Paul Yestrumskas, Esq.—Vice
President, General Counsel,
and Secretary: Playtex, Inc.
2011–2012 Chief Office
Personnel
Steven D. Eppler-Epstein
Executive Director
Deborah R. Witkin
Deputy Director
Linda C. Spada
Comptroller
Anne Louise Blanchard
Litigation Director
Astrid Lebron
Director of Development
Whit Freer
Information Technology
Administrator
Letter
from
Executive
Director
and
Board
Chair
Dear Friends and Supporters of Legal Aid,
Connecticut Legal Services is emerging from the fiscal turbulence and dark clouds of recent years. With support from donors,
foundations, United Ways, and those in government who value the importance of justice for all, our funding is largely stabilized,
although we are unable to meet all the important legal needs of poor people in crisis. However, we are positioned to respond with all
of our staff’s skill and energy to the storms (both figurative and literal) that low-income people in Connecticut continue to face.
• Women and children suffer physical abuse.
• People face homelessness because they lack resources, their landlords act illegally, or their buildings are in foreclosure.
• Elderly people endure displacement or the lack of appropriate medical care.
• Children with disabilities don’t receive the care and education they deserve and the law requires.
All the ongoing tragedies that affect low-income people are compounded when a real storm, such as Superstorm Sandy, strikes. CLS
joined state and federal agencies coordinating disaster response and took a leading role in getting storm-relief resources to the social
service agencies working with low-income people around the state. We are also directly helping families who lost housing. The storm
winds are long gone, but the problems poor people face continue. CLS attorneys responded quickly and effectively to Sandy and are
ready for any next disaster.
CLS attorneys have also responded quickly and effectively to new opportunities to serve low-income people. Within days of the
federal government’s establishment of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program to assist young immigrants, CLS had in place
a network of lawyers trained and ready to advise and represent potential applicants for this new relief.
CLS still faces difficulties. We became smaller during the last four years of economic stress, although thanks to state support and the
sacrifices of our employees, we have avoided layoffs and preserved our capacity to serve clients. Our lawyers’ salaries lag behind those
at other legal aid agencies, and in many areas, poor people need far more than we can deliver.
Despite these challenges, we are proud of our agency. We have weathered tough times, and our talented advocates never stopped
working to address the legal needs of families in crisis throughout the state. With your support, we now can look ahead, solving client
problems and taking advantage of every new opportunity to make life better for those in our society who still suffer enormous stress.
Thanks for all your help,
Steven D. Eppler-Epstein
Executive Director
Richard F. Orr
Chair, Board of Directors
Financial Supporters and Other Income Sources for 2011–2012 Expenditures
GOVERNMENT BASED GRANTS
Agency on Aging, Senior Resources
(Eastern Connecticut)
Town of Groton
$
43,189
Agency on Aging, Southwestern Connecticut
Area
55,416
Agency on Aging, Western Connecticut Area
47,345
Bridgeport Housing Authority
36,704
City of Middletown
10,000
Community Development Block Grant ProgramCity of Meriden
2,175
Community Development Block Grant ProgramCity of Middletown
781
Community Developement Block Grant ProgramCity of Waterbury
11,722
12,000
Town of Mansfield
5,000
Town of Vernon
4,000
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice
Programs
Total Government-Based Grants
167,615
$
1,755,180
AT&T Employees Community Services Fund
600
5,000
United Way, West Central Connecticut
4,838
Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut
14,484
United Way, Western Connecticut - Litchfield
County
3,500
United Way, Western Connecticut - Stamford
10,719
3,736,568
HPRP—Region 2 (through Mercy Housing &
Shelter Corporation)
2,745
Connecticut Bar Foundation (Judicial Branch
Grants-In-Aid)
HPRP—Region 5 (through New Opportunities,
Inc.)
5,507
Connecticut Health Foundation
Estate of Ruth I. Krauss
4,904
Fairfield County Bar Association, Inc.
2,161
2,500
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund - General Re Corporation Fund
State of Connecticut Department of Social
Services
545,412
Florida Coastal School of Law
State of Connecticut Office of the Chief Public
Defender
105,791
State of Connecticut Office of Protection and
Advocacy
142,807
1,700
40,000
2,448
445,970
Town of Ellington
621,000
Equal Justice America, Inc.
State of Connecticut Court Support Services
Division
2,000
35,325
United Way, Southeastern Connecticut
United Way, Southington
Connecticut Bar Foundation (Court Fees
Grants-In-Aid)
Town of Darien
30,000
10,141
2,000,314
1,000
United Way, Meriden and Wallingford
10,000
Connecticut Bar Foundation (Interest on Lawyer’s
Trust Account)
Town of Coventry
15,000
Community Foundation of Greater New Britain,
Inc.
1,446
500
United Way, Greenwich
Community Chest of New Britain & Berlin
HPRP—Bridgeport
Town of Ashford
20,000
5,847
$ 100,000
2,283
36,556
25,325
United Way, Greater Waterbury
Anonymous Doner—Child Protection Project
Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut Women & Girls Fund
State of Connecticut Council on Developmental
Disabilities
United Way, Coastal Fairfield County
5,000
1,830
39,990
67,000
United Way, Northwest Connecticut
Community Development Block Grant ProgramTown of Greenwich
HPRP—Waterbury
United Way, Central and Northeastern Connecticut
United Way, Middlesex
3,156
22,823
24,322
PRIVATE GRANTS
Community Development Block Grant ProgramTown of Fairfield
HPRP—New Britain (through Friendship Service
Center of New Britain, Inc)
Tow Foundation, Inc.
Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, Bank of America,
Trustee
Jewish Home for the Elderly
14,404
5,000
University of Connecticut School of Law
9,975
Xerox Corporation
5,000
Total Private Grants
DONATIONS AND OTHER INCOME
Attorney Fees
Melville Charitable Trust
Seaman Family Foundation
74,864
Skadden Fellowship Foundation
69,138
St. John’s Community Foundation
1,830
Susan B. Anthony Project, Inc.
2,350
$
300,158
Campaign for Justice
281,903
Donated Goods and Services
240,397
United Way Donor Designations
Interest/Dividends Earned
Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments
Miscellaneous
250
19,964
$ 7,002,054
Income
15,762
5,128
492
4,145
Total Donations and Other
Total CLS Income
847,984
$ 9,605,218
Statements
of Financial
Position
June 30, 2012,
and June 30,
2011
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents—Operating Funds
Cash in Escrow—Client Funds
Cash—Insurance Escrow
Receivables
Grants and Contracts Receivable
Promises to Give
Other Receivables
Prepaid Expenses
Total Current Assets
Fixed Assets
Property and Equipment
Leasehold Improvements
Total Fixed Assets Before Depreciation
Less Accumulated Depreciation
Total Fixed Assets
Other Assets
June 30, 2012
$
$
$
$
$
1,555,835
51,884
138,697
1,031,772
13,433
173,148
2,964,769
$
21,382
6,560
27,942
$
4,290,072
$
Total Assets
$
3,408,976
$
$
June 30, 2012
$
352,109
1,054,256
29,738
154,885
3,856,443
$
21,382
20,073
41,455
Accrued Pension Liability
Accounts Payable
Accrued Expenses
Refundable Advances
Accrued Annual Leave
Client Trust Deposits
Total Current Liabilities
$
2,259,405
4,451
1,599
$
$
Current Liabilities
$
564,784
766,295
1,331,079
(928,327)
402,752
Security Deposits
Donated Common Stock
Total Other Assets
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
June 30, 2011
541,116
736,276
1,277,392
(871,705)
405,688
June 30, 2011
4,949,959
72,639
31,395
17,867
586,963
51,878
5,710,701
$
$
$
(3,876,510)
402,752
(3,473,758)
1,172,033
(2,301,725)
$
(853,557)
1,599
405,687
(446,271)
1,195,621
749,350
$
3,408,976
$
4,290,072
$
$
2,844,538
65,768
30,004
14,924
581,041
4,447
3,540,722
Net Assets
Unrestricted
Operations
Insurance Escrow
Fixed Assets
Total Unrestricted
Temporarily Restricted
Total Net Assets
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$
$
$
CLS Keeps Disabled Man from
Homelessness
F
rank is a 63-year-old
man who has intellectual
disabilities. He has received
SSI benefits most of his life
and lived with his aunt and
uncle until they died. He continued to live in
their home on his own with only SSI and food
stamps for income. Frank had not had gas,
which fuels the heat, hot water, and a stove,
for almost three years, and he owed the gas
company several hundred dollars. Frank also
had stopped paying for his electricity, which
he used to run a space heater, a hot plate, and
lights. When the electric company shut off his
service, Frank owed about a thousand dollars.
Eventually, his home was foreclosed for back
taxes and sold at auction. Frank received an
eviction notice. All the available subsidized
housing in his area was filled, and Frank faced
homelessness. A social worker referred Frank
to Connecticut Legal Services.
Frank’s CLS attorney found that the eviction
complaint was legally faulty, which created
a much-needed delay in the eviction
proceedings. The attorney quickly contacted
the utilities providers, arranged for the
electricity and gas to remain on, and got Frank
back on Medicaid, which he had let lapse.
Finally, Frank’s CLS attorney negotiated a
settlement with the new owner of Frank’s
house. Frank was able to stay—rent free—
long enough to find another place to live.
Campaign
for Justice
Donor List
July 1, 2011
through
January 31, 2013
Partners
($10,000 and up)
Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C.
Day Pitney LLP
The George Link Jr. Charitable Trust
Jane Hope Hastings Philanthropic
Trust
Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, PC
McCarter & English, LLP
Pfizer, Inc.
Robinson & Cole LLP
Julie Seaman
Shipman & Goodwin LLP
Leaders
($5,000–$9,999)
Robert and Lauren Dolian
Steven D. Eppler-Epstein
Finn Dixon & Herling LLP
GE Legal Team
Thomas D. Goldberg
Wiggin and Dana LLP
Xerox Foundation
Pacesetters
($1,000–$4,999)
Aaron S. Bayer
Anonymous (2)
Hon. Stuart Bear
Gregory B. Butler
Cacace, Tusch & Santagata
Carmody & Torrance LLP
Casper & de Toledo LLC
Cohen & Wolf, P.C.
Cummings & Lockwood LLC
DeFilippis Barndollar Law, LLC
Elaine G. Drummond, Esq.
Kathryn Emmett and David Golub
The Eppler Family Foundation
Fairfield County Bar Association, Inc.
Farrell, Geenty, Sheeley, Boccalatte &
Guarino, P.C.
Ross Garber
The GE Foundation
General Re Corporation Fund
Gary Gold
Gregory and Adams, P.C.
Jill A. Hanau
Michael J. Hanley
Barry C. Hawkins
Christopher J. Jarboe
Frank Judge
Peter G. Kelly
William Killoran
Astrid Lebron
Leighton, Katz & Drapeau
Levett Rockwood, P.C.
Grace M. Lomotey
Ivy and Frederick McKinney
Murtha Cullina LLP
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak &
Stewart, P.C.
Sarah S. Oldham and
Arnold H. Rutkin
Richard Orr
James Randel
Michael Schlessinger
Alice M. Sexton
James T. Shearin
Hon. Joseph M. Shortall and
Ms. Sara L. Bernstein
Siegel, Reilly & Conlon, LLC
James C. Smith
Howard S. Tuthill III
David P. and Lisa W. Tuttle
United Auto Workers Region 9A
Jonathan Winikur
Deborah Witkin and Israel Ortiz
Susan and Nels Ylitalo
Jack Zeldes
Sustainers
($500–$999)
Christopher Brogan
Christopher C. Burdett
John P. Casey
Daniel L. Daniels
Drury & Patz, LLP
Eder Family Foundation
Klaus and Joyce Eppler
Herbert Greenebaum
Chris Murphy and Cathy Holahan
Kaye and Hennessey, LLC
Walter R. Keenan, Esq.
Anne F. Mahoney
Donald and Alice Mastrony
Jonathan Orleans and Linda Liefland
Brendan O'Rourke
Alfred Pavlis
Mitchell W. Pearlman
Donald D. Philips
Piazza, Simmons & Grant, LLC
Kevin Rasch
Howard Rifkin
Saul A. Rothman, Esq.
Estate of Catherine G. Roraback
Robert Saperstein
Melvin Scott
SEI/Aaron's, Inc.
Alan J. Simon
The Solnit Fund
Alan R. Spier
L. Steiner and M. Goldsmith
Marcy Tench Stovall
Thomas and Maria Sullivan
Robert D. Tobin
TR Paul, Inc.
Elizabeth C. Yen
Robert and Alice Yoakum
Patrons
($200–$499)
American Immigration Lawyers
Association
Anonymous (3)
Jean Mills Aranha
AT&T/CWA Local 1298 Central Region
Community Service Fund
Gail and Robert A. Bedoukian
Marvin P. Bellis
Eryn Ament Bingle
John and Michele Boccalatte
Melanie B. Abbott
Ackerly & Ward
Richard and Sandy Adelstein
Henri Alexandre
Anonymous (6)
Mark W. Bancroft
Hugh Barton
Bethany Berger
Miriam Berkman and Brett Hill
Patricia N. Blair
Anne and Chris Blanchard
John F. Boshea
Valerie J. Boylan
Broder & Orland LLC
Marlene Brodsky
Maxine and Rick Brody
Susan Brown
Lynne A. Burgess
Kenneth David Burrows
Michael P. Byrne
Suzanne E. Caron, Esq.
Scott S. Centrella
Dennis G. Ciccarillo
Connecticut Bar Association,
Intellectual Property Section
Edward Cosden
Sue A. Cousineau
Sonja M. Devitt
Maureen Dewan and Stuart C. Belkin
Marianne Barbino Dubuque
Law Offices of Linda L. Eliovson &
Associates, LLC
David Epstein
Eric R. Epstein
Jonathan W. Field, Esq.
Dick and Rosalea Fisher
Tim and Dina Fisher
Alfred A. Fressola
Signe S. Gates, Esq.
Joelen Gates
Nicole Coppes-Gathy
Giuliano & Richardson, LLC
Roberta and Stephen Gould
Dahlia Grace
Joel Z. Green
Forest Lee Griffith
Madeleine and Edward Grossman
Margo Lynn Hablutzel
Joy L. Haenlein
Linda L. Hall
Ulysses and Christine Hammond
Helen Harris
Bethany F. Haslam
Nancy F. Haslam
Gregory A. Hayes
Brian Henebry
Randy G. Henley
Beverly Hodgson and John Leventhal
Edward J. Holahan Jr., Esq.
Hon. Alfred J. Jennings Jr.
Tonya Johnson
Edwin Jutila
Mark F. Katz
Charles B. Kaufmann III
Joel Kaye
Law Office of Raymond J. Kelly
Marianne B. Kilby
Sandy Klebanoff
Miklos P. Koleszar
David E. Koskoff
Hon. F. Paul Kurmay
Aleksander Lamvol
Robert M. Langer
Whitney M. Lewendon
Peter Marcuse
George J. Markley
Christopher P. McCormack
James C. McGuire
Michael F. Magistrali & Associates, LLC
Herbert H. Moorin
Garry H. Morton, Esq.
Margaret Murphy and
Mike Gustafson
O'Brien Stuart Eppinger & Collier, LLC
F. Jerome O'Malley
O'Rourke & Associates, LLC
Elizabeth Parcella
Perry & McKendry
David Petre
Mark D. Phillips
George A. Reilly
Thomas M. Rickart
Kenneth W. Ritt
Sabino Rodriguez III
Ronald S. Rosenstein, Esq.
Diane M. Sauer
Dr. Craig and Pietrina Saxton
Samuel V. Schoonmaker IV
Law Office of Samuel L. Schrager &
Associates, LLC
Daniel L. Schwartz
Scribes, Inc.
Law Office of Eileen Caplan Seaman
Erin Shaffer
Frank J. Silvestri
Cindy R. and Mark R. Slane
Phillip M. Small
Jeffrey Snyder
Carl J. Sokolowski
Barry and Claudia Spaulding
John P. Spilka
Isabella M. Squicciarini
John Stafstrom
Maynard and Elizabeth Stowe
David A. Swerdloff
Catherine M. Thompson
Gail Tomberg
Stanley A. Twardy Jr.
Law Office of Peter Upton &
Associates, LLC
Gene and Carol Waggaman
Deborah E. Wall
William Ward
Jonathan Weiner
Amy Span Wergeles
Nathaniel and Mary Yordon
Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C.
Donna R. Zito
CLS Helps Boy Obtain Disability Benefits
J
eremy is 12 years old and has nine siblings. He suffers from behavioral health
problems and attends a specialized school. He sometimes goes into terrible rages,
and subduing him can take as many as four people. He was once arrested for
attacking the principal of his school.
Jeremy’s mom contacted Connecticut Legal Services for help obtaining SSI benefits
for him. He was denied benefits at the first SSI hearing because the administrative law judge
thought Jeremy’s mother was administering his medication improperly, contributing to his bad
behavior. His CLS attorney immediately appealed, and the court scheduled a new hearing. At
the second hearing, Jeremy’s CLS attorney brought in a medical expert who testified that Jeremy
had elevated lead levels that can cause the rages and behavioral problems he exhibited. The
medical expert added that the only way to determine whether the lead levels were affecting
Jeremy was to administer a neuropsychological exam, which the ALJ then ordered. The exam
results showed that Jeremy has a very low IQ, possibly caused by lead poisoning, along with
other undiagnosed psychiatric conditions, and he now receives SSI benefits. His school is aware
of his low IQ and provides the special education services he needs, and Jeremy no longer acts out
in school.
Supporters
(Up to $199)
Bernard R. Adams and
Edna H. Travis Fund
Hon. Gerard I. Adelman
American Legal Services, LLC
Henry B. Anderson
Andrews & Young, P.C.
Anonymous (5)
Lesley Apt
Teresita Torres Arroyo
Bill and Catherine Bachrach
Philip H. Bartels
Timothy Bates
Jon and Alice Bauer
Donald L. Becker
Benanti & Associates
Gregg C. Benson
Jerome Berkman
Philip E. Berns Attorney at Law, LLC
Joseph Berube
Pippa Bianco
Debbie R. Bing-Zaremba
Thomas A. Bishop
CLS Helps Elderly Man Avert Homelessness
C
huck is in his mid-60s and suffers from chronic medical conditions, including
diabetes and a history of mental illness. He had been living in a nursing home,
which Medicaid paid for. When the Department of Social Services determined
that he no longer needed that level of care, Medicaid stopped paying the
nursing home. The nursing home then initiated a discharge hearing for Chuck,
proposing that he go to a homeless shelter because he had nowhere else to go.
Chuck found his way to Connecticut Legal Services for help with the discharge hearing. His CLS
attorney determined that although Chuck wanted to return to the community, he needed time
and the assistance of the nursing home staff to develop an appropriate transition plan. Chuck
also needed time to become eligible for the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders in order
to secure necessary home care services. Chuck’s CLS attorney was able to stop the discharge
and extend the time he could stay in the nursing home in order to develop an appropriate
transition plan. Chuck also became eligible for Medicaid and its home care program. He now
lives in an apartment with home care services.
CLS Helps Young Woman Fight
False Accusation of Wage Fraud
J
essica spent her childhood in numerous
foster homes and attended 12 different
schools before the age of 18. She then
worked part-time at a local coffee
store to help support her young family
of three while her husband was recovering from a
stroke. When the store where Jessica was working
closed for renovations, she was told to apply for
unemployment benefits and started collecting. When
she returned to work, she was told that she was still
entitled to collect some unemployment because
she was “underemployed.” Jessica filed her weekly
claims on-line, but because of language, literacy, and
comprehension problems, she repeatedly entered the
information incorrectly. Jessica tried several times
to get help but was told to read the unemployment
manual, and she ended up being overpaid. The
Department of Labor determined that she had
committed fraud and demanded repayment.
Jessica contacted Connecticut Legal Services for
assistance. For more than a year, her CLS attorney
worked with her to fight the finding of fraud and
apply for a waiver of overpayment. At one point, the
Department of Labor accidentally processed a wage
attachment before Jessica had her due process hearings.
When her CLS attorney appealed the case at the
administrative level, the Department of Labor found
that Jessica had not committed fraud. The overpayment
was forgiven, and she did not have to repay the money.
Jessica just finished her first year of community college
and was hired to work part-time at the Department of
Labor.
Raymond C. Bliss
Edward H. Boehner
Hon. Frederica S. Brenneman, JTR
William Breslau
Neil Brockwehl and Connie Frontis
Janet P. Brooks
Kevin Brophy
Devin A. Brown
Douglas R. Brown
Lawrence and Barbara Brown
Christopher M. Burke
Law Office of Kevin L. Burns
BuySaveGive, Inc.
John Cavilia
Cynthia Clancy
Joshua W. Cohen
Robert G. Cohs
Connecticut Health Foundation
Consumer Law Group, LLC
Lorraine Cortese-Costa
Christopher M. Cosgrove
Ronald Cummings
Beth A. Curry
Priscilla Cuttino
Peter Dagostine
Gregory F. Daniels, Esq.
Arnold M. Dashefsky
Marjorie Allen Dauster
Rachael Davis
Lila Jean De Maw
Hon. Anthony V. DeMayo
Anthony DePentima
Garry H. Desjardins
Jean de Smet
Bruce E. Dillingham
Mark W. Dost
Mark Dubois
John David Eaton
Stewart I. Edelstein
Marvin and Evelyn Farbman
Marie H. Farina
Pamala J. Favreau
Seth Feigenbaum
Cheryl diane Feuerman
Steven R. Fischer
Mitchell S. Fishman
Kathleen Flaherty and
James Valentino
Gary D. and Veronica S. M. Foster
Whit Freer
Thomas Gaines
Maria Garcia
Rafael Garcia
Rose Gatto
Fred Gervasoni
Joseph P. Giasi Jr.
Dan and Mark Goldberg
Leo Gold
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Matching Gift Program
Jeannine Ann Green
Mary Beth Grey-Fox
Abby M. Gross
Amy Haberman
Virginia Hamilton
Kathleen Harkins
Wilmot L. Harris
Honor S. Heath
Judge Seymour Hendel
Carol A. Higgins
Horgan Law Offices
Howard and McMillan
Herbert G. Isaacson
Emile W. Jacques, LLC
Norman K. Janes
The Law Offices of Januszewski,
McQuillan & DeNigris, LLP
Ronald D. Japha
Heidi A. Jaskiewicz
Cynthia Johnson
Doreen Johnson
Maureen W. Johnson
Mary Judd
Carrie and Glenn Kaas
Kalik & Associates, Inc.
Arnold Kapiloff
Eugene H. Kaplan
Brenda Kelley
Greg Kirschner and Tracy Krasinski
Maurice and Anya Klee
Michael Kokoszka
Roger E. Koontz
Richard H. Kosinski
Charlotte Koskoff
Bernard Kosto
Sharon Langer and
Matthew Horowitz
William M. Leahy
Joseph and Sandra Leheny
Lepofsky, Lepofsky & Lang
Denise Lewis
Joanne Lewis
Logan & Mencuccini, LLP
Sheri F. London
Nicholas A. Longo
Julie Loughran and Brendan Foulois
Carol L. Lutz
Mary Berthelot
Johanna S. Malinowski,
Attorney at Law
Laurel D. Mangan
Donat C. Marchand
Law Office of M. Katherine Marcon
Hon. Robert A. Martin and
Hon. Susan B. Handy
Natalia Martin
David F. Matte
Harry N. Mazadoorian
Andrew J. McDonald
Ruth A. McVeigh
Catherine Mennenga
Nancy A. Castagna Merlino
Karl C. Miller
Glenna M. Moalli
Adam Mocciolo
John N. Montalbano
Avery R. Moore
Joan and Lawrence Moore
Mark Moore
Douglas M. More
Donna Decker Morris
James J. Murphy
Law Office of Karen Wackerman
Myers, LLC
The Nabulsi Family
Randi R. Nelson
George N. Nichols
Robert and Susan Nobleman
Peter and Valerie Nucci
Susan Ochman
Catherine D. O'Connor
O'Donnell, McDonald & Cregeen, LLC
Douglas H. Olin
Douglas A. Ovian
Arthur C. Parent
Mildred E. Paris
Giles Payne
Joy Kony Peshkin
Marjorie Peterson
Nilda Planas
Plotnick & Plotnick
Gail K. Posten
Cecile Powell
Louise M. Quarto
Howard A. Raphaelson
Daniel Redak
David C. Reynolds
Heroilda Rios
Cindy L. Robinson
William Rock
Margaret P. Roraback
John W. Rossitter
Law Office of Gerard R. Rucci
Gerald Sazama
George Scharpf
Carol and David Schulz
Steven Schwane
Jean Schweid
Richard Sellman
David L. Sfara
Patricia Shaw and
Stephen McQuade
Hon. B. J. Sheedy
J. Michael Sherb
Harold Sherman
Joan and Stuart Sidney
Helen Sienkiewicz
Richard Slavin
Lorraine Smith
Greta E. Solomon
Linda Spada
Jayme E. Stamper
Roseann A. Staplins
Dr. and Mrs. Christopher L. Starks
Alan Steele
Colin C. Tait
Hon. Samuel H. Teller and
Mrs. Joan Teller
Lee E. Terry
Stephen J. Teti, Esq.
Tomeo Sills, LLC
Lewis Trigg
Jonathan B. Tropp
Lawrence J. Tytla
Amado J. Vargas
Nancy and Peter von Euler
Michael J. Weisman
A. Thomas White
Kathleen White
Michael Widland
Catherine L. Williams
Eva Wingate
Austin K. Wolf
James Wu
Ann and Dick Wyles
Margaret Zabawar
Martin Zeldis
Winona W. Zimberlin,
Attorney at Law
Virginia and Jeremy Zwelling
In Memory of
Tim Aher
Eric Blaise Alexandre
Ray Aranha
Gladys and Philip Bear
Gregory and Zigmunt Bednarski
Martin M. Berger
Robert J. Brennan Jr.
Roy F. Brown
My brother, Curt, who always
struggled and still had a good
sense of humor
Heinz Eppler
Luz M. Henriquez
Dutchie Horgan
Merwin Leven
Richard McCarthy
Arthur P. Meisler, Esq.
Richard R. Michaud
Karen Parris, Esq.
Sylvia Sherman
Reverend Henry K. Yordon
In Honor or Appreciation of
Vivien Blackford
Kevin and Michelle Brophy
Michael Burns
John Cashmon, Esq.
Steve Eppler-Epstein
Marvin Farbman
Dr. Louis Mager
Raquel McFarland
Hunter Murdock and
Danielle Lindemann
Nicholas and Lynn Norton
Richard Orr
Jill Plancher
Allen Siegel's birthday
Cindy Slane's 60th birthday and her
devotion to access to justice
Gail Tomberg
Stanley A. Twardy Jr.
Philip and Valerie Vitali's
40th wedding anniversary
Deborah Witkin
Deborah Witkin, Royal Stark,
Dahlia Grace, and Patti Lugo
for the work they did at the
Quinnipiac Law Clinic and the
work they do at CLS
In-Kind Gifts and Services
Eric Altholz: Verrill Dana LLP
Caroline L. Bersak: Day Pitney LLP
Keith Boyce:
Hunter Capital Advisors, Inc.
Tim Burns:
Hunter Capital Advisors, Inc.
April Condon: Robinson & Cole LLP
Cynthia K. Courtney: Day Pitney LLP
Kenneth Ginder: Verrill Dana LLP
Catherine Gray:
McCarter & English, LLP
Peter Hewitt
Orv Karan
Misti Munster: Verrill Dana LLP
Cindy R. Slane
Brandon Smith Reporting & Video
LLC
Cecilia Z. Stiber: Day Pitney LLP
Jean Tomasco: Robinson & Cole LLP
Richard Vitarelli:
McCarter & English, LLP
CLS Helps Woman Leave Abusive
Husband and Stay in the United States
M
argaret met and married her husband, a
United States citizen, in her home country.
Shortly after they were married, Margaret
traveled to the United States to live with
her husband and his family. The only condition to her legal
residence was that she remain married for two years. Almost
immediately after Margaret’s arrival, her husband’s family
began treating her like a slave. Her husband and his mother
physically abused Margaret, and the family would not
allow her to work. She was allowed to go to school, but her
husband’s family members dropped her off and picked her
up, refusing to let her socialize with anyone at the school.
One of Margaret’s teachers found her crying and gave her
information about a domestic violence shelter.
Shortly afterward, Margaret left her husband but did not
know what to do about the immigration interview. The
domestic violence shelter referred Margaret to Connecticut
Legal Services, and her CLS attorney was able to postpone
the interview. The attorney used the time to prepare
documentation proving that Margaret entered the marriage
in good faith, left because of physical violence, and was
therefore legally entitled to proceed with the immigration
case without her husband’s participation. She was incredibly
grateful, and during her interview, she impressed the
adjudicator with her credibility and candor. Her green card
was made permanent immediately.
Connecticut Legal Services, Inc.
62 Washington Street
Middletown, CT 06457
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S.POSTAGE
PAID
MIDDLETOWN,CT
PERMIT NO 129
[email protected]
www.ConnLegalServices.org
Law
Offices
211 State Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
203-336-3851; 1-800-809-4434
(serving Greater Bridgeport)
[email protected]
153 Williams Street
New London, CT 06320
860-447-0323; 1-800-413-7798
(serving New London County)
[email protected]
16 Main Street
New Britain, CT 06051
860-225-8678; 1-800-233-7619
(serving the New Britain and Meriden
areas as well as Middlesex County)
[email protected]
20 Summer Street
Stamford, CT 06901
203-348-9216; 1-800-541-8909
(serving the Greater Stamford and
Norwalk areas)
[email protected]
85 Central Avenue
Waterbury, CT 06702
203-756-8074; 1-800-413-7797
(serving the Waterbury and Danbury
areas as well as Litchfield County)
[email protected]
872 Main Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
860-456-1761; 1-800-413-7796
(serving Tolland and Windham Counties)
[email protected]
Satellite Offices:
5 Colony Street, Meriden, CT 06450
62 Washington Street, Middletown, CT 06457
98 South Main Street, South Norwalk, CT 06854
29 Naek Road, Vernon, CT 06066
Administrative Office:
62 Washington Street
Middletown, CT 06457
860-344-0447
[email protected]