2012 Annual Report - Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Ser vices
2 0 1 2 A N N UA L R E P O RT
Over 100 Years
B l u e E a r t h
B r o w n
C a r v e r
C o t t o n w o o d
D a k o t a
D o d g e
F a r i b a u l t
F i l l m o r e
F r e e b o r n
G o o d h u e
H o u s t o n
J a c k s o n
L e S u e u r
M a r t i n
M c L e o d
M o w e r
M u r r a y
N i c o l l e t
N o b l e s
O l m s t e d
P i p e s t o n e
R a m s e y
R e d w o o d
R i c e
R o c k
S c o t t
S i b l e y
S t e e l e
W a b a s h a
W a s e c a
W a s h i n g t o n
W a t o n w a n
W i n o n a
11%
38%
33
of Minnesotans
currently live in
poverty.
(US Census Bureau, 2010)
of the state’s
poverty population
falls within SMRLS’
service area.
total number of
counties covered by
SMRLS, all receiving
a full range of legal
services.
T
of Service
o all SMRLS friends and colleagues, thank you for your unwavering support of SMRLS and
its client-centered mission this past year. And what a dynamic year it has been.
The eligible client population throughout SMRLS service area continues to access needed
legal assistance. In 2012, with the assistance of a vibrant volunteer attorney panel and others,
SMRLS closed nearly 10,000 cases, helping over 25,000 individuals and family members.
Another 20,000 persons were helped as a result of community education and outreach
initiatives.
This high quality, effective legal assistance translates into approximately 3,500 persons being
empowered to maintain safe, affordable housing; 2,000 individuals obtaining access to
essentials such as food and medical care; and 1,000 children and families remaining free
from violence and abuse. Other favorable outcomes were realized in SMRLS’ education law
and immigration/naturalization practice areas as well as in its appellate practice.
The dynamism of SMRLS staff is second-to-none! While the program is experiencing the
Jessie R. Nicholson,
Chief Executive Officer
loss of some of its most seasoned, professional staff through retirement, fortunately it is able
to bring on new and enthusiastic talent to enhance its ability to meet its mission. What a
contrast to just a few short years ago when SMRLS experienced a hiring freeze due to the
economic downturn! And even with this transition in staff, the average attorney experience
level is approximately 17 years.
Though perpetually an issue for any non-profit legal aid provider, SMRLS is experiencing
some stability in its primary revenue sources. The 2012 state legislative session resulted in a
$1.25 million annual increase for statewide civil legal services funding. SMRLS’ share of this
increase is approximately 38%, as funding is distributed based on percentage of poverty
population served. Additionally, because the 2010 census demonstrated an increase in the
poverty population, federal Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funding was increased slightly
to reflect growing need. And as you will note elsewhere in the annual report, private and J. Scott Braden, Board President
foundation fundraising continues on a good pace.
On behalf of SMRLS’ clients, its staff and board, we extend our warmest regards and heartfelt
thanks for your past support and ongoing committment to the mission of equal justice.
Respectfully,
Jessie R. Nicholson, Esq.
J. Scott Braden, Esq.
SMRLS Chief Executive Officer
SMRLS Board President
“Thank you
so much for helping me to win my case.
I have no words strong enough to express my gratitude.” – SMRLS Client
Mission & Activities
T
o provide a full range of high quality legal services to low income persons and eligible client groups
in civil matters, in a respectful manner which enables clients to:
•
•
•
•
enforce their legal rights;
obtain effective access to the courts, administrative agencies and forums which constitute our
system of justice;
maintain freedom from hunger, homelessness, sickness and abuse;
empower persons and assure equal opportunity, thus, helping people to help themselves and
become economically self-reliant, to the extent their individual abilities and circumstances permit.
SMRLS, through a diverse, respectful and fair working environment, and legal assistance and community
education activities, shall promote and respect the dignity of low-income persons and shall seek new
and effective solutions to the critical and common legal problems of low-income persons which arise
in a broad community context.
In 2012, SMRLS closed
Family
23%
9,935 cases
Health Care,
Individual Rights,
Employment
10%
Consumer Law,
Farmers
9%
and helped a total of
27,631
low-income persons
Benefits
16%
meet their critical
legal needs.
Housing
35%
Youth, Education,
Citizenship
7%
Partners in Justice
K
im was a resident of the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Hastings when one day she accidentally collided with
her roommate in their room. Kim was moving out and her roommate was not supposed to be present. No one
was injured but, a few days later, Kim was accused of posing an immediate threat to the health and safety of other
residents. She was subsequently discharged from the Home the day after a major snowstorm. With nowhere to go,
Kim – who had served as a nurse in the military – became homeless for nearly a year until she connected with SMRLS.
In SMRLS, Kim found an ally. As the case quickly escalated, Mike Hagedorn (SMRLS Litigation Coordinator), former
SMRLS staff attorney Andrea Jepsen and attorneys from the Briggs and Morgan firm John Degnan and Ankoor
Bagchi all signed on. Working as a truly
collaborative team, the group filed a
civil rights action in district court. At an
emergency hearing, they argued that
Kim was entitled to a pre-termination
hearing, given the vulnerable position
of MN Veteran’s Home residents,
who are unable to otherwise care for
or provide for themselves. The court
agreed, granted the injunction, and
Kim was readmitted. Subsequently,
the team secured a favorable
monetary settlement for Kim, allowing
her an opportunity to live on her own.
In addition to securing safe and stable
housing for their client, the team also
Mike Hagedorn (Litigation Coordinator, SMRLS), John M. Degnan (Shareholder, Briggs and
Morgan), Ankoor Bagchi (Associate Attorney, Briggs and Morgan).
ensured that the Home enacted
several measures that should already have been in place for all of the veterans in the Home. Among these: home
staff were required to receive training in reasonable accommodations from an approved housing agency (such as
HUD), to post detailed notices about reasonable accommodations in obvious, in easy-to-read places, and to give
reasonable accommodation notices at admission and with discharge notices. Also, the veteran’s ombudsman
would receive the notice to allow assistance to the veteran. The discharge notice now must explicitly state that a
veteran can remain in the home until he or she receives a decision in a contested hearing. Finally, the settlement
resulted in significant attorneys’ fees awarded to SMRLS pursuant to the civil rights action, providing critical support
to the pursuit of equal justice.
6%
From 2009, homelessness in Minnesota
has increased by
(Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. “Homelessness in Minnesota,” 2012 Study)
A Second Chance
M
r. Koua Fong Lee was driving home from church with his family on June 10, 2006 when his Toyota
Camry accelerated on an exit ramp and hit another vehicle, killing two passengers. Mr. Lee was
convicted of criminal vehicular homicide in 2007 and sentenced to 8 years in jail. Two years later,
his attorney presented new evidence on the Toyota unintended acceleration problems – millions of
vehicles were re-called because of this problem – and Mr. Lee was granted a new trial. The Ramsey
County Attorney dismissed the criminal charges against Mr. Lee and he was released from jail in August
2010 after serving over two and a half years.
Mr. Lee and his family immigrated
to the United States as refugees
from Laos in 2004. His wife and
children became Lawful Permanent
Residents (green card holders)
but his application was never
approved. Mr. Lee came to SMRLS
for assistance following his release
from jail. SMRLS attorney Jennifer
Stohl Powell investigated his case
and found that his green card
application was still pending. SMRLS
attorney Lou Her accompanied
Mr. Lee to his immigration interview
and he was approved for his green
card. SMRLS then helped Mr. Lee
apply to become a United States
citizen and accompanied him to his
naturalization interview. Mr. Koua
Fong Lee was sworn in as a United
States citizen on May 16, 2012.
1 in 5
Jennifer Stohl Powell (Senior Leadership Attorney, SMRLS), Koua Fong Lee, Judge Susan
Richard Nelson, Panghoua Moua (Mr. Lee’s Wife).
of recent immigrants to Minnesota is a refugee
or asylee fleeing persecution in their homeland.
(Wilder Research / The Minneapolis Foundation. “A New Age of Immigrants: Making Immigration Work for MN,” 2010)
Safe at Home
Y
oung brothers, Travis and Taylor, were living in
extremely unsafe conditions; their house was plagued
by domestic violence and their parents struggled with
drug and alcohol abuse. Child protective services was
contacted and, without a court order, all agreed that the
children should go to live with their maternal grandparents.
Three years later, the children’s biological father sued for
custody and parenting time. Their mother, now residing
out-of-state, wanted her sons to continue to live with her
parents. Their father’s lifestyle has not much changed and
still posed a significant threat to the children’s well-being.
Furthermore, by this time, Travis and Taylor had spent
most of their lives with their grandparents; another move
seriously threatened their stability. Despite these concerns
Travis and Taylor with their Grandparents.
a Judge made it clear at an initial hearing that children
belong with biological parents except in cases of extraordinary circumstance.
Eric Richard, SMRLS staff attorney, was able to convince
the father and his counsel to work with a custody
evaluator. After the evaluator met with the maternal
grandparents, and the father and his family, she begged
the judge to leave the children in their grandparents’
care. The judge agreed on a temporary motion. Shortly
after, following additional advocacy by the custody
evaluator, the father settled on a permanent basis. The
grandparents were thrilled to have some permanency
and the opportunity to provide their grandchildren a full
life in a safe and nurturing home.
The number of counties in which
SMRLS is the only provider of free
family law help:
“Eric … It was one of the best
days of all four of our lives
when we got you as a lawyer.
Thank you again and thank
your team for all you have
done.”
29
Lawyers on Ice
January 19, 2012 • Xcel Energy Center
I
n January 2012 SMRLS hosted its eleventh annual “Lawyers on
Ice” hockey event at the Xcel Energy Center, chaired by long-
time volunteer attorney Mike O’Neill. Four hockey games were
played. In the first, the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi/Western
National Insurance Company sponsored team won against
Meagher Geer/Martin & Squires 5-4. The second game saw the
team sponsored by Ogletree Deakins/Gaskins Bennett Birrell and
Schupp/Murnane Brandt beat Larson • King/Briggs & Morgan/US
Bank 9-2. In the third place game, the Meagher/Martin team won
Mike O’Neill (Martin & Squires), Steven Weinreich (MN Wild), Tom Norby
(Murnane Brandt), Maggie Hobbs and Christie Schult (both MN Wild).
8-4 and the Ogletree/Gaskins/Murnane team took home the championship for the second straight year
winning by a score of 5-4. Over sixty lawyers, friends and retired professional hockey players participated in
this years Lawyers on Ice, raising over $6,000.00 for SMRLS.
Senior Legal Fair
September 14, 2012 • St. Paul River Centre
T
his year’s Senior Legal Fair began with a welcome from UCare President
Nancy Feldman; following, UCare volunteers and vendors from across
the metro area greeted a diverse group of approximately 500 seniors. The
event also featured a special naturalization ceremony for new citizens.
United States Magistrate Judge Tony Leung presided over the ceremony,
swearing in 14 new American citizens from 11 different countries.
The 5th consecutive UnitedHealth Group Free Simple Wills Clinic ran
throughout the day. Attorneys from UnitedHealth Group, 3M, and Dorsey
Ghita Worcester (Sr. Vice-President, UCare),
& Whitney executed 32 simple wills, health care directives, and power of
Jessie Nicholson (CEO, SMRLS), Nancy Feldman
(President, UCare).
attorney documents on site. Senior attendees were also able to attend
community education trainings on a variety of topics, receive one-on-one advice from an attorney, pick up
giveaways from vendors, and enjoy a catered hot lunch. Non-English speaking seniors were provided community
legal education sessions with interpreters in Hmong, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Karen, and Spanish.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who so generously donated their time. Special thanks to our event sponsors UCare,
UnitedHealth Group, 3M and Dorsey & Whitney for their sustained support of SMRLS and the Senior Legal Fair.
Social Justice
Uncorked
October 12, 2012 • Graves Hotel
T
he 5th Annual Social Justice Uncorked was a beautiful evening and a tremendous success. With
over 300 guests attending (a record high), the event generated over $100,000.00 in support of the
mission of equal justice for all.
Between wine-tastings and friendly competition in the silent and live auctions, guests had the
opportunity to connect with fellow members of the legal and corporate communities. Honorary Chairs,
former Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz and Wheelock Whitney presented inaugural Social Justice Awards
to seven companies and firms honoring their 5 years of sponsorship of this event: 3M, Alliance Bank,
Best Buy, Briggs and Morgan, Creative Integration & Design, Medtronic and Thomson Reuters. The
presentation of this year’s Uncorked video “Justice Matters” was a reminder of the critical importance
of SMRLS’ work and featured several of our corporate
partners who spoke to SMRLS’ mission, successes and
the ongoing imperative of legal aid.
Honorary Chairs Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz (Ret.) and
Wheelock Whitney.
The entrance welcome and wine tasting at Social Justice Uncorked
2012.
Thank you to all our guests, partners and staff who made
this year’s Uncorked such a sucessful and memorable
event, our Access to Justice Partners who donated
in support of the “Wall of Wine” and the following
members of the 2012 Uncorked Planning Committee:
Stacy Broman, Kevin Magnuson, Sally Scoggin, James
Long, Tom Kayser, and Winston Hewett. A special thanks
to our 2012 Uncorked sponsors:
3M
Alliance Bank
Best Buy
Briggs and Morgan
Creative Integration and
Design
Dorsey & Whitney
ECMC
Faegre Baker Daniels
Graves Hotel
Kelley, Wolter & Scott
Maslon Edelman, Borman
& Brand
Mairs & Power
Medtronic
Robins, Kaplan, Miller &
Ciresi
United Health Group
Thomson Reuters
Official Wine & Beer
Sponsors:
Rootstock Wine Company
Summit
Racial Justice CLEand
November 20, 2012 • Crowne Plaza Riverfront
I
n November 2012, SMRLS was honored to host “The Prosecutions of the 16th Street Church Bombing”
presented by former Alabama Attorney General, William Baxley and former United States Attorney,
District of Alabama, Doug Jones. Nearly 350 of SMRLS’ equal justice partners from the bench, corporate,
firm and at-large communities attended the morning CLE. The presentation included audio recordings
and film footage from the FBI files surrounding the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in
Birmingham, Alabama, which resulted in the tragic deaths of four young black girls. Mr. Baxley and Mr.
Jones received a standing ovation and an outpouring of praise.
The overwhelmingly postive response to this
event continued far beyond that morning. Many
attendees contacted SMRLS, remarking that it
was the best CLE they had ever attended. And in
spring 2013, the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal
Bar invited William Baxley and Doug Jones to represent the CLE. SMRLS was honored to co-host
the event.
Following the morning CLE, the day moved into
SMRLS’ 13th Annual Fall Appreciation Luncheon.
The afternoon brought out record numbers, with
roughly 600 guests attending. SMRLS’ Campaign
for Legal Aid Chair, Steven J. Kirsch, Murnane
Brandt Firm, was on hand to serve as the luncheon
emcee. B. Todd Jones, United States Attorney,
District of Minnesota, provided the introduction of
the luncheon keynote speaker, William Baxley, who
spoke poignantly about the critical importance of
SMRLS’ work.
The afternoon concluded with the presentation of
the following awards: Lifetime Achievement Award
to William Baxley; Lifetime Leadership Award to
Judge Natalie Hudson, MN Court of Appeals and
Ken Kohnstamm, MN Attorney General’s Office; 21st
Century Achievement Award to Dean Eric Janus,
William Mitchell College of Law; and the Equal Justice
Service Award to Kathy Bartz, SMRLS Board Member.
William Baxley; Jessie R. Nicholson (CEO, SMRLS), and Doug Jones at
the MN Chapter of the FBA.
Judge Donovan Frank (United States District Court), MN Attorney
General Lori Swanson, Chief Judge Michael Davis (United States
District Court).
Appreciation Luncheon
Thank you to our event sponsors: 3M, Alliance Bank, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual, Thomson Reuters and
Xcel Energy as well as our table sponsors:
Barnes & Thornburg
Bassford Remele
Briggs and Morgan
Chestnut Cambronne
Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh
Dietz-Mayfield
Dorsey & Whitney
Faegre Baker Daniels
Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt
Foley & Mansfield
Fredrikson & Byron
Fulbright & Jaworski
Gaskins, Bennett, Birrell, & Schupp
Gislason & Hunter
Gray Plant Mooty
Hamline University School of Law
Harper & Peterson
Larson • King
Leonard, Street and Deinard
Lindquist & Vennum
Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg
Martineau, Gonko & Vavreck
Maslon, Edelman, Borman & Brand
Meagher & Geer
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office
Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
Minnesota State Bar Association
Murnane Brandt
Public Utilities Commission
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi
Sieben Polk
St. Thomas University School of Law
Justice Esther Tomljanovich, MN Supreme Court
(Ret.)
University of Minnesota Law School
Walsh & Gaertner
Eric Janus & Carolyn Chalmers, on behalf of
William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
Winthrop & Weinstine
Jessie R. Nicholson (CEO, SMRLS), Scott Braden (Board President, SMRLS), Hon. Natalie
Hudson (MN Court of Appeals).
Chuck Dietz, Steve Wolfe (Senior Leadership Attorney,
SMRLS) Bruce Beneke (Senior Counsel, SMRLS).
Dean Eric Janus (William
Mitchell College of Law).
Additional Tables reserved by the following courts:
Chief Judge Michael Davis and Judge Donovan Frank
United States Magistrate Judge Steven Rau and
Judge Tony Leung
Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings
Minnesota Supreme Court
Minnesota Court of Appeals
Judges of the Second Judicial District
Kathy Bartz (Board Members, SMRLS), Barbara Penn.
Save the Date for
6th Annual
Social Justice Uncorked
Friday, October 11, 2013 6PM – 9PM
Graves Hotel
2013 Honorary Chairs
Justice Helen Meyer, (Ret.) Minnesota Superme Court &
William F. Bieber, Chairman of the Board: Atek Companies
Featured Live Auction Items
Lunch with a Legend
Enjoy a Private Lunch with Vernon Jordan at his office in Rockefeller Center.
CLE’s with 3M and UnitedHealth Group
Showcase your firm’s talent and expertise!
Vernon Jordan
3M and UnitedHealth Group will each host a CLE to be presented by your firm at its
corporate campus. Bid on this excellent opportunity to have your attorneys provide
each company’s legal team with a tailored 1-2 hour CLE and have the opportunity
to engage with each legal team about their legal priorities and needs.
2013 Social Justice Uncorked Award Recipients
Mairs and Power, Inc.
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi Law Firm
2013 Sponsors To Date
3M, Alliance Bank, Briggs and Morgan, Dorsey & Whitney, Faegre Baker Daniels, Great River Energy,
Larson • King, Mairs and Power, Inc., Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP, Medtronic, Robins,
Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, Thomson Reuters, and UnitedHealth Group.
SMRLS in 2013
14th Annual
Fall Appreciation Luncheon
Tuesday, November 26, 2013 11AM – 1:30PM
Crowne Plaza Riverfront
Keynote Speaker
Peter Edelman
Center on Poverty, Inequality, and Public Policy
Georgetown University
Professor Edelman has been Associate Dean of the Law Center, Director of the New York
State Division for Youth, and Vice President of the University of Massachusetts. He was
a Legislative Assistant to Senator Robert F. Kennedy and was Issues Director for Senator
Edward Kennedy’s Presidential campaign in 1980. He is currently chair of the District of
Columbia Access to Justice Commission, board chair of the American Constitution Society
for Law and Policy, Public Welfare Foundation and the National Center for Youth Law, board
president emeritus of the New Israel Fund, and a board member of the Center for Law
and Social Policy, the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and a half dozen other
nonprofit organizations. Professor Edelman’s most recent book, So Rich So Poor: Why It’s So
Hard to End Poverty in America, was published by The New Press in May 2012.
Lifetime Leadership Award
Justice Paul Anderson, Minnesota Supreme Court
21st Century Award
Jonathan Oviatt, Chief Legal Officer, Mayo Clinic
25 Year SMRLS Staff Attorney Award
Laura Melnick, SMRLS Central Office: Benefits Unit
Peter Edelman
The Charlton H. Dietz and Bruce A. Beneke Legal
Services Staff Outstanding Advocate Award
2013 Event Sponsors
3M, Alliance Bank, Dorsey & Whitney, Medica,
Minnesota Lawyers Mutual, Thomson Reuters, and
Xcel Energy.
Each One Different:
Help comes in all shapes and sizes.
Every case we handle, every client we serve, is unique. The same goes for SMRLS’ community of donors
and volunteers and the contributions they make to this organization. There is no one right gift to SMRLS
– each and every donation has a direct, positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Below are
some general examples of the various ways to give; for more information, questions, or to discuss how
to become involved, please contact the Campaign for Legal Aid at (651) 228-9823.
Direct Donation:
Your donation – of any amount – will be counted to our Annual Campaign. Funds will used to support
direct client services, providing critical legal assistance and ensuring that justice is not based on what
one can afford.
Volunteer:
The need for legal help is ever great. If you
are an attorney looking to make a donation
of time and service, please consider SMRLS
and our low-income client community.
Planned Giving:
SMRLS has been providing equal access
to justice for over 100 years. To ensure that
the same service is available to coming
generations, please consider making a
planned gift, either as part of your estate
or to commemorate a cornerstone event:
a birth, a graduation, a retirement, or other
joyous occasion.
“What was a very stressful time in
my life was made so much easier
by your (staff) attorney, Ray Beckel,
the wonderful woman at your front
desk, and of course (volunteer
attorney) Jill Baker. Thank you so
much.” – SMRLS Client
Together, we can make a difference.
United for Justice
THANK YOU
for your support
Champions of Justice (greater than $45,000)
Anonymous
UCare
Justice Society ($30,000 - $44,999)
3M
Briggs and Morgan
Hardenbergh Foundation
Mayo Clinic Foundation
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi
Appellate Circle ($15,000 - $29,999)
Dorsey & Whitney
Larson • King
Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly
Ramsey County Bar Foundation
United Way of Steele County
Jurists ($5,000 - $14,999)
John F. Eisberg and Susan Kline
Dr. Gabriel Ejebe
Alliance Bank
Farrish Johnson
Best Buy
Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt
Blackwell Burke
Foley & Mansfield
Creative Integration & Design
H.E. and Helen R. Warren Foundation
ECMC
Samuel Hanson
Faegre Baker Daniels
Harper & Peterson
Fredrikson & Byron
Thomas B. Hatch
Gislason & Hunter
Key Investment, Inc.
Leonard, Street & Deinard
Peter Kohnstamm
Lindquist & Vennum
Mairs and Power
Gene Link & Ann Marie Hirsch
Meshbesher & Spence
Maslon, Edelman, Borman & Brand
Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance
Medtronic
Company
Murnane Brandt
The Richard A. Zgodava Fund of the St. Paul Minnesota State Bar Association
Northern Lights Combined Federal
Foundation
Campaign
Thomson Reuters
Jonathan Oviatt
United Way of Mower County
Peterson, Fram & Bergman
UnitedHealth Group
Katherine Piven
Whitney Foundation
Terry K. Qualey
Winthrop & Weinstine
Mahlon C. Schneider
Xcel Energy
Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey
Sieben Polk
Magistrates ($2,500 - $4,999)
Solo Vino
1st District Bar Association
Somsen, Mueller, Lowther & Franta
3rd District Bar Association
St. Paul Foundation
6th District Bar Association
Jon and Lea Theobald
Aafedt, Forde, Gray, Monson & Hager
Tilton & Dunn
Brownson & Ballou
Bill Tilton
Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh
United Way of Faribault
Gaskins, Bennett, Birrell & Schupp
University Bank
Greene Espel
James G. Vander Linden
Jardine, Logan & O’Brien
Zelle Hofmann
Meagher & Geer
Melchert, Hubert, Sjodin
Practitioners ($500 - $999)
Unity Church - Unitarian
5th District Bar Association
Terry L. Wade and Bonnie Grzeskowiak
9th District Bar Association
American Endowment Foundation:
Litigators ($1,000 to $2,499)
Malcolm and Barbara Burleigh Fund
8th District Bar Association
Arthur Chapman Law Firm
Arneson & Geffen
Thomas and Elizabeth Boyd
Bassford Remele
Chesley, Kroon, Harvey & Carpenter
Best & Flanagan
Martin J. Costello
Blethen Gage & Krause
Lydia P. Crawford
Cousineau McGuire
John Degnan
Brenda Devlin
Kathleen DiGiorno
Fine Wines International
Gopher Sports Properties
Larry B. Guthrie
Jodie Hagstrom
Karen Ciegler Hansen
Hansen, Dordell, Bradt,
Odlaug & Bradt
Henson & Efron
Megan Hertzler
Hon. Beverly Jones
Heydinger
David Hutchinson
Bradley M. Jones
Nancy J. Joyer
James J. Long
Eric J. Magnuson
Martin & Squires
Maschka, Riedy & Ries
Minnesota Chapter of
American Board of Trial
Advocates
Northfield Area United Way
Arthur Page and Anne
Bergman
Katie Pfeifer
George Rehm
Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben
William R. Sieben
Theodore Stern
Hon. Esther Tomljanovich
(Ret.)
Charles F. Webber
Western National Insurance
Co-Counsel ($200 - $499)
Al Vento Restaurant
Stu Alger
Anonymous
Cooper Ashley
Barnes & Thornburg
Bruce A. Beneke
Michael C. Black
J. Scott Braden PA
Steve A. Brand
Angela Brandt
John Breedlove
John G. Brian, III
Stacy Broman
Burke & Thomas
Joseph Cade
Cannon River Winery
Andrew Carlson
Joel Carlson
Chestnut Cambronne
Prof. Bradley G. Clary
Hon. Edward J. Cleary
Ann Cohen
Daniel J. Cole
William Cosgriff
Peter O. Dahlen
Charlton Dietz
Disney World
Martha Eaves
Gail Engstrom
Erickson, Bell, Beckman &
Quinn
Larry D. Espel
Hon. Donovan Frank
Prof. Richard S. Frase
Edward Friedland
Charles J. Frisch
Charles Frundt
Fulbright & Jaworski
Gabriel Law Office
Gavin, Olson, Winters, Twiss,
Thiemann & Long
Ellen C. Gavin
Mark Genereux
Graves 601 Hotel
Gray, Plant, Mooty
Mike Hagedorn
Jerome Halloran
Hamline University
Katherine Harris
Haskell’s Wine & Spirits
Timothy Hughes
Ann Huntrods
Dean Eric Janus
Kristine Legler Kaplan
Steven J. Kirsch
Kraft Walser Law Office
Lew Linde
Lommen Abdo
Alan Maclin
Martineau, Gonko &
Vavreck
Rachel Mathre
Chris A. Messerly
Minnesota CLE
Michael Nash
Hon. Rosanne Nathanson
Stephen L. Nelson
Daniel O’Fallon and Kathryn
Timm
Gail Olson
Joseph T. O’Neill
Vivian Orey
Justice Alan Page
Park Tavern
Barbara F. L. Penn
Paul D. Peterson
Prof. James Pielemeier
Provo-Petersen & Associates
Gerald A. Regnier
RF Moeller Jeweler
Peter W. Riley
Saint Paul Hotel
Denise C. Scharlemann
Prof. David A. Schultz
Michael Sieben
James Street and Rachel
Sibley
Lori Swanson
Kenneth Tilsen
Toro Company
University of St. Thomas
John J. Ursu
David C. Vanney
Terry W. Votel
Gregory M. Weyandt
William Mitchell College of Law
Edward S. Wilson
Mark Wolski
Mary C. Yeager
Barbara Zurek
Amici ($1-$199)
10th District Bar Association
Daniel Abelson
Acme Comedy Company
Acqua Restaurant
Ramona Advani
Dennis D. Ahlers
Steven H. Alpert
Hon. Donald D. Alsop
Justice G. Barry Anderson
Julia Anderson
Kurt M. Anderson
Justice Paul Anderson
Rochelle Anderson
Anonymous
Hon. Robert Awsumb
Audrey Babcock
Rebecca Baertsch
Andrew Baese
James L. Baillie
James P. Barone
Bartsh Law Office
Thomas J. Basting
James Bates
John Battis
Becker Furniture World
Angela Behrens
Benchmark Reporting Agency
Matthew Benda
John T. Bernier
Robert Beutel
Bibelot
Jeffrey Bilcik
Bird, Jacobsen & Stevens
Hon. Louise Dovre Bjorkman
Aimee M. Blatz
Hon. Gail Bohr
Brandt Criminal Defense
Brave New Workshop
Carol Bros
Beverly Bryant
Buca di Beppo Restaurant
Mary C. Cade
Calvin P. Johnson Law Firm
Philip C. Carruthers
Carol Casebolt
Martha Casserly
Hon. Manuel Cervantes
Colleen Chambers
Chanhassen Dinner Theatre
Vincent Chavez
Carol Chomsky and Steve Liss
Robert P. Christensen, PA
Hon. Margaret Chutich
City of Minneapolis
City of St. Paul
Earl Cohen
Michael A. Collyard
Beverly Conerton
Hon. Timothy Connell
James Conrad
Emily Cooper
Catherine J. Courtney
Ed Courtney
Lisa Crum
David Cullen
Gary R. Cunningham
Ruth Dapper
Kathi Davis
James Denzer
Joseph T. Dixon
William Donohue
Erin Dungan
Joan Eichorst
Einhaus, Mattison, Carver &
Haberman
Alan Einisman
Elko Speedway
Christie B. Eller
Gayla Ellis
Douglas Elsass
Kalene M. Engel
Carl Engstrom
Kurt J. Erickson
Ever-Green Energy
Meghan Feliciano
Charles Ferguson
Hon. Michael F. Fetsch
Terrence Fleming
Kathleen Flynn Peterson
Thomas Fraser
Lisa Fulton
Kelton and Dorothy Gage
Michael J. Galvin
Garden of Eden
Paul Gatto
Jerome A. Geis
Barbara Geisman
Kent A. Gernander
Julius W. Gernes
Maria Luisa Giese
Hon. Alan I. Gilbert
Hon. Lorie S. Gildea
Ellen Gillespie
Gilsdorf, Askvig & Johnson
Bonita Girard
James R. Gray
Barry R. Greller
Grundhoefer & Ludescher
Marvin L. Grundhoefer
Guyton Law Office
Karen Hammel
Mark A. Hamre
Kent G. Harbison
John Harens
Charmaine Harris
Robert J. Hauer, Jr.
Cathy Haukedahl
Alan Held
Hellmuth & Johnson
Nancy Helmich
Gary Hird
John Hoffman
William L. Hoversten
Joan Humes
Deborah Huskins
Scott Ikeda
Gina Jensen
Charles W. Johnson
Hon. Matthew Johnson
Marcia Johnson
Wanda M. Johnson
Michael G. Jula, PA
Katherine Kahlert
Katherine Keane
Kelly S. Kemp
Kennedy & Associates
Kennedy Law Offices, P.A.
Elizabeth J. Keyes
Andrea Kircher
Mary Louise Klas
Jill R. Klausing
Allan Klein
Lisa E. Knazan
Daniel Kohnstamm
Ken Kohnstamm
Maisie L. Kohnstamm
Hon. Raymond Krause
Ronn Kreps
Kueppers, Kronschnabel &
Daly
Steven R. Kufus
Janine Laird
Landmark Theatres
Julie and Maury Landsman
Jeremy Lane
Larry Leventhal & Associates
Eric Larson
Law Office of Kenneth R. White
Brittany Lawonn
Mark Leahy
Debra LeCuyer
Rebecca Lee
Amy Leonetti
Gwen Lerner
Hon. Tony Leung
Mark B. Levinger
Valerie Lloyd
Don Loberg
Julie Loughrey
Margaret A. Lutz, PA
Robert C. Lyman
Peter D. Magnuson
Mall of America
Howard I. Malmon
Cheryl S. Margoles
Greg Marita
Richard G. Mark
John Marti
Gaye Adams Massey
Tricia Matzek
Michael McCormick
Patrick D. McCoy
Anissa Mediger
Justice Helen Meyer
Alison J. Midden
Thomas Mielenhausen
Lori Mikl
Mill City Museum
Hon. Robyn Millenacker
Mary E. Miller
Michael Miller
Robert Miller
Alexa T. Milton
Hon. Patricia Milun
MN Landscape Arboretum
Moga Law Group
Adam Morris
Catharine Morton-Peters
Christopher D. Moseng
Stephen L. Muehlberg
Renae Mularky
Sumner Musolf
Chad P. Nelson Law Office
Andrew Neuharth
Terrance C. S. Newby
Kristin Olsen
Jocelyn F. Olson
Kristin Olson
Hon. Tim O’Malley
Joseph E. O’Neill
Michael O’Neill
Patrick O’Neill
Sam Orbovich
Ordway Theatre
Jill Osterhaus
Joseph H. Otterstetter
Pacyga & Associates
Jane Palony
Kathleen Panciera
Jennifer Park
Paul W. Parker
Cara C. Passaro
Scott Peitzer
Peterson, Savelkoul & Benda
John C. Peterson
Kathleen Peterson
Hon. Randolph Peterson
Kyle Pettersen-Scott
Pfaffly Law
Jeanette Pfotenhauer
Robert A. Plesha
Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort
Kathryn Raidt
Judge Steven Rau
Reding & Pilney
Phyllis Reha
Michael Reif
Damien Riehl
Lael Robertson
Hon. John Rodenberg
Charles Roehrdanz
Kent D. Rossi
Ellen Sampson
Lance T. Sanders
Sharon Santana
Gregory J. Schaefer
Kenneth M. Schaefer
Karen Schanfield
Schauer Law Office
Hon. Heidi Schellhas
Jeanne Schleh
Peter Schmit
Martha Schmitz
Peter Scholtz
Sue Schway
Simon Schwob
Science Museum of Minnesota
Sally Scoggin
Search Partners Minnesota
Jodi Langhorst See
Emily F. Seesel
James Seifert
Lee Sheehy
Peter Shimabukuro
Simmonds, Simmonds & Wright
Simon Schwob
Angela Skarda
Cynthia L. Sletto
Jennifer Smith
Hon. Joanne Smith
Patricia Sonnenberg
Andy Sorensen
Brian D. Stang
Hon. Larry Stauber
Hon. Terri Stoneburner
William P. Studer
Sunde, Olson, Kircher & Zender
Surly Brewing Company
Matthew Surprenant
David Swenson
Michael D. Swor
Karen L. Tarrant
Peter Tester
Loren Thacker
Chuck Thomas
Kyle Thomas
Hon. Judith Tilsen
Kathryn Timm
Andrew Tourville
Michael Unger
University of Minnesota Law School
Kari Valley
Hon. John Van de North
Vue Vang
Richard Varco
Hon. Mary Vasaly
Anna Veit-Carter
David S. Voigt
Lance Wade
Dwight Wagenius
Stephen K. Warch
Stephen M. Warner
Warner’s Stellian
Rochelle Weber
Alan W. Weinblatt
Kathleen Wenger
Janet Werness
Hon. Mark Wernick
Richard Wexler
Michael Wilhelm
James E. Wilkinson
Tom Wilson
Daniel P. Wolf
Steven Wolfe
Joseph Wolkowicz
Lynn A. Wolters
Justice Wilhelmina Wright
Robert C. Youngerman
Commemorative Gifts to the Campaign for Legal Aid
Gifts Given in Honor
of:
Bruce Beneke
by
Joseph T. Dixon
Martha Eaves
Tom Conlin
by
Eric Larson
Dean Eric Janus
by
Kathleen Panciera
Kenneth Kohnstamm
by
Daniel Abelson
Stuart Alger
Anonymous
Rebecca Baertsch
Angela Brandt
Stacy Broman
Ann Cohen
Kathi Davis
John Degnan
William Donohue
Joan Eichhorst
Thomas Fraser
Cathy Haukedahl
Alan Held
Nancy Helmich
Ann Huntrods
Deborah Huskins
Nancy Joyer
Katherine Keane
Andrea Kircher
Steven Kirsch
Jill Klausing
Daniel Kohnstamm
Peter Kohnstamm
Jeremy Lane
Thomas Mielenhausen
Joseph O’Neill
Sam Orbovich
Paffly Law
Jennifer Park
Katherine Piven
Karen Schanfield
Martha Schmitz
Lee Sheehy
Jon Theobald
Kyle Thomas
William Tilton
Hon. Esther Tomljanovich (Ret.)
Kari Valley
Richard Varco
Terry Wade
Dwight Wagenius
Rochelle Weber
Richard Wexler
Steven Wolfe
Gifts Given in Memory
of:
Charles Hvass
by
Michael Unger
Hon. Donald P. Lay
by
Thomas and Elizabeth Boyd
John McNeely
by
Steve Brand
Paul Peterson
by
American Board of Trial
Advocates
Bill Tilton
by
Barbara Penn
Terry Wade
by
Kathleen Peterson
Lance Wade
This information reflects donations received January 1 - December 31, 2012.
If your organization or name has been omitted from these listings (despite the care we have taken) or
if there is another error, please accept our apologies and let us know.
Included in these listings are individuals who designated SMRLS as the recipient of their Greater Twin
Cities United Way 2012 Donations.
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES, INC.
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
March 31, 2013
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Certificates of deposit
Client escrow funds
Grants and contracts receivable
Accounts receivable
Pledges receivable
Prepaid expenses
$ 2,685,927
2,100,000
2,026
200,630
7,640
1,024,015
45,289
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
6,065,527
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, at cost
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Leasehold improvements
Law library
426,152
223,695
382,385
1,032,232
(827,417)
Less: accumulated depreciation
TOTAL PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net
TOTAL ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable
Client trust deposits
Accrued expenses
TOTAL LIABILITIES
NET ASSETS
Unrestricted
Undesignated
Board designated
Temporarily restricted
TOTAL NET ASSETS
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
204,815
$ 6,270,342
$
209,851
2,026
674,738
886,615
547,704
3,500,000
1,336,023
5,383,727
$ 6,270,342
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES, INC.
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
For the Year Ended March 31, 2013
SU PPORT AND REVENUE
Grants and contracts
Other support
Donated services
Program fees
Miscellaneous
Investment returns
Net assets released from restrictions
TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE
EXPENSES
Program services
Supporting services
Management and general
Fundraising
TOTAL EXPENSES
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS
NET ASSETS, BEGINNING
NET ASSETS, ENDING
Unrestricted
Temporarily
Restricted
Total
$ 5,538,443
1,314,482
524,179
86,350
138,167
20,812
947,781
$ 1,264,781
(947,781)
$ 6,803,224
1,314,482
524,179
86,350
138,167
20,812
-
8,570,214
317,000
8,887,214
7,801,317
-
7,801,317
968,436
288,471
-
968,436
288,471
9,058,224
-
9,058,224
(488,010)
317,000
(171,010)
4,535,714
1,019,023
5,554,737
$ 4,047,704
$ 1,336,023
$ 5,383,727
OFFICE LOCATIONS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Administrative Office
55 E 5th St. Suite 1000
St. Paul, MN 55101
President
J. Scott Braden, Esq.
Albert Lea Office
132 N. Broadway
Albert Lea, MN 56007
Eastside and American Indian
Branch Office
579 Wells St. #100
St. Paul, MN 55130
Education Law Advocacy Project
450 North Syndicate Street Suite 285
St. Paul, MN 55104
Minnesota Family Farm Law Project
12 Civic Center Plaza Suite 3000
Mankato, MN 56001
Mankato Office
12 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 3000
Mankato, MN 56001
Refugee, Immigrant & Migrant
Services
450 North Syndicate Street, Suite 285
St. Paul, MN 55104
RIMS: FARGO
118 Broadway, #616
Fargo, ND 58102-4944
Rochester Office
903 W Center St, Suite 130
Rochester, MN 55902
St. Paul Central Office
55 E 5th St Suite 400
St. Paul, MN 55101
Shakopee Office
712 Canterbury Road South
Shakopee, MN 55379
Winona Office
66 East Third St., Suite 204
Winona, MN 55987-3478
Worthington Office
421 Tenth Street
Worthington, MN 56187
First Vice President
Terrance C.S. Newby, Esq.
Second Vice President
Gail M. Olson, Esq.
Treasurer
Thomas B. Hatch, Esq.
Secretary
Charles K. Frundt, Esq.
Andrew M. Baese, Esq.
Kathy Bartz
Matthew L. Benda, Esq.
Hon. Timothy Connell (Ret.)
Mark W. Delehanty, Esq.
Brenda Devlin
Catherine Harris
Emma Hilliard
Suyapa Miranda
Brett Olander, Esq.
Lee Ann Riehle, Esq.
Kari L. Valley, Esq.
Mary Cullen Yeager, Esq.
CAMPAIGN FOR
LEGAL AID
Chair
Steven J. Kirsch, Esq.
Stuart Alger, Esq.
Thomas H. Boyd, Esq.
Angela Beranek Brandt, Esq.
Stacy A. Broman, Esq.
John M. Degnan, Esq.
Bernie M. Dusich, Esq.
Thomas S. Fraser, Esq.
Jack M. Fribley, Esq.
LB Guthrie, Esq.
Hon. Beverly Jones Heydinger
Timothy Hughes
Kay Nord Hunt, Esq.
Ann Huntrods, Esq.
Lee A. Hutton III, Esq.
Ruth S. Marcott, Esq.
Thomas C. Mielenhausen, Esq.
Joseph T. O’Neill, Esq.
Michael D. O’Neill, Esq.
Joseph H. Otterstetter, Esq.
Paul D. Peterson, Esq.
Katie Pfeifer, Esq.
Stephen P. Safranski, Esq.
Peter A. Schmit, Esq.
Daniel L. Scott, Esq.
William P. Studer, Esq.
Jon A. Theobald, Esq.
Kyle M. Thomas, Esq.
William L. Tilton, Esq.
Hon. Esther Tomljanovich (Ret.)
Terry L. Wade, Esq.
1909 LEGACY SOCIETY
Chair
John M. Degnan
Bruce A. Beneke
Thomas A. Boardman
Darlene M. Cobian
Kevin W. DeVore
Charlton H. Dietz
Michael J. Galvin, Jr.
Kent A. Gernander
Susan M. Holden
A. M. (Sandy) Keith
Joseph T. O’Neill
Jonathan J. Oviatt
William S. Partridge
Jon A. Theobald
Terry L. Wade
Perry M. Wilson, III
Annual Report Design by:
Keith Larson
Diana Konopka
Thank you to Keith Larson for his
generous contribution of time in
designing this report.
One Firm ... One Mission ...
JUSTICE