and justice for all

ANNUAL
R E P O RT
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc.
20 07
and justice for all...
423 Fern St., Ste. 200
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561.655.8944
Fax: 561.655.5269
www.legalaidpbc.org
F
O
O
R
P
With Liberty
… and Justice for All
Dear Friends and Supporters:
A
s we reflect on the year 2007, we are reminded of the awesome
responsibility the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County faces
each and every day in protecting the legal rights of the most vulnerable members of our community. Survivors of domestic violence, abused
and neglected children, frail and exploited elders, victims of discrimination,
disabled individuals, and foster children all have a voice through Legal Aid’s
16 programs. At Legal Aid we continually strive to build healthy community
networks enabling individuals to live in safe and stable environments with
adequate housing, food, health care and educational opportunities.
In looking back on 2007, we are definitely reminded that none of us does our
job alone. In order to improve the quality of lives for disadvantaged individuals
in our county, we deeply appreciate the support we receive from the private
bar, court administration, the judiciary, the Palm Beach County Board of
County Commissioners, the Clerk and Comptroller of the 15th Judicial Circuit,
the Children’s Services Council, The Florida Bar Foundation, the Area Agency
on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, the United Way, Town of Palm
Beach/ United Way and a variety of other charitable organizations, foundations and donors.
the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County has
Since
1949,
been firmly committed to ensuring justice for all by providing high quality
civil legal advice, representation and education to the disadvantaged of
Palm Beach County so as to protect their personal safety, enhance their
opportunities and living conditions, and promote self-sufficiency.
Nearly 6,000 low-income individuals received free legal services from
Legal Aid in 2007, and thousands of others received education and/or
referrals to other community resources. While the demand for our services
exceeds our capacity, we strive to represent those cases for which our
services will have the greatest impact. In addition to providing direct legal
services to individuals and families, Legal Aid staff often advocate
for systemic change on matters that emerge from our cases.
The Legal Aid Society fulfills its mission by responding proactively to
emerging community needs. The following issues were priorities in 2007:
•
Guaranteeing access to
education, housing, health care, nutrition,
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we want to thank you for all you do to
support Legal Aid’s mission to ensure equal access to justice to all individuals in Palm Beach County.
and public benefits
•
Robert A. Bertisch, Esq.
Board President
Executive Director
•
A few of our most significant
accomplishments in 2007 included:
A
major decision The
expansion
on permanency entered by the
of the Relative Caregivers Project
4th District Court of Appeal in the
case of R.S. v. DCF holding that
legislative time frames in
Termination of Parental Rights
cases are meant to be strictly
adhered to in order to comply
with the Adoption and Safe Families
Act and cannot be ignored in the
interest of docket management.
1
to provide counseling and support
group services (through Families
First of Palm Beach County) and
25 day care slots (through Family
Central) to assist clients in addition
to the permanency planning,
housing, benefits, education and
other legal services provided by
Legal Aid staff.
in an
Settlement
action brought against the Palm
Beach County School Board (J.R. v.
PBCSB) for violation of a disabled
student’s constitutional rights when
he was pepper sprayed by a School
Board Police Officer while handcuffed in a seclusion room. The
School Board agreed to amend
its policies, improve supervisory
review of any use of force and train
police officers in handling disabled
children. The U.S. District Court
retained jurisdiction to enforce
the agreement.
Protecting elderly residents
from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
•
Ensuring that youth with disabilities
or in the criminal justice system have equal
Gary A. Woodfield, Esq.
•
Securing the safety of victims
of domestic violence
•
Preventing foreclosures,
access to quality public education
evictions, homelessness, and housing
Advocating for safe, stable,
discrimination
appropriate, and permanent placements of
children in the foster care system
F
O
O
R
P
2
ex-husband would drive up and down
Mary’s
the street every day in front of the building where
CHILDREN’S
ADVOCACY
she worked. He would scream insults and obscenities from a bullhorn as he drove by. The ex-husband would even hold baby dolls out the window
of his car and scream “baby killer,” in reference to
an abortion Mary had as a teenager for a pregnancy resulting from a sexual assault.
Education Advocacy Project
Foster Children’s Project
Juvenile Advocacy Project
Relative Caregivers Project
Children not being served by Legal Aid’s Foster
Children’s Project (FCP) spend over a year longer in
foster care than those who receive our legal services. In 2007, the FCP served 365 children – more
than half of whom were permanently placed or
adopted.
Over 80% of Legal Aid’s clients have children.
Through the work of our four projects serving
children, the Legal Aid Society protects children
from violence and abuse, guarantees their access
to appropriate educational, mental health, and
financial services, and facilitates a safe, steady, and
secure home environment.
3
Dillon and James,
two young
brothers, were removed from their mother’s custody and placed in foster care due to her illegal
drug use which resulted in the family’s homelessness. The boys’ mother attempted to regain custody of the children by completing a case plan.
However, she failed to comply with the case plan
and stopped communicating with Legal Aid staff
altogether. Legal Aid’s Foster Children’s Project
(FCP) attorney then took the mother to court to
compel her to start drug treatment if she wished
to regain custody of her sons. The FCP attorney
counseled the mother at length about how much
her children needed her, how she needed to get
clean for her children and herself, and how the
boys were not adjusting well to foster care. The
mother verbalized her intent to clean up and to
get her children back. However, she soon disappeared again. The FCP attorney finally filed a
petition to terminate the mother’s parental rights.
FCP staff located an approved adoptive home to
take the children and convinced the agency to
transition the children from their sub-par foster
care setting to their new permanent family.
Today, the boys are adjusting well and, thanks to
the Foster Children’s Project, are in a safe, stable,
loving home.
F
O
O
R
P
FAMILY
ADVOCACY
Family Law Project
Domestic Violence Project
Non-Citizen Victims of Domestic
Violence Project
Family Empowerment Coalition
Approximately 1 in 3 women will experience
domestic violence in her lifetime. An average of
2,400 cases of domestic violence are adjudicated
in Palm Beach County each year. Countless other
victims never report their abuse – especially
undocumented immigrant women who fear deportation. In 2007, Legal Aid served 753 domestic
violence victims through its Domestic Violence
Project and another 307 through our Non-Citizen
Victims of Domestic Violence Project.
The four projects within Legal Aid’s Family
Advocacy Program assist families and individuals
with matters related to divorce, custody, paternity,
child support, etc. In addition, the domestic violence projects educate and protect victims of
domestic abuse through representation at protection order hearings, assistance with obtaining
To make matters worse, the ex-husband’s mother
lived next door to Mary – which he used as an
impetus for his stalking behaviors. He spent hours
at his mother’s house to harass Mary daily. He
hung lewd signs on the side of his mother’s
house that faced Mary’s home. He often threw
fish at her house and mailed dead animals and
feces to her. He hung indecent sexual photos of
Mary (which had been taken while they were married) near Mary’s work. The ex-husband even
placed ads in local “swingers” magazines in an
attempt to prostitute Mary.
Mary, who has a developmental disability, was
referred to Legal Aid’s Domestic Violence Project
(DVP) for help. Although Mary often has difficulty
expressing herself, she was able to testify. Her exhusband’s attorney made
many arguments,
including some based
on 1st Amendment
“free speech” guarantees, in an attempt to
justify his client’s
strange, harassing
behavior. However, the
DVP attorney was able
to prove a solid case of
stalking. The court entered an indefinite injunction
thereby providing a truly defenseless victim with
some relief. Furthermore, several subsequent
motions by defense counsel to allow the ex-husband access to his mother’s home were denied,
and the injunction remains in effect until further
order of the court.
affordable housing, medical benefits, child support
and guidance through the immigration process for
non-citizen victims of domestic violence.
4
HEALTH
ADVOCACY
Bioethics Law Project
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Legal Project
According to the American Bar Association, it is
estimated that four out of five Americans do not
have a living will or any other written health care
or end-of-life directive to guide their families if they
become incapacitated or otherwise unable to
make their own decisions. The Bioethics Law
Project serves as a bridge between the medical
and legal communities by providing education,
intervention and advocacy for patients, their families, and their caregivers. To date, the Project has
presented over 200 lectures and has provided
legal intervention in nearly 2,600 cases.
Legal Aid is committed to “justice for all” for every
individual in our county and to ensure that no one
is denied their civil rights – including their right to
make end-of-life decisions or to access healthcare
– based on race, color, national origin, gender, disability, marital status, familial status, age, and/or sexual orientation.
ELDER
ADVOCACY
Elder Law Project
Public Guardianship Project
During 2007, the Legal Aid Public Guardianship
Project was responsible for the care of 90 elderly,
incapacitated individuals, including ensuring that
their day-to-day needs were met, safeguarding
their physical and psychological well-being, and
protecting their property.
Nearly a quarter of Palm Beach County’s residents
are age 65 or older. Many of these individuals
lack family or friends to assist with medical decision-making. Furthermore, older adults are often
is a disabled man with Down
Harold
Syndrome in his mid-forties who has lived in the
same group home for more than fifteen years
and appears both well cared for and loved. In
December 2006, he began to complain of pain
(something he rarely does) and was diagnosed
with a lower abdominal hernia. While staff at his
group home enjoy a close and ongoing relationship with Harold and recognized that he was in
pain, none of them were allowed to sign the consent necessary for the surgery required to reduce
the hernia. Thus, the resulting plan was to wait
until Harold’s condition became an emergent one
such that no informed consent was necessary.
This plan was not acceptable to one of his caregivers at the group home so she contacted Legal
Aid’s Bioethics Law Project.
The Bioethics Law Project (BLP) filed for and was
granted Limited Guardian Advocate status to
serve as Harold’s Proxy Healthcare Decision
Maker. The BLP Proxy was concerned about the
plan of care, particularly the anesthesia. Unable
to get the attention of the surgeon or answers to
questions regarding anesthesia, the Proxy
requested a second opinion through The Palm
Beach County Medical Society.
5
vulnerable to abuse, consumer fraud, and complications that arise from inherent changes in mental
and physical health and limited financial resources.
The demand for elder services will continue to
grow as the county’s senior population is estimated to reach half a million over the next ten years.
This opinion was provided, pro bono, by the president of the Medical Society, Dr. Dan Higgins, one
of the foremost surgeons in Palm Beach County.
Dr. Higgins’ surgical plan differed from the first
surgeon and did not require general anesthesia.
The surgery was successful: Harold is completely
recovered and no longer suffers from hernia pain.
Furthermore, an exciting new path of collaboration
among the Agency for Persons with Disabilities,
the Palm Beach Medical Society, and the Legal
Aid Society has been explored.
is an 80 year-old woman with
Agnes
advancing dementia who was living alone in her
own home. The Department of Children and
Families (DCF) referred Agnes to Legal Aid when
they discovered that she was no longer able to
properly care for herself or manage her finances.
When she came into our Public Guardianship
Project (PGP), Agnes had two mortgages on the
home – both of which were delinquent with pending foreclosure proceedings. Agnes’s only source
of income was her monthly social security benefits
which were insufficient to cover the two mortgage
payments as well as her living expenses. She had
previously served as a caretaker for several developmentally disabled children living in her home.
However, when Agnes’s ability to care for others
diminished due to her own health problems, the
children were removed, and the related supplemental income she was receiving was terminated.
Her only relatives were a son who lived out of
state and an elderly sister who was unable to provide assistance.
The Court appointed the PGP to serve as Agnes’s
legal guardian, The PGP social worker realized
that it would be devastating to remove Agnes from
her beloved home and place her in a residential
care facility. Thus the social worker applied for
services to be provided for Agnes including homedelivered meals, housekeeping, and nursing services. Arrangements were also made for Agnes to
attend a senior center where she now participates
in activities and socializes with her peers. In addition, the PGP attorney petitioned the Court for
authority to apply for a reverse mortgage on
Agnes’s behalf to pay off the two delinquent mortgages and to provide a line of credit for living
expenses. Then, when a title search of the property revealed a third mortgage that was placed by
Palm Beach County Housing and Community
Development as a result of hurricane repairs, the
PGP attorney convinced the County to subordinate
its loan to the reverse mortgage as well. Thanks
to the ongoing diligence of PGP staff, Agnes is
able to remain in her own home and maintain her
dignity and independence as long as possible.
6
INDIVIDUAL
RIGHTS
ADVOCACY
Fair Housing Advocacy Project
Immigration Advocacy Project
Palm Beach County is home to diverse groups of residents – many of whom face unique barriers because of
their race, ethnicity, gender, age, or socio-economic status.To that end, Legal Aid advocates for individual
rights through two projects in particular: Fair Housing
and Immigration. The Fair Housing Project works to
ensure that all persons have equal access to fair and
affordable housing. The Immigration Project provides
legal services to help individuals navigate the complex
and often confusing immigration laws and procedures.
a 40 year-old woman from Honduras,
Fatima,
has been living in the United States since 1993. She
Through
an exciting
new initiative, low-income elderly residents of
lives in West Palm Beach with her husband, a Mexican
national, and their three children – ages 14, 12 and
10 – all of whom are U.S. citizens by birth. Yet neither
Fatima nor her husband had legal status. Last year,
a friend convinced Fatima to file an application for
asylum with Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Unfortunately, Fatima learned she was not eligible for
asylum and was placed into deportation proceedings.
As a result, Fatima, her husband and their children
were going to be forced to relocate back to Honduras,
an impoverished nation with poor healthcare and very
few educational and employment opportunities. The
children had never even been outside of the United
States.
Fatima contacted Legal Aid’s Immigration Advocacy
Project (IAP) for assistance. Our staff concluded that
she might be eligible for a special immigration program
for Hondurans called Temporary Protected Status
which allows beneficiaries to stay temporarily and
apply for employment authorization. They helped her
with the application which was later approved, but
since the status was only temporary, the IAP staff continued to work with Fatima to determine if there were
any other alternatives for obtaining legal status. Upon
further investigation, it was discovered that Fatima
qualified to apply for permanent legal status under a
new program called the “U visa” because
her teenage daughter had been sexually abused by
another family member. Fatima cooperated in the
investigation and testified against the family member
at the criminal trial. Under the new “U visa” program,
individuals who cooperate with law enforcement in a
criminal prosecution are eligible to apply for lawful
temporary status which eventually can lead to lawful
permanent residence. If Fatima’s U visa application
is approved, she and her family will be allowed to
remain in the United States indefinitely. In the meanwhile, Fatima can remain in the United States temporarily, and her daughter was able to see justice
served for the abuse she suffered as a young teen.
Palm Beach County can have simple wills
and advanced directives prepared for them
at no cost. A pro bono attorney specializing
in wills and estates trained staff attorneys
from the Fourth District Court of Appeals on
basic will and advanced directives preparation. The staff attorneys, in turn, work with
two Legal Aid Society paralegals and a Legal
Aid attorney at local senior centers/housing
communities where they meet with clients to
get the information necessary to prepare the
documents and also to screen for potential
bankruptcy issues. Once the documents are
prepared, the attorneys review them with the
elderly clients. The wills and advanced direc-
COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
Self-Service Center
Non-Profit Legal Assistance Project
Pro Bono Project
Legal Aid continues to be a proactive member of
the non-profit community. We help individuals
and non-profit organizations to help themselves
through our Self-Service Center and Non-Profit
Legal Assistance Project. We also coordinate the
tives are then executed, and copies are given to
the clients. This initiative of the Pro Bono Project
continues to benefit many low-income seniors in
Palm Beach County who need simple wills and
advanced directives but who may not be able to
go to an attorney’s office.
provision of pro bono legal services for eligible
Legal Aid clients whose cases cannot be handled
by in-house staff due to caseloads, conflicts of
interest, or because cases fall outside the scope
of Legal Aid’s programs.
7
8
2006-2007 LEGAL AID STAFF
2006-2007
BOARD MEMBERS
Board of Directors
Gary Woodfield, Esq., President
Robert M. W. Shalhoub, Esq., Immediate
Past President
Mariano Garcia, Esq., Vice President
Miriam Acosta-Castriz, Esq., Secretary
Jerald S. Beer, Esq., Treasurer
Patience Burns
Howard K. Coates, Jr., Esq.
Joyce Conway, Esq.
Jeffrey A. Devore, Esq.
Gary M. Dunkel, Esq.
Melinda Penney Gamot, Esq.
David M. Gaspari, Esq.
Garry Glickman, Esq.
Richard D. Greenfield
Judith Hertan
John M. Howe, Esq.
Denise Rappaport Isaacs, Esq.
Hank Jackson, Esq.
Carole T. Klein, CPA
Nancy Lambrecht
Nancy LaVista, Esq.
Scott C. Murray, Esq.
Lawrence P. Rochefort, Esq.
Michelle R. Suskauer, Esq.
Matthew H. Triggs, Esq.
Paul A. Turk, Esq.
Victoria A. Vilchez, Esq.
Jennifer Wills, J.D.
Board of Trustees
David P. Ackerman, Esq.
Claire Arnold
Keith W. Babb, Jr.
F. Gregory Barnhart, Esq.
Bill Bone, Esq.
Patrick J. Casey, Esq.
Joyce Conway, Esq.
Carey Haughwout, Esq.
Thomas Kincade, Esq.
Jane Kreusler-Walsh, Esq.
Richard Lubin, Esq.
Andrea D. McMillan, Esq.
Rafael J. Roca, Esq.
2006-2007
LEGAL AID STAFF
Educational Advocacy
Project
Administration
Barbara Briggs, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Jill Mahler, Esq., Staff Attorney
Jannette Hernandez, Paralegal
Robert Bertisch, Esq., Executive Director
Harreen Bertisch, MS, Director of Development
Janie Chavez, Receptionist/Intake Assistant
Justine Cupo, Fiscal & Grants Manager
Suzanne Foley, Assoc. Director of Development
Silvia Gonzalez, Financial Assistant
Stephanie Guynes, Financial Manager
John Haas, Facilities Manager
Britt Holm, Executive Assistant
Pat James, Senior Legal Secretary
Rosa Johnson, Receptionist/Intake Assistant
Devin Krauss, Development Associate
Michael Spillane, Administrator
Mark Tatoul, Fiscal & Grants Manager
Eric Tremelling, Database Administrator
Domestic Violence
Project
Jorge Anton, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Rhona Altomari, Paralegal
Mariela Martinez, Paralegal
Kathryn Oleksy, Esq., Staff Attorney
Samantha Vacciana, Esq., Staff Attorney
Elder Law Project
Rena Taylor, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Bonnie Cohen, Paralegal
Georgene Eisenberg, Paralegal
Shane Weaver, Esq., Staff Attorney
Immigrant Advocacy
Project
Shane O’Meara, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Gloria Acosta, Paralegal
Juvenile Advocacy Project
Michelle Hankey, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Melissa Duncan, Esq., Staff Attorney
Bill Booth, Esq., Staff Attorney
Angelia Patterson, Paralegal
Paula Waller, Paralegal
Fair & Affordable
Housing Project
Tequisha Myles, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Rick Collier, Fair Housing Advocate
Carlton Smith, J.D., Fair Housing Advocate
Bioethics Project
Marnie Poncy, R.N., Esq., Supervising Attorney
Elizabeth Spillane, Paralegal
Foster Children’s
Project
James Walsh, Esq., Supervising Attorney
John Walsh, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Lisa Abrotsky, Case Manager
Sara Alijewicz, Esq., Staff Attorney
Kelly Easton, MSW, Social Worker
Jennifer Gardner, Esq., Staff Attorney
Amy Genet, Esq., Staff Attorney
Kirsten Herndon, Esq., Staff Attorney
Ramona Hupp, Esq., Staff Attorney
Mickale Linton, Paralegal
Kelly Moore-Bertisch, Esq., Staff Attorney
Linda Norris, Case Manager
Jennifer Patterson, Paralegal
Jessica Perez, Case Manager
Tim Stevens, Esq., Staff Attorney
Rachel Ware, Paralegal
Maisa Wells, Esq., Staff Attorney
Nicole Williams, MSW, Social Worker
Anna Veguez, Paralegal
Karen Verner, Paralegal
Family Law Project
Ross Baer, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Amy Alberghini, Paralegal
Sandy Davis, Paralegal
Emma Keller, Esq., Staff Attorney
Elaine Martens, Esq., Staff Attorney
Andrea Reid, Esq., Staff Attorney
Kristin Turner, Paralegal
2007 Pro Bono Award Winners
Pictured left to right: Standing: Manuel Farach (Elder Law); Tracy Mitchell (Elder Law);
Jennifer Labbe (Family Law); Deborah Lysaght (Juvenile); Raymond Ingalsbe
(Consumer); Mark Shalloway (Child Advocacy); Lawrence Moncrief (Social
Security/Emeritus); and Ron Ponzoli, Jr., – Richman, Greer (Firm Award). Seated:
Norman Schroeder III (Bankruptcy); John Whittles – Richman, Greer (Firm Award);
John Buso (Guardianship); and Judith Ballen (And Justice for All). Not pictured:
Randall Shochet (Immigration) and Mark Bideau (Real Property)
Ryan White (HIV/AIDS) Pro Bono Project
Kim Rommel-Enright, Esq., Supervising
Project
Attorney
John Foley, Esq., Supervising Attorney
David Begley, Esq., Staff Attorney
Stephanie Carden, Esq., Staff Attorney
Sandra Vines, Paralegal
Self-Service Center
Kathy Baldi, Esq., Staff Attorney
Lillian Kaminer, Esq., Staff Attorney
Relative Caregivers
Project
Abigail Beebe, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Angela Brafford, Paralegal
Public Guardianship
Project
Bonnie Silverstein, Paralegal
Non-Profit Assistance
Project
John Foley, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Ana Casey, Human Resources Generalist
Volunteers
Dorothy Allen
Dick Abedon, Esq.
Abner Golieb
Dick Kleid, Esq
Lawrence Montcrief, J.D.
Georgina Oroso, Esq.
Alice Robertson
Winifred Leary
Rena Taylor, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Kathy Morakis, MSW, Social Worker
Loran Creamer, MSW, Social Worker
Alexis Edelstein, R.N., Social Worker
Family Empowerment
Project
Carrie Vaughn, Esq., Supervising Attorney
Angela Brafford, Paralegal
9
10
2007 DONORS
Because of You,
Everyone Counts!
598
1,154
Number of Attorneys Providing
Pro Bono Services
Number of Attorneys Who
Participated in Pro Bono Buy-Out
Thank you for your generous donation of either time or a contribution!
Public/Private Funders
$1,500+
Area Agency on Aging Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Inc.
Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County
City of West Palm Beach
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
Martin County Public Guardianship Program
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County Housing and Community
Development
US Department of Health and Human Services
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
US Department of Justice
US Department of Treasury
Foundation, Corporate, and Other Funders
Children’s Case Management Organization
Florida Bar Foundation
Florida Crystals
The Arthur and Sara Jo Kobacker Foundation
Goody Two Shoes, Inc.
Lima Foundation
Lost Tree Village Charitable Foundation
Merrill Lynch
National Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
Oristano Foundation
Picower Foundation
Quantum Foundation
Southern Poverty Law Center
Tenet Healthcare Foundation
Town of Palm Beach/United Way
United Way of Palm Beach County
Diego C. Asencio, P.A.
Carlton Fields, P.A.
Gamot Law Firm, PL
Glickman, Witters & Marell, P.A.
The Golieb Family Fund
Christine D. Hanley & Associates, P.A.
Holland & Knight LLP
Kogan & DiSalvo, P.A.
Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, P.A.
McClosky, D’Anna & Dieterle, LLP
Moore, Ellrich & Neal, P.A., CPA
Pankauski Law Firm
Pressly & Pressly, P.A.
Richman Greer Weil Brumbaugh Mirabito &
Christensen
Law Office of Rafael J. Roca, P.A.
Rutherford Mulhall, P.A.
Anjette and Fred Scheiman
Schwarzberg Spector Duke & Rogers
Law Offices of Tracy R. Sharpe, P.A.
$10,000+
Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A.
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
$5,000+
6,249
671
645
11
Number of Pro Bono Service
Hours Volunteered (approx.)
Pro Bono Cases Opened
Pro Bono Cases Closed
F
O
O
R
P
Akerman Senterfitt
Babbitt, Johnson, Osborne & Le Clainche, P.A.
CityPlace Tower
Gonzalez, Porcher, Albear & Garcia, P.A.
Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Peggy and Richard Greenfield
Law Office Haines & Hodas, Chartered
Larmoyeux & Bone, PL
Proskauer Rose LLP
Steinger, Iscoe & Greene, P.A.
The Suskauer Law Firm, P.A.
Michael P. Walsh and Jane Kreusler-Walsh
Alexandra and Joel Weissman
Young Professional Friends of Legal Aid
$3,000+
Ackerman, Link & Sartory, P.A.
Burlington & Rockenbach, P.A.
Devore & Devore, P.A.
Florida Research Park
Freeman Foundation
The Law & Mediation Offices of Rand Hoch
Lytal Reiter Clark Fountain & Williams, LLP
Mellon United National Bank
Annette and Sid Stubbs
$2,000+
Ahepa Family Charities
Caler Donten Levine Druker Porter & Veil, PA
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
Elk, Christu & Bakst, LLP
Linton Jog Associates, Ltd.
Murray & Guari Trial Attorneys, PL
National City
Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP
The Van Buren Family Foundation
$1,000+
Auslin Legal Staffing
The Coates Law Firm
Fisher & Bendeck, P.A.
Furr and Cohen, P.A.
The GEO Group, Inc.
Gordon & Doner, P.A.
Grand Bank & Trust of Florida
The Law Firm of Charles D. Jamieson, P.A.
Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, P.A.
Richard M. Kleid, Esq.
Lynn and Larry Klein
Arthur and Sara Jo Kobacker
Marvin and Roberta Littky
Page, Mrachek, Fitzgerald & Rose, P.A.
Ricci ~ Leopold, P.A.
Jose G. Rodriguez, P.A.
Ruden McClosky
Silber Valente & Davis
Craig F. Snyder, P.A.
Walton, Lantaff, Schroeder & Carson
Wood Business Products
$550+
Richard and Robin Abedon
Miriam Acosta-Castriz, P.A.
Adams, Coogler, Watson, Merkel, Barry & Kellner,
P.A.
Alley, Maass, Rogers & Lindsay, PA
Atterbury, Goldberger & Weiss, P.A.
The Law Offices of Bartmon & Bartmon, P.A.
Beasley Hauser Kramer Leonard & Galardi, P.A.
Robert T. Bergin, Jr., P.A.
Berman DeValerio Pease Tabacco Burt & Pucillo
Harreen and Bob Bertisch
Henry Y. Blakiston, CPA, PA
Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP
Casey, Ciklin, Lubitz, Martens & O’Connell
CBIZ Benefits Insurance & Services, Inc.
Comerica Wealth Management
Comiter, Singer & Baseman, LLP
Consor & Associates Reporting
The Law Offices of Gene S. Devore, P.A.
Eisenberg & Fouts, P.A.
Feldman & Schneiderman, P.L.
Fetterman & Associates
Fox Rothschild LLP
Goldstein & Jette, P.A.
Steven A. Harris, Esq.
Carey Haughwout and John Tierney
Hilley & Wyant-Cortez, P.A.
Hodgson Russ LLP
The Hollander Law Firm
John M. Howe, Esq. and Lisa Quarrie, Esq.
Melanie Jacobson
James R. Kay / Kay Law Offices
Kaye Scholer LLP
Law Office of Bettye J. King
Law Office of Stuart B. Klein
Kotzen Law
Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins
LLP
Levy Kneen PL
Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A.
Liggio, Benrubi & Williams, P.A.
Richard G. Lubin, PA
Weisman, Brodie, Starr & Margolis, P.A.
William Manikas
Mc Hale & Slavin, P.A.
Mettler, Shelton, Randolph, Carroll & Sterlacci, PL
Pallo, Marks & Hernandez, P.A.
Steven M. Pesso, P.A.
Peterson Bernard
Redgrave & Rosenthal LLP
Valentin Rodriguez, P.A.
Rosenthal & Levy, P.A.
Elisha D. Roy, P.A.
Law Offices of Salnick, Fuchs & Bertisch, P.A.
Sasser, Cestero & Sasser, P.A.
Schuler, Halvorson & Weisser, P.A.
Schwed Patten & Kahle
Shavitz Law Group, PA
Shutts & Bowen, LLP
Slinkman & Slinkman, P.A.
Small & Small, P.A.
St. John, Core & Lemme, P.A.
Law Office of W. Trent Steele
Tom Streit
Victoria Vilchez & Associates, P.A.
Richard B. Warren, P.A.
Young, Brooks & Pefka, P.A.
$400+
Philip E. Balas, Attorney At Law
Barry S. Balmuth, P.A.
Thomas M. Bates, P.A.
Mitchell J. Beers, P.A.
Larry V. Bishins, P.A.
Sara Blumberg, P.A.
Law Office of Warren B. Brams, P.A.
Law Offices of Robin I. Bresky
Broad and Cassel
Brookmyer, Hochman & Probst, P.A.
Brotman, Nusbaum & Fox
Lawrence E. Brownstein, P.A.
Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman, LLP
Burns & Severson, P.A.
Jennifer S. Carroll, P.A.
John W. Carroll, P.A.
Clarke & Platt, P.A.
John B. Cleary, Jr., P.A.
Donald G. Cohen, P.A.
Michael W. Connors, P.A.
Conroy Simberg Ganon Krevans Abel Lurvey Morrow
& Schefer, P.A.
Theodore A. Deckert, P.A.
Angus Donnelley
Margaret Donnelley
Downey & Downey, P.A.
Downs Brill Whitehead, P.A.
Fields Law Offices
Findler & Findler, P.A.
FitzGerald, Mayans & Cook, P.A.
Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Palm Beach
County Chapter
Florida Association of Women Lawyers, South Palm
Beach County Chapter
Franks & Koenig
Thomas C. Gano, P.A.
Michael J. Gelfand, Gelfand & Arpe, P.A.
David J. Glatthorn, P.A.
The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A.
Gottlieb & Mesches, PL
Greenspoon Marder, P.A.
Melanie Grout Realtime Reporting, Inc.
Jeffrey Grubman, Esq.-Mediation ~ Litigation
The Injury Law Offices of Brian D. Guralnick, P.A.
Haile Shaw & Pfaffenbeger, P.A.
John R. Hart
Hausmann & Hickman, P.A.
Nancy Lewis Heins
Robert and Damiann Hendel
Raymond G. Ingalsbe, P.A.
Jupiter Law Center
Judith Ann Just, Attorney
Kaplan & Hutchinson, P.A.
Lewis Kapner, P.A.
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Thomas E. Kingcade, P.A.
Mitchell I. Kitroser, P.A.
Charles F. Kline, P.A.
Carol Knapp, CLU, ChFC
Stephen R. Koons, P.A.
John A. Kovarik, Esq., P.A.
The Labbe Law Firm
LaBovick, LaBovick & Wald, P.A.
Jonathan D. Low
The Martens Law Firm
Law Office of Patrick C. Massa, P.A.
Shelley B. Maurice, P.A.
Law Office of L.D. Murrell, P.A.
Robert E. Oglesby, P.A.
Orsley & Cripps, P.A.
Michael J. Overbeck
Keith H. Park, P.A.
John T. Paxman, P.A.
Pleasanton, Greenhill & Associates
Price & Anthony, P.A.
Ned Reagan
Retamar & Millian, P.A.
Ann Marie G. Rezzonico, P.A.
Scott N. Richardson, P.A.
Romano Eriksen & Cronin
McAuliffe Law Group
Bruce S. Rosenwater & Associates, P.A.
Robin Roshkind, P.A. Divorce Lawyers
Roth and Duncan, P.A.
Peggy Rowe-Linn, P.A.
Steven D. Rubin
Randee S. Schatz, P.A.
Law Offices of Norman L. Schroeder, II
Cathleen Scott, P.A.
The Seiden Law Firm
Shalloway & Shalloway, P.A.
James Sugarman
The Law Offices of Gregory Tendrich
Rod Tennyson, P.A.
Anonymous (Heather Thompson)
Betsy and Wally Turner
Rebecca Mercier-Vargas and Roberto Vargas
Vassallo & Bilotta, P.A.
Lynn G. Waxman, P.A.
Charles Wender, Attorney-at-Law
Bert Winkler
Scott and Sheryl Wood
Maura Ziska
12
Legal Aid Society of
Palm Beach County, Inc.
Statement of Financial Position
September 30, 2006
Assets
Total Current Assets
Equipment (net of depreciation)
Total Assets
HOW YOU CAN HELP
When you support the Legal Aid Society, you offer the weakest members of our community a place to come
to help them solve problems of everyday life. You help to equip them with the tools to handle problems regarding their
safety, their loved ones being at risk, homes threatened, healthcare insurance, employment and education wrongfully
denied. You help the young, elderly, ill, and disabled … the abused, neglected, battered, and betrayed.
$1,553,246
58,895
1,612,141
Liabilities and Net Assets
Total Current Liabilities
Total Net Assets
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$874,468
737,673
1,612,141
HELP ENSURE “JUSTICE FOR ALL.” INVEST IN LEGAL AID.
Statement of Activities
For the Year Ended September 30, 2006
Revenues
Federal Grants
State Grants
Local Government Grants
Foundation Grants
Other Grants
Investments
Program Service Revenue
Special Events and Activities
Contributions
Other Revenues
Total Revenues
$794,941
135,939
3,075,053
741,737
311,275
47,073
441,645
354,095
406,550
20,256
6,328,564
Expenses
Salaries and Benefits
Occupancy Costs
Equipment (Lease, Repair, Depreciation)
Fundraising
Sub-grants
Litigation Costs
Printing, Supplies & Library
Telephone & Postage
Travel
Training & Development
Professional Fees
Dues and Licenses
Insurance
Public Relations
Other Operating Expenses
Total Expenses
Change in Net Assets
Net Assets, Beginning of Year
Net Assets, End of Year
$4,877,193
384,173
98,085
119,089
38,500
81,014
135,452
76,235
60,014
30,737
199,237
23,016
21,291
10,087
33,921
6,188,044
140,520
597,153
737,673
OFFICIAL SPONSORSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
Multi-year Official Sponsorship packages provide
year-round benefits to sponsors. These sponsorships range in price from $5,000 - $50,000.
Official Sponsors receive benefits tied into all
events and exposure via all collateral and
advertising.
As an Official Sponsor of the Legal Aid Society of
Palm Beach County, your firm or organization will
be formally associated with all Legal Aid Society
programs and events and will enjoy the honor and
goodwill associated with sponsoring this wonderful
organization.
DONATION OPPORTUNITIES
I want to help the Legal Aid Society of
Yes!
Palm Beach County provide free civil legal services
to low-income individuals.
Enclosed is my tax-deductible investment of $_________.
(Please make check or money order payable to LASPBC. Thank you)
Please send contributions along with this form to:
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc.
ATTN: Development Department
423 Fern Street, Ste. 200
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
PLEASE PRINT
Name ___________________________________________________________
Firm/Company __________________________________________________
For more information on the benefits of Official
Sponsorship, please contact
Harreen Bertisch
Director of Development
Tel: 561-655-8944 ext. 257
Email: [email protected]
Address
________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip __________________________________________________
Telephone (_________) _____________________________________________
F
O
O
R
P
Email ____________________________________________________________
www.legalaidpbc.org
I would like my gift to remain anonymous.
My Investment in Legal Aid is
In honor of _____________________________________________________
OR
In memory of _____________________________________________
Please send honor/memorial notification to:
Name _________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________
THANK YOU!
13
City/State/Zip __________________________________________________
Or give online at: www.legalaidpbc.org