Advocating with Passion and Purpose
March 2020
|
|
COVID-19 AND INDY LEGAL AID
|
|
Due to Covid-19, the office remains open although operations are being conducted remotely. Legal work is an exempt service in Governor Holcomb's Covid-19 executive order. While not meeting face-to-face, our attorneys are communicating every day with clients via, telephone, email and other electronic media conducting client interviews and casework. Working remotely will continue until at least April 7 as the Governor directed. We will be doing our part to flatten the curve by heeding the Governor’s precautionary order..
If you would like to make an appointment or speak with one of our attorneys, please contact our office. If you are a current client and have a court hearing scheduled, it will most likely be continued as the courts have responded to the Covid-19 protocol. Your attorney will be in contact with you regarding hearing dates.
With that said,all of us at Indy Legal Aid wish you safety and continued good health.
|
|
RESCHEDULED: 8th Annual Timeless Tips From the
Bench and Bar CLE
We are sorry to announce that Indy Legal Aid's 8th Annual Timeless Tips from the Bench and Bar CLE scheduled for May 7 is being rescheduled to a later date this year. We will announce the new date through our newsletter, website, social media, and sending postcards to our database. We appreciate your patience!
|
|
Meet Indy Legal Aid's New Officers
Indy Legal Aid's board of directors recently elected new officers at its annual meeting on March 12, 2020.
“We are very pleased with our new officers,” said John Floreancig, Indy Legal Aid General Counsel and CEO. “We greatly appreciate their dedication and enthusiasm in fulfilling Indy Legal Aid’s mission.”
They are as follows:
|
|
|
|
John C. Trimble
Board President
Partner, Lewis Wagner, LLP
|
|
|
|
|
N. Kent Smith
1
st
Vice President
Attorney, Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman, P.C.
|
|
|
|
|
Janet L. Monroe
2
nd
Vice President
CLO, Chief of Staff & Corporate Secretary, ClusterTruck
|
|
|
|
|
Parwana Noorzad
Secretary
Associate, Quarles & Brady, LLP
|
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth Russell
Treasurer
Retired Attorney, Krieg DeVault
|
|
|
“Ellen” is physically and mentally disabled as the result of a stroke several years ago, and more recently began having serious heart and breathing problems. Ellen is 68, and Social Security is her only income. Like so many of our Ordinance Violation clients, she’s very alone in this world: she’s single, doesn’t have children, and lives alone.
Ellen was cited by the Health Department for Health Code violations at her home that rendered the home unsafe and unhealthy. The violations included loose and broken floor tiles; lack of an operable toilet and bathtub; an inoperable kitchen sink drain; the presence of asbestos; general sanitary maintenance problems; and no water service to her home.
Ellen attended her first court hearing and soon contacted Indy Legal Aid for assistance. Deetta Steinmetz, her Indy Legal Aid attorney, immediately contacted Indy NeighborLink, a non-profit that organizes volunteers to help low-income seniors and disabled individuals bring their homes into compliance with the Health Code.
Navigating trips to the City County building was difficult for Ellen, so Deetta began appearing at Ellen’s hearings on her behalf, checking in before and after each hearing to keep them both up-to-date on the case. Deetta has attended over a dozen hearings for Ellen, and with NeighborLink’s help Ellen has gradually been able to bring her home into compliance with the Health Code. Deetta anticipates that the case will be dismissed at the next hearing.
Ellen recently told Deetta, “It was wonderful having legal support through the process; it allowed me to focus on fixing up my house and taking care of my health.” This is the difference Indy Legal Aid was able to make in Ellen's life!
|
|
|
|
Indy Legal Aid has a number of volunteer opportunities for attorneys, students, and the general public. For attorneys, we have pro bono cases, internships for students, and our spring and fall events, along with
light office work.
For more information, click
here
.
|
|
We have several ways for you to make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable Hoosiers in Central Indiana. Approximately $.87 of every dollar donated to Indianapolis Legal Aid Society is directly used to provide programs and services. For more information, click
here
.
|
|
615 N Alabama St, Suite 122
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 635 - 9538
|
|
Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
|
|
"The Indianapolis Legal Aid Society is dedicated to ensuring that qualified low-income persons living in the Central Indiana community have access to quality legal assistance for civil disputes."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
