March 13, 2019
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the Public Law Center
to ensure  that low income
families and those
who have nowhere else 
to turn get a fair shake 
in our sometimes
confusing and complex
legal system.






Greetings,

Hi there! I am back from maternity leave and getting back in the swing of things. I wanted to share a quote that is particularly meaningful to me right now:
 
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.
-Maya Angelou
 
While being outnumbered by children now sometimes requires me to focus on survival, what we really want in life, for ourselves and for our children, is to thrive. I think that goal applies equally to working with our clients; when you hear from a client you helped a few years ago that they got a promotion, they reunited with their children or they have taken the good fortune they received and are passing it on to others less fortunate, you realize the positive impact of your act of kindness.
 
If we can take our passion, compassion, humor, and even our style, and use it for good, to help those who cannot help themselves, we can lift everyone up to thrive, rather than just survive.
 
It is good to be back, and I look forward to working with all of you again to ensure access to justice for our low-income clients!


Sincerely, 


Leigh Ferrin
Directing Attorney, 
Pro Bono Programs





We Make Pro Bono Easy!
 
PLC is here to support you
in your pro bono representation.
 
Did you know that PLC staff can:
  • Answer questions you may have
    related to your case;
  • Provide a mentor to help you;
  • Supply you with samples and manuals
    in many areas of the law;
  • Review documents and pleadings;
  • Provide interpretation support in
    Spanish and Vietnamese;
  • Arrange office space for you to meet
    with your client at PLC; and
  • Provide malpractice coverage for your
    PLC pro bono case 
Please contact Leigh Ferrin with any questions.
 
ADOPTIONS

No cases at this time.
APPEALS
 
No cases at this time.
BANKRUPTCY

No cases at this time.
BENEFITS

Social Security Disability Insurance Appeal, PLC 18E-1044793
Client is 53 years old and filed for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in 2010 when he could no longer work as a commercial plumber. He has a history of degenerative disc disease, PTSD, depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and impingement of shoulder nerves. Client has also been fighting stage 3 prostate cancer, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Client was denied SSDI in August 2016 after an administrative appeal hearing. Client is being supported by his children, but no longer wants to be a burden on them. Client is seeking to reopen his SSDI case.
CONSERVATORSHIP

Limited Conservatorship, PLC 19E-1045421
Client's son will turn 18-years-old in November 2019. He has developmental disabilities and requires daily supervision and assistance with completing basic tasks. He is verbal but his speech is limited. Client seeks a volunteer attorney to help obtain a limited conservatorship over his person. Client is a monolingual Spanish speaker.

Limited Conservatorship, PLC 19-1045786
Client seeks a limited conservatorship over the person of her 18-year-old son who has an intellectual disability. She especially seeks to assist him with making medical decisions and decisions regarding his education. Client's oldest son seeks to be co-conservator as he helps care for his younger brother.

Limited Conservatorship, PLC 19E-1045442
Clients are seeking a volunteer attorney to help them obtain conservatorship over their 19-year-old son who has Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21). Clients' son's medical providers are requesting proof of conservatorship so that he can continue receiving medical care at a certain facility. Clients seek to start the process as soon as possible.  Clients are monolingual Spanish speakers.
 
Limited Conservatorship, PLC 18-1044999
Client seeks to establish a limited conservatorship over her 21-year-old son who has Cornelia de Lange syndrome (a developmental disorder). He is non-verbal and relies heavily on his mother for care. Client requires a limited conservatorship over her son to continue making medical decisions for him. All 2nd degree relatives are known and located. 
*Client is a monolingual Spanish speaker*
CONSUMER 

Contractor Dispute - PLC 19E-1045154
After the city that client resides in forced her to demolish and rebuild her home to bring it up to code, client was forced to hire various contractors to carry out the remodel of her home. Soon after work began, client discovered the inconsistencies in the quality of work each contractor was providing. In more than one instance, client was forced to pay in advance for work that was either incomplete or never completed. She calculates that there are more than $100,000 dollars in damages. Client is seeking assistance with affirmative cases against the contractors who worked on her home. She would like to assert her rights and recover damages for poor workmanship.
CONTRACTS 

Nonprofit (Housing) - Contracts, PLC 19-1045726
Client is an existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide supportive and transitional housing for formerly homeless individuals. Client is planning to work with another nonprofit partner to expand its facility and programs. Client seeks legal assistance with drafting the partnership agreement.

Small Business (Apparel) - Contracts, PLC 19-1045396
Client is a low-income entrepreneur who is starting an e-commerce retail business. Client seeks legal assistance drafting a variety of business contracts, including sale of goods, consignment and wholesale agreements.
*Client is a Spanish speaker*
CUSTODY
 
No cases at this time.
DISABILITY RIGHTS

Social Security Disability Insurance Appeal, PLC 18E-1044793
Client is 53 years old and filed for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in 2010 when he could no longer work as a commercial plumber. He has a history of degenerative disc disease, PTSD, depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and impingement of shoulder nerves. Client has also been fighting stage 3 prostate cancer, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Client was denied SSDI in August 2016 after an administrative appeal hearing. Client is being supported by his children, but no longer wants to be a burden on them. Client is seeking to reopen his SSDI case.
DISSOLUTION 

Grandparent Visitation, PLC 18E-1044527
Client is monolingual Spanish speaker in her late 50's. She is the maternal grandmother who needs assistance securing visitation orders for her 8 year old grandson. Her child's father acquired sole custody of the child when the child's mother (the client's daughter) passed away in 2017. Client has always been involved in the child's life but no longer spends quality time with her grandson because of father's interference.
EMPLOYMENT
 
No cases at this time.
GUARDIANSHIP

Guardianship, PLC 18E-1043261
Client is an English speaker over the age of 60. She is a paternal grandmother who has been barred from seeing her 8 grandchildren by their caretaker, who is the children's maternal grandmother. The grandchildren are currently under the care of the maternal grandmother because the client's son passed away in 2016, and the biological mother lost custody of the children. Client has always had constant communication with her grandchildren, but the maternal grandmother has made it difficult to the point of denying the children the opportunity to spend time with their paternal grandmother at all. Client wants to be involved in her grandchildren lives, given her advanced age and the loss of her son.
HOMEOWNERSHIP 

Homeowners Association Dispute/Foreclosure Defense, PLC 18E-1043158
Client is an elderly U.S. Army veteran facing a possible foreclosure by his Homeowners Association (HOA).  Facing code enforcement issues because of its own failure to maintain the property, the HOA imposed special assessments that were unaffordable for client and many of the residents.  Client is seeking representation in his dispute with the HOA, possible including internal dispute resolution and/or litigation.

Nonprofit (HOA) - Governance, PLC 19-1045527
Client is a nonprofit Home Owners Association that represents primarily low-income residents. Client seeks legal advice and guidance with resolving a governance dispute among the board members.
IMMIGRATION 

Asylum, PLC 19E-1045658
Client is an immigrant from Vietnam who is in the United States on a student visa. Because of his sexuality and a health condition, he fears returning to his country due to widespread discrimination and persecution of similarly situated people. Client is seeking assistance with an affirmative application for asylum. He speaks limited English and fluent Vietnamese.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY   
 
No cases at this time.
LANDLORD / TENANT

No cases at this time.
LITIGATION 

Contractor Dispute - PLC 19E-1045154
After the city that client resides in forced her to demolish and rebuild her home to bring it up to code, client was forced to hire various contractors to carry out the remodel of her home. Soon after work began, client discovered the inconsistencies in the quality of work each contractor was providing. In more than one instance, client was forced to pay in advance for work that was either incomplete or never completed. She calculates that there are more than $100,000 dollars in damages. Client is seeking assistance with affirmative cases against the contractors who worked on her home. She would like to assert her rights and recover damages for poor workmanship.
NAME CHANGE

No cases at this time.
NONPROFIT

Nonprofit (Housing) - Contracts, PLC 19-1045726
Client is an existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide supportive and transitional housing for formerly homeless individuals. Client is planning to work with another nonprofit partner to expand its facility and programs. Client seeks legal assistance with drafting the partnership agreement.

Nonprofit (HOA) - Governance, PLC 19-1045527
Client is a nonprofit Home Owners Association that represents primarily low-income residents. Client seeks legal advice and guidance with resolving a governance dispute among the board members.

Nonprofit (Health) - Start-Up, PLC 19-1045201
Client is a new nonprofit organization whose mission is to change lives through alternative, inclusive activities, including water and equine therapy. Client seeks legal assistance with incorporating as a California Public Benefit Corporation and obtaining federal and state tax exempt status.

Nonprofit (Housing Assistance), PLC 18-1044973
Client is a community-based nonprofit unincorporated association whose mission is to assist very low income individuals who have been displaced from housing. Client seeks legal advice and guidance with developing internal governance and program policies. Client also seeks legal assistance with applying for federal tax-exempt status.
RESTRAINING ORDER 
 
No cases at this time.
SMALL BUSINESS 

Small Business (Apparel) - Contracts, PLC 19-1045396
Client is a low-income entrepreneur who is starting an e-commerce retail business. Client seeks legal assistance drafting a variety of business contracts, including sale of goods, consignment and wholesale agreements.
*Client is a Spanish speaker*
Email Directing Attorney Sarah Efthymiou
SPECIAL EDUCATION 
 
Special Education/IEP, PLC 19-1044848
Client is a Spanish-speaking mother of four children. Client's daughter, age 13, is a student at a school in a local Orange County school district. Client's daughter is at her second school after she had to transfer due to bullying issues; Client states that she did not receive any assistance from her daughter's first school to address the bullying, which led Client to remove her daughter and place her into a different school. At both schools, Client states that her daughter has endured bullying to the point where Client's daughter engaged in self-harm. Client recently met with school officials at her daughter's second school to apply for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), but faced resistance and discouragement from the school. Client seeks assistance with understanding her daughter's education rights, and she seeks assistance with obtaining an IEP for her daughter.
SUPPORT
 
Child and Spousal Support, PLC 19-1045801
Client is a single mother of three, and her primary source of income is child support and spousal support payments made by her ex-husband. The ex-husband has filed a post-Judgment Request for Order to seek reduction of support, which Client opposes. Client seeks representation for the hearing in mid-June 2019.
UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN
 
No cases at this time.
VETERANS

Homeowners Association Dispute/Foreclosure Defense, PLC 18E-1043158
Client is an elderly U.S. Army veteran facing a possible foreclosure by his Homeowners Association (HOA). Facing code enforcement issues because of its own failure to maintain the property, the HOA imposed special assessments that were unaffordable for client and many of the residents. Client is seeking representation in his dispute with the HOA, possible including internal dispute resolution and/or litigation.
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WILLS & ESTATES 

No cases at this time.

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