PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008 - (Page 6)

CovER SToRy large group of people to clear title to their properties in order for them to hold something so valuable: title to real estate,” Marianne says. “It’s amazing how we can use our skills to help so many people. I have visited the affected Mississippi areas many times, and I am overwhelmed at the lack of progress that has been made to these areas since the hurricane hit. There is still so much work to be done to rebuild these areas, and DLA Piper has taken the steps to ensure this happens.” Paul Shadle (Chicago) represents Ms. B., who described the trauma of having no water to drink during the scorching summer heat, watching relatives die in the flood waters, and smelling the decay that engulfed her neighborhood after the flood waters subsided. She also faces the problem of proving ownership of her house and not being able to apply for grants to rebuild it. But with Paul’s help, Ms. B. will soon be able to return to her home and no longer worry about landlords and rising rents. “I wish I could just hug him!” Ms. B. says in gratitude. Adam Long (Chicago) has been to the Biloxi area twice for the project. “Nothing could have prepared me for the vast amount of devastation that this area has seen,” Adam says. “A natural disaster on this scale is a challenge in and of itself, but compounded with the existing title FEMA AnD MDA aPPeaLS People throughout DLa Piper have worked on DL Katrina relief in many other ways beyond the signature project. Not least, they have been appealing 140 different cases of FeMa denials of funds — handling F more than double the number of appeals than any other firm in the nation. Our lawyers have assisted dozens of clients by helping them obtain FeMa funding. For example, F after a grant request filed by Ms. D. was denied by the Mississippi Development authority in December 2006, David Missner (Chicago) volunteered to help. David prepared an amended application for a grant and helped secure the title to the home. When title finally cleared in 2007, Ms. D. was awarded and paid $65,000 to complete her home repairs. another matter involved Ms. F., a resident of Biloxi, Mississippi, whose home was destroyed by the hurricane. Ms. F. is totally disabled and cannot work; she is completely dependent on Social Security disability payments and charitable payments. Soon after Katrina struck, she was moved into a FeMa trailer. nthony When anthony Dreyspool (New York) volunteered for this matter, FeMa had told her she must move out of her trailer immediately, but Ms. F. had not yet received any rental assistance and did not know where she could go. With Tony’s assistance, she is currently receiving over $800 a month in rental assistance from FeMa and has moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ulf DLa Piper’s work on the gulf Coast is providing invaluable help to people who cannot afford to pay a lawyer and cannot continue living in FeMa trailers for health and many other reasons. This project exemplifies the practical ways in which lawyers, using their legal skills, can change lives. 06 | PRO BONO BULLETIN

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008

PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008 Contents A Firm Response to a Natural Disaster Protecting Our Electorate National News An Interview with Sandy Gohn Mapping Impact FourThought Signature Project Update New Perimeter Launches Addis Ababa Law School Project Awards and Recognition What Our Clients Say About Us

PROBONO Bulletin - Summer 2008

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