Serving Journalists and Public Information
In 2007, Chauncey Bailey, the editor of The Oakland (Calif.) Post, was investigating the troubled finances and strife at a local bakery. Bailey was murdered because of his investigation. A coalition of media and related groups started the Chauncey Bailey Project to investigate the murder and uphold the principle that journalists cannot be silenced through intimidation or violence. DWT's Duffy Carolan has represented the Project since 2007.
Engaging Kids in Art and the World
The creator calls it a “crowdsourcing, social venture for the youngest generation.” It's Kiba Kiba Books, a project that teaches kids about art and book illustration, then helps them create and sell their own book. Along the way they learn about environmental issues. A portion of the book sales goes to nonprofits around the world.
Children Granted a Safe Home With Grandmother
Two girls, ages 3 and 5, are now safe in the care of their grandmother thanks to the work of a team in our D.C. office. The grandmother sought custody of the children because of the parents' negligence, violence and drug use. Associates Karen Ross, a business transactions attorney, and Erin Reid, a media and First Amendment litigator, prepared for the case for a year, with the help of document clerk Marlon Gonzalez.
In 1995 an engineer who specialized in equipment used for physical rehabilitation took a business trip to Peru. Two years later, moved by how many children he'd met who needed wheelchairs, he took a leave of absence from his job to return and help them. Today, Mobility Builders provides free custom-designed wheelchairs to 10 Peruvian kids every month.
Renter Wins Again on Appeal
We’re happy to report on the outcome of a case we covered in our last report. Attorneys Gwen Fanger, Peter Isola and Harvey Schochet in our San Francisco office assisted a home renter whose landlord had defaulted on mortgage payments. Without the renter’s knowledge, the home was foreclosed upon. The renter was harassed and threatened with eviction by a new owner who obtained the home at auction.
In June 2009, the small claims court awarded the woman $7,300 in damages. The owner appealed. After the small claims appeal hearing in Alameda (Calif.) County Superior Court last December, the court issued a judgment of $7,200 in favor of our client.
Still, our team had to spend more than 45 days negotiating a settlement with the defendant, who has agreed to pay our client $7,000.
Partner Jim Judson and executive assistant Mary Dougherty, both of our Seattle office, were named “Legal Services for the Homeless Volunteers of the Month” by the King County (Wash.) Bar Association in February 2010 for their advocacy on behalf of a young man needing his Texas criminal misdemeanor record expunged.
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