My Gift Matters - And So Does Yours
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from William A. Von Hoene, Jr.
Executive Vice President, Finance and Legal, Exelon Corporation
LAF Board Member
“I am honored to be part of the Legal Assistance Foundation, an organization that is a critical lifeline for people in our community who are in desperate need of legal assistance. In my six years of serving on the board of LAF, I have seen firsthand how LAF’s programs change the lives of families, senior citizens, veterans, and others to give them the equal access to justice they would otherwise be denied.”
William A. Von Hoene, Jr. joined the LAF Board in 2006. Before coming to Exelon, Bill was a partner at Jenner & Block, and has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for his commitment to the legal profession and the role lawyers play in assisting the neediest and most vulnerable people in our community.
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Rescuing a Home and Fighting Rescue Fraud:
The Case of Stefan Howard and the Fall of MarTav
LAF Supervisory Attorney Dan Lindsey with his client Stefan Howard
Stefan had owned a two-flat home since 1990. He lived on the second floor and rented out the first-floor apartment to cover costs. In 2003, he lost his tenant and ended up falling behind on his mortgage. Stefan then met a Mr. Ed Johnson, of MarTav Financial Services Corporation (“MarTav”), who said he could help Stefan avoid foreclosure. Johnson told Stefan that he would sign onto title and become an investor in the first floor rental unit. Stefan was hesitant. But then he was in an accident. While Stefan was on heavy pain medication, Johnson convinced him to sign paperwork without having a lawyer review it. Stefan did not understand what he was signing.
Unknown to Stefan, the paperwork gave ownership of the entire building to Johnson, who then turned around and resold the building (at a higher price) to an associate of his, Clarence Jackson. Stefan learned that Jackson owned the building when Jackson demanded that Stefan start paying rent. Stefan came to LAF.
We filed suit against Jackson, Johnson, and Johnson’s company. Once we filed suit, we learned that Johnson and his confederates had duped numerous homeowners into signing over their properties. Instead of saving their homes, MarTav’s victims lost them – and all the equity they’d built up. We worked with the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, which sued MarTav and referred many of the victims to LAF for individual representation. MarTav went out of business.
Stefan got his home back. He now only owes his original debt (rather than the higher debt incurred by Johnson). With a new, higher-paying job about to begin, Stefan should be able to refinance his loan on terms he can afford.
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from Karen & Kimball Anderson
Friends of LAF
“LAF is one of the country’s leading providers of legal services to disadvantaged persons. The need for such legal services has never been greater, but the funding resources have never been so limited. Now is time for all lawyers in our community to join together in supporting the mission of LAF. "
Throughout their lives, Karen and Kimball have had a strong commitment to pro bono work and a dedication to the ideal that all people, regardless of income, have a right to equal justice and equal opportunity. Kimball’s commitment to pro bono work at Winston & Strawn LLP is unparalleled among large law firm lawyers, and he has held numerous leadership positions with bar groups and public interest organizations. Karen volunteers with Equip for Equality, where she is on both the board of directors and the parent advisory board of Equip’s special education clinic. She is also a founding board member of The Montessori Network, which will open The Montessori School of Englewood, a charter school, next year. Together the Andersons have shown extraordinary leadership in helping talented people go into legal aid work and make a career of it.
Through their work with PILI, Kimball and Karen enable law students to explore legal aid work in funded internships. The Kimball and Karen Gatsis Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship — the first of its kind in the nation — is awarded annually and pays $50,000 over 5 years to relieve the staggering law school debt burden of outstanding lawyers working in Chicago area public interest organizations. They also have funded a similar $250,000 program for graduates of the University of Illinois College of Law.
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from Shannon K. Mrksich, Ph.D.
Senior IP Counsel, Danaher Corporation
LAF Board Member
“With so many worthy charities needing support, why do I support LAF? In large part because it combines my love of the law with my desire to be involved with my community. After participating in a few pro bono projects with LAF, I saw firsthand how LAF ever frugal staff managed to help low-income Chicagoans overcome a variety of legal challenges. I give to LAF to give my less fortunate neighbors access to our country’s justice system.”
Shannon Mrksich joined the LAF Board in 2005 and co-chairs its Development & Marketing Committee. Shannon has worked closely with LAF staff to promote the Young Professionals Board and increase the agency’s capacity to bring in new and increased financial support. She was instrumental in establishing LAF’s Golf Outing which quickly became one of LAF’s most successful – and enjoyable – annual events.
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LAF Litigation Highlight of 2011:
LAF Attorneys Help Client and Client Community
Reginia was denied special unemployment benefits for workers whose jobs have gone overseas, because she had supposedly not applied for them or been enrolled in an approved training program by a required deadline. LAF attorneys Lizzie Rosenthal and Miriam Hallbauer represented her before the Illinois Supreme Court, arguing that because the Illinois Department of Employment Security had failed to inform Reginia of the deadline, as it was required to do, the deadline should be extended, under a doctrine called equitable tolling. The Supreme Court agreed, holding that the deadline was extended, and Reginia’s application was therefore timely.
This opinion not only got Reginia the critically needed benefits, but will have an important impact on other benefits cases where clients, through no fault of their own, miss critical deadlines. This is one of the many ways in which LAF’s work extends beyond the individual case.
LAF Attorneys Miriam Hallbauer and Lizzie Rosenthal
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from Richard F. O'Malley, Jr.
Partner, Sidley Austin LLP
Friend of LAF
“I have had the privilege to work directly with the skilled lawyers at LAF and have been impressed with their tireless commitment and dedication. I have seen, first hand, the difference they make in their clients’ lives. I contribute to LAF to help them in their mission to represent the poor and under-represented of our community.”
As Chair of Sidley’s Pro Bono Committee, Richard O’Malley has worked with his partners to expand the firm’s pro bono practice. Sidley works with over 20 local pro bono agencies in Chicago to help provide greater access to justice. In 2011, LAF honored Richard with its Champion for Justice Award for his commitment to pro bono work.
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llinois Legal Aid Online
has launched its
Spanish language website!
Check it out at AyudaLegalIL.org
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