Legal Aid Foundation 1996-97 Annual Report: Working in Partnership

• Publication year: 1997
• Pages: 35

26 Colo.Law. 35 Colorado Lawyer 1997.

1997, November, Pg. 35. Legal Aid Foundation 1996-97 Annual Report: Working in Partnership

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35

Vol.26, No. 11, Pg. 35

The Colorado Lawyer
November 1997
Vol. 26, No. 11 [Page 35]

Features

Legal Aid Foundation 1996-97 Annual Report: Working in Partnership
by Lynn Cannon, David Butler

This past year witnessed several milestones. Moving on were Meredith McBurney, Executive Director of the Foundation for 15 years, and David Butler of Holland & Hart, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the past four years. We thank them for their leadership and tireless dedication to legal services. We welcome our new Executive Director, Lynn Cannon and new Chair of the Board of Trustees, Bruce Campbell, of Otten, Johnson, Robinson, Neff & Ragonetti

The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado is the product of over 17 years of working partnerships with and among donors, board members, state and local bar associations, program staff clients, volunteer attorneys, foundations, non-profits, businesses, and governmental entities. To each of you, we extend our heartfelt thanks. As you read about some of the individuals and families whose lives were deeply impacted by the help received from legal services programs, please take justified pride in your efforts on behalf of equal access to justice for all Coloradans.

Our efforts in 1996-97 included numerous fund-raising successes, including:

the most successful fund-raising campaign ever, which increased our disbursements to the programs by 17%; and

1996-1997 Staff

Top row, left to right: Wendy Gossett, Associate Director;
Barbara Masoner, Fund-raising Assistant. Bottom row,
left to right: Lynn Cannon,Executive Director; Vicki Capek,
Administrator/Bookkeeper. The Legal Aid Foundation shares
staff with the Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation.

an increased number of law firms giving at the target level of $200 per attorney, representing 1,283 attorneys in 72 firms and a total of $264,115 (an increase of 110 attorneys and $22,500 over the previous year).

This past year, we also worked with a broad coalition on statewide funding legislation. While this was unsuccessful, we know such efforts often take several years. Our hope is that with continued education and outreach, the Colorado legislature will support a bill which improves access to justice for all Coloradans.

Another milestone this year was the Colorado Bar Association's (CBA) celebration of its first 100 years. We congratulate the CBA on its century of service to the legal profession and look forward to our continued partnership.

The major challenge facing the Foundation is to find ways to increase our funding. As you are aware, legal services programs and their clients have endured severe budget cuts in recent years. As a result, fewer Coloradans have access to legal aid. As federal dollars continue to be jeopardized, the Foundation needs to preserve and maximize our existing funding, as well as secure new sources.

It is with your support and efforts that the Foundation can make a real difference. On behalf of the many disadvantaged people who received the legal assistance they needed last year, we thank you.

The People We Help

Pam with photo of daughters,

Corey and Caley. Pam came to the Pikes Peak/Arkansas River Legal Aid (PPARLA) office in need of a restraining order. She was referred by a special program, coordinated by several public agencies working to protect those whose lives are at high risk because of domestic violence. Pam had spent years trying to become free of physical and emotional abuse from the father of her twin daughters. Although the man is now in prison for the felonies of stalking and harassment, the fear did not subside. He continued to threaten her through his family members living in the same small town. The director of PPARLA, Jerry Lemberger, personally handled her case, and the restraining order was granted. Pam has since married and established a home where she hopes her family will be safe.

"Many of us are in situations where,
at the time, we can't afford the help
we need. Legal aid gives women options
they otherwise wouldn't have."

Rebecca is an 83-year-old grandmother who received help from the Pueblo office of Pikes Peak/Arkansas River Legal Aid. She was extremely upset because she received a notice stating that she was responsible for the repayment of some money which the Social Security Administration had mistakenly overpaid her disabled grandson. When Rebecca's grandson passed away, she received the notice because she had signed some paperwork for her grandson several years ago. She explained to Bob Keating, her legal aid attorney, that she had no means of repaying the overpayment. Bob appealed the decision with the department, explaining that Rebecca was not at fault of causing the overpayment, and that because of her advanced age and memory problems, Rebecca should not have been considered an appropriate signator for documents related to her grandson's disability benefits. Upon review of the case, the department did not hold Rebecca responsible for repaying the money.
Rebecca,
Pueblo, Colorado

"When you're so overwhelmed,
and don't know the means to the end,
you need someone who will listen.
I got help at an early stage,
so I didn't end up in the headlines."

Laura and her sons, Gavin and Kyle, were assisted by Colorado Rural Legal Services (CRLS). Laura contacted the program because she feared for the safety of herself and her sons. She said that her husband had become increasingly violent with her and the boys and had begun to threaten her through statements he made to their sons. In emergency situations, particularly in more rural areas, it is sometimes necessary for the legal services programs to contract with a local attorney who can take a case immediately on a low-fee basis. In this case, Laura was assisted by Tom Clark, who, she said, "really listened to me and gave me true peace of mind." Laura obtained a restraining order, is in the process of moving, and is getting a fresh start. She currently has full custody of her sons.

Laura and sons
Gavin and Kyle,
Elizabeth, Colorado
Rex and Nancy,
Greeley, Colorado

Rex and Nancy are each disabled. They were getting along fine, both working, making ends meet. Then the daycare center where Nancy had worked for 15 years went out of business. Although Rex continued to work at his job of 12 years at Village Inn, his job alone was not enough to enable them to pay rent and other living expenses. Despite their best efforts to pay as much as possible toward the rent, they were unable to work out a plan with the apartment management. Linda Goff at the Greeley office of Colorado Rural Legal Services worked out a compromise with the management regarding the rent owed. They were then able to move on to a more affordable apartment building, and Nancy is hoping she can find another job.

"I was scared not knowing what we were
going to do," Nancy said. "Linda was so
helpful; she lifted my spirits. If not for
legal aid, we may be living on the street or
in our car. The money just wasn't there."

Sandra is a 38-year-old woman with cerebral palsy who came to the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver after she received notice to appear in court regarding her Social Security Disability benefits. The cerebral palsy has progressed to where it severely affects her mobility, as well as her ability to communicate both orally and in writing. During a time that Sandra was living in a group home, she was able to work, and as required, would submit her paychecks and social security checks to the home, which would return to her the money remaining after their fees and other expenses were paid. Sometime later, when she no longer lived in the home, Sandra was distraught to receive both a notice terminating her Social Security benefits and a large bill for money the Social Security Administration said it had overpaid in some of her benefit checks. Sandra was assisted by Irma Stinnett, a paralegal with the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver, who explained Sandra's circumstances to the Social Security Administration. Sandra's benefits were reinstated and the bill waived.

"The whole situation was nerve-
wracking. I'm an honest person and knew
I hadn't overlooked any bills or notices.
Irma worked everything out."

Maria is a single mother of two girls, Faith and Natasha Maria has been enrolled with the JOBS program, a Department of Social Services (DSS) program which provides job training to single parents with the goal that they become...