February 5, 2016

Please volunteer to take the case of either of these two clients who have heartbreaking stories and need help

16-0004934

Homeless client wants to see his eight-year-old daughter
This client and his wife lived with their daughter in California when his wife took their daughter and moved to Alabama last year. The client saved enough money to travel to Alabama and now is trying to establish visitation. His wife on Monday filed for divorce. The client is currently staying at the Salvation Army and has come to the Domestic Relations Help Desk twice because he very much wants to see his daughter. He is trying to turn his life around and find employment. Please help by contacting Heather Bussey.

16-0005135

Mother of slain daughter needs help with wrongful fees on car used in the crime

This client's 20-year-old daughter was murdered by a man who spent several hours eating Sunday dinner with the client and her family in August before allegedly killing her daughter. Click here to read the full story.

The client tried to get the car used in the crime back but police first needed it for evidence. Then the car was towed at the request of the lender to a wrecking company and the client could not retrieve it without paying nearly $1,200 in storage and other fees.

The client says she paid the note on the car on time every month, despite not having it in her possession, except for one payment she missed because of her daughter's funeral. The lender eventually returned the car to her but put a repossession on the client's credit report. This client simply needs help negotiating with the lender to get the repossession off of her report. Please contact Katrina Brown to help this client.

Thank you to the law firms that helped out the most at January Help Desks

Attorneys with these firms volunteered the most hours at the Civil, Domestic, and Homeless Help Desks in January:

Bressler Amery & Ross - 10 hours
Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell AND Gathings Law - 5 hours
Cory Watson AND Heninger Garrison Davis - 4.5 hours

Thank you to the attorneys who volunteered at a Help Desk this week:

Civil Help Desk: 34 clients on Monday and Thursday

Haley Box, Legal Services Alabama
Tarackia Phillips-Barge
Patricia Doblar
Kendra Johnson
James Illston
Ryan Myers, Cory Watson

Ryan Myers, Cory Watson, meeting with clients at the Help Desk

Domestic Relations Help Desk: 29 clients on Wednesday

Kenneth Baumann, Merrell Law Firm
Jennifer Buettner, Southern Nuclear
Ann Gathings, Gathings Law
Amy E. Glenos
Melinda Guillaume
James Illston
Leon Johnson
Tarackia Phillips-Barge

James Illston assists a client through the divorce process at a Help Desk

Volunteers:
Jessica Chang, Cumberland School of Law
Avuntee Patel, Cumberland School of Law
Amy Privette

Pathways Homeless Clinic: 2 clients on Tuesday
Jack Carney, Carney Dye

Thank you attorneys who accepted Extended Representation cases this week:
Kenneth Baumann, Merrell Law Firm took three cases
Benjamin D. Cohn, Williams Elliott & Edwards
Morgan Franz, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury
Ann Gathings, Gathings Law

500 Birmingham Bar Association attorneys turn out to UAB Game to pay tribute to Wyndall Ivy
Click here to check out the photos from yesterday's great UAB tribute to BBA Member Wyndall Ivy.

Project Homeless Connect

February 27th is Project Homeless Connect and attorneys will be needed to help Birmingham's homeless citizens overcome debilitating legal issues. Please e-mail Heather Bussey if you would like to volunteer.