March 4, 2016
Volunteer attorney helps client from Help Desk to courtroom and wins!
BBVLP Client, Judge Amari, Preston Martin, Bressler Amery & Ross
When Preston Martin, from Bressler, Amery & Ross, volunteered at the BBVLP Civil Help Desk yesterday, he did not imagine he would be in court with a client today.

The client came to the Help Desk because a painter, to whom she had already paid $1,000, was suing her for another $600 despite failing to do a decent paint job, damaging the client's floors, and generally making a mess of the client's home. The client had photos and a court hearing set for today.

Preston talked to her and decided she needed an attorney to help her in court. He went with her to plead her defense to Judge John Amari. After hearing Preston's argument, and seeing the photos of the shabby paint job, Judge Amari dismissed the painter's claim with prejudice.

"It's great to be able to make such a quick positive impact in someone's life," Preston said. "The BBVLP Help Desk helps clients get immediate relief from bad situations."
Open Cases:

16-005362
Low-income client needs help against dealership who did not fix her car 
When this client's car started billowing smoke and her engine began knocking, she took her car back to the dealership who did a diagnostic and charged her for making repairs to the exhaust manifold. When the same problems occurred again, she brought the car back and the dealership kept it for a week and then told her nothing was wrong. The client took her car to another body shop who did another diagnostic and found that the manifold was still defective. 

The dealership would not make repairs, so the client sued and now finds herself against the dealership and it's two attorneys. The client was referred to the BBVLP by the judiciary and was so happy to learn she would get help that she broke down in tears. She is well organized and has all of her paperwork. Please contact Katrina Brown to help.

16-0005359
Please help this single mother get justice and her transportation back

This client's car was totaled, along with five others that were damaged or totaled, when another car, a black Monte Carlo, burst into flames in a UAB parking deck. Click here for the al.com story.

The client, who is a single mother of four, has been unsuccessfully trying to get the insurance company of the owner of the Monte Carlo, to pay for her repairs. 
The insurance company says their client is not liable despite admitting that the Monte Carlo was subject to a recall repair which the Monte Carlo owner did not comply with and which is believed to be the cause of the fire. Please contact Katrina Brown to help this client.

16-0004990
Widow needs help getting her husband's retirement benefits
The client's husband passed away in 1999. She has discovered that her husband contributed to a 401(k), however, her late husband's company will not discuss how she can withdraw the 401(k) funds. Please contact Katrina Brown to help this client.
Don't miss out on this interesting free CLE on Tuesday and volunteering opportunity the following week
Sign-up today for the free CLE and volunteering opportunity to help low-income and impoverished transgender clients legally change their names. Here are the details:

FREE CLE THIS TUESDAY:
2 credit hours including 1 in ethics
11am-1:30pm at the new "Magic City Acceptance Center" of Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO). 2500 4th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233.
Lunch is provided
Participation is limited to 25 attorneys.
Deadline to register is 5 p.m. Monday

Email Amanda Keller or Nancy Yarbrough to reserve your spot.

NAME CHANGE CLINIC
Tuesday, March 15th
1:00pm - 6:00 pm
Magic City Acceptance Center
2500 4th Avenue South
Domestic Violence red alert!
The BBVLP is stepping up efforts to attempt to ensure all domestic violence victims receive appropriate service. Thanks to IV Ashton, the president of LegalServer, which is the client management system the BBVLP uses, all client forms will now have printed on them whether the client is in a dangerous relationship where domestic violence is present. The BBVLP is asking all volunteer attorneys who discover that domestic violence is present in their BBVLP case to immediately e-mail Heather Bussey or Katrina Brown so we can help you ensure the client is safe.
Need help on how to figure out child support payments?
BBVLP Domestic Relations Staff Attorney Heather Bussey is holding a clinic for attorneys who want to learn how to calculate child support at noon on Thursday, March 10th on the mezzanine of the Birmingham Bar Center, 2021 2nd Avenue North. Attendance will be capped at 12 attorneys. Please email Heather Bussey to attend.
Introducing the BBVLP Board Attorney
Vince Schilleci, from Dominick Feld Hyde, is the new volunteer attorney for the BBVLP board. Vince brings years of non-profit experience to the BBVLP and will assist in ensuring the organization continues to operate effectively, efficiently and is a benchmark in good governance. "I am happy to help the BBVLP be a quality non-profit so they are able to help more people in need," Vince said about his volunteering as the BBVLP board attorney. Read more about Vince here.
 
Thank you to the attorneys who closed Extended Representation cases this week:
Courtney Brown, Burge & Burge
John Paul Bruno, Lorant Law Group
Loring Jones, Jones & Associates
Preston Martin, Bressler Amery & Ross

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

Civil Help Desk: 25 clients on Monday and Thursday
Kathy Collier, Balch & Bingham
Ann Gathings, Gathings Law
James Illston
Loring Jones, Jones & Associates
Ryan Myers, Cory Watson
Kendra Johnson
Preston Martin, Bressler Amery & Ross
Vincent Nelan, Baker Donelson
Tereza Carolina Sampaio
Kayla Schoen, Bressler Amery & Ross
Katie Wilson, Bressler Amery & Ross

Domestic Relations Help Desk: 28 clients on Wednesday
Sara Adams, Lorant Law Group
April Bauder, Merrell Law Firm
Kathy Collier, Balch & Bingham
Patricia Doblar
Amy E. Glenos
Melinda Guillaume
James Illston
Kendra A. Johnson
Leon Johnson
Tereza Carolina Sampaio
Pam Weed

Volunteers:
Jessica Chang, Cumberland School of Law
Landon Graham, Cumberland School of Law
Avuntee Patel, Cumberland School of Law
Barbara Saurer, University of Alabama

Pathways homeless clinic: 4 clients on Tuesday
Kayla Schoen, Bressler Amery & Ross

Thank you to the attorneys who accepted Extended Representation cases this week:
Anna-Katherine Bowman, Bradley Arant
Courtney Brown, Burge & Burge
Kathy Collier, Balch & Bingham
Scott Harwell, The Harwell Law Firm
Preston Martin, Bressler Amery & Ross
La Brenda Norman
Hear Bill Battle, Alabama Director of Athletics, at Firehouse Shelter fundraiser
Check out this great fundraiser for Firehouse Shelter, where the BBVLP holds it's twice a month Homeless Help Desk. Click here to see the event poster.