Millions of Kids to Benefit from Settlement of FL Medicaid case


The Gorenflo family, whose two sons are named plaintiffs in this case.

We recently reached a settlement agreement that will help two million Florida children enrolled in Medicaid access fundamental medical and dental care. The settlement comes after more than 10 years and 90 days of trial in this case. We could not have reached this outstanding outcome without the leadership of our former colleague Jim Eiseman, and our pro bono counsel from Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP. A full list of highlights of the settlement agreement, which include increased reimbursement rates for pediatricians and dentists, improved enrollment procedures, and measurement benchmarks, is available on our website.

Taking SEPTA to Court for Denying Jobs to People with Unrelated Records

We filed a federal lawsuit against Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) for willfully violating federal and state laws when conducting criminal background checks of prospective employees. We are bringing this class action suit on behalf of Frank Long, a 55-year-old resident of Philadelphia and a commercially licensed bus driver. SEPTA offered him a job in October 2014 as a bus operator, but then rescinded the offer because of a drug-related conviction on Mr. Long's record from 1997.

Welcome to the Board, Lloyd!

We are pleased to welcome Lloyd Freeman of Archer & Greiner P.C. to our board of directors. Mr. Freeman was elected in March. Mr. Freeman, who concentrates his practice in the area of commercial and complex civil litigation in state and federal courts in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, hit the ground running, joining the Law Center's Communications Committee.

School Plans Show Students Severely Hurt by Underfunding

Our new analysis of plans submitted by Pennsylvania school districts, which reported how they would use new state education funding, provides vivid proof of how persistent underfunding has damaged the ability of districts to provide even the essentials of a good education. We published the report on the same day that we gathered with partner advocacy groups to applaud the state's enactment of a new school funding formula and to call for a substantial increase in education funding in next year's state budget. Our report shows how students were deprived of basic services this year because state officials took so long to pass a budget, and the one they passed is not adequate. With the $400 million in new education funding the Governor has proposed for the 2016-2017 budget, schools could finally start to offer the resources that are essential to improving student outcomes.

Rally for Public Education

5.2.16

Join us and The Campaign for Fair Education Funding on May 2 in Harrisburg, PA and rally for public education funding. We will push for permanent enactment of the fair funding formula and increases in basic education funding in the 2016-17 state budget.

Pro Bono Partner of the Month: Ned Rahn

Congratulations to our April pro bono partner of the month, Ned Rahn of Saul Ewing LLP. Ned has assisted the Law Center on several environmental justice matters, most recently with representing Philadelphia Catholic Worker in protecting La Finquita community farm from being bulldozed.

"I became involved with the Public Interest Law Center because it takes on cases that in my view seek to advance the interests of society at large. The matters are challenging, interesting and important, and I'm thrilled to be able to use whatever legal skills I have developed over the years in an effort to give back to the local community." - Ned Rahn

Save the Date for our 2016 Annual Event

Of the People, By the People, For the People

We are pleased to announce our 2016 Annual Event: Of the People, By the People, For the People.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

6-8:30 p.m.

Fringe Arts

This year we will honor Soil Generation, a black-led coalition of urban farmers and community gardeners; longtime board member Nick Chimicles of Chimicles & Tikellis LLP; and Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, our pro bono counsel in our Florida Medicaid case. It is never too early to get your tickets and invite your friends; we hope to see you there!

Board Member of the Month

Congratulations to our April board member of the month, David Caputo, a partner at Kline & Specter, P.C. In his second year on the board, David is serving as co-chair of the 2016 Event Committee.

"I have long admired the Law Center's work but since joining the Board a couple years ago, I have gained a completely new appreciation for the talent and dedication of the Law Center's attorneys and staff. I am truly inspired by the extraordinary results that the Law Center achieves for its clients, both on its own and in cooperation with its pro bono partners."

-- David Caputo