Legal Aid and Defender Association, Inc. (LAD) has announced the winners of our 2014 Laddy Awards honoring members of the legal community for their pro bono service to LAD clients.

The Laddy Awards will be presented Tuesday, November 18 at 2 p.m. in the historic chief judge's courtroom of the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette Street, Detroit. For information about the ceremony or sponsorships, contact Bedelia Brown at (313) 967-5619 or bbrown@ladadetroit.org.

This year's Laddy honorees are:

Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year:  

Bodman PLC 

Left to right: Peter Leto, Ralph McDowell, Jason Currie, Michael Jameson, Kimberly Paulson and Alexander Simpson  

Legal Aid and Defender offers assisted pro se divorce clinics for Wayne county residents. In 2008 Bodman began handling two pro se divorce clinics for Wayne County residents each month Bodman's attorneys handled the presentation and helped the clients prepare pro se pleadings. Since 2012 Bodman attorneys have continued to assist clients at a pro se clinic each month. In the past three years Bodman has donated 646 hours of work for LAD's clients.

 

Kelvin W. Scott Pro Bono Corporation of the Year:  

Ford Motor Company

David Leitech (pictured), Group Vice President and General Counsel 

Ford provides funding and pro bono attorneys from Ford's corporate counsel staff for our Food Stamp Screening Project. Ford's pro bono attorneys handled 16 food stamp clinics from 2010 through 2013 and four clinics so far this year. The Project is conducted in elementary schools and medical clinics that are part of our collaboration with the Beaumont Legal Aid for Families and Children Project (LAFC), and at the offices of our community partners, Don Bosco Hall, and Focus Hope. A number of Ford attorneys also handle individual pro bono cases helping our clients expunge their criminal records and get divorced. 

Kristi Katsma of Dickinson Wright represented a client who received a Detroit property tax bill for $2,300 she had already paid. The client had stamped receipts from the City indicating payment in full. The elderly client had lived in her home since 1971. Ms. Katsma filed a successful appeal with the Michigan Tax Tribunal to resolve this matter. Ms. Katsma's work ensured that this client could continue to live in her home. She spent 57 hours on this matter.

Pro Bono Spirit Award:

Kurt ThornbladhMr. Thornbladh represented a client, who lived at COTS, a Detroit homeless shelter with her six children. He filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy for her, wiping out a $6,000 balance owed for electricity and heat. Mr. Thornbladh filed the bankruptcy which enabled her to wipe out her balance, get utility service, and move herself and her six children into a new home. Mr. Thornbladh has completed bankruptcy cases for six other clients.

Pro Bono Spirit Award:

Jenny Lynn Zavadil represented a client who was sued by a debt collector for a credit card debt. Ms. Zavadil filed a motion to set aside the garnishment of the property tax credit which is exempt from garnishment under state law. The Court ordered sanctions against the credit for $500 when this payment was not made the court ordered an additional $1000 in sanctions. The creditor paid the total judgment and sanctions of $1,000 which Ms. Zavadil donated to our very surprised and pleased client.

Judge Matthew Sabaugh 

 

When the 37th District Court learned that Legal Aid and Defender and other community partners were planning an Eviction Diversion Program in Macomb County, Judge Matthew Sabaugh contacted us and expressed an interest in having the Program at the 37th District Court. The EDP is a voluntary program to assist landlords and tenants in resolving back rent situations without a credit-damaging court judgment. It is the first of its kind in Macomb County.  

 

Pangborn Pin Recipients:

(At least 50 hours pro bono service since last awards ceremony)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the reception for the fifth anniversary of Legal Aid for Children and Families (LACF) are (left to right) Gordon J. Walker, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Beaumont Health; Karen Glorio Luther, Director of the LACF program; Gene Michalski, President and CEO of Beaumont Health; and Deierdre L. Weir, President and CEO of Legal Aid and Defender Association. (Photo by John Meiu)

The two organizations formed a partnership in 2009 to provide legal assistance to low-income patients by addressing the underlying causes of poor health among children. The program has grown to include a medical-legal clinic in Detroit's Brightmoor community.

 

The project is supported by the Beaumont Foundation, the Oakland County Bar Foundation and The Jewish Fund, among others.