| Legal Services NYC |
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For more than 40 years, our staff of talented attorneys, paralegals, social workers and clerical workers have helped low-income New Yorkers navigate the civil legal system. Each year, through our efforts, we have helped more than 10,000 families avoid homelessness and more than 25,000 poor and low-income New Yorkers with a full range of their legal needs. Our network is community-based and includes offices in low-income communities and transportation hubs throughout New York City. |
What's New at Legal Services NYC
July 27, 2010, Brooklyn, NY—Today, Legal Services NYC-Brooklyn Branch
filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that the Office of Court
Administration (OCA) discriminates against people with disabilities who
are mobility-impaired but mentally competent by failing to provide a
mechanism by which they can appear in cases pending against them in the
Housing Part of the Civil Court of the City of New York. The Plaintiffs
claim violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the
Rehabilitation Act, and the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of
the United States Constitution.
Staten Island Legal Services Homeowner Defense Project Staff Attorney Joseph Sant was consulted for a Pro Publica article exploring a problem that is only too common for homeowners trying to participate in a federal program created to foster loan modifications and
prevent foreclosures. Loan servicers claim that investors who own the mortgages won’t allow any modifications; however, Pro Publica's investigation reveals that in many cases, the servicers themselves are denying the modifications and then passing the buck.
Each year, the Brooklyn Family Defense Project holds an award ceremony recognizing parents for their strength and courage in facing the family court and child welfare systems. Parents are honored for their perseverance, their accomplishments, and their dedication to their children. This year's event took place on July 14th at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
A front page New York Times article examines the City's failure to comply with a July 2008 executive order requiring every New York City agency that dealt with the public to provide interpreters, translated documents and other language help to people who spoke little or no English. The order was supposed to help immigrant New Yorkers use services and navigate a daunting city bureaucracy as well as prevent the waste of time and money caused by miscommunication and misunderstanding. The Times talks to Legal Services NYC's Amy Taylor, Language Access Coordinator, about a August 2009 lawsuit filed by LS-NYC on behalf of 12 limited English proficient New Yorkers who have been injured by the City's failure. One of Amy's clients, Mercedes Cruz, discusses her own experience.
The Department of Justice announced on June 16 the launch of a New
York City branch of the Federal Government Pro Bono Program, a DOJ-led
effort to connect lawyers working for federal agencies with low-income
Americans in need of legal help. In New York, Legal Services NYC has been selected as a partner and
will work with federal lawyers on projects involving family law and
domestic violence, child support, credit counseling and ID theft, wills
and pro se assistance.
The tenants of 172 North 8th St, out of their apartments since July 2009, have received significant media attention this month after an extended legal battle resulted in the NYC Building Department lifting the vacate order on their 8 unit Williamsburg building. In spite of the removal of the vacate order, their landlord has refused to remove the padlock on the buildings’ entrance. The tenants are bring represented by Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A Project Director Marty Needelman and Deferred Associate Fellow Shekar Krishnan.
(Above: NYTimes Photo Detail)