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 14^th 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)

A Brooklyn man being sued for foreclosure was led to a legal victory with the help of South Brooklyn Legal Services (a program of Legal Services NYC) attorney Sara Manaugh. Not only did a judge find the suit frivolous, but they ordered $10,000 in sanctions against the bank for foreclosing on a property they didn’t even own.