Fall Enewsletter | November 3, 2008
IN THIS ISSUE:
What the Economic Crisis Means to Bet Tzedek's Clients
Holocaust Survivors' Justice Network... 30 Cities and Growing
Before Broadway, Bet Tzedek
Pro Bono Highlights (July – October 2008)
Dinner Gala 2009... February 5, 2009
The Justice Society... New Group for a New Generation
Holly Fujie, Bet Tzedek Board Member, is New State Bar President
What the Economic Crisis Means to Bet Tzedek's Clients
In difficult economic times, Bet Tzedek’s low-income clients feel the effects most dramatically. Already, Bet Tzedek has experienced a 55% increase in public benefits cases and a 26% increase in home equity fraud cases compared to September of last year. And the statistics don’t reveal the human suffering; every case is a person who is making impossible choices between food and medicine and rent.
When the owners of Victoria H.’s rented house suddenly faced foreclosure as a result of an adjustable mortgage payment they couldn’t afford, Victoria was confronted with the loss of her home. Before the foreclosure was even resolved, the bank served an illegal eviction notice on Victoria. Fortunately for Victoria, Peter Ramirez, a Bet Tzedek Housing Attorney, and Maria Guiza, a Bet Tzedek law clerk, were able to defend her in court and maintain her tenancy.
For many Angelenos, the uncertain economy will mean more evictions, loss of public benefits and higher demand for Bet Tzedek’s help. Bet Tzedek relies upon all community members to succeed in its fight for justice. To get involved or donate, please call Matt Scelza at 323.549.5813.
Holocaust Survivors' Justice Network... 30 Cities and Growing
Nearly 100 law firms and corporations are participating in the largest coordinated pro bono effort in United States history - Bet Tzedek’s Holocaust Survivors Justice Network (www.holocaustsurvivorsprobono.org). Coordinated nationally with the help of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP, volunteer lawyers in more than 30 North American cities are working to obtain reparations for over 5,000 low-income survivors. And heroic tales abound: Just last week, Foley & Lardner shut down its entire Miami office so all of its attorneys could travel to Boca Raton to serve 50 Holocaust survivors at a community center in a single day.
Stories like these from Bet Tzedek’s Holocaust Survivors Justice Network continue to flood in from around the country:
- In New York City, Jerri Shick of O'Melveny & Myers, Bea Grossman of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Miriam Buhl of Weil Gotshal manage multiple weekly clinics in each of the five boroughs that incorporate seven Coordinating Firms (O'Melveny, Manatt, Weil, Latham, Skadden, Proskauer and Gibson) and more than 25 participating firms. In six short weeks, NYC attorneys have seen more than 300 survivors. Building on that success, Kira Darby of Latham is helping expand the program to northern New Jersey.
- In Connecticut, in-house counsel Faye Dion of Aetna, Inc. worked with Shipman & Goodwin partner Michele Kostin and Joan Margolis from Jewish Family Services to serve more than 50 survivors in Hartford and Bridgeport. National Public Radio tuned the country in to this historic effort.
- Ruth Kershner of the Jewish Social Service Agency anchors the effort in Washington, DC from the social service side along with her pro bono allies at coordinating firms Howrey, Skadden, DLA Piper, Latham and Steptoe Johnson. Ruth has told Bet Tzedek that she is thrilled to see so many new (and often young) faces sitting with survivors and learning their histories first hand. In total, the Washington DC clinics have assisted more than 150 survivors.
- In Omaha, Robert Cohen personally drove a number of clients back and forth from their individual homes to Kutak Rock’s offices so they could be served.
- In Pennsylvania, attorneys from Ballard Spahr, Blank Rome and Duane Morris travel hours to see survivors in Central and South New Jersey.
In California, Bet Tzedek will soon see its 850th client while Manatt reaches out to the Laguna Woods retirement community to see survivors in Orange County. We are grateful for the support and involvement of Jewish Family Services across North America, the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Conference on Material Claims Against Germany (the Claims Conference), all of which are integral to the success of HSJN. In addition, Newton Becker, the Ziering Family and Jonathan Novak made significant contributions to the HSJN’s success. To learn more about the Holocaust Survivors Justice Network, visit www.holocaustsurvivorsprobono.org.
When award-winning actress Tovah Feldshuh acknowledged Bet Tzedek from the stage at the October 24th performance of “Irena’s Vow,” it marked a public recognition of the key role Bet Tzedek played in the play’s existence.
In 2000, Bet Tzedek’s then-Executive Director David Lash worked closely with pro bono attorneys Carole Handler and Jeff Tidus to help Irena Gut Opdyke. Opdyke was a Polish Catholic woman who saved a dozen Jews from death in World War II through an incredible series of acts. Opdyke’s bravery earned her the title of “Righteous Among the Nations” from Yad Vashem.
When she subsequently heard of the existence of Holocaust denial organizations, Opdyke decided to bear witness to the horrors she experienced. She wrote a book, In My Hands, that eventually formed the basis for “Irena’s Vow”. After the book was published, Opdyke became involved in a dispute over the rights to her life story and sought the assistance of Bet Tzedek. Bet Tzedek's expert team of attorneys offered her the free, high quality legal representation she needed. “Irena’s Vow” builds on the book’s inherent drama and stars Feldshuh as Opdyke. Visit www.irenasvow.com to learn more about the play.
Pro Bono Highlights (July – October 2008)
Bet Tzedek’s Pro Bono Department salutes our law firm and corporation allies for their commitment and dedication to pro bono. Here are three exceptional pro bono stories from this fall …
Skadden Arps in Lancaster
When Bet Tzedek announced the need for attorneys to help provide statutory wills and advanced health care directives for ailing seniors in Antelope Valley, Skadden answered the call. Working with Tasneem Dohadwala and more than a half dozen associates, Bet Tzedek trained a Skadden team that will drive to Lancaster once a month to see clients.
Howard Blum the Collector
Over the past 35 years, Howard Blum of Albright & Blum, P.C. has earned a sturdy reputation litigating collections and other debt related issues. Mr. Blum now puts that expertise to service helping us pursue judgments for damages and attorney’s fees won by Bet Tzedek. “Attorneys sometimes believe that if they’re up against a non-profit they don’t need to take matters seriously. That can undermine our ability to deliver justice for our clients. Howard helps us send a different message,” said Elissa Barrett, Director of Pro Bono Programs.
Pro Bono Interns – Sidley and Milbank
Each fall, a select set of Sidley & Austin and Milbank Tweed first year associates choose a public interest organization to host them for a full time pro bono internship. Bet Tzedek is blessed to host 4 pro bono interns this fall. We salute them for their talent, intelligence and contribution to Bet Tzedek: Ariella Simonds (Sidley, Kinship Care Project), Hsin-Hsin Yang (Sidley, Senior Center Outreach Team), Jan Nishizawa (Milbank, Consumer Rights Project), and Stuart Matheson (Milbank, Holocaust Services Program).
This fall’s pro bono participating law firms and corporations also include Akin Gump, Arent Fox, Bingham McKutchen, Caldwell Leslie, Foley & Lardner, Goodwin Proctor, Greenberg Glusker, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Howrey, Jones Day, Kaye Scholer, Latham & Watkins, Loeb & Loeb, Manatt Phelps & Phillips, McDermott Will & Emery, Milbank, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, NBC/Universal, O’Melveny & Myers, Paul Hastings, Proskauer, Sidley, Skadden, Southern California Edison, Steptoe & Johnson, Winston & Strawn, White & Case, and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, among others.
Dinner Gala 2009... February 5, 2009
Bet Tzedek will celebrate its 35th Anniversary on February 5, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Glenn Sonnenberg of Legg Mason Real Estate Investors will be honored with the Luis Lainer Founder’s Award, while the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP and Bet Tzedek Founder Stanley Levy will receive the Rose L. Schiff Commitment to Justice Award. Bet Tzedek Staff Attorney Deborah Baldwin will receive the Jack H. Skirball Community Justice Award. Please consider generously supporting our work in this difficult time for our clients. For more information and to purchase sponsorships or tickets, visit www.bettzedek.org/dinner >>
The Justice Society... New Group for a New Generation
Bet Tzedek launches its new group for a new generation, The Justice Society, on Tuesday, December 9th. Members of The Justice Society support Bet Tzedek and enjoy unique networking opportunities and exclusive event invitations. Join us on December 9th at 7pm to learn more and hear a discussion on “What’s Next? What The Economy and Elections Mean for Los Angeles.” The event occurs at 7pm at The X Bar in Century City. Call Amy Peckner at 323.549.5860 to RSVP. To download a PDF about The Justice Society, click here >>
Holly Fujie, Bet Tzedek Board Member, is New State Bar President
Holly Fujie, a member of Bet Tzedek’s Board of Directors and a shareholder with Buchalter, Nemer, Fields and Younger in Los Angeles, was recently installed as President of The State Bar of California. Fujie is only the third woman in history to head the State Bar since it was established by the legislature in 1927. Bet Tzedek salutes Fujie for this achievement and looks forward to her continued service on behalf of all Californians. To learn more about Holly, please visit www.buchalter.com >>
Your contribution means justice for a Holocaust survivor...
To see the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s ratings of Judicial candidates, please click here >>
Last year, Bet Tzedek freed a woman from modern-day slavery here in Los Angeles. The judge was shocked by the information in the FBI report on the case and sentenced the defendant to six months in prison and two years of supervised release. Bet Tzedek will continue to work closely with law enforcement authorities to protect victims of human trafficking.
If you’re over the age of 70 ½ and need to make a mandatory withdrawal from your IRA, you can choose to make a direct contribution to Bet Tzedek. You will help our organization and most likely save on your taxes. You can donate up to $100,000 per year for 2008 and 2009. For more information, contact Matt Scelza at 323.549.5813 or mscelza@bettzedek.org.
Bet Tzedek has welcomed the following new staff members over the past six months:
Johanna Bloomfield Attorney
Laura Bosserman Holocaust Restitution Advocate
Yadira Garcia
Elder Law Unit Social Worker
Robert Gradilla
Registered Legal Services Attorney
Sarah Jampol
Foundation Giving Officer
Michelle Kezirian Attorney and Sydney M. Irmas Housing Conditions Project Director
Angelina Naba
SOVA Advocate
Amy Peckner
Individual Giving Officer
Lidia Romero
Legal Secretary
Jaclyn Rosenson
Self-Help Coordinator
Dominique Sanz-David Attorney, Family Caregiver Project
Bet Tzedek also welcomed several new Board members:
Meryl K. Chae, Esq. Partner
Skadden, Arps, Meagher, Slate, and Flom
Jeffrey Resnick President
First Property Realty
Edward J. Weiss, Esq. Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Ticketmaster
Bet Tzedek is an affiliated agency of
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles