Legal Counsel for the Elderly

to present Legal Counsel for the Elderly 9s (LCE 9s) Annual Report for 2007. With over 32 years of service to the community, LCE continued in 2007 to build upon our long, proud history of championing the dignity and rights of Washington, DC 9s elderly. During the past three decades, LCE has helped tens of thousands of seniors in all eight wards of the District of Columbia.<br><br> By delivering free legal services to those in need, we seek to empower, defend and protect our city 9s vulnerable older residents. As the largest provider of free legal aid for low-income seniors in DC, LCE assists thousands of seniors each year, providing quality legal services, social services, and advocacy. The vast majority of those we serve are Washington 9s frail, poor, disabled and institutionalized elderly 4and over 70 percent of our clients are low-income women of color.<br><br> Our dedicated staff and volunteers work to meet a wide range of challenges on such issues as affordable hous- ing, consumer protection, eligibility for benefits, health care, wills and powers of attorney, financial management, identity theft, diminished capacity, and institutional care. A phalanx of pro bono attorneys provide expert services for both individual clients as well as with systemic initiatives that make a positive impact on issues affecting the population at large. Thanks to the generous support we receive from foundations, government agencies, law firms, corporations and individuals, LCE achieved these major accomplishments in 2007: We responded to more than 6,000 requests from older DC residents for 1.<br><br> advice and/or in-depth legal services. The Home Equity Protection Act of 2007 4legislation that bans foreclosure 2. rescue scams in the District, and which was primarily spearheaded by LCE 4passed the DC City Council.<br><br> LCE vigorously promoted grandparents 9 rights, handling 93 cases, includ- 3. ing several involving the new subsidy for grandparents raising their grand- children. A special briefing booklet on this grandparent subsidy program was also prepared, incorporating recent changes in the law.<br><br> After extensive litigation, LCE 9s Consumer Unit successfully retrieved the 4. homes and hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity for several clients who had fallen victim to a series of foreclosure scams. LCE 9s cAlternatives to Landlord/Tenant Project d utilized a remarkable 5.<br><br> 3,500+ volunteer hours in preventing the evictions and homelessness of more than 220 older tenants in more than 75 properties located in all four quadrants of the city. From the Board Chair and Director Adrian L. Steel, Jr., Esq.<br><br> Mayer Brown LLP Chair, Board of Directors 3 LCE 9s managing attorney, Rawle Andrews, was nominated to the DC 6. Access to Justice Commission. Jason Johnson, a 3L at Howard University School of Law, was selected as 7.<br><br> the first ever John H. Pickering Fund law student. The DC Homebound Elderly Project 4 cProject HELP d 4was successfully 8.<br><br> launched by LCE, expanding access to justice for senior citizens who are homebound due to their age and physical immobility by providing legal assistance directly in the clients 9 homes, assisted living facilities or hospi- tal rooms. Our sincere thanks go to LCE 9s talented staff for their extraordinary dedication and commitment to DC 9s seniors. We also wish to express our profound appre- ciation to AARP and the AARP Foundation for their steadfast support.<br><br> We are very grateful to our devoted Board of Directors for playing such a vital role in LCE 9s continued success, particularly Mimi Castaldi, director of the DC office of AARP. And finally, we wish to give special thanks and recognition to the hun- dreds of incomparable LCE volunteers whose contributions of expertise and precious time truly make all the difference in LCE 9s many achievements. Sincerely, Adrian L.<br><br> Steel, Jr., Esq. Jan Allen May, Esq. Mayer Brown LLP Director Chair, Board of Directors 3 Jan Allen May, Esq.<br><br> Director 4 The DC Superior Court issued a judgment against " an unscrupulous home contractor who took more than $80,000 from an elderly DC resident . The court imposed treble damages for violation of the DC Consumer Protection Procedures Act, with a grand total of $228,000 in money dam- ages, plus related attorney fees and the possibility of an additional award of punitive damages due to the egregious nature of the contractor 9s mis- conduct. One of the largest awards secured on behalf of an LCE client, this was also one of the largest awards ever granted on a home-improvement scam case in the District of Columbia.<br><br> An older DC homeowner fell behind on his mortgage payments and " was facing foreclosure . After receiving over 100 mail solicitations offering cassistance, d he responded to an advertisement by a real estate agent who offered to give him a loan to catch up on his mortgage. The realtor sched- uled a meeting with the homeowner after the arrears were paid, ostensibly to sign a contract with repayment terms for the loan 4but instead, the realtor insisted that the homeowner sign a contract to sell his Northeast DC home to the realtor for less than one-quarter of its $800,000 value.<br><br> Worse yet, the realtor never even paid the homeowner the contract price and instead tried to evict the homeowner and his 101-year-old mother, for whom he was providing care. LCE sued the real estate agent for return of the house, which resulted in a settlement and the return of the house to the homeowner. LCE then assisted the homeowner in obtaining a reverse mortgage on the house to help ensure that he will not face foreclosure again in the future.<br><br> An elderly client attended an Active Intake clinic at a senior public " housing building in the District of Columbia. The client provided docu- mentation showing that she had overpaid taxes on a federal government annuity for two years. She sought help recovering these funds.<br><br> LCE devel- oped the case and then referred it to a tax attorney at a large DC law firm. On behalf of his client, the pro bono attorney secured tax refunds for the two years in question. With the help of a translator, LCE interviewed a very distressed client at " the Asian Senior Center.<br><br> This 91-year-old man had no credit cards, but he received a bill for $4,000 from a credit card company. Upon investigation, it appeared that the client had been a victim of identity theft . Someone had obtained the client 9s Social Security number and had opened a credit card under his name.<br><br> LCE developed the matter with help from the on- site social worker and then referred the case to a pro bono attorney. The attorney convinced the credit card company that the client had been a victim of identity theft, causing the company to write off the entire debt. LCE asked Crowell & Moring LLP to represent two elderly sisters in " seeking restitution from an attorney who stole more than $260,000 from the older sister.<br><br> The attorney in question had cbefriended d her, isolated her from her family, and then liquidated and stole her life savings. The DC 4 Success Stories 55 Office of Bar Counsel held a hearing on the attorney 9s actions and recom- mended he be disbarred. When the older sister became legally incompe- tent, the younger sister assumed power of attorney on her behalf.<br><br> Crowell & Moring LLP 9s pro bono attorneys filed a suit on behalf of the younger sister, obtaining a judgment of $774,908 against him. Aggressive efforts to collect on that judgment were unsuccessful so Crowell & Moring filed a claim for restitution with the DC Bar Client Security Fund. To make such a claim, the client must pursue civil remedies against the lawyer before obtaining relief from the Bar Fund.<br><br> The Fund limits recovery to $75,000, which is the amount the client was awarded. The attorney was convicted of criminal fraud and theft by deception and he was disbarred. LCE obtained a general guardian for " an elderly woman whose mental illness impaired her ability to make health care and financial deci- sions and led to an eviction action.<br><br> LCE collaborated with the guardian- ship panel, a social worker from Greater Washington Urban League, the social worker from the Department of Mental Health, and the assigned guardian to provide the necessary supports to prevent her from becoming homeless. An 85-year-old gentleman came to LCE in September 2007 with both a " non-payment of rent action dating back to May 2006 and a breach of lease action for hoarding . His rent obligation exceeded his income.<br><br> LCE filed an answer with a counterclaim for code violations, and obtained an agreement from the landlord to reduce the protective order payment by 40 percent pending repairs. LCE 9s social worker located a public housing unit for our client. He moved with assistance from Elder Buddies.<br><br> The landlord dismissed the landlord/tenant case and waived more than $8,000 in past due rent. After an outreach to a building that served " complaints for possession for non-payment of rent on 50 tenants in the building , LCE entered appear- ances in non-payment of rent action for the seniors. The landlord dismissed most of the cases before the initial return date and settled the others with rent credits.<br><br> LCE, Bread for the City, Housing Counseling Services, and Latham and Watkins LLP teamed up to assist the building in obtaining repairs of the premises. Tenants also received social work services. A client with an extremely low-income resided in a group home and " remarkably managed to keep up with her bills.<br><br> However, she was mugged and spent several months in the hospital and in rehabilitation. While in the hospital, she contacted her creditors to report that she had sustained serious injuries and would need a reprieve from paying her bills until she got back on her feet. The credit card companies ignored her requests.<br><br> LCE referred her case to a pro bono attorney who wrote ccease and desist d let- ters to her creditors. In addition, the attorney filed a Physical Disability Debt Cancellation Notice with the U.S. Department of Education to rescind her largest debt, a government student loan.<br><br> 66 A kindly older DC resident encountered hard times over the years and " had incurred $18,175 in credit card debt. Her credit cards had exorbitant interest rates and her creditors were harassing her . One creditor was automatically deducting $150 per month from her small government pen- sion to pay off a debt.<br><br> LCE referred her case to a pro bono bankruptcy attorney who filed a Chapter VII bankruptcy petition on her behalf. The judge discharged her entire debt. An older client with mild dementia was worried about her escalating " utility bills .<br><br> She was very concerned that the utility company would dis- continue her service because she could not afford to pay the $3,000 that she allegedly owed. The client 9s small monthly Social Security income made it impossible for her to pay off this debt. LCE referred the case to a pro bono lawyer who negotiated an equitable payment plan.<br><br> The utility company agreed to accept $50 per month to settle the debt and to stop threatening to discontinue service. Since 1988, an elderly client had been diligently making monthly pay- " ments on her $10,000 life insurance policy. Suddenly, she began receiving letters from the insurance company, indicating that it would be canceling her policy because she allegedly had failed to make one monthly pay- ment .<br><br> The client knew that the company was mistaken. Active Intake referred the matter to a pro bono lawyer who proved to the company that the elderly woman had made the monthly payment as part of a check that included three months 9 premiums at a time. Thanks to the pro bono lawyer, the client 9s $10,000 life insurance policy was no longer in peril.<br><br> Over the years, " an older woman had purchased household items at a department store known for charging skyrocketing credit card interest rates to our clients. This client was no exception. She allegedly owed the department store $16,000 for decades of purchases for household necessi- ties.<br><br> The credit card had a 32 percent interest rate. LCE developed the case and referred it to a pro bono attorney, but he had an extremely difficult time obtaining a response from the department store, despite his extraor- dinary efforts to make contact. He did not give up, and eventually, the pro bono attorney convinced the store to execute a settlement agreement in which the client would pay $75 per month cfor as long as she is able. d The store also agreed to wipe out all of the interest and penalty fees.<br><br> L " CE visited a nursing home for low-income seniors to meet with a resi- dent and her social worker about filing a petition for legal guardianship . The investigation showed that the client had severe dementia and was not oriented to time or place. After developing the case, LCE referred the matter to a pro bono attorney at an area law school who filed a guardian- ship petition in DC Superior Court.<br><br> The judge appointed the resident 9s great-niece to be the legal guardian of her incapacitated aunt. 7 7 Active Intake Project LCE 9s Active Intake Project conducts outreach throughout Washington, DC, in order to meet with seniors where they live and socialize in our community. By holding neighborhood-based legal outreach clinics, we are able to iden- tify legal problems for underserved older DC residents.<br><br> Most seniors reached through Active Intake would otherwise lack access to free legal services because they may be unaware of LCE and/or our Legal Hotline, or they may not identify their problem as having a legal remedy. In addition to receiving assistance from LCE staff attorneys and volunteers, vulnerable seniors are often matched up with qualified pro bono attorneys who assist them at no cost in resolving their issue. In 2007, the Active Intake Project had its second year of holding in-office appointments to supplement on-site visits.<br><br> Active Intake 9s caseload included guardianships, consumer fraud, debt collection, Medicare, health insur- ance problems, landlord/tenant law, public benefits, and wills and powers of attorney. The program grew in scope in 2007, handling 177 cases total 4for 129 clients 4a significant increase over last year 9s count of 143 cases for 91 clients. This increase in service was achieved due to LCE conducting 12 well- attended legal outreach clinics during the year at the following locations: Adas Israel, the Asian Senior Center, the DC Armory, Emory Senior Center, Kennedy Recreation Center, King Greenleaf Senior Center, Lisner Home, Sarah 9s Circle, and the University of the District of Columbia.<br><br> A special clinic was also held at DC 9s Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library to provide information and assistance for foster grandparents, at which 120 seniors attended. Advance Directives Workshop For the past 15 years LCE has partnered with the law firm of Dickstein Shapiro LLP to conduct advance directives workshops for District seniors at various locations around the city 4free presentations at senior centers, churches, hospitals, and other venues.<br><br> Each workshop has two sessions that are held one week apart. At the first session, lawyers from LCE and Dickstein Shapiro explain the meaning and importance of having three legal documents: a durable financial power of attorney, a power of attorney for health care, and a living will. Then the participants are asked to go home and think about what they want to say in these documents and discuss matters with their family.<br><br> At the second session, the participants execute these legal documents under the supervision of the attorneys and a notary public. In 2007, LCE and Dickstein Shapiro conducted eight workshops where a total of 137 seniors executed a grand total of 274 advance directives. The workshops were initially launched by Dana DiCarlo at Dickstein Shapiro, and for the past several years, Kenneth B.<br><br> Trotter has been at the helm of this very successful pro bono effort. In addition, Suzanne Kelley has steadfastly and ably coordinated the behind-the-scenes logistics and served as the notary public. Other attorneys who participated in the program in 2007 are Doreen L.<br><br> Projects and Programs The Active Intake Project handled 177 cases in 2007. 8 Manchester, Christa L. Green, Michael Weinstein, Laura V.<br><br> Szabo, Christina E. Buschmann, Jill M. Proulx, Lisa R.<br><br> Thompson, and Andres Colon. Alternatives to Landlord/Tenant Court Project The Alternatives to Landlord/Tenant Court for the Elderly Project 4also known as the Alternatives Project 4prevents eviction, displacement and homelessness among the city 9s low-income older tenants. In 2007 the Alternatives Project continued to focus on addressing the tenant 9s underlying problems that often prompt housing providers 9 complaints against them: hoarding and housekeeping issues; non-payment of rent; and mental health issues (i.e., dementia, alcoholism, substance abuse, behavioral issues).<br><br> The Licensed Clinical Social Worker of the Alternatives Project provided over 100 critical crisis interventions, in-home assessments, clinical coun- seling, and ongoing case management to elderly tenants at risk of eviction. Drawing upon the District 9s expansive senior social service network and vol- unteer resources, LCE 9s social worker addressed the underlying problems of hoarding, substance abuse, declining physical/mental capacity and financial mismanagement and abuse, which threaten an elder 9s tenancy and often lead to premature long-term care placement. When efforts to avoid litigation were unsuccessful, or if LCE received a referral when a situation had already entered litigation, we were still able to avert evictions in nearly every case.<br><br> The litigation efforts carried out by the Project focused on enforcing rent control laws, obtaining necessary repairs for tenants (through demand letters or litigation in the Office of Administrative Hearings or Superior Court), and defending against evictions in Landlord/Tenant Court or terminations of subsidized housing benefits. For several years now, the Alternatives Project has utilized an innovative pro- gram called cElder Buddies d 4a volunteer youth cleaning service that assists older tenants in de-cluttering their apartments. In 2007, hundreds of volun- teers were recruited through outreach and trainings at 25 schools, churches and youth service organizations.<br><br> This innovative inter-generational program offers young people a meaningful community service opportunity, and some high school students received credit toward service hours required for gradua- tion. During the year, cElder Buddies d helped nearly 40 seniors, thereby saving the city approximately $65,000 in publicly funded cleaning services, and assisting vulnerable seniors in avoiding legal action and/or eviction for lease violations. Brief Services Unit Launched in 2001, LCE 9s Brief Services Unit (BSU) helps hundreds of clients annually with concerns ranging from grandparent custody cases to identity theft and everything in between.<br><br> The BSU was created to increase the efficient delivery of legal services to low-income older residents of the District. Two staff members, working in conjunction with a large number of both attorney During 2007, cElder Buddies d helped nearly 40 seniors, thereby saving the city approximately $65,000. 9 and non-attorney volunteers, handle matters that cannot be resolved in a timely manner by LCE 9s Legal Hotline.<br><br> The BSU also develops cases that require extended representation for referral to the Pro Bono Project for place- ment with a pro bono attorney. In 2007, BSU staff and volunteers handled a wide array of issues, including: grandparent subsidy and custody work; debt collection defense; identity theft; procurement of benefits (food stamps, Medicaid, TANF, SSI/Social Security, veterans pension, rental and utility assistance); security deposit refunds; repair and reasonable accommodation requests; other landlord/tenant mat- ters, including rent control and rent recalculation; deed transfer and probate matters; traffic ticket and license revocation defense; tax deed foreclosure prevention; student loan discharge cases; tax assistance; durable medical equipment fraud; and contracts/warranties cases. The BSU closed out approx- imately 700 matters during the course of the year.<br><br> Consumer Protection The Consumer and Financial Abuse Unit of LCE, or Consumer Unit, spent a substantial portion of 2007 litigating cforeclosure rescue d cases. Foreclosure rescue scams occur when unscrupulous investors track down homeowners facing foreclosure and promise to help them save their home. What the inves- tors actually do is induce the homeowner to sign over title to his/her home and then rent it back from the investor, with an option to repurchase within a given time.<br><br> The deals are usually structured so that the buy-back option is not actually feasible and most of the homeowners do not even realize that they have transferred the title of their home to someone else. The investor leaves the mortgage in the name of the homeowner and then attempts to evict them at the first opportunity. The Consumer Unit also filed several cases dealing with the forgery of clients 9 names to quit claim deeds on their properties.<br><br> The Consumer Unit handled a number of extensive litigation cases in 2007, including the settlement of two suits against repeat foreclosure rescue offenders. The Consumer Unit negotiated complex settlement agreements that resulted in the return of clear title to several LCE clients 9 homes, and it also successfully defended an LCE client against a lawsuit filed by a real prop- erty investment company that tried to enforce a contract to purchase the cli- ent 9s home for a fraction of its value. The Consumer Unit worked with pro bono counsel and the office of DC Councilmember Mary Cheh to provide technical assistance on legislation as requested seeking to outlaw some of the specific practices used by the inves- tors in the DC Home Equity Protection Act of 2007.<br><br> Consumer Unit attorneys made presentations at seminars sponsored by the DC Bar for lawyers litigating these cases and guest-taught classes on these cases at area law schools. The Consumer Unit also conducted a number of programs to educate DC resi- dents about consumer issues during the year. 10 DC Homebound Elderly Project 4 cProject HELP d According to U.S.<br><br> Census Estimates, there are more than 96,000 District of Columbia residents age 60 or older. Within this demographic, U.S. Administration on Aging officials have identified more than 15,000 District seniors as having acute physical or mental disabilities that make it virtually impossible for them to leave their homes even for medical care or groceries.<br><br> In many instances, these individuals are aging in place but have become iso- lated because of their homebound status, thereby infringing on their quality of life. That is why in April 2007, LCE launched a sustained home visit attorney project under a sub-grant from the DC Office of Attorney General and the DC Bar Foundation 4grant funds that were appropriated by the DC Council at the urging of the DC Access to Justice Commission. The DC Homebound Elderly Project, also known as cProject HELP, d utilizes a full-time staff attorney, para-professional support, and a cadre of pro bono attorneys, private law firms and government organizations to: (1) interview clients at home regarding legal problem(s); (2) draft or review legal documents that seniors may need such as powers of attorney or wills; (3) administer a cpublic benefit d check-up to ensure that they are getting all the benefits to which they are entitled; (4) analyze their housing situation concerning any landlord problems or consumer problems or, in the case of homeowners, any problems with home repair, predatory lending, or deed fraud; and (5) ensure proper follow-up on the identified legal problems either directly or via LCE 9s other program initiatives (e.g., Alternatives Project, Consumer Protection, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, etc.).<br><br> In 2007, Project HELP handled nearly 120 home visit cases for more than 100 clients, with an estimated value of benefits/services gained for clients exceeding $250,000. These are clients and cases that otherwise might have fallen through the cracks, including instances where low-income seniors, many of whom are in desperate need of legal services, were found to be living without running water, amidst heightened levels of infestation, surrounded by large volumes of clutter due to hoarding or otherwise were incapable of handling much needed applications for public benefits. DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman Under DC law, the Office of the DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman is charged with the following responsibilities: To advocate for the rights of older people and other people who are resi- " dents of nursing facilities, assisted living residences, and community resi- dence facilities; To investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of an older " person or other person who is a resident of a nursing facility, assisted living facility, or a community residence facility; To monitor the quality of care, services provided, and quality of life expe- " rienced by older people and residents in long-term care facilities to ensure In 2007, Project HELP handled nearly 120 home visit cases for more than 100 clients, with an estimated value of benefits/ services gained for clients exceeding $250,000.<br><br> 11 that the care and services are in accordance with applicable District and federal laws; To establish and conduct a training program for program staff and volun- " teers; and To establish and maintain procedures to protect the confidentiality of " information regarding residents. The DC Ombudsman Program has long been ranked as a national leader in advocacy for long-term care residents. In 2007, the Ombudsman Program continued this track record of excellence by winning an important mandamus law suit case for a second time, thanks to the outstanding pro bono legal ser- vices provided to this effort by Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP.<br><br> The positive out- come to this case requires that the District of Columbia establish an Assisted Living Residence licensure, survey and certification, and application protocols in order to monitor all assisted living facilities in DC. During the year the Ombudsman program also investigated more than 570 long-term care cases, generating 1,598 complaints. DC 9s largest nursing home 4Beverly Living Center Northwest, with 335 residents 4closed its doors in 2007.<br><br> The Ombudsman program was therefore responsible for successfully monitoring all of the residents 9 moves, and the program 9s staff and volunteers assisted more than 90 percent of the population and the families affected. The Ombudsman Program also handled 32 legal requests to appeal involun- tary moves from residents of long-term care facilities, appearing in court 54 times, and resolving all of these cases successfully. In addition, the program published and distributed an educational white paper regarding the rights of assisted living residents and the laws that protect them.<br><br> Legal Hotline LCE 9s Legal Hotline 4the first of its kind in the nation 4ensures prompt ser- vice from a seasoned attorney, effectively and efficiently helping thousands of DC residents annually. The Hotline is LCE 9s primary client intake mecha- nism, and Hotline attorneys provide legal advice and information, as well as establish appointments with in-house attorneys and referrals to pro bono lawyers throughout the city. The Hotline received nearly 3,600 calls in 2007, an average of about 300 per month, representing a 19 percent increase over the average number of calls for the last five years.<br><br> Money Management Program The Money Management Program recruits, trains, matches, and monitors vol- unteers who serve older individuals in need of help with their financial affairs. Thanks to this help, seniors who are at risk of losing their independence because of an inability to effectively manage their money are able to age-in- place in the community for a longer span of their life. Volunteers are matched with clients, and they assist them by writing out checks for the client 9s sig- nature, seeing that bills are paid on time, and balancing a checkbook.<br><br> Some The DC Ombudsman Program has long been ranked as a national leader in advocacy for long- term care residents. 12 longtime volunteers also serve as officially designated representative payees through the Social Security Administration. The Money Management Program works closely with the Alternatives Project to provide bill payers and repre- sentative payees for clients at risk of eviction due to non-payment of rent.<br><br> The program also networks with social workers and case managers from a variety of agencies serving senior citizens. Pro Bono Project The Pro Bono Project refers cases to private sector and government attor- neys who handle them on a pro bono basis. Retired non-attorney volunteers, supervised by LCE professional staff, are responsible for the smooth operation of the Pro Bono Project.<br><br> In 2007, the Pro Bono Project referred 828 cases to pro bono attorneys on behalf of 416 clients; 756 cases were closed during this period for 395 clients. The Pro Bono Project also publishes LCE 9s Pro Bono Publico newsletter, which won its eighth consecutive APEX award for excel- lence in 2007. Law firm attorneys, government attorneys, corporate attorneys, sole practitio- ners, and law school clinics accept referrals from the project.<br><br> Several firms and individual attorneys have also offered to assist LCE with high impact projects: Attorneys from five firms and one from a law school offered to review LCE 9s authorization forms for ethics issues. Seven notaries offered their services 4four from Venable, one from Jorden Burt LLP, and two from government agencies. Nine attorneys offered to prepare home visit wills and powers of attorney on an ongoing basis 4four from McDermott Will & Emery, one from Patton Boggs LLP, one from Venable LLP, one from Powell Goldstein LLP, one government attorney, and one solo practice attorney.<br><br> More than five attorneys responded to the " pro bono request for Money Management volunteers from Venable LLP, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, and the Department of Justice. Seyfarth Shaw LLP and DLA Piper expressed interest in assisting the " Ombudsman with an cAdopt-a-Nursing Home d project. Christopher Herrling, on behalf of WilmerHale, accepted eight will/power " of attorney cases at once as a part of LCE 9s cbulk wills project d that dra- matically improves the timeliness and efficiency of placing clients with pro bono attorneys.<br><br> Another firm, Dickstein Shapiro LLP, committed to taking 12 will/power of attorney cases per year, and one attorney accepted five will/power of attorney cases all at once. In 2007, the Pro Bono Project referred 828 cases to pro bono attorneys on behalf of 416 clients; 756 cases were closed during this period for 395 clients. 13 Real Property Tax Foreclosure Prevention Project During 2007, LCE 9s Real Property Tax Foreclosure Prevention Project assisted homeowners with lawsuit defense, counseling and outreach pro- grams designed to preserve affordable housing opportunities throughout Washington, DC.<br><br> In July, prior to the District 9s annual tax sale auction, LCE mailed notices to more than 2,200 DC residents whose homes were listed as being put up for sale in the auction, informing them about DC tax sale procedures and alerting them to the availability of LCE 9s services to assist in preserving their rights and home equity. As a result, more than 30 people contacted LCE to obtain counseling on what they could do to avoid the loss of their homes via a forced tax sale. LCE staff also advised seniors seeking information regarding the District 9s Real Property Tax Deferral Law and related tax relief programs.<br><br> Clients requiring the most attention were those who contacted LCE after their homes had been sold and the new owner had brought suit to foreclose the right to redeem the properties. LCE accepted 10 new defense case matters in this category in 2007. Several clients came to LCE through our Legal Hotline or by referrals from the DC Superior Court, as well as the newly established DC Bar Pro Bono Program 9s Tax Sale Redemption Project, for which LCE provided technical assistance.<br><br> Tax lien foreclosure cases require in-depth case representation, including court appearances, motions practice, negotiated settlements and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. In several of these cases, LCE staff needed to work with the DC Office of Tax and Revenue, the DC Office of Attorney General, the DC Water & Sewer Authority (WASA) and the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) and to resolve property tax prob- lems and ensure continued homeownership. In other instances, LCE was required to intervene in probate court, prepare powers of attorney and resolve title problems so that clients could refinance their homes or obtain reverse mortgages.<br><br> These in-depth engagements preserved affordable housing oppor- tunities for District seniors and more than a million dollars worth of home equity. Self Help Offices LCE 9s Self Help Offices (SHOs) provide community-based, free services to DC seniors. SHOs give residents, with the help of a legal assistant and non- attorney volunteers, the opportunity to use a specially designed website to obtain: information on requesting services from the DC government, legal information, self-help guides, public benefits checkups, applications for public benefits, assistance with housing code enforcement, help drafting con- sumer complaint letters, referrals to social service agencies, assistance filing small claims cases, help drafting power of attorney documents, information on requests for vital records, legal advice by telephone, and assistance with arranging various other services.<br><br> In 2007, Self Help Offices helped 320 older DC residents with 1,796 services related to 493 prob- lems presented. 14 In 2007, SHOs helped 320 older DC residents with 1,796 services related to 493 problems presented. This assistance occurred directly in the community at the five SHO sites, which LCE has strategically co-located throughout DC by partnering with Emmaus Services for the Aging, Bread for the City (SE loca- tion) and IONA Senior Services, as well as with two large churches located in Wards 5 and 7 4Israel Baptist Church and Capital View Baptist Church.<br><br> Two volunteers assisted with the Self Help Offices, and the LCE Hotline attorneys provided additional help resolving legal concerns that clients brought to the SHO sites. Throughout the year, SHO advertising and promotions were carried out by monthly correspondence to local churches, community agency groups, and members of the DC Office on Aging cSenior Services Network. d Senior Medicare Patrol Project The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Project is a District-wide, multi-lingual, vol- unteer-delivered initiative that identifies and reports questionable Medicare/ Medicaid charges. In 2007, the SMP Project expanded outreach to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and caregivers in the Chinese, Spanish, and non- English-speaking communities.<br><br> The Project conducted 9 public education sessions reaching 220 beneficiaries; recruited and trained 20 new volunteers; and participated in 4 community events reaching over 1,000 beneficiaries and caregivers. The SMP Project sponsored three public service announcements (PSAs) as well as monthly newspaper advertisements and other modes of suc- cessful outreach to beneficiaries and caregivers. The Project also continued its relationships with the George Washington University Health Insurance Counseling Project/DC SHIP, Friendship House Association, and the DC Office on Aging.<br><br> In 2007, the Senior Medicare Patrol Project expanded outreach to Medicare and Medicaid beneficia- ries and caregivers in the Chinese, Spanish, and non- English-speaking communities. 15 3% Other 2% Family 6% Health 11% Economic Security 16% Wills & Estates 26% Protective Services ($.g., g1ardia+shi-s, -,w$rs ,f a00,r+$y) 18% Housing 18% Consumer Protection Types of Cases Handled 16 Our successful public outreach and education efforts rely in part on our ability to reach a wide audience of District residents, stakeholders and policymakers through the media. Thanks to more than three decades of responsible advo- cacy and an outstanding track-record of service, LCE has built a solid reputa- tion as a reliable source of information and analysis for editors and reporters.<br><br> Below are some of the highlights of LCE 9s media and communications achievements in 2007. JANUARY Northwest Current " 4Article reporting on Legal Counsel for the Elderly delivering a legal information session for low-income DC residents at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Washington Post " 4 cMortgage-Trapped d quotes LCE attorney James Sugarman on the risks of calternative d mortgage loans FEBRUARY Legal Times " 4 cLegal-Aid Groups Line Up for District Cash d mentions LCE as one of several potential new grant recipients, quoting Director Jan May Street Sense " 4 cHospital Patients Routinely Discharged Into Homelessness d quotes DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman Jerry Kasunic Senior Beacon " 4 cHow to Resolve Problems at Nursing Homes d includes recommendations from DC Long-Term Care Ombudsman NORC Gazette " 4 cTransfer/Discharge Work of the D.C.<br><br> Ombudsman Program is Model for Hospital Discharge Policy d highlights cutting edge approach of LCE MARCH Washington Examiner " 4 cLargest Nursing Home in D.C. to Close d quotes Ombudsman Kasunic on how LCE is working to protect residents APRIL NORC Gazette " 4 cD.C. Ombudsman Program to Monitor Closing of City 9s Largest Facility d provides a thorough overview of LCE 9s efforts Northwest Current " 4 cTalks Continue on Plan to Close Nursing Home d includes several quotes from Ombudsman Kasunic MAY Northwest Current " 4 cPlan to Shut Nursing Homes Irks Advocates for Seniors d highlights role of LCE, quoting Ombudsman Kasunic several times JUNE Washington Post " 4 cLegal Clinics Help Keep a Roof Overhead: District, Bar Foundation Expand Lawyers 9 Services d notes LCE as being one of the DC Bar Foundation 9s grantees LCE in the Media LCE has built a solid reputation as a reli- able source of infor- mation and analysis for editors and reporters.<br><br> 17 Brennan Center for Justice 4makes note of the " Washington Post story Washington Business Journal " 4 cSecond D.C. Nursing Home this Year May Shut Down d quotes Ombudsman Kasunic NewsChannel 8 45:30 p.m. news broadcast includes an interview with " Ombudsman Kasunic regarding DC nursing home closures Washington Post " 4 cYWCA Tenants Complain of Bedbugs, Mold d features the work being done by LCE and Supervisory Attorney Jennifer Berger AUGUST East of the River " 4 cRobbing Residents of their Golden Years d quotes Kasunic on the Ombudsman 9s lawsuit to implement assisted living law Washington Post " 4 cDistrict Weekly d cover story cPro Bono Programs Bring Civil Support d quotes LCE Managing Attorney Rawle Andrews, Jr.<br><br> SEPTEMBER WHUR Radio 4Ombudsman Kasunic interviewed on long-term care " Washington Examiner " 4 cAnother Large D.C. Nursing Home to Close its Doors d quotes Ombudsman Kasunic NORC Gazette " 4 cD.C. Ombudsman Program Publishes Assisted Living Paper d highlights recent research OCTOBER NORC Gazette " 4 cD.C.<br><br> Ombudsman Facing Closure of Another Large Nursing Home d highlights the important efforts by the Ombudsman program in 2007 Association of Fundraising Professionals News " 4 cMember Motion/ Accolades d section announces new LCE Development Director Aaron Knight Washington Post " 4Includes announcement of Development Director Knight joining LCE NOVEMBER Faith in Action News and Notes " 4Includes a feature story on LCE 9s cElder Buddies d program Afro-American Newspaper " 4 cOrchestrating the Future d quotes Managing Attorney Andrews on the importance of making a will DECEMBER Management Information Exchange Journal " 4Book Review by Managing Attorney Andrews of ABA Legal Guide for Americans Over 50 18 cI 9m so glad to know about your office. I think you 9re making a fine contribu- tion to the quality of life of senior citizens in the District. d 4 an LCE client, in a note of appreciation cLegal Counsel for the Elderly has literally saved my life. I am well into my eighties and&.found myself with no income except a small Social Security payment.<br><br> When my landlord of over 20 years requested my giving up my apartment because I 8d gotten considerably behind in my rent, it meant&. finding new housing and losing all that was familiar&. I was on the verge of panic when I [&discovered] LCE.<br><br> [You] boosted my morale and provided solid advice and empathetic assistance. They helped me avoid eviction&.and found me my present very adequate living space. &my life has taken a turn for the better. d 4 Mr.<br><br> M., a gentleman in his 80s cThank you and the volunteer staff for all your help in 2007. I greatly appre- ciate it. The attorney was most helpful and nice. d 4 Mrs.<br><br> B., an LCE bankruptcy client c&thank you for the good job you and your staff did for me & d 4 another sat- isfied LCE client cI want to &comment on the excellent manner in which you handled my case before the Government of the District of Columbia, Office of Administration Hearings. d 4 Miss D., following the dismissal of her housing case cThe comfort, care, and compassion&are much appreciated. d 4 Mrs. M., in a note regarding LCE 9s help with her Medicare issues cThank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to meet with me on Monday. I was feeling a little discouraged about finding a good place for my mom, but I 9m on to it now&I 9m so glad to know about your office.<br><br> I think you 9re making a fine contribution to the quality of life of senior citizens in the District. d 4 Ms. H., the daughter of an LCE client Clients 9 Words of Thanks c&I thank God for giving me some kind and nice people like you in my time of trouble. I am praying for you. d --Mrs.<br><br> O., in a New Year 9s message to LCE 19 REVENUES Contributions, Grants & Support $3,054,848 In-Kind Contributions $1,448,373 Investment Income $399,415 Miscellaneous $1,546 TOTAL REVENUES $4,904,182 EXPENSES Program Services $3,287,277 Management & General $958,405 Resource Development $80,397 TOTAL EXPENSES $4,326,079 Change in Net Assets $578,103 Net Assets at the Beginning of the Year $7,513,485 Net Assets at the End of the Year $8,091,588 Financial Statement For year ending December 31, 2007 20 In order to deliver free, high-quality legal assistance to DC 9s low-income, vul- nerable seniors, Legal Counsel for the Elderly depends on the generous sup- port of individuals, families, foundations, corporations and law firms. Please contact Director of Development Aaron Knight at 202-434-2107 to learn more about any of the following opportunities to help LCE. Personal Gifts : Send your tax-deductible contribution to LCE via mail or donate online at www.aarp.org/lcedonate .<br><br> Monthly Sustainers : You can now sign up at www.aarp.org/lcedonate for LCE 9s newest donation program, making a small (or large) monthly donation to sustain our work year-round. Employee Giving Campaigns & Employer Matching Gifts : A growing number of employers run employee giving campaigns and/or match charitable contri- butions made by their employees. Talk to your company 9s human resources department to find out if your gift can be matched, thereby doubling the impact of your donation.<br><br> Bequests : We invite you to remember LCE in your will and estate plans. Contact us for specific language, or if you have questions, or if you have already included LCE as a beneficiary of your estate and wish to be recognized for this act of generosity. Catalogue for Philanthropy : In the fall of 2008, LCE will be recognized as a featured charity in the Washington metropolitan area through our inclusion in the Catalogue for Philanthropy.<br><br> United Way/Combined Federal Campaigns : Designate LCE in the 2008 cam- paigns using United Way #8808 and CFC #31866. How You Can Help 21 Patron ($10,000+) Mayer Brown LLP Guardian ($7,500-$9,999) Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP Steptoe & Johnson LLP Benefactor ($5,000-$7,499) Arent Fox LLP Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Foley & Lardner LLP Morrison & Foerster LLP William D. Novelli Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Champion ($2,500-$4,999) Arnold & Porter LLP Blake A.<br><br> Biles & Laura L. Sessums Kathleen M.Burch Julianne Cohn Crowell & Moring LLP Dickstein Shapiro LLP DLA Piper Kevin Donnellan Epstein Becker & Green P.C. Greenberg Traurig, LLP Hogan & Hartson LLP Rita N.<br><br> Inoway William A. Isaacson & Sophia M. McCrocklin McDermott Will & Emery Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Mr.<br><br> Richard F. Riley, Jr. WilmerHale Sponsor ($1,000-$2,499) Kimberly A.<br><br> Adler & Aaron M. Knight Ayan A. Ahmed Rawle Andrews, Jr.<br><br> Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. Celia R. Blalock Brickfield, Burchette, Ritts & Stone, P.C.<br><br> Ronald Guy Bridges Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered Mimi Castaldi Contributors Legal Counsel for the Elderly greatly appreciates the generous direct and in-kind support we receive from AARP and the AARP Foundation. We also express our sincere gratitude to the following foundations and gov- ernment agencies for their generous support of our work: The Agua Fund, Inc. The DC Bar Foundation The DC Office on Aging The Office of the Tenant Advocate The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation The U.S.<br><br> Administration on Aging The United Way & the Combined Federal Campaign LCE thanks and acknowledges with great appreciation the following indi- viduals, families and law firms for their charitable contributions and pledges during 2007. Our work simply would not have been possible without their generous support and their commitment to helping vulnerable seniors who live in the District of Columbia: 22 Covington & Burling LLP Dow Lohnes PLLC Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto Ronald S. Flagg Nancy George Christopher W.<br><br> Hansen Ellie Hollander Howrey LLP Katharyn Marks Jan Allen May Jack H. Olender & Associates, P.C. Patton Boggs LLP Mr.<br><br> Steven M. Schneebaum Michael R. Schuster Sidley Austin LLP Teresa Y.<br><br> Smith E. Percil Stanford Mr. Adrian L.<br><br> Steel, Jr. Julia A. Stephens Ms.<br><br> Lillie J. Taylor Aileen Jayne Wallace Mr. Ralph Wiser Ralph Yaniz Advocate ($500-$999) Sherita M.<br><br> Alexander Teresa Calhoun Nancy Cariello Stuart R. Cohen Jacqueline Curtis Marty Davis Joseph DeMattos, Jr. Monica Estabrooke Mr.<br><br> Hamilton P. Fox III David Frank Alan Herman Robin L. Kropf Patricia Markowski Susan Miler Thomas C.<br><br> Nelson Charlotte Nusberg Edelsack Teresa Owens Mr. James J. Sandman Mr.<br><br> & Mrs. Jerome & Virginia Schaefer Cynthia Shultz David P. Sloane Makeda Smith Marian Swain Robin Talbert Mary Ann Willow Supporter ($250-$499) Anonymous Tanya Acker Elena A.<br><br> Alvarez Angela Baker Amsale S. Beshe Arleen Casey Mr. William R.<br><br> Charyk Robert Church III Donald V. Fitts Anthony Gracey Sean Grieser Grossberg, Yochelson, Fox & Beyda, LLP Terri L. Guengerich Heidi James Barbara K.<br><br> Kagan Mary Stevens Lake T.L. Lane Sara Long Stacey McDaniel Sheela Mirmira Matthew Mitchell Mary O 9Donnell Gretchen E. Primrose Mr.<br><br> Hershel Shanks Carla A. Sloan Stein, Mitchell & Mezines Nancy Stockbridge Dawn Sweeney Ms. Cheryl A.<br><br> Tatum Larry White Mr. Holloway Wooten 22 Contributors (continued) 23 23 Friend ($100-$249) Elvera J. Anselmo Perla Anzures Marta C.<br><br> Arbelaez William Armbruster Connie S. Benjamin Jennifer L. Berger Ernestine Blango Mr.<br><br> Robert M. Bor Catherine Brousseau Cynthia Brown Martin L. Burns Ms.<br><br> Leigh Callander Vanessa Carpenter Lourie Eunice C. Cash Helen Castleman Tanja H. Castro Brenda Chen Linda Church Elizabeth Coleman Mr.<br><br> & Mrs. Terence P. Cooney Mr.<br><br> Robert H. Cox Brenda J. Davis Lorraine Driscoll Connie Eastman Mr.<br><br> Peter B. Edelman Mr. Walter H.<br><br> Fleischer Agnes Flores Mr. Howard W. Fogt John Freedman & Cecily Baskir Mr.<br><br> Martin J. Gleason The Hon. Joan L.<br><br> Goldfrank Tammy Gordon Marcy Gouge John Gray Karen & Henry Greene Ms. Stephanie J. Grogan David Gross Elena Louise Guerra Margaret A.<br><br> Guthrie Patricia A. Hahn Sami Hassanyeh Amy E. Hauser Susan M.<br><br> Hoffman Ms. Dianne Hollingsworth Gordon E. Hurd Christopher Hutcherson Ms.<br><br> Harriett G. Jenkins Deloise A. Jones Mr.<br><br> Peter J. Kadzik Mrs. Evelyn B.<br><br> Kemp Paul Kerrigan Mr. Jeff Kincheloe Mr. David A.<br><br> Koplow Tesfaye Lemma Jesse Ludvigsen Ladan Manteghi Tina Mattern Carol Matthews Shawn McKee Nileeni Meegama Grier Mendel Sandra Milbourne Sheryl R. Miller Mr. Kevin Minsky Deborah Moore Franco A.<br><br> Munoz The Hon. & Mrs. James E.<br><br> Nathanson Susan Necessary Ms. Laurence C. Nolan O 9Donoghue & O 9Donoghue LLP Thomas Oren Jean Osbon Doris Pao Mary Ann Parker Mr.<br><br> Paul D. Pearlstein Karon Powell Julie Preis Shereen Remez Karen Reyes Kathy Robinson Ernest cChico d Rosemond Dr. & Mrs.<br><br> Martin B. Rosensky Marcelino Ruiz, Jr. Helen Savage Kenneth Scholen Cynthia Shearin Linda Slaughter Ivy J.<br><br> Smithers Alfred Sommers Ms. C. Fairley Spillman Leona Stasko Mr.<br><br> Mark Steinbach Jay Sushelsky Mr. Richard B. Treanor Joan L.<br><br> van der Horst Abigail Walters Susan Weinstock Jane Wiley Shirley M. Williams Mr. Elroy H.<br><br> Wolff Kevin Wood Kay Wright-Hardy Ellen Yahuda Ina & Joseph Young Yvonne L. Zecca Holly Zimmerman Katherine Zorn Contributor (up to $100) Anonymous (4) Anita K. Abbot Estelle R.<br><br> Alexander Beatriz Aviani Ms. Dorothy Beck Ms. Bronwyn Belling Mr.<br><br> David R. Bender, Ph.D. Harold Boulette Matthew Brinegar Katherine S.<br><br> Broderick Diane K. Brown Genesis Cachedon Darlene M. Carr Heather Cherry Catherine M.<br><br> Clevenger Stewart L. Colten Jean Constantine-Davis Jacqueline F. Crawford Anthony Davis Shirley Davis 24 24 Mr.<br><br> Robert Dinerstein Karen Dodson Gwen L. Earle Mr. Eugene Ebert Terry Edwards Christopher Ferragamo Elsie Frost Jayaraj George Cheryl Gibson Elizabeth Haroun Hewlett-Packard Matching Gift Program Albert Hollenbeck Margaret Hookey Sally Hurme Carroll Ingraham Mr.<br><br> Kevin D. Judd Gerald Kasunic Veronica Kenney James Kurtz Karen Larsen Mr. Steven Laterra Abraham Lempel Andrew E.<br><br> Linberg Kevin L. Little Shirley J. Lloyd David Loyd Janet Macidull Darlene Matthews Theresa Melton Edward & Mary Miller Leonard Mitnick, Ph.D.<br><br> Amy Mix John & Livy More Susan Mrachek Mr. Mark Myers Jacqueline P. O 9Neil Carol Page Debra Payton Heather M.<br><br> Pollock Morton J. Posner Andreina Rangel JoAnn Rodriguez Lisa Ross Pearl Sauls Diana M. Savit Stephanie & Donald Schwinn Doloris Sells Laraysha Shaw Victoria Shingleton Mary Ellen Signorille Nina Simon Mr.<br><br> Morris Sklarsky Patrick Spikes Gail Sumi Jennifer M. Summa Louis Tobian Yvonne Tobias Sharon Vaughan-Roach Line Vreven Douglas Walcutt Peggy White Lorraine Williams Deyka Williams Dede Wilson Donald Wise Contributors (continued) 25 Board and Staff 25 GOVERNING BOARD Adrian L. Steel, Jr., Esq., Chair Mayer Brown LLP Blake A.<br><br> Biles, Esq. Arnold & Porter LLP Mimi Castaldi Director, AARP DC Marty Davis, Secretary Director, Special Campaigns and Promotions, AARP Ronald S. Flagg, Esq.<br><br> Sidley Austin LLP Ernest cChico d Rosemond, Treasurer Director, Sponsorships and Exhibits, AARP Services, Inc. Robin Talbert President, AARP Foundation ADVISORY BOARD Robert H. Cox, Esq.<br><br> Howrey LLP Thomas E. Dowdell, Esq. Fulbright & Jaworski LLP Martha Ford-Gladden Client Representative Addie Hailstorks, Esq.<br><br> U.S. District Court Christopher J. Herrling, Esq.<br><br> WilmerHale Susan M. Hoffman, Esq. Crowell & Moring Evelyn B.<br><br> Kemp Client Representative Karla J. Letsche, Esq. Oldaker, Biden & Belair, LLP David M.<br><br> Lubitz, Esq. Bingham McCutchen LLP Mattie Wilson-Carvon Client Representative LCE STAFF Tanya Acker Rawle Andrews, Jr. Esq.<br><br> Shawna Banks Jennifer Berger, Esq. Matthew Brinegar, Esq. Theresa Brownson Brian Bullock Genesis Cachedon Gail Cunningham Karen Currie Anthony T.<br><br> Davis Danielle Foster Love Elsie Frost, Esq. Anthony Gracey Joyce Gray Karen Greene, J.D. Alan Herman, Esq.<br><br> Kyle Hreben Carroll Ingraham Barbara Johnson Jason Johnson Gerald Kasunic Aaron Knight Carol Matthews, Esq. Jan May, Esq. Sheryl R.<br><br> Miller, Esq. Amy Mix, Esq. Mary Ann Parker, Esq.<br><br> Karon Powell, Esq. Gretchen Primrose Bruce Rathbun, Esq. Dalila Rivera LaRaysha Shaw Ivy Smithers, Esq.<br><br> James Sugarman, Esq. Yvonne Tobias Sharon Vaughn-Roach Deyka Williams, Esq. Lydia Williams Shirley M.<br><br> Williams, Esq. Kevin Wood Consultants Deborah Pinchback-Cook Donald Stocks Aaron Trimiar Natalie Wasserman Ina Young 26 26 American University, Washington College of Law David Chavkin LaShanda Taylor Richard Ugelow Arnold & Porter LLP Blake A. Biles Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center Marita Etcubanez Wendy Lane Baker & Hostetler LLP Adam Smith Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP Christopher Betti Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP William A.<br><br> Isaacson Bonner Clare Law Firm Peter Clare Bread for the City Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP Diana de Brito Catholic University, Advocacy for the Elderly Legal Clinic Michael McGonnigal Faith Mullen Chadbourne & Parke LLP David Blonder Ryan Craig Crowell & Morin LLP Jeffrey King DC Department of Transportation Angela Freeman Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP Jocelyn Bramble Agnes Li Karen Marshall Sonia Medonca Adam Pecsek David Ross Robert Woody Dickstein Shapiro LLP Julie Abizaid Christina E. Buschmann Andres Colon Dana DiCarlo Carmiece Graves Christa L. Green Venroy July Suzanne Kelley Doreen L.<br><br> Manchester Ira Polon Jill M. Proulx Tina Reynolds Laura V. Szabo Rebecca Talbert Lisa R.<br><br> Thompson Kenneth B. Trotter Michael Weinstein Steven Weinstein DLA Piper Joseph Miller Christia Pritts Ping Wang Foley & Lardner LLP Gregory Bruch Derek Casper Mariel Estigarribia Christian Fonss Jay Freedman Darius Graham Amy Kroll Debra Lange Helen Liu Erik Paulson Ed Polk Friedlander, Misler, Sloan, Kletzkin & Ochsman, PLLC Robert Greenberg George Washington University Health Insurance Counseling Project Suzanne Jackson Volunteers LCE gratefully acknowledges the pro bono assistance rendered by attorneys at the following law firms, law schools, agencies and organizations on behalf of LCE clients in 2007: 27 27 Georgetown University Law Center Jeffrey Gutman Emily Reed Hughes & Bentzen PLLC Michael Bentzen Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP Kathleen Russo Hunton & Williams LLP Richard Aguglia E. Carter Chandler Clements Sean Cunningham Susan Dean John Moore Kristina Van Horn Jackson & Campbell, P.C.<br><br> Christopher Ferragamo Jones Day Brooke Corby Jorden Burt LLP Sheila Carpenter Kirkland & Ellis LLP Megan Christensen Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP Susan Schmidt Maryland Legal Services McDermott Will & Emery Gale Chan H. Guy Collier Melissa Dorn Eugene Holmes Phil McCarty McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP Cameron Cohick Jeff Corsetti Karri Garrett Kurt Hamrock Stephen Lastelic Feng Shan Merchant & Gould Leigh Callander Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP Steven Kramer Morgan Lewis Dean Fanelli Morrison & Foerster LLP Obrea Poindexter Sean Ruff Nixon Peabody LLP Cynthia Crawford Ober|Kaler Edwin Davila-Bloise John Rodock O 9Melveny & Myers LLP Jason Zarin Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Lidia Kidane David Ridenour O 9Toole, Rothwell, Nassau & Steinbach Mark Steinbach Kimberly Angott Douglas Everette Jennifer Maree Alan Noskow Patton Boggs LLP Paul Hastings W. Iris Barber Katerina Moshinski Lynda Noggle Patrick Quigley Erin Sears Roger Simon Powell Goldstein LLP Reed Smith LLP Elizabeth Ransom Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC Victor Long Reno & Cavanaugh PLLC Melissa Worden Saul Ewing LLP William Mogel Seyfarth Shaw LLP Victoria Hao Heather Pitz Jamison Weinbaum Shearman & Sterling LLP Kristen Garry Debra Laboschin Sidley Austin LLP Aissatou Diop Kurt Jacobs Lauren Silvis Christine Tan Skadden, Aarps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Vanessa NesSmith Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP Steptoe & Johnson LLP Barbara Kagan Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP Christopher Mathews Michael Pawluk Elise Piper Patrice Pitts Doug Siegler Jeffrey Starkey The Harvey Law Group, PLLC Stephenson Harvey The Hilder Law Firm, PLLC Betsy Scott The Wilson Firm Albert Wilson U.S.<br><br> Chemical Safety Board Gary Visscher U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Elizabeth Cypers U.S. Department of Justice Esperanza Anderson Patrick Bumatay Carrie Dunsmore Rachel Hines Helena Joly Susan Reilly Amy Tryon Robert Zanger U.S.<br><br> Federal Bureau of Investigation Elizabeth Jones Urban League Venable LLP Ellen Traupman Berge Marina Zalevsky White & Case LLP Sam Alberts Dana E. Foster Jeffrey Schmitt Anne Smith WilmerHale Christopher Herrling Becky Read 28 28 Jacob Allen Abigail Askew Heather Ettus Rachel Hines Edward Hughes Tonya Love Patricia McDonald Jean Provost Patricia Reynolds Richard Treanor Catherine Wakelyn Mary Williams David Yudin In-House Volunteers Clark Adams Elena Alvarez Kelly Barclay Joseph Battle Katricia Bennett Donald Bertman Shirley Best Bridgett Cameron Mattie Carvon Richard Clark Elizabeth Clark Aileen Cooper Judge Cornish Emily Denay A. Epstein Matthew Famiglietti Kathy Ferger Robert Frank Emory Givens Martha Ford Gladden Bettye Grayson Elizabeth Hastings Thelma Hauser Gloria Johnson Gira Joshi Zelda Kapner Evelyn Kemp Ellen Klem Martin Kohn Lenora Lancaster Thomas Lane Rosemary Larry Lawrence Levit Anne Lewis Beverly Lewis-Koch Elizabeth Mailler Kenneth McCall Annie McCluney Leonard Mitnick S.<br><br> O 9Connell Latisha Moore Lucas Moore Jacqueline O 9Neil Bettye Owens Marissa Picard Alice Proctor Kimberly Pulick Magdalene Renfrow Bettye Richardson Martin Rosensky Emma Salter Adele Sawicki Mary Schoenfuhs Ivy Smithers Sherlon Starks Sharon Steiner Theodora Stervinou Ernest Stewart Donald Stocks Don Tanguilig Lillie Taylor Julianne Thorpe Natalie Wasserman Ralph Wiser Beatrice Wright Susan Wuchinich Ellen Yahuda William Zuckerman Volunteers We extend our sincere thanks to the following volunteers who have worked tirelessly to assist our clients: 29 c[You] displayed professionalism and understanding, were considerate, courteous, and thoughtful. They explained the law and how it affected my case and how I should handle myself in court...The most important element of all was their expression of support which gave a feeling that I was not completely alone . d 4Ms. S 30 Part of the Senior Service Network Supported by the DC Office on Aging Legal Counsel for the Elderly 601 e S0r$$0, nW Washi+g0,+, DC 20049 ph,+$ 202-434-2120 Fax 202-434-6464 www.aarp.org/lce C,+0rib10i,+s 0, l$ga) C,1+s$) f,r 0h$ e)d$r)y, a 501(c)(3) +,+-r,fi0 ,rga+i- za0i,+ i+c,r-,ra0$d i+ 0h$ Dis0ric0 ,f C,)1mbia, ar$ 0ax d$d1c0ib)$ 0, 0h$ f1))- $s0 $x0$+0 a)),w$d by )aw.<br><br> lCe gr$a0)y a--r$cia0$s 0h$ g$+$r,1s s1--,r0 -r,vid$d by ,1r d,+,rs, v,)- 1+0$$rs a+d -ar0+$rs. ev$ry $ff,r0 has b$$+ mad$ 0, -r,vid$ a c,m-)$0$ a+d acc1ra0$ )is0i+g ,f 0h$ i+divid1a)s, )aw firms a+d ,rga+iza0i,+s wh, c,+0rib10$d 0, 0h$ s1cc$ss ,f lCe i+ 2007. If 0h$r$ has b$$+ a+ $rr,r ,r ,missi,+, w$ si+- c$r$)y a-,),giz$ a+d $+c,1rag$ y,1 0, c,+0ac0 Dir$c0,r ,f D$v$),-m$+0 Aar,+ K+igh0 a0 202-434-2107.<br><br>

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