enable Cares V 2004 Pro Bono Recognition Reception The annual Pro - - PDF document

Contents

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2004 Pro Bono Recognition Reception 1 Venable Helps Disabled Employee Get Her Job Back 3 Servathon Success! FLAP Putting the Pro in Pro Bono 4 Michael Hecht Receives Maryland Pro Bono Service Award FLAP Venable Honored by Whitman-Walker Clinic 4

2004 Pro Bono Recognition Reception

The annual Pro Bono Recognition Reception was held on June 14, 2004, in the Washington office. The event marked V enable’s celebration

• f the pro bono service rendered in the past year by the firm’s lawyers

and paralegals. The event was attended by those participating in the pro bono program, as well as representatives of the organizations with whom the firm works on behalf of the disadvantaged in our

• communities. Noteworthy among the guests were members of the Board
• f Directors of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Gardens, one of the

firm’s major projects. Specifically honored at the reception were the 72 V enable attorneys and paralegals who performed over 50 hours of pro bono work in 2003. Included among these honorees were four summer associates: V arda Hussain, Christopher LaTesta, A braham Pollock and Gregory Schwartz. In his remarks at the reception, Managing Partner James Shea commended those present and pointed out that V enable’s contributions to the community went back to the very founding of the firm in 1900 and have continued to the present. Tracing the history of V enable’s participation in public service from Major V enable to V ernon Eny to Mitch Mirviss, Shea urged that those performing such work continue their involvement and pledged the support of the firm for their efforts. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Benjamin R. Civiletti Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year A ward for truly outstanding pro bono contributions. The award is reserved for those whom the firm wishes to single out for extraordinary pro bono service. It consists of a suitably inscribed clock and a $1,000 contribution to the charity of the recipient’s choice. Those receiving the award were:

Danette R. Edwards, a n a ssocia te in the Com m ercia l Litiga tion Group.

Danette’s work last year on behalf of two pro bono clients was

• utstanding. In addition to handling a guardianship matter for a

woman who literally showed up one day on the 18

with Warren Hamel, worked diligently and effectively on a serious, court-appointed criminal case in federal court involving an FBI employee accused of stealing from his employer. Danette spent hundreds of hours of evening and weekend time on behalf of her client, including successfully presenting to the court a novel argument on a disputed federal sentencing guideline provision on the issue of “abuse of position of trust.”

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Recognition Reception...continued from pg 1

Michael L. Hecht, a n a ssocia te in the

Produ cts Lia b ility Grou p.

Michael has rendered distinguished pro bono service in several matters this past year. On behalf of a disabled veteran, he succeeded in persuading the government to agree to a remand in a case for the U.S. Circuit Court for V eteran Claims. He has effectively and steadfastly represented a client in a remarkably contentious custody case. He is also vigorously representing an HIV

• positive client in a federal criminal case. It should be

noted that Michael has logged over 1,200 pro bono hours since joining V enable in 1999.

Mary Ellen Himes, a n a ssocia te in the

IP Litiga tion Grou p.

In the past year, Mary Ellen has performed

• utstanding pro bono service in a variety of
• matters. She successfully represented two

claimants in social security appeals. She has been a highly effective member of a team of Venable lawyers representing a difficult client in a prisoner rights case. In addition, she worked long and hard to successfully represent a client who was the victim of an unscrupulous car dealer and a demanding and unreasonable bank.

Michael Gollin, a pa rtner in the Pa tent

Prosecu tion Grou p.

Just over two years ago, Michael founded and has worked tirelessly to bring to fruition Public Interest Intellectual Property A dvisors, Inc. ( PIIPA ) . It is a global non-profit resource for developing countries and public interest

• rganizations seeking expertise in intellectual

property matters to promote health, science and the environment. PIIPA provides world-wide access to IP professionals who advise and represent such clients on a pro bono basis as a public service. In the past year, PIIPA has provided representation to clients in Brazil, Peru, and Madagascar, and is now housed in facilities provided by the Smithsonian

• Institution. In addition to V

enable’s support, the organization has received grants from NIH and the Department of International Development from the United Kingdom. The achievements of these individuals, as well as those of their honored colleagues, are a great source of pride to the entire V enable family and serve as inspirations for our pro bono work in the future. Gerry Treanor

Jim Shea learns more about Frederick Douglass Gardens from Henry Hollander, Architect, and Dianne Dale, founder of the FDG project. Vasilios Peros, Lars Anderson and David Lasso discuss the merits of pro bono work. Justin Miller and Kelly King discuss their summer associate experience with partner Rick Joyce. Danette Edwards, Mary Ellen Himes and Michael Hecht gather prior to the awards announcements. Matan Koch and Leilani Kanon are all smiles! Mitch Mirviss and Jackie Bottash Robert Babayi and Tom Wiseman

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Connie Bertra m a nd Lesley Pa te Resolve Unjustified Term ina tion in V iola tion

• f the Fa m ily Medica l Lea ve A

ct a nd A m erica ns With Disa b ilities A ct

Earlier this year, Connie Bertram and Lesley Pate undertook the pro bono representation of Susan M. Koves in regard to the unjustified termination of her employment. For over ten years, Ms. Koves had been a loyal, dedicated employee at Didlake, Inc., an organization whose mission is to assist individuals with disabilities. Didlake has a program specifically designed to employ individuals with disabilities, and Ms. Koves was employed through this program. In early February 2003, Ms. Koves broke her ankle when she slipped and fell on some ice during her commute to work. Ms. Koves’s injury rendered her unable to work. Shortly before her anticipated return to work, Didlake terminated Ms. Koves’s employment on the basis she had allegedly used all of her Family and Medical Leave A ct ( FMLA ) leave.

• Ms. Koves’s termination was completely unjustified. A

t the time of her termination, Ms. Koves’s FMLA had not expired. A s such, Ms. Koves’s termination was in violation of the FMLA . In addition, given Ms. Koves’s disabilities, her termination also constituted a violation of the A mericans with Disabilities A ct. Connie and Lesley attempted to make contact with Didlake, leaving voicemails and sending several letters explaining their position. They repeatedly advised that they thought this situation could be easily resolved if the parties conferred. However, Didlake refused to respond to their inquiries and requests to confer. Eventually, Lesley received a telephone call from Didlake’s attorney , A lan Shachter. Connie and Leslie explained their position in further detail to Mr. Shachter.

• Mr. Shachter admitted that Didlake had not communicated very effectively with Ms.

Koves and that there was indeed a discrepancy in some of the dates. Mr. Shachter agreed to consult with his client. Several days later, Mr. Shachter informed Lesley that Didlake was willing to reinstate Ms. Koves. Lesley worked with Mr. Shachter to establish the precise terms of Ms. Koves’s reinstatement, and on June 10, 2004, Ms. Koves returned to work at Didlake.

Members of Venable’s Pro Bono Committee

Gerard Treanor, Lars Anderson, Jennifer Blackwell, Jackie Bottash, Mary Brown, Jana Gibson, Merritt Green, Sarah Gudsnuk, Rick Joyce, Julia Kiraly, Tammy Klein, Amy McMaster, Patsy McGowan, Mitch Mirviss, Vasilios Peros, Michael Robinson, Otho Thompson, Dan Toomey, Dan Vivarelli, and Brian Zemil.

Venable Helps Disabled Employee Get Her Job Back

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Putting the Pro in Pro Bono

V enable’s first Pro Bono Open House was a huge success! Vasilios Peros and Patsy

McGowan co-chaired the event, which was held in the Baltimore office on May 13, 2004. Jackie Bottash and Lisa Muscara of the Maryland V

• lunteer Lawyers Service ( MVLS) also

helped organize the event. More than 75 V enable attorneys and staff dropped by the open house to learn more about training and case opportunities. Nine pro bono service providers were represented at the open house, including MVLS, Homeless Persons Representation Project, The Law Foundation of Prince George’s County, Health Education Resource Organization ( HERO) , Community Law Center, St. A mbrose Legal Service, Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Inc., Bar A ssociation of Baltimore Legal Services for the Elderly, and Legal A id, Inc. The Pro Bono Open House was featured in The Da ily Record.

Whitman-Walker Clinic Legal Services Honors Venable for Its Support

• f People Living

with AIDS/HIV

The Legal Services Program of Whitman-Walker Clinic honored V enable LLP at its “Going the Extra Mile” benefit on Wednesday , March 24,

• 2004. V

enable received the “Going the Extra Mile” A ward for outstanding legal work on behalf of people living with HIV/ A IDS. Whitman-Walker Clinic is the primary community-based provider of HIV/ A IDS services in the National Capital A rea. In bestowing the award, Laura M. Flegel, Director of the Legal Services Program at Whitman-Walker, characterized V enable’s work with the Legal Services Program as a partnership in the truest sense of the word: “V enable stands out because they have chosen to get involved in so many aspects of

• ur program. A

s a firm, V enable has committed to staffing both our Social Security A ppeals Clinic and our Estate Planning Clinic on a regular basis. Individual V enable attorneys from both the D.C. and Northern Virginia offices have taken

• n additional pro bono cases in several of our

practice areas and have served as volunteer attorney mentors in their areas of expertise. Finally, V enable has provided significant financial support through their participation in our premier fundraising events. Having a law firm take on such a far-reaching commitment to our program makes a tremendous difference to us and our clients.”

Joseph Delclos shares information with John Roberts (middle) and Brigid Kenney (far right) about Saint Ambrose Legal Services. Greg Bedward (former Venable Associate) discusses the Community Law Center and its

• pportunities with Yvette

Smallwood. Bridgid Donniez and Nancy Grimm of Health Education Resource Organization (HERO) discuss opportunities with Millie Yan Mina Naddaf of Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Earlette Toomer and Karren Pope- Onwukwe, representing The Law Foundation of Prince George's County

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Michael Hecht received the

2004 Maryland Pro Bono Service A ward from the Pro Bono Resource Center ( PBRC)

• f Maryland for his commitment and

dedication helping to ensure equal access to justice for those in need. The Pro Bono Service A wards honor

• utstanding attorneys and non-attorneys who

have made a significant contribution to the delivery of pro bono civil legal services to Maryland’s poor, through litigation, legal or legislative advocacy or other means. Michael was nominated by the PBRC in part for his work on a single, arduous case that began as a custody case and went through various incarnations at the appellate level and in the contempt arena. His pro bono practice has included cases in the areas of domestic law , construction contract law , criminal law , and veteran appeals. Michael has averaged 250 pro bono hours each year since he began his legal career, which was also taken into consideration. So far this year, Michael has already logged more than 275 pro bono hours. Michael said of pro bono: “It’s an

• pportunity to practice law in its purest form, a

chance to champion the cause of some individual

• r entity who needs help they could never afford,

and a tangible way to give something back to the community .” Michael received the award at the Maryland State Bar A ssociation annual meeting in June.

Michael Hecht

Receives Maryland Pro Bono Service Award

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Servathon Success!

Tonya Lewis and Jackie Bottash spent a hot Saturday

in May bagging groceries. Doesn’t sound so glamorous, but working with 20 other volunteers and serving the community made the event one to be rem em bered! Servathon 2004, sponsored by Greater D.C. Cares took team V enable ( OK, Tonya and Jackie) to the Foggy Bottom Food Pantry, located in the basement of a church on G Street. Eligible D.C. residents come twice a month to pick up food items and personal supplies to supplement what they can’t purchase with food stam ps. May 22 brought 190 people to the pantry— it was a busy day! They received everything from diapers and juice to meat, fish, cereal, and coffee. It was easy to see how grateful the shoppers were to have this resource, and to have volunteers willing to give up a few hours in the morning to distribute life’s little necessities.

Tonya and Jackie hard at work, enjoying the day, and wishing you had been with them! Hopefully, next year you can put Servathon

• n your calendar!