News

Calendar of Events

Pro Bono Awards

Past Award Winners

Judge J.C. ‘Jake’ Stone Award Winners

Individual Awards of Merit Winners

New Lawyer Awards of Merit Winners

Govenment Attorney Award of Merit Award Winners

Law Firm Award of Merit Award Winners

Volunteer Advocates for Children Award Winners

Latest News from Legal Aid Society

LEGAL AID PRESENTS ANNUAL PRO BONO AWARDS

For the second year Legal Aid presented its annual pro bono awards at a dinner of the OCBA monthly meeting. Orange County Bar Association held its annual swearing in of new officers and Executive Council members, and those of Legal Aid, Young Lawyers Section, and OCBA Education Fund. The event was held on May 27 at Church Street and was attended by about 300 people.

Nick Shannin, President of the LAS Board of Trustees, presented plaques to the award winners who are recognized for their outstanding pro bono work in 2008.

The highest pro bono award given by Legal Aid is the Judge J. C. ‘Jake’ Stone Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to the attorney who has demonstrated a commitment to pro bono throughout his career. To be considered, the attorney must have received an individual award from Legal Aid and have made a significant contribution to pro bono during his career. The award is named after Judge Jake Stone who was a county judge serving Orange County and someone who was very active within the community. The award was presented to Robert Dietz. Robert, a partner at Zimmerman Kiser and Sutcliffe, has served as a Guardian ad Litem for over 20 years. As a GAL he has helped over 150 children and handled cases involving difficult and challenging issues such as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, shaken baby syndrome, failure to thrive, and parental endangerment. Robert won an Individual Award of Excellence in 1993 and has continued his commitment to pro bono work.

An Award of Excellence was presented to the law firm of Neduchal & Magee. The award is presented to a law firm that has provided substantial pro bono work in the past year. The emphasis is on 100% participation and in handling casework and consideration is given to the past history of the firm’s attorneys, other pro bono work and contributions. The firm members are Joe Neduchal and Jim Magee. The firm was founded in 1976 and Jim and Joe have been pro bono attorneys for as long as Legal Aid has records. Jim handles GAL cases and Joe a variety of types of cases. They have been recognized individually and as a firm for their pro bono work and continue to provide exceptional pro bono work.

Donna Mikulsky received the Volunteer for Children Award. Donna is a lay volunteer who serves with the Guardian ad Litem Program. The GAL program uses the services of lay volunteers to assist the attorney volunteers with GAL cases.

The New Lawyer Award was presented to three attorneys who provided exceptional pro bono work in their first five years of practice, J. Giffin Chumley, Kimberly E. Hosley, and Deborah S. Korleski-Poindexter. J. Giffin Chumley of Fishback Dominick has handled 9 including a variety of difficult GAL cases since joining the pro bono panel in 2006. Kimberly Hosley of Seipp & Flick, has served as a GAL since 2005 and has helped 8 children. Deborah S. Korleski-Poindexter has been a GAL since joining the pro bono panel in 2005 and has handled several cases for with juvenile immigration issues.

The Government Attorney Award is presented to an attorney who works for the government or an agency and who has demonstrated their commitment to pro bono. The winners this year are Alana C. Brenner and Patricia S. Dullaghan. Alana C. Brenner is the City Clerk of Orlando. She handled individual consumer cases and has continued to work with the Earned Income Tax Project for 14 years. Patricia S. Dullaghan is Associate General Counsel for the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services at UCF. She has helped clients in a variety of legal areas such as family, consumer and housing.

Individual Awards of Merit were presented to 11 attorneys who provided exceptional pro bono work over several years, taking more than two cases per year, working on cases that require an extra time commitment. Richard A. Culbertson has handled social security cases for children and adults on a pro bono basis since he joined the panel in 1994. Rick is generous with his time in providing advice to staff and pro bono attorneys. Catherine E. Davey has taken 3 or more guardianship cases each year since joining the panel in 1993. She assists with guardianships of adults and on behalf of Seniors First. William A. Davis, Jr. of the Law Offices of Patricia E. Bologna-Garagozio, has handled temporary custody cases for which he has also served as a trainer during LAS lunchtime trainings. Bill also participates in Telephone Screening Project. Thomas F. Egan has participated in the Homeless Advocacy Project for many years. He has volunteered at the same site, Coalition for the Homeless. Dana Hankins has been a member of the pro bono panel for over 20 years. She has handled GAL cases and an occasional family and probate case. Dana has also participated in the Aids Special Will project since it began in 1994. Allen Daniel Holland has participated in the Tax Clinic for 11 years. He is always available for multiple dates at a variety of sites and last minute changes during the tax season. Glenn R. Leong has handled 2 or more family cases since joining the panel in 1996. The cases involve domestic violence and custody choices. Wynne E. McFarlin of Legal Talent has served as a GAL for over 10 years. She has helped 25 children. Mark V. Morsch of The Morsch Law Group has served as a GAL for more than 66 children. He has committed his staff to coordinating and helping the GAL children. Abigail M. Johnston of The Marks Law Firm has served as a GAL since joining the panel. She has donated over 1400 hours for her children. Thomas A. Zehnder of King Blackwell Downs & Zehnder PA has served as a GAL for children in dependency cases since joining the panel in 1996. He has contributed over 700 hours on behalf of 28 children.