Public Interest Law Awards Program Held

CHICAGO– Individuals were singled out for their contributions in representing or helping others to represent the indigent in federal civil cases at an awards ceremony Tuesday, June 6, 2006, sponsored by the United States District Court and the Chicago chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

The attorneys involved were presented plaques during the seventh annual "Awards for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service" program held at the E.M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.

James P. Chapman, president of Illinois Institute for Community Law, gave the keynote address.

Through the presentation of these awards, the court and the Federal Bar Association recognize the efforts of attorneys who have performed pro bono and public interest legal work in the District Court, said Chief Judge Charles P. Kocoras.

The awards were given as follows:

Pro Bono Award–

David P. Leibowitz served as a trustee in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case involving Earline Hughes, a pro se petitioner who paid for the assistance of a "bankruptcy petition preparer" whose improper and prohibited legal advice almost caused her to lose her home. As trustee, Mr. Leibowitz filed a complaint for an injunction against the petition preparer and sought an award of fees and costs, which was obtained and which he then donated to Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. Mr. Leibowitz also obtained a dismissal of the debtor’s bankruptcy case

David J. Chizewer & Frederick Cohen, of Goldberg Kohn; John Bouman, of Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law; Thomas D. Yates & Stephanie F. Altman, of Health & Disability Advocates, served in a class action suit, Memisovski v. Maram and Adams, 92 C 1982, which raised concerns that children in Cook County who were covered by Medicaid were not receiving adequate health care. After lengthy discovery, the case came to trial and Judge Lefkow found for the plaintiffs and against the defendants, after which the parties negotiated a Consent Decree under which the plaintiff class will receive dramatically enhanced health care. The litigation model and the opinion issued by Judge Lefkow became an important national example and the settlement became a leading model of its type. Over 600,000 children were impacted by this litigation.

Mark R. Kadish, James W. Gladden, Jr., Danuta Bembenista Panich, Jennifer Stoffer, Joel D. Bertocchi, Jennifer Boughanem, Nicole Byrd, Casarine H. Chong, Dana S. Douglas, M.C. Georgina Fabian, Maritoni D. Kane, Rochelle Outlaw, Jennifer L. Rakstad, Andrew J.Schaefer, Sarah E. Streicker, Susan Cowell, of Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw have worked closely with the U.S. Magistrate Judges of this court to develop a program by which pro se plaintiffs can receive appointment of counsel for the limited purpose of representing them in a settlement conference. Over the past year, Mayer Brown attorneys have also undertaken at least a dozen cases in which they have represented such clients. They have achieved settlements in almost all the cases.

Public Interest Service Awards.

Howard A. Learner, of Environmental Law & Policy Center, is an attorney who has devoted his entire lifetime to pro bono and public interest work, successfully representing environmental, consumer and community economic development organizations in complex civil litigation. Among cases of note are Steel Co. V. Citizens for a Better Environment and Christianberg Garment Co. V. EEOC. He is a cofounder of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, a Midwest environmental legal advocacy and policy organization, and serves as its President and Executive Director.

William Irwin Kohn, of Schiff Hardin, has led the Bankruptcy Partnership Initiative (BPI) to help low income seniors and disabled clients manage the bankruptcy process. This program was initiated in response to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention Act of 2005 which made the process of obtaining bankruptcy relief much more time consuming and complex for consumers and attorneys, overwhelming individuals with limited access to legal services. Through his consistent commitment of time and resources, his practical outreach to clients in need, and his development of pro bono attorney partnerships, training and education, Mr. Kohn helped simplify the bankruptcy process for low income seniors and disabled persons.

Michael Cabonargi, while working as a law clerk in this building, saw the need for a pro se help desk. He was the one who originally conceived the idea, and continued to his efforts to get the idea off the ground after he left federal employment. His involvement in advancing the pro se help desk concept has resulted in the creation of what has been a valuable asset to the public and the court.

Sally Elson, for her years of extraordinary service to the court and its Judges.

The District Court in Northern Illinois requires that attorneys practicing as first chairs must be available to take one indigent, civil case a year on a pro bono basis. During 2005, some 250 attorneys were appointed to such cases.