What’s New
Legal Aid partners with Napa County Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program
Are you or is someone you know at risk of eviction or already homeless?
Help is Available - click this link for more information
http://www.co.napa.ca.us/gov/departments/50000/news/HPRPBrochure.pdf
Legal Aid’s Fifth Annual Gala at The French Laundry
Legal Aid hosted its fourth annual “Celebrate Spring” gala dinner on April 14, 2011 at The French Laundry in Yountville. Ambassador Kathryn Hall and the Honorable (Ret.) W. Scott Snowden were the event’s honorary co-chairs.
The special evening featured Chef Thomas Keller’s signature nine-course tasting menu paired with exquisite Napa Valley wines. All proceeds from the event benefit Legal Aid of Napa Valley.
Legal Aid Receives a $15,000 Cy Pres Distribution from Class Action Case
Robert Bramson of the law firm of Bramson, Plutzik, Mahler & Birkhaeuser in Walnut Creek, and Robert Mills and Harry Shulman from Mills Law Offices in San Rafael, have designated Legal Aid of Napa Valley as the recipient of a $15,000 cy pres distribution in the case of Klussman, et al. v. Cross Country Bank, Alameda County Superior Court, JCCP No. 4380.
The case achieved significant injunctive relief for the plaintiffs, prohibiting abusive collection practices and recovering $21.7 million in cash and credits on behalf of Cross Country Bank credit card holders. The card holders sought redress for numerous abuses, including inaccurately reporting the time of payment, improper and/or excessive fees, and harassment.
Legal Aid was chosen to receive these funds, in part, because of the organization's provision of legal services to consumers having problems with financial services companies. Legal Aid assists seniors, immigrants and low-income individuals with their debt-related concerns.
What is a cy pres award?
Class Action attorneys negotiating settlement or litigating the remedy in their actions must often address the probability that not all class members will be located, or that defendant's conduct has made full restitution to all injured victims impossible or infeasible. Under such circumstances, the courts may approve a charitable donation out of unclaimed residue of class action funds, or a direct grant in lieu of damages to any entity that will vindicate class member rights in the future. This approach avoids a windfall to the defendant and serves the deterrent goals of civil rights laws.
Legal Aid Elects Two New Directors to Board
Legal Aid of Napa Valley is pleased to announce the addition of Kevin DeBorde and Helen Holman to its Board of Directors.
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