New and Noteworthy Archives
New Mexico Court Says Denying Workers’ Compensation Benefits to Farm and Ranch Laborers is Unconstitutional
-Posted December 2011
On December 9, 2011, the state trial court ruled that denying workers’ compensation coverage to farm and ranch laborers was an arbitrary denial of equal protection under the New Mexico Constitution. The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, the law offices of Nancy L. Simmons, and the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law joined NCLEJ as co-counsel representing individuals who had been injured as well as two organizations, Sin Fronteras Organizing Project and HELP-New Mexico. Read more
Federal Court Says Hawaii Takes Too Long Processing Food Stamp Applications
-Posted November 2011
On November 17, 2011, the District Court ruled that Hawaii was clearly out of compliance with federal processing time requirements and that plaintiffs were suffering serious harm. The preliminary injunction order requires the development of a corrective action plan. Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing and Hawai’i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice joined NCLEJ as co-counsel. Read more
NCLEJ Comments on Health Insurance Exchanges
-Posted October 2011
NCLEJ attorneys Gina Mannix and Cary LaCheen have submitted extensive comments on proposed HHS regulations governing the health insurance exchanges to be created under the Affordable Care Act. The comments' recommendations are drawn from our experience with public benefit programs in a variety of areas, including ensuring access to people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency. Read our comments
International Public Interest Lawyers Visit NCLEJ
-Posted October 2011
In late September, NCLEJ Executive Director Henry Freedman spoke to a group of young public interest lawyers from around the world who had been brought to the United States to learn about public interest lawyering by PILnet (formerly Public Interest Law Institute). NCLEJ Board member Bruce Rabb is General Counsel of PILnet.
Madison County, NY, Improves Policies for People with Disabilities
-Posted October 2011
Our persistent efforts to get New York social services districts to adopt meaningful policies under the Americans with Disabilities Act have now succeeded in Madison County. Through our advocacy, county officials adopted most of the "model" policy that its neighbor, Onondaga County, had earlier developed with significant input from NCLEJ attorney Cary LaCheen. Our work continues as we seek to update the plans to reflect new ADA regulations. Read more
NCLEJ Loses Longtime Board Member
-Posted October 2011
NCLEJ’s Board and staff are mourning the loss of Board member Mary A. Lovings, who died on October 15, 2011, at her home in Houston, Texas. Mary was a loyal, reliable, and fully engaged Board member who, until her illness overtook her, attended every quarterly Board meeting in New York City since she was elected to the Board in 1999. She was a true community advocate and activist and will be greatly missed by everyone at NCLEJ. Read more
NCLEJ and Colleagues Sue New York City for Illegally Withholding Portions of Retroactive Federal Disability Awards
-Posted October 2011
NCLEJ, the HIV Law Project, and African Services Committee have filed a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York claiming New York City's Human Resources Administration (HRA) and HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) are illegally withholding and retaining portions of plaintiffs' retroactive federal disability awards. Read more
Debevoise Partner Joins NCLEJ's Board of Directors
-Posted September 2011
New York City attorney Shannon Rose Selden, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, has joined NCLEJ’s Board of Directors. Ms. Selden was elected at the September 2011 meeting.
“We are fortunate to have Ms. Selden join our other dedicated Board members as we continue to use the law to assure that government agencies respond to the dire needs of low-income families,” said NCLEJ Executive Director Henry Freedman in announcing the appointment.
Columbia County, NY, Agrees to Speed Applications Processing
-Posted September 2011
NCLEJ and the Empire Justice Center have achieved a settlement in a federal class action challenging Columbia County’s unlawful practice of delaying food stamp, Medicaid, and cash public assistance applications. Read more
Four Prominent Attorneys Join NCLEJ's Board of Directors
-Posted June 2011
New York City attorneys Stacey R. Friedman, a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell; Mark A. Kirsch, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Jonathan D. Siegfried, a partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf; and Steven M. Witzel, a partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson have recently joined NCLEJ's Board of Directors. Read more
See the latest on the Campaign for the Dodyk Fellowship
-Posted June 2011
Read more (PDF)
Check Out NCLEJ's Summer Newsletter
-Posted June 2011
Read more about our recent cases and other exciting NCLEJ news.
NCLEJ and Colleagues Achieve Settlements To Secure Colorado's Timely Processing of Medicaid, SNAP, CHIP, and TANF Applications
- Posted June 2011
NCLEJ, the Colorado Center for Law and Policy, and law firm of Sherman and Howard have secured court-amended settlement agreements under which state agencies have agreed to target dates for timely processing of benefits applications, and to eliminate auto-termination of Medicaid and CHIP benefits. Read more
NCLEJ and Colleagues Secure Settlement with Nassau County, NY, to Speed Provision of Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Cash Public Assistance
- Posted June 2011
NCLEJ and the Empire Justice Center have achieved a settlement in a federal class action challenging Nassau County’s unlawful practice of delaying food stamp, Medicaid, and cash public assistance applications. Read more
NCLEJ Dinner on May 26th Honored PD Villarreal, Bob Herbert, and Paul Dodyk
-Posted June 2011
Left to right: Henry Freedman, Paul Dodyk, Bob Herbert, PD Villarreal
Elpidio (PD) Villarreal, GlaxoSmithKline Senior Vice President for Global Litigation; Bob Herbert, award-winning columnist; and Paul Dodyk, NCLEJ's former Board Chair and retired Cravath partner were honored at NCLEJ's annual Awards Dinner on May 26 at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Through this annual event, NCLEJ celebrates the accomplishments of remarkable individuals such as those honored this year, while raising much needed funds to support our programs. To read about past dinners, click here
NCLEJ Releases 2011 Edition of ADA-TANF Manual
-Posted April 2011
Cary LaCheen, a national expert on the application of federal disability rights laws to public benefits programs, has updated her comprehensive manual, last updated in 2010, to address new developments. Read more
Launching the Campaign for the Paul M. Dodyk Fellowship for Economic Justice
-Posted February 2011
NCLEJ's newly created Paul M. Dodyk Fellowship for Economic Justice honors longtime NCLEJ Board Chair Paul Dodyk for his lifetime commitment to using the law to promote fair and dignified treatment for everyone in our society, regardless of their means. The Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to honor Paul, a lifelong advocate for those in need, while helping to carry out his vision for a more just world.
Click here to learn more about how you can support the Fellowship.
Bob Herbert Joins Slate of NCLEJ Honorees for May 26 Dinner
-Posted February 2011
New York Times columnist Bob Herbert has joined the list of honorees for NCLEJ's May 26, 2011, dinner along with Elpidio (PD) Villarreal and Paul M. Dodyk. Mr. Herbert's award-winning insights on poverty and economic justice will make him a compelling addition to the evening's program. Read more
Executive Director Henry Freedman to Speak at New York City Bar Panel
-Posted January 2011
NCLEJ Executive Director Henry Freedman will join Merble Regan of the Women's Center for Education and Career Advancement and CUNY Law professor Stephen Loffredo on a panel discussion hosted by the New York City Bar Association. The discussion will be moderated by NCLEJ alumna Brooke Richie, Chair of the Committee on Social Welfare Law.
The New Poor: New Debates about the Culture of Poverty and their Implications for Poverty Policies
Wednesday, January 26th, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
New York City Bar, 42 West 44th Street, New York City
There is no charge for this program.
Visit NYCbar.org to register.
Improving Automated Medicaid Eligibility Systems: NCLEJ Comments on HHS Proposals
-Posted January 2011
In response to an HHS proposal to add and change conditions and standards that states must meet to get enhanced federal funding to upgrade their automated Medicaid eligibility systems, NCLEJ has submitted extensive comments touching on issues related to NCLEJ's work, including website accessibility to people with disabilities, timely and accurate processing of claims, readability of notices, transparency of agency decisions and rationale in individual cases, and the need for states to produce performance data that make it possible to evaluate state performance. Read our comments (pdf)
Board Member Sandra Hauser Praises NCLEJ, Paul Dodyk in Law360 Interview
-Posted November 2010
NCLEJ Board Member Sandra Hauser, a partner at SNR Denton's New York office and co-chair of the firm's class action and major financial litigation practice, was interviewed by Law360, a newswire service for business lawyers. Read more
NCLEJ Sues Hawaii for Delaying Food Stamp Benefits
-posted November 2010
NCLEJ, Lawyers for Equal Justice, and Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing have filed a class action lawsuit challenging Hawaii’s failure to process food stamp (SNAP) applications in a timely manner. Read more
Justice Brennan: Liberal Champion
-posted November 2010
NCLEJ is partnering with the Alliance for Justice and the Brennan Center for Justice in presenting a reception and discussion celebrating Justice Brennan: Liberal Champion. Moderated by Jeffrey Toobin, Featuring authors Seth Stern and Stephen Wermiel and former Brennan clerks Burt Neuborne and Larry Pedowitz.
Thursday, November 18th - 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Rosenthal Pavilion
10th Floor, Kimmel Center
New York University
You may download the event flyer (pdf) here.
Text-only version at AFJ.org.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Visit AFJ.org to reserve your seat.
NCLEJ Executive Director Speaks Out on Voice of America about the Growing Income Disparity
-posted October 2010
This Voice of America piece features NCLEJ Executive Director Henry Freedman on America's growing income gap:
Read the full article (includes transcript).
NCLEJ Worked in 23 States and 19 New York Counties in 2010
-posted October 2010
text only version
Check Out NCLEJ's Fall Newsletter
-posted October 2010
Read more about our recent cases and other exciting NCLEJ news.
Health Reform Implementation: NCLEJ Comments to HHS on State Health Exchanges
- posted October 2010
NCLEJ’s comments address issues such as assuring that the exchanges and their services are accessible to individuals with low literacy, individuals with disabilities, limited English speakers, and lawfully present immigrants in mixed status families. NCLEJ also recommends that HHS set standards for the careful development and deployment of exchange technology systems to avoid implementation disasters. Read our comments (pdf).
FEMA Still Falls Short in Disaster Planning for People with Disabilities
- posted October 2010
More than five years after Hurricane Katrina, FEMA is unprepared to meet the temporary housing needs of people with disabilities, and others, following a disaster. NCLEJ's Cary LaCheen prepared this issue brief for a Congressional Briefing convened by the National Low Income Housing Coalition on September 29. Read more.
NCLEJ and Maximus: When Modernizing Benefits Programs, Agencies Must Comply with Legal Obligations to People with Disabilities
- posted August 2010
NCLEJ and Maximus have issued Modernizing Public Benefits Programs: What the Law Says State Agencies Must do to Serve People with Disabilities, discussing in easy-to-use booklet form the wide variety of obligations agencies must meet, ranging from making websites, online forms, and telephone communications accessible to changes in policy. Read more.
Economic Justice and Access to Health Care are LGBT Issues
– posted July 2010
NCLEJ’s Laura Redman describes the barriers low income LGBT individuals and families confront in seeking access to Medicaid and Children’s Health Programs. Read more.
State Agency Websites Are Often Inaccessible to People with Disabilities
-Posted July 2010
NCLEJ’s Cary LaCheen's new report describes a host of problems that make it difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to use public benefit agency websites, and offers solutions. Read more.
NCLEJ Board Elects Selendy, Curtis, and Barham to Leadership Positions
-Posted June 2010
Jennifer Selendy, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis; Douglas F. Curtis, a partner at WilmerHale, and Cassandra Barham, a respected advocate from Ohio, have been chosen to serve as Chair and Vice-Chairs, respectively, of NCLEJ’s Board of Directors. Outgoing Chair, Paul M. Dodyk, and Vice-Chair, John DeWitt Gregory, remain on the Board. Read more (pdf).
NCLEJ Dinner on June 9th Honored Amy Schulman, Mark Greenberg, and Partners in Maryland Court Victory
-Posted June 2010
Pfizer Senior Vice President and General Counsel Amy Schulman; HHS Administration for Children and Families Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Mark Greenberg; and the Homeless Persons Representation Project, Public Justice Center, and the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (partners in NCLEJ’s Maryland court victory) were honored at NCLEJ's annual awards dinner on June 9 at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Through its annual dinner, NCLEJ celebrates the accomplishments of remarkable individuals and organizations such as those honored this year, while raising much needed funds to support our programs. To read about past dinners, click here.
New Mexico Court Allows Agricultural Workers to Pursue Case Challenging Denial of Workers' Compensation
-Posted May 2010
A severely injured New Mexico farmworker and two groups that represent farm and ranch laborers may pursue their claim that the exclusion of farm and ranch laborers from the state's worker's compensation program violates the state constitution's equal protection clause. Read more
NCLEJ Reports on Barriers Childless Adults Face in Accessing Public Health Insurance
-Posted April 2010
Of added relevance with the passage of health care reform, this groundbreaking work explores the specific barriers faced by New York’s 500,000 eligible but uninsured childless adults and recommends strategies to improve their participation in public health insurance. Read more
NCLEJ Sues Nassau County for Delaying Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Cash Public Assistance to Hundreds Each Month
-posted April 2010
NCLEJ and the Empire Justice Center have filed a class action lawsuit challenging Nassau County’s failure to process more than half of all food stamp (SNAP), Medicaid, and cash public assistance applications in a timely manner. Read more
NCLEJ Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Goldberg v. Kelly, Landmark Supreme Court Victory
-posted March 2010
In this historic decision upholding due process protections in public benefit programs, Justice Brennan spoke of this “Nation's basic commitment . . . to foster the dignity and well-being of all persons within its borders.” Read more
Cary LaCheen's Article on Improving Communication between Public Benefits Agencies and Persons with Hearing Difficulties Is Published in Clearinghouse Review
-posted February 2010
Find the article here (pdf).
Lawsuit Causes FEMA to Disgorge Documents on Accessible Temporary Housing
-posted January 2010
Only after NCLEJ went to court did FEMA release its policies for accessible temporary housing for people with disabilities. Hogan & Hartson represents NCLEJ. Read more
Total Victory Won in Maryland Benefits Delay Case
-posted December 2009
On December 10th, after a four-day trial, low-income Marylanders won a permanent injunction to speed the applications process for food stamps, Medicaid, and cash public assistance. NCLEJ, the Public Justice Center, the Homeless Persons Representation Project, and the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis represented the plaintiffs at trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court. Jennifer Selendy, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis and an NCLEJ Board member, and the K&E team, played a key role in the litigation. Read more
Steuben County, NY, Agrees to Speed Provision of Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Cash Public Assistance to Those Hard Hit by Recession
-posted November 2009
NCLEJ, the Western New York Law Center, and the Empire Justice Center have achieved a settlement in a federal class action challenging Steuben County’s unlawful practice of delaying food stamp, Medicaid, and cash public assistance applications. Read more
Indiana Agrees to Court Order Speeding Provision of Food Stamp Benefits
-posted October 2009
Hungry Hoosiers should get their food stamps faster as the state implements an agreed-upon preliminary injunction in this NCLEJ case. The state is required to improve its compliance with federal time frames, provide monitoring data to demonstrate the extent of its compliance, and create a mechanism for certain applicants to have individual problems resolved. Read more
Rhode Island to Speed Food Stamp Processing Under Court-Approved Settlement
-posted October 2009
On October 19th, a U.S. District Court judge signed off on a settlement in which Rhode Island agrees to meet federal deadlines for processing food stamp applications. The case was filed by NCLEJ and the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. Read more
Now Available Online: Reorienting and Expanding Our National Advocacy Program
- Posted October 2009
In this article Henry Freedman reviews the exciting progress made by NCLEJ since it lost all federal funding in 1995. Read more (pdf)
Suffolk County, NY, Agrees to Time Limits for Processing Food Stamp and Medicaid Applications
- posted July 2009
In a major turnabout, the County has agreed to abide by federal and state deadlines for processing applications and take other steps to assure eligible families get aid. The agreement is the result of a court-approved settlement in Maryann C. v. DeMarzo. Read more
Three Prominent Attorneys Join NCLEJ's Board of Directors
- posted July 2009
New York City attorneys Caitlin J. Halligan of Weil Gotshal, Nancy A. Lieberman of Skadden Arps, and Brian S. Weinstein of Davis Polk, have joined NCLEJ's Board of Directors. Read more
NCLEJ Lawsuits Challenge Benefit Delays in Indiana, Maryland, Rhode Island, upstate New York, and Texas
- posted July 2009
NCLEJ is committed to assuring that government agencies provide critical health, nutrition, and cash assistance benefits to eligible families in urgent need in this economic downturn. Five lawsuits filed in recent months demand compliance with application processing time limits for benefits. Read more
Law360 Interviews NCLEJ Board Member Jennifer Selendy
- posted July 2009
NCLEJ Board member Jennifer Selendy, a partner in the litigation group in Kirkland & Ellis's New York office, spoke with Law360, a newswire service for business lawyers. Read more courtesy of Law360
Earlier Items
- Opportunities for Deferred Associates and Law Firm Externs (April 2009)
- Public Benefits Privatization and Modernization: Recent Developments and Advocacy (May 2008)
- NCLEJ and Colleagues Achieve Settlement Ending Lengthy Delays in Processing of Food Stamp Applications in New York City (April 2008)
- NCLEJ Achieves Settlement Providing Due Process for Tens of Thousands of Missouri Children (April 2008)
- NCLEJ and Colleagues Achieve Settlement in Colorado Requiring Prompt Processing of Benefits Applications (January 2008)
- NCLEJ and Colleagues Win Ruling Barring FEMA From Terminating Rental Assistance for Katrina/Rita Evacuees Without Adequate Notice and Opportunity for Pre-termination Hearing (with 2008 Update)
- New York Court Approves Plan to Restore Benefits to Thousands of New York Families of Children with Disabilities in Case Brought by NCLEJ and Colleagues (September 2007)
- Disabilities and Welfare: A New NCLEJ Resource for Advocates (February, 2007) (February 2007)
- NCLEJ Achieves Settlement Requiring Translation of California Food Stamp Forms (December 2006)
- NCLEJ and Colleagues Win Settlement Requiring Accessible Trailers for Katrina Evacuees with Disabilities (September 2006)
- Senator Edward M. Kennedy Praises Settlement (October 2006)