Working Together for Justice
2014 Annual Report
Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Inc.
1975-2014
President’s Page
by: Major Scott Ballou
It has truly been my pleasure and honor to serve as the 2014 President of the
Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society. Over the course of this last
year you’ll be proud to know that the Legal Aid Society has continued its long
tradition of community service. The men and women who staff the Seminole
County Legal Aid Society, including Ms. Silvia McLain, are the real reasons for the
success and the tremendous accomplishments denoted in this report. Beyond the
employees of the Seminole County Legal Aid Society, there are many others who
volunteer their time in the furtherance of the goals and objectives of the organization. These
accomplishments and our future successes are dependent on the many attorneys, and their staffs,
who work tirelessly on the pro bono cases that are referred to them each and every day by the
Seminole County Legal Aid Society.
Within this past fiscal year the Seminole County Legal Aid Society, working closely with its partners
and attorneys in Seminole County, have begun an initiative working with Veteran’s Court and on
veteran’s projects. In all we have assisted 56 veterans with legal needs. One such case was a
veteran who is a widowed father of two minor children. The Legal Aid Society is assisting this man
and his children in establishing a guardianship and trust for the property of his deceased wife and
the proceeds of her life insurance policy.
The Seminole County Legal Aid Society is working with developmentally disabled foster children
who have applied for benefits with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Unfortunately, many
of the children in the foster care system are denied eligibility when applying for these benefits. The
goal of this initiative is to change that reality and ensure that these vulnerable foster care children
receive benefits that will significantly improve their lives.
Over the course of 2014 the Legal Aid Society provided free services to 1,101 impoverished
residents of Seminole County. Pro bono attorneys handled 134 cases and, 82 attorneys provided
an in lieu of service contribution of $350 apiece. Staff and pro bono attorneys presented 64 legal
seminars to the community, including three presentations on Advance Directives to senior citizens
in three cities: Longwood, Oviedo and Sanford.
I would be remiss if i did not take the time to acknowledge my fellow Board members. This diverse
team has made my term as president stress-free, and pressed us to continue fulfilling the mission of
the Seminole County Legal Aid Society. We greet the future with anticipation that 2015 will allow
us to continue and further the good work that has become the practice of the Seminole County Bar
Association Legal Aid Society. We look forward to continuing our working relationship with the
partners and exceptional attorneys who represent and support our organization.
Scott Ballou
Table of Contents
Page
Mission and Achievements
1
Domestic Violence Project
2
Attorneys Fighting for Seriously Ill Children
3
Disabled Child Advocacy Project
4
Veteran Project
5
Elder Legal Advocacy Project
5
A Place to Call Home Housing Project
6
Legal Education & Community Involvement Project
7
Access to Justice
8
Pro Bono Report
9-13
2014 Volunteers and Interns
14
Volunteers in Action
15-16
2014 Award Recipients
17-22
Board of Directors
23
Legal Aid Staff
24
2014 Silent Auction Donors
25
2014 Pro Bono Recognition Sponsors
26-30
Mission and Achievements
The Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society set out in 1975 to provide free,
quality legal advocacy to economically-disadvantaged residents of Seminole County with
the objective of improving their quality of life and enhancing their self-sufficiency. We
are proudly celebrating 39 years of service.
Seminole County residents with incomes at or below 125 percent of the Federal Poverty
Level are financially eligible for our legal services. Priority is given to financially eligible
persons who have an urgent legal problem, which if not addressed, would result in a
substantial deterioration in living conditions. These conditions can vary from a loss of
housing to the deterioration of safety as a consequence of domestic violence, abuse or
neglect.
These services are provided through the unified efforts of pro bono attorneys, staff
attorneys, dedicated support staff, volunteer law and college students and laypersons,
along with the strong leadership of a devoted board of directors. As a result of this
collaboration, we are able to provide legal assistance in various areas of the law such as
family, housing, employment, bankruptcy, guardianship of the disabled and
incapacitated, immigration, juvenile, elder, foreclosure and consumer.
Our program is funded by the generous contributions of our volunteer attorneys,
Seminole County, Heart of Florida United Way, the Florida Bar Foundation, Ryan
Foundation, Harper Family Charitable Foundation, Galloway Foundation, City of
Altamonte Springs and numerous Federal and State Grants.
This past fiscal year, our volunteer and staff attorneys served 1,101 families, which
included 1,344 children, with their legal needs. We obtained $292,129.68 in child
support and alimony to sustain needy families. Volunteer attorneys donated pro bono
legal services valued at an estimated $273, 525 and contributed $27,220 in lieu of
service donation.
We have developed a number of special projects to serve the individual needs of the
economically disadvantaged. These projects are detailed in the following pages.
1 Domestic Violence Project
Since 2007, we have received funding from a Federal grant to provide free legal services to victims of domestic
violence in Seminole County. The federal grant ended in March of 2014. We have been fortunate to recently
receive a grant from Seminole County Community Assistance to continue to provide these vital services to our
community. Along with continued funding from the Galloway Foundation and Ryan foundation, we are able to
assist victims of domestic violence and their children with their legal needs. This past year, we were able to
assist 72 victims including 83 of the victims’ children.
Florida Department of Law enforcement reports, for 2013, that there
existed 2,422 incidents of domestic violence in Seminole County
(including one murder and eighteen incidents of rape). About 80% of
domestic violence incidents go unreported. An estimated 60,000 adults
are victimized annually in Central Florida along with the tab associated
with domestic violence including judicial, child abuse, medical and
mental health care is about $226 million annually in Central Florida.
The often unseen cost of domestic violence is its impact on young children. Children from abusive homes live
in fear and often suffer emotional and behavioral problems. As a result, they perform poorly in school and are
much more likely than other children to abuse drugs and alcohol and to drop out of school. To help break this
cycle of violence, Legal aid provides aggressive representation in obtaining injunctions for victims with young
children.
“Domestic violence does not only happen to adults. Forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing
someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend, and approximately one in five female high
school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.”
- Dianne Feinstein 2 Attorneys Fighting for Seriously Ill Children
A child’s serious illness is among the most heart wrenching crisis parents ever face. And at the same
time they cope with their family’s fears and suffering, they must also struggle with the financial and
legal burdens that often result from a child’s illness.
In 2013, an attorney who understood firsthand what a family with a seriously ill child goes through
asked Legal Aid to develop a program to help families
like his. He believed that attorneys could help comfort
and stabilize these stricken parents by offering legal
advice on the issues unique them, such as resolving
coverage disputes with insurance companies; handling
government paperwork for financial assistance;
offering consumer debt counseling and bankruptcy
representation.
Our first case for this project involved Brian, a sweet 6 year child, who was diagnosed with
Tuberous sclerosis is a rare multi-system genetic disease that causes benign tumors to grow in the
brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. A combination of
symptoms may include seizures, intellectual disability, developmental delay, behavioral problems, skin
abnormalities, lung and kidney disease. His family needed assistance to resolve a legal matter which
would enable the family to better provide for Brian. A staff attorney for the legal aid program agreed
to provide these services.
Hiring an attorney can be financially impossible for many families already overwhelmed with a
child’s illness-related expenses. The “Attorneys Fighting for Seriously Ill Children” program confronts
this barrier by providing pro bono services so that families may focus on what is most important – the
needs of their child.
In order to qualify for the program, parents with seriously ill children must have a gross household
incomes of less than $50,000 and uninsured medical bills equal to or more than their gross income.
Legal Aid’s attorneys meet first with qualified families to evaluate their needs. If litigation is required,
Legal Aid may refer the matter to another pro bono or private attorney.
3 Disabled Child Legal Advocacy Project
Angie Zarvatski's son, Coda, had his 18th birthday last
year, making him an adult. But he's autistic, seldom
speaks and cannot care for himself.
His mother needed court approval to continue as his
legal guardian. But she's a single mom and could not
afford a lawyer. She turned to the Seminole County
Bar Association Legal Aid Society. Lawyers there took
on the case and got the job done.
"They were a blessing," Zarvatski said. "They held my
hand all the way through all the steps."
In 2014, Legal Aid has helped seven families establish guardianship for their disabled children and filed
more than one hundred annual guardianship reports with the court. These children have been diagnosed
a disability such as Autism, Cerebral palsy, Spina bifida, Prader-Willi syndrome, Intellectual disabilities or
Down syndrome. When the child turns 18 years of age, the parent needs legal assistance to obtain
guardianship and continue to make decisions for the child. Harper Family Charitable Foundation assists
with the funding of the Disabled Children Advocacy Project.
Helping Disabled Foster Care Children………
This year, the legal aid program expanded the Disabled Child
Advocacy Project to include services for developmentally delayed
foster care children involved in a dependency case in Seminole
County. Currently, we are assisting seven (7) developmentally
disabled children apply for benefits with the Agency with Persons
with Disabilities. Children with disabilities were found to be at
greater risk of becoming victims of abuse and neglect than children
without disabilities. The study showed that children with disabilities
are 1.8 times more likely to be neglected, 1.6 times more likely to be
physically abused, and 2.2 times more likely to be sexually abused
than children without disabilities.
4 Veteran Project
Florida has the second-largest population of homeless
veterans in the nation, behind California. From 2008 to
2010, the population of homeless veterans in Orange,
Osceola and Seminole counties nearly doubled — to
1,250. Three-quarters live on the streets, in abandoned
buildings or cars or in camps. We commenced a Veterans
project in February 2014 to provide free legal services to
low income Veterans and Families to enhance their
stability. We have been able to help 56 veterans with various legal issues.
We have also partnered with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Clermont Vet Center to provide free
office space every third Wednesday of the month to provide free services to Seminole County Veterans.
The goal of the Vet Center program is to provide a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral
services to eligible veterans in order to help them make a satisfying post-war readjustment to civilian life.
Elder Legal Advocacy Project
Seniors are a growing and vital segment of our community. Our Elder Legal Advocacy project seeks to
protect seniors. The goal is to preserve the quality of life of senior citizens, enhance their independence by
providing legal advice and help to defend their
legal rights to preserve their respected place in the
community. This fiscal year alone our project has
assisted 102 elderly individuals with free legal
services regarding evictions, predatory lending in
mortgage foreclosures, garnishments, collection
matters, guardianships, temporary custody by
extended family and property maintenance issues.
The project this year has partnered with Meals on Wheels, Inc. to provide the seniors in Seminole County
with advance directives, including living will, power of attorney and designation of health care surrogate.
5 A Place to Call Home
Housing Legal Advocacy Project
According to a study recently released by the Federal Government, Orange, Seminole, and Osceola Counties
combined rank second for both the total number of homeless people and for the total number of homeless
veterans.
The goal of the A Place to Call Home Project is to achieve housing security for Seminole County’s low-income
residents by providing legal assistance to resolve a housing problem or dispute that threatens families loss of
their home.
In 2014, Legal Aid represented 340 individuals and
families who faced the loss of their homes. The effects of
mortgage foreclosure and eviction extend far beyond the
individuals who lose their homes. The costs include
increased crime and neighborhood blight, along with
reduced property values and tax revenue. Homelessness
affects the community. Each chronically homeless
person in Central Florida costs the community roughly
$31,000 a year, The price tag covers the salaries of law-enforcement officers to arrest and transport homeless
individuals, largely for nonviolent offenses such as trespassing, public intoxication or sleeping in parks, as
well as the cost of jail stays, emergency-room visits and hospitalization for medical and psychiatric issues.
It also has a profound affect on the children. Recent study shows that 40 percent of homeless children were
still suffering from developmental and mental concerns a year after they were rehoused.
Homelessness has an adverse effect on children’s educational progress because of problems relating to
accessing schools, attendance, and the isolation that children can feel due to their circumstances. Evidence
suggests that homeless children tend to have lower academic achievements which can increase the likelihood
of insecure or low-paid jobs or unemployment in the future.
Legal assistance in housing cases levels the playing field and encourages parties to work together to save the
home, to maintain community stability and reach a more favorable outcome for all parties.
6 Legal Education and Community Relations Project
This past fiscal year we have partnered and coordinated our efforts with various organizations and community
groups to meet the ever growing needs of our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Collaborating with these
organizations and Pro Bono lawyers enhances our ability to serve the legal needs of low income residents’ of
Seminole County. There were a total of 64 educational seminars or staff presentations conducted this fiscal year.
The following are a few examples:
Christian HELP: Every month our staff attorneys make legal education presentation to the Central Florida Job
initiative project to assist participants overcome legal issues that can deter their ability to find employment.
Habitat of Humanity: Every quarter one of our pro bono attorneys makes a presentation to the participants
about legal issues that can deter home ownership.
Goodwill Industries: Every quarter our pro bono attorneys provide a legal presentation on expungement of a
crime to help the participants find employment.
Children Medical Services: One of our staff attorneys made a legal presentation concerning guardian
advocacies to their nurses and social workers as part of their continuing education requirements. Over 25
participants attend the event as well as the presentation was simultaneously broadcasted to other offices.
Meals on Wheels: Our pro bono attorneys and staff attorneys provide numerous presentations at meal sites
concerning advance directives and assisted the participants in completing the advance directives.
Safehouse: Staff attorneys provide presentations to the victims of domestic violence at the shelter concerning
family law issues.
Guardian Ad Litem: Staff attorneys and pro bono attorneys represent foster care children as attorney ad litem.
Seminole County Child Abuse Task Force: Staff members attend the monthly meetings of the taskforce.
Seminole County Domestic Violence Task Force: Staff attorney Yvonne Alonso participates in the Taskforce
comprised of victim advocates, assistant state attorneys, law enforcement, and employees of domestic violence
shelter.
Greater Orlando Human Trafficking Task Force: Staff Attorney Sue Selsky participates in Bi monthly meetings
to address the issue of Human Trafficking in central Florida.
7 Access to Justice
In Seminole County, there are thousands of low-income individuals and families are trying to deal with difficult
legal problems alone. For these families, access to justice is elusive, or worse, unattainable. Our clients are
impoverished people who face real problems:
The abused mother and child who need a safe home.
The disabled veteran who is facing eviction.
The mother of an 18 year old disabled child who needs to obtain guardianship.
Case Highlight:
Sarah applied for assistance with obtaining a Dissolution of Marriage from her estranged Husband. When
applying, Sarah reported a significant history of domestic violence due in large part to her Husband’s substance
abuse. She was fearful of her Husband having unrestricted or unsupervised visits/timesharing with their two
young children and desperately needed child support. With our assistance, Sarah brought her case to trial. The
Judge entered a Final Judgment dissolving the parties’ marriage, granting the Husband supervised visits/
timesharing through a monitored visitation center, and requiring the Husband pay ongoing, monthly child support
and more than $20,000 in retroactive child support.
"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human
history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to
improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a
tiny ripple of hope."
- Robert F. Kennedy
8 Pro Bono Project
Volunteer Attorneys donated over Seven Hundred Eighty-one and a half (781.5) hours valued at
approximately $273,525 to render legal aid to the impoverished in Seminole County. These services
include advice and counsel, pro se assistance and legal representation in court.
Volunteer Attorneys contributed Twenty Seven Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty-Two dollars
($27,220) to the legal aid program representing in lieu of service donations.
Volunteer Attorneys provided legal services to one hundred and thirty-four (134) low-income
families in Seminole County.
Volunteer Attorneys conducted 8 educational seminars and contributed 54.5 hours. This included
Habitat for Humanity, Expunction workshops in partnership with GoodWill and Advance Directives
workshops in partnership with Meals on Wheels, Etc.
Pro Bono Family Law Legal Advice Clinic
We have established a weekly family law advice clinic at the legal aid office located in historic
Longwood. At this clinic, low-income residents of Seminole County are provided legal advice or brief
legal services at no cost by pro bono attorneys.
The individuals learn how to enforce child support or draft parenting plans or receive instructions
concerning the correct manner to complete pro se pleadings by using the family law forms adopted by
the Florida Supreme Court. Approximately thirty (30) individuals receive this valuable service each
month.
“We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.”
- Winston Churchill
9 Pro Bono Attorneys Working with Indigent Senior
Citizens in Conjunction with Meals on Wheels
Attorney Steven Kramer conducts Advance Directives workshop for Meals on
Wheels, Inc. in Longwood, Florida.
Pro Bono Attorney Randy Bryan conducts an
Attorney Joanna Caccioppoli conducts
advance directive presentation in Oviedo.
Advance Directives workshop for Meals
on Wheels, Inc. in Longwood, Florida.
“This was an outstanding service for seniors in our community.” Sherry Fincher Execu ve Director of Meals on Wheels September 25, 2014 10 Pro Bono Attorneys Working with Indigent Citizens in
Conjunction with Goodwill
Pro Bono Attorney, Robert Fisher conducting an expunction workshop.
“As a result of the workshops and the committed assistance from Legal Aid we are able
to offer services that continue to improve and strengthen our community. Our job
centers are successful due to the strong bonds that we hold with our community partners.
Our partnership with Legal Aid allows us to provide services to a population that has
multiple barriers to employment and self-sufficiency.”
- Anthony W. Brown
Goodwill Coordinator
“Habitat Seminole-Apopka is grateful that the Seminole County Bar
Association Legal Aid Society continues to partner with us in
providing essential tools to our new homebuyers.”
- Gayle Fleming
Family Services Director
“The ability to provide pro bono services to people who need legal representation but cannot afford it is
an important responsibility and obligation of every attorney. But it is so much more. It is a gift of
compassion to the community, its individuals, and its families that demonstrates the spirit of generosity
and the heart of those who have trained for a noble profession in law. It is one of the core values that
defines the legal profession and a privilege we, as attorneys, should sincerely honor by giving our services
to those less fortunate.”
Barbara Coenson, Pro Bono Attorney
11
Attorneys participating in Pro Bono Panel 2014
J. Manuel Acevedo, Esq
Donna Goerner, Esq.
Thomas Peppler, Esq.
Brett Anthony, Esq.
Rachel Gorenflo, Esq.
Andrea Perkins, Esq.
Bryant Applegate, Esq.
Erin Greene, Esq.
Linda Phipps, Esq.
Aaron Baghdadi, Esq.
Adam Haba, Esq.
Michael Presutti, Esq.
Laura Ballard, Esq.
John Hamilton, Esq.
Lisa Ramsey, Esq.
Beth Banerjee, Esq.
Keith Hill, Esq.
Taras Rudnitsky, Esq.
David Barden, Esq.
Amanda Jacobson, Esq.
Anjali Sareen, Esq.
Christine Barrett, Esq.
Thomas Janke, Esq.
Neil Saydah, Esq.
Marie Benjamin, Esq.
James Keeter, Esq.
Justin Seekamp, Esq.
Neal Blaher, Esq.
Steve Kramer, Esq.
Debra Simms, Esq.
Francis Brink, Esq.
Steven Laurence, Esq.
Megan Sladek, Esq.
Nadine Brown, Esq.
Michael Leetzow, Esq.
Marlon Smikle, Esq.
Randy Bryan, Esq.
Justin Leise, Esq.
Craig Sonner, Esq.
Susan Buhring, Esq.
Norman Levin, Esq.
Chris Sprysenski, Esq.
Carsandra Buie, Esq.
Carmen Love, Esq.
Joseph Stella, Esq.
Karl Burgunder, Esq.
John Mahaffey, Esq.
Michael Tierney, Esq.
Joanna Caccioppoli, Esq.
Richard Mamele, Esq.
Jonathan Torres, Esq.
Shannon Campbell, Esq.
Joseph Mancuso, Esq.
Raymond Traendly, Esq.
Delton Chen, Esq.
Winston McClean, Esq.
Arlene Vellon, Esq.
Andrew Chmelir, Esq.
Robert McIntosh, Esq.
Stephanie Vollrath, Esq.
Evelyn Cloninger, Esq.
Mark McMillan, Esq.
Deborah Warner, Esq.
Barbara Coenson, Esq.
Michael Merrill, Esq.
Scot Warner, Esq.
Stephen Coover, Esq.
James Miller, Esq.
Tamesha Watson, Esq.
Heather Culp, Esq.
Laura Moffett, Esq.
Richard Weisberg, Esq.
Vicky Levy Eskin, Esq.
Steven Nauman, Esq.
William Wieland, Esq.
Karen Estry, Esq
Deborah O'Brien, Esq.
Stephanie Woods, Esq.
Samuel Filler II, Esq.
Douglas Oswald, Esq.
Ben Zaeri, Esq.
Robert Fisher, Esq.
James Partlow, Esq.
Philip Zyne, Esq.
Jennifer Frank, Esq.
Shivon Patel, Esq.
12
Attorneys who Contributed
in Lieu of Service donation
Gary Abriola, Esq.
Bridget Friedman, Esq.
Thu Pham, Esq.
Sandra Ambrose, Esq.
Martin Friedman, Esq.
Thomas Pilacek, Esq.
A. Bryant Applegate, Esq.
Mary Gannon-McMurry, Esq.
Vincent Profaci, Esq.
Matthews Bark, Esq.
Ann Marie Gilden, Esq.
Christopher Reed, Esq.
David Beers, Esq.
Ian Gilden, Esq.
Guy Rizzo, Esq.
Terry Bledsoe, Esq.
James Gordon, Esq.
Krista Rogers, Esq.
Joseph Blitch, Esq.
Karen Greene, Esq.
Thomas Rogers, Esq.
Brian Bolton, Esq.
Jacquline Grossi, Esq.
William Roy Jr., Esq.
Robert Bonner, Esq.
Veronica Harvey, Esq.
Taras Rudnitsky, Esq.
Michael Brehne, Esq.
George Helm III, Esq.
Dominick Salfi, Esq.
Jonathan Bukowski, Esq.
Robert Hoogland, Esq.
Michael Saporito, Esq.
Damon Chase, Esq.
John Iriye, Esq.
Cameron Shackelford, Esq.
Zachary Cheek, Esq.
Harry Jacobs, Esq.
Kellye Shoemaker, Esq.
Katherine Christy, Esq.
John Jones, Esq.
Monte Shoemaker, Esq.
Barbara Coenson, Esq.
Gary Kaleita, Esq.
Elaine Silver, Esq.
Richard Copeland, Esq.
Mary Beth Kelly, Esq.
Susan Silver, Esq.
Michael Cortes, Esq.
David Lane, Esq.
Thomas Speer, Esq.
Michael Crofts, Esq.
Ian Larson, Esq.
Christopher Sprysenski, Esq.
Michael De Filippo, Esq.
Marcia Lippincott, Esq.
Leslie Stewart, Esq.
Jeanie Dubinski, Esq.
Anna Long, Esq.
Paul Thompson, Esq.
Harris Dvores, Esq.
William McCabe, Esq.
James Vickaryous, Esq.
Maria Espinosa, Esq.
Bill McCollum Jr., Esq.
Helen Von Dolteren-Fournier, Esq.
Nicholas Evangelo, Esq.
Silvia McLain, Esq.
Deborah Gallagher Warner, Esq.
Debra Fields, Esq.
Paul Moyer, Esq.
Scot Warner, Esq.
John Finnigan, Esq.
Mark Nation, Esq.
Michael Wilson, Esq.
Robert Fisher, Esq.
Jennifer Nelson, Esq.
Richard Fox, Esq.
Amanda O’Dell, Esq.
Thomas Freeman, Jr., Esq.
Linda Lu Parkinson, Esq.
13
Volunteers and Interns
College Students
Brian Cohen (University of Central Florida)
Rafael Colmenares (University of Central Florida)
Latoya Laing (University of Central Florida)
Zholey Martinez (University of Central Florida)
Eileen Mendez (University of Central Florida)
Maria Mootiram (Seminole State College)
Nicholas Simons (University of Central Florida)
Victoria Willingham, (Seminole State College)
Bright Future Volunteer
Jordan LeGrand (Lake Brantley High School)
Law Students
Karrie Goldwire Simmons (Barry University Law School)
Michelle Gregory (Barry University Law School)
Cynthia McGee (FAMU Law School)
Donald Morrell (Barry University Law School)
Alexis Peterson (FAMU Law School)
Matthew Witlicki (Barry University Law School)
14 Volunteers and Interns
Danielle Price, UCF Intern, conducts
applicant interviews to determine eligibility.
Brian Cohen, UCF Intern,
conducts applicant interviews
to determine eligibility.
Latoya Laing, UCF Intern, conducts
applicant interviews to determine eligibility.
Eileen Mendez, UCF Intern,
conducts applicant interviews
to determine eligibility.
Zholey Martinez, UCF Intern, conducts
applicant interviews to determine
eligibility.
Jordan LeGrand, Bright Future
Lake Brantley High School
Volunteer.
Victoria Willingham,
SSC Legal Studies Intern.
15 Maria Mootiram,
SSC Legal Studies Intern.
Volunteers and Interns
Rafael Colmenares, UCF Intern, conducts
applicant interviews to determine eligibility.
Nicholas Simons, UCF Intern, conducts
applicant interviews to determine eligibility.
Donald Morrell,
Barry Law Student Intern.
Michelle Gregory,
Barry Law Student Intern.
Karrie Goldwire-Simmons,
Barry Law Student Intern.
Matthew Witlicki,
Barry Law Student Intern.
16
2014 Awards of Distinction
Attorney of the Year
Arthur Bryant Applegate
Seminole County Attorney Bryant
Applegate, an Martindale
Hubbell AV Preeminent rated attorney, has spent his entire legal
career representing governments at all levels, national clients and
non-profits on a wide range of issues, both as in-house and trial
counsel. He has represented numerous local governments and
constitutional officers in the State of Florida. He is a former Senior
Counsel for the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development, Ethics Advisor in the Office of Counsel to the
President of the United States, and
Co-Director of America’s
Affordable Communities Initiative. Former clients include the
United States Inter Agency Council on Homelessness, Catholic
Charities, the National Association of Realtors, the National
Community Stabilization Trust and the Urban Land Institute. While
serving at the Federal level, Mr. Applegate traveled throughout the country working with state and local
governments on overcoming regulatory barriers to affordable and workforce housing. He also served as
HUD’s representative in New Orleans on the Federal task force overseeing emergency recovery efforts
immediately after Hurricane Katrina. He established a pro-bono program helping families with seriously ill
children and has twice been nominated for state judgeships. He is also the recipient of the 1994 Florida
Young Lawyers Division Legal Aid Public Service Award and the Orange County, Florida Legal Aid Society’s
Award of Excellence. While working in Washington DC, Mr. Applegate also organized and operated an
emergency cold-weather shelter for homeless families in Jefferson County, West Virginia. He is also a
member of the Board of Advisors for the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.
“The unsung heroes in our great profession are those that commit to pro bono service to those in
dire need. Whether one works on just one case or dozens, the reward of hearing a client say
thank you or getting a tearful hug from a mom or dad of a very ill child, will more than
compensate for the time involved in helping those in need. For the greatest compensation comes
from the heart.”
- Bryant Applegate
17
President Award
Matthew Scott Ballou
Married to Tesha Scolaro Ballou, Esq. Father of three daughters.
Employed with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office1984 – present.
Thirteen years assigned to various investigative assignments including:
Burglary, Arson, Major Crimes, City County Auto Theft Bureau,
Financial Crimes, Federal Department of the Treasury Task Force Agent.
Promoted through the ranks to the current rank of Major. In that
capacity I oversee the Department of Youth Services which includes:
The Juvenile Assessment Center, The Juvenile Detention Center, The
Youth Intervention Services Unit, The Police Athletic League,
The Division of Child Protective Services, The Crimes Against Children
Unit, Innocent Images Federal Task Force; Adjunct Professor at Seminole State College of Florida 2002 – 2014;
Basic Law Enforcement Academy; Patrol Techniques/Community Policing, Physical Training, Vehicle Operations.
Education: Columbia College 2008; Criminal Justice / Political Science; FBI National Academy 2006; Executive
Leadership Development. Major Ballou was unanimously elected to serve as President of the Legal Aid Board for
the 2014 term. We are honored to have such a distinguished representative from the Seminole County Sheriff
serve as president of our Board.
Community Partner Award
SafeHouse of Seminole
As the CEO of the Seminole County Victims’ Rights Coalition (doing business
as SafeHouse), Jeanne focuses on meeting the needs of at-risk women and
children in the community. She raises funds and awareness for SafeHouse and
its high-impact community programs serving survivors of violence by
educating, cultivating and acquiring individual, corporate and foundation
benefactors and volunteers as well as foundation and government grants.
After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Communications
from the University of Florida, Jeanne moved to New York, graduating from
New York Law School and returning to Florida in 1990. She was then tapped as a Prosecutor for
the Offices of the State Attorney for both Orange and Seminole Counties, subsequently serving as
Division Chief for Seminole County’s Domestic Violence Division. She spent years battling
domestic violence and fighting for victims’ rights, laying the groundwork for her commitment to
helping women and her success with SafeHouse. The Legal Aid Program and Safehouse has had a
successful collaborative program to assist victims of domestic violence with their legal needs for
the last 7 years.
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Young Lawyer Service Award
Brett Anthony
Brett M. Anthony, Esq. was born and raised in Altamonte Springs, FL. He attended
Lake Mary High School before enrolling at the University of Miami to earn his
Bachelor of Science in Education. Upon graduation, Brett returned home to work
for Seminole County Public Schools and the Upward Bound Program at Rollins
College to assist underprivileged high school students in the Central Florida area.
Afterwards, Mr. Anthony decided to pursue a law degree and was awarded his Juris
Doctor in May 2012 from Stetson University College of Law. During law school,
Brett served as the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division Liaison for
Armed Forces Law, became a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children, and
prepared tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. In
addition, he interned with the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense and
the Office of the Attorney General of Florida to gain practical experience. From an academic standpoint, he also earned
the Book Award in International Human Rights for his paper entitled, “An International Approach to Abolition of the
Death Penalty in the United States: Utilizing Article 51 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to
Eliminate Optional Protocols and Subject the USA to Article 40 Reporting Requirements.” Since admission to the Florida
Bar, Brett has worked as an Associate Attorney for Bouldin & Associates, P.A. in St. Petersburg, FL and the Tampa office of
Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. before returning home to open the Anthony Law Firm. Attorney Anthony assisted
a legal aid client who was a stay at home mother for 14 years with a dissolution of marriage involving 4 minor children.
Attorney Anthony also is assisting a client who was married for 10 years with a history of domestic violence with a
dissolution of marriage involving 3 minor children.
Young Lawyer Service Award
Aaron Baghdadi
Aaron Baghdadi, Esq. graduated from FSU Law and was admitted to the bar in
2008. He was a public defender in the 5th circuit until April of this year, when
he went into private practice on his own.
Attorney Baghdadi assisted a veteran with a divorce modification so that he
would be able to see his son more as the adverse party was keeping the minor
child from the client. Attorney Baghdadi also assisted a single mother of a minor
child establish child support to provide for the needs of the minor child.
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Pro Bono Service Award
Vicki Levy Eskin
Ms. Eskin began her legal career at the 9th Circuit State Attorneys office in Orange
County and then served as an assistant Public Defender in the Orange County Public
Defenders office for six years, at which time she entered into private practice as a sole
practitioner under the name Vicki K. Levy, and then formed Levy & Associates, P.A. of
Central Florida, where she is the principal owner. Ms. Eskin is a member of the Florida
Bar, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, and the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Armed Forces. She is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a
Circuit Civil Mediator, County Court Mediator, and as an Appellate Mediator for the Fifth
District Court of Appeal for Florida. Vicki Levy Eskin is an active member and leader in
the General Practice Solo Division of the American Bar Association, and served three
years as the National Solo and Small Firm Conference Chair for that Division. She is also
active in the local community, having won the 2008 Seminole County Community
Activist award from the Guardian ad Litem program and serves on several advisory boards addressing the needs of children,
the elderly, and those with mental health issues. She recently served as an ABA Advisor to the Uniform Law Commission
Committee which drafted the model code addressing Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets and the parallel committee drafting
legislation in that area for the RPPTL division of the Florida Bar. She has written and lectured on preserving digital assets,
international estate planning and other areas of estate and trust practice. For over thirty years, she has actively volunteered
with programs addressing the needs of foster care children and those aging out of the foster care program. She has one
son, two stepchildren, and six grandchildren, and is married to Paul Eskin. Attorney Eskin conducted a pro bono Foreclosure
mediation for a family who were actively seeking a loan modification and trying to save their home. Attorney Eskin also
assisted a senior with an annuity issue as the company would not allow her to withdraw her funds so that she could meet her
monthly needs.
Pro Bono Service Award
Karen Kay Estry
Karen Estry is a native Floridian and long-time resident of Central Florida. The focus of
her legal practice is in family law, probate, and civil litigation. She is a member of the
Seminole County Bar and the Volie A. Williams, Jr., Inns of Court. From 2012 to 2013 she
taught at Seminole State College as an adjunct professor in the legal studies program.
Karen is also active in the local community, having been elected to serve on the governing
board of Deltona Alliance Church, Deltona, Florida. Attorney Estry generously assisted a
senior client whose husband passed away, who was the sole signer of the mortgage note.
The client needed assistance completing documents to become executor/administrator of
estate to be able to keep her home.
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Pro Bono Service Award
Minh Nguyet Han
Minh Han is a graduate of the University of Florida. The focus of her legal
practice is family law. She is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Family
Law Mediator. Since 2012, she has taught at Seminole State College as an
adjunct professor in the legal studies program. She currently serves as a
committee member of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee.
Attorney Han has generously donated her time to conduct bi-monthly advice
clinics for the past year, contributing to over 25 pro bono hours.
Pro Bono Service Award
Deborah Marie Rusoff O'Brien
Deborah O’Brien is an AV rated attorney who heads up the Orlando office of Chicago
-based Lowis & Gellen LLP. Licensed in Florida and Illinois, Deb has been litigating
civil cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts for more than 20 years. She
tries medical malpractice and other catastrophic injury cases, and also represents
corporations and municipalities with respect to a wide variety of matters including
contractual disputes, labor and employment, civil rights, negligence and premises
liability. In addition, Deb is experienced in construction litigation, and has handled
intellectual property disputes involving trademark/tradename infringement, unfair
competition and right of publicity claims. Deb also handles guardianship and
dependency matters. Deb is proud to provide pro bono legal service through the
Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society. She has also served as a moot
court judge in competitions sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association, IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, and the
University of Central Florida, and as a mock trial judge in competitions sponsored by the FLREA. Deb has also served as a
law student mentor, and has tutored high school students confined to the Chicago Juvenile Detention Center through a
program sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association. Additionally, Deb served as a volunteer on the Florida Voting
Rights Legal Team during the 2008 and 2012 general elections, and previously served as chairperson for one of
Seminole County’s School Advisory Councils.
Deb obtained her B.S. in Business Administration with High Honors from the University of Florida. She received her J.D.
from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she was a Lowell Thomas Scholar, and graduated with Honors. While in
law school, Deb served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Charles R. Norgle in the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Illinois. She was also active in the Kent Moot Court Society, and served as a Moot Court Associate Justice.
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Pro Bono Service Award
Linda Karen Phipps
Linda graduated from the University of Miami school of Law with a JD cum laude. She has practiced
family law in Central Florida since 1980 and is semi retired. She received two previous awards for pro
bono service, one from the Orange County Bar Association and one for the Seminole County Bar
Association; has served as a pro bono GAL in both circuits and chaired one of the Orange County
Grievance Committees. Her involvement in the community has included serving as a member of the
Executive Committee of the Central Florida Sierra Club, a well as serving on the Board of the Seminole
Community Mental Health Center. Linda is married to Jerry Handshuh. She has three stepchildren and an
8 year old step grandson. Attorney Phipps has generously donated her time to conduct bi-monthly advice
clinics for the past year, contributing to over 16 pro bono hours.
“My pro bono work including recent efforts reminds me of why I went to law school
in the first place. It has been some of the most gratifying of my career. The adults
and children have been among the most deserving, interesting and appreciative of
clients. This past year I have had the additional pleasure of working with the lawyers
and staff of the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society. They set the
standard for competent and dedicated legal professionalism.”
- Linda Phipps
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
--Margaret Mead, anthropologist
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2014 Board of Directors
Major Scott Ballou
President
Angela Kersenbrock
Vice President
Damon A Chase, Esq.
Secretary and Treasurer
Maria E Espinosa, Esq.
Director
Thomas G Freeman Jr., Esq.
Director
Steven D Kramer, Esq.
Director
Robert McIntosh, Esq.
Director
Jaimon Perry, Esq.
Director
Assistant Dean Melvin Rogers
Director
Frederic “Ric” Stanley, Jr., Esq.
Director
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Seminole County Legal Aid Staff
Silvia McLain, Esq.
Allan Andino
Executive Director
Florida Registered Paralegal and
technology Specialist
Sue Selsky, Esq.
Denice Garza
Staff Attorney
Florida Registered Paralegal
Yvonne Alonso, Esq.
Renee Martinez
Sarah Maxwell, Esq.
Charity Steinbach
Janice Blachstein
Kayana McKinney
Staff Attorney
Legal Assistant
Staff Attorney
Case & Pro Bono Coordinator
Part time Bookkeeper
Receptionist and Assistant
Coordinator
Silvio Infante
Part-Time File Clerk
Kayana joined the legal aid office in July of 2014 as our
receptionist and assistant coordinator. She is a graduate
of Seminole State College. She graduated with a Business
and Information Management Bachelor of Science Degree.
She greets all clients and volunteers to our office and
makes them feel welcome. She is a great addition to our
office.
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2014 Silent Auction Donors
ORLANDO FLAG CENTER
GalleryRuck, LLC
Greg Hess
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2014 Pro Bono Recognition
Event Sponsors
Working Together for Justice
Olympic Sponsor Platinum Sponsor Scot and Debbie Warner
Jennifer Frank
Gold Sponsor A. Bryant Applegate
Matthews Bark
Michael Crofts
Steve Kramer
William McCabe
Silvia McLain
Silver Sponsor Sandra Ambrose
Ann Marie Gilden
Ian Gilden
William Orth
Dr. Flora Pinder
Christopher Sprysenski
Bronze Sponsor Maria E Espinosa
Robert McIntosh
Robert Rasch
Ric Stanley
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Sponsors
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Sponsors
Bryant & Lynn
Applegate
Michael L Crofts, P.A
172 W Warren Avenue
Longwood, FL 32750
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Sponsors
Silvia McLain
William McCabe
Seminole County Legal Aid Society
101 W Palmetto Avenue
Longwood, FL 32750
(407) 834-1660 Ext. 108
Email: silvia@scbalas.com
1250 S US Highway 17 92 Ste. 210
Longwood, FL 32750
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Sponsors
Legal Aid clients and visitors can enjoy the outside area of the Legal Aid building located in Historical
Longwood. Through frugal management the mortgage on our building was retired and the majority of
funds are dedicated to direct legal services to assist the disadvantaged in our community.
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