NCLEJ’s 2016 Benefit Awards Dinner Is a Night of Inspiration
Henry Freedman, Jennifer Selendy, Marc Cohan, Kenneth Feinberg, Brooke Richie-Babbage, Jeffrey Shinder, Hon. Laura Safer Espinoza, and Caitlin Halligan
We would like to extend a warm thank you to our generous sponsors and to everyone who attended our 2016 Benefit Awards Dinner on October 26.
The night was a moving one with our remarkable honorees sharing inspiring stories of their work. They included Kenneth R. Feinberg, whose award was presented by Henry A. Freedman; Brooke Richie-Babbage, whose award was presented by Marc Cohan, and the law firm Constantine Cannon LLP, whose award was presented by the Honorable Laura Safer Espinoza and accepted by Jeffrey I. Shinder.
Our Dinner Co-Chairs included: Ricardo A. Anzaldua, Sheila L. Birnbaum, Stephen M. Cutler, Henry A. Freedman, and J. Kevin McCarthy, and Caitlin Halligan served as the evening's emcee. If you were unable to attend the dinner, but would like to support it, please click here. A copy of the dinner journal can be seen here.
NCLEJ Appeal Aims to Protect Social Security from Seizure by Debt Collectors
NCLEJ, along with co-counsel New Economy Project and Ahmad Keshavarz, filed an appeal in the Second Circuit in a case that addresses the critical need to protect Social Security and other exempt benefits from restraint and seizure by debt collectors in New York. The brief argues that the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act prohibits debt collectors from knowingly restraining exempt funds. The case is of critical importance to the thousands of low-income New Yorkers who subsist on government benefits or low-wage work and need every penny for rent, food, transportation and health care. Read more.
Claudia Wilner Recognized with National Consumer Law Center’s Rising Star Award
 NCLEJ Senior Attorney Claudia Wilner (on right) has been recognized for her outstanding work by the National Consumer Law Center with its 2016 Rising Star award, presented at the Consumer Rights Litigation Conference last month. The award honors attorneys who made major contributions to consumer law by trying or settling a case of great success and significance. Claudia was honored along with Carolyn Coffey of MFY Legal Services for their work on the landmark case Sykes v. Mel S. Harris & Associates, which challenged widespread abusive debt collection practices in the New York State courts. Read more.
Marc Cohan Named One of the CSR Responsible 100
 Executive Director Marc Cohan has been named by City & State New York, a media company covering government and politics in New York, as one of the CSR Responsible 100. This honor will be presented at the Responsible 100 Gala Luncheon on December 15. According to City & State New York, it recognizes some of New York’s “most powerful executives, thought leaders, visionaries and influencers, who are setting new standards of excellence, dedication and leadership in improving their communities.” Marc was nominated by NCLEJ Board Chair Jennifer Selendy.
NCLEJ Once Again Awarded Top Rating from Charity Navigator
 We are pleased to announce that NCLEJ has been awarded its fourth consecutive 4-star rating - the highest rating given - from Charity Navigator. Only 15% of charities evaluated have received three or more consecutive 4-star ratings. According to Charity Navigator, this means that “National Center for Law and Economic Justice outperforms most other charities in America.” In addition to our overall rating, Charity Navigator praised NCLEJ for “demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.” Charity Navigator is the largest independent charity evaluator in the United States.
NCLEJ Staff Speak at National Conferences
 Marc Cohan and National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation Fellow Theresa Lau presented at the 2016 NAPABA Convention, which took place from November 3-6 in San Diego. They spoke to Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students about Theresa’s fellowship project, which is addressing the health needs of low-income Asian communities in New York City. Marc and Theresa touched on systematic barriers to health care access identified by community advocates and addressed potential strategies the project can implement to improve access to health care.
 In addition, Marc presented at the National Legal Aid & Defender Association Conference, which took place November 9-12 in Indianapolis. The theme of the conference was Advocacy at a Crossroads: Equality, Justice, and Human Rights and Marc spoke about the modernization of public benefits, including NCLEJ's history of work to ensure that modernizing systems do not leave behind vulnerable people.
Karl Eschelbach Joins NCLEJ as a Volunteer Attorney
 NCLEJ is pleased to welcome our newest volunteer attorney, Karl Eschelbach. Karl is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law and of Drew University. He also earned his Masters in Philosophy from Durham University in the United Kingdom. He has interned for the Nassau County District Attorney and worked for the Homeless Advocacy Project. We are thrilled to have him with us.
NCLEJ Statement on 2016 Election
Read NCLEJ's statement on the 2016 election here.
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