Dennis Harrison, Author at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.

Pro Bono Attorney Helps Client Obtain Safe and Secure Housing

Pro Bono Attorney Helps Client Obtain Safe and Secure Housing

My client, who is deaf, was jumped by a group of men while walking home from work. Two days later his apartment was burglarized. The case caught my attention after it was reported by Vic Micolucci at News 4 Jax. It was especially interesting to me because the victim (and my client to be) was a cook at a local restaurant in the Lakewood area where I am a fairly frequent diner. My client’s apartment complex made some temporary repairs to correct the damage from the break in, but not enough to make much of a difference. There were also serious problems due to roaches and rats and there had been a major water leak that was causing serious mold issues. It was a bad situation and my client wanted to find a new place to live without having to worry about an eviction on his record.

Dennis Harrison2020-12-17T14:57:29-05:00October 24th, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing, News, Pro Bono|

Susannah Collins serves veterans, domestic violence survivors and others pro bono

Susannah Collins serves veterans, domestic violence survivors and others pro bono

Susannah Collins is a family law attorney, social investigator, attorney ad litem, and Florida Supreme Court certified family law mediator whose law office is located in Jacksonville’s historic district of Riverside. Her practice focuses on all areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, domestic violence, child time sharing, alimony, enforcement, civil parental kidnapping, and extended family adoptions. Since her practice began nearly 20 years ago, Collins has also offered many legal services pro bono.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-24T17:16:00-04:00October 22nd, 2020|Family Law, News, Pro Bono, Veterans Services|

Eviction Defense Self Help Project – Keeping Roofs Over Heads!

Eviction Defense Self Help Project – Keeping Roofs Over Heads!

An eviction was filed against a tenant for non-payment of rent, but she had paid rent consistently during the term of the lease. The tenant relied on public transportation; to ensure rent payment, each month the landlord drove to the property, picked up the tenant, drove her to an ATM where she withdrew the rent money, paid it to landlord, and then the tenant was dropped back off at the property. The landlord was trying to force the tenant out and misrepresented non-payment of rent in the eviction complaint a few days after having taken her money. The landlord also alleged breach of the lease due to the tenant having other adults on the property who were not listed on the lease. These other adults were the tenant’s babysitters for her children when she had to go to work. These babysitters were also present and witnessed when the landlord came to pick up the tenant to drive her to the ATM for rent payments.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-25T15:34:09-04:00October 20th, 2020|Fair Housing, News, Pro Bono|

Susan E. Mack’s pro bono service provides life-changing benefits to her clients

Susan E. Mack’s pro bono service provides life-changing benefits to her clients

Susan E.Mack has practiced law for 37 years as a senior corporate counsel and general counsel in the area of insurance and reinsurance transactions. Currently partner and pro bono coordinator at the firm Adams and Reese, Mack has demonstrated a strong commitment to pro bono service.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-24T17:25:13-04:00October 19th, 2020|Client Stories, News, Pro Bono, Veterans Services|

JALA gets grandfather custody so he can enroll his grandson in kindergarten

JALA gets grandfather custody so he can enroll his grandson in kindergarten

At the request of a local judge, Michelle Broyles, Division Chief of JALA’s Family Law and Victim Advocacy Unit, began advocating on behalf of “Dre,” 5. Dre’s mother struggles with substance abuse, which led to Dre being bounced around between his grandfather in Connecticut and different people in Jacksonville, some of whom were family and some friends.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-24T17:27:57-04:00October 18th, 2020|Client Stories, Family Law|

JALA helps veteran obtain housing that accommodates his PTSD

JALA helps veteran obtain housing that accommodates his PTSD

“Sebastian,” 67, a veteran who suffers from PTSD and other service-connected psychological and emotional issues, contacted St. Johns County Legal Aid for help when his quiet upstairs neighbors moved away and were replaced by a noisy family.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-14T15:43:39-04:00October 14th, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing, Veterans Services|

Abused young mother reunited with her son with JALA’s help

Abused young mother reunited with her son with JALA’s help

After experiencing domestic violence that included choking, hitting, punching, stalking and cyberstalking, “LaRon,” 25, turned to JALA for help. At the time, she was in the midst of a paternity case involving her son. After paternity was established, the child’s father, who was also LaRon’s abuser, then withheld her son from her without justification for more than nine months.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-09T11:24:44-04:00October 9th, 2020|Client Stories, Family Law, VOCA|

JALA obtains alimony and marital home in settlement for abuse survivor

JALA obtains alimony and marital home in settlement for abuse survivor

“Soraya,” 54, is permanently disabled and unable to work. Her husband, a truck driver, is also her abuser. He threatened to take away her home and her citizenship if she asked for alimony. Soraya speaks only Spanish and was terrified to go to trial. She is a citizen, and it took her a long time to understand that her husband cannot take her citizenship away from her.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-07T16:25:13-04:00October 7th, 2020|Client Stories, Family Law|

CDC order protects Floridians as state’s eviction moratorium expires

CDC order protects Floridians as state’s eviction moratorium expires

For the first time since April — when businesses were forced to close down — Floridians will be without statewide protections against evictions and foreclosures. Despite Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' decision to allow the eviction moratorium to expire, Florida families who can’t pay rent after losing their jobs due to COVID-19 still have protections under a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order. The federal order is set to expire on Dec. 31.

Dennis Harrison2020-10-02T11:48:53-04:00October 2nd, 2020|Fair Housing, News|

Army veteran goes to JALA for help with divorce, comes away with a veteran’s pension

Army veteran goes to JALA for help with divorce, comes away with a veteran’s pension

A U.S. Army veteran, “Reginald,” 70, had been living on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and part-time wages as a handyman, earning less than $12,000 a year. Reginald, who had been diagnosed with two different types of cancer, applied to JALA for help with a divorce and was referred to the Veterans Services Unit.

Dennis Harrison2020-09-29T08:13:01-04:00September 29th, 2020|Client Stories, Veterans Services|

Dennis.Harrison@jaxlegalaid.org

About Dennis Harrison