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Jacksonville’s Laura Boeckman and Katie Fackler appointed to The Florida Bar Foundation Board

Laura Boeckman and Katie Fackler has been appointed to The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors. Boeckman, assistant general counsel for the city of Jacksonville, was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court. Fackler, associate general counsel with Baptist Health System, was appointed by The Florida Bar Board of Governors. Boeckman will fill the remainder of a three-year term ending in 2024 that was vacated by another board member. She graduated from Indiana University School of Law in 2001 and began her career as a judicial clerk and a staff attorney with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. She has since served as a clinical professor at Florida Coastal School of Law and as the North Florida Bureau Chief of the Consumer Protection Division of the Florida Office of the Attorney General.

2024-01-04T11:29:16-05:00May 31st, 2023|News|

JALA helps tenant with disabilities keep live-in aide

“Joseph,” who lives in federally subsidized housing, has had multiple strokes and is in on weekly dialysis. He is legally blind, cannot drive and needs an electric wheelchair to get around. Having a live-in aide would help him live more independently in a stable environment. His choice of live-in aide was denied by his property management company because of a “derogatory, negative, or insufficient credit report and for having a credit score of 519." Under HUD regulations, negative credit is not a permissible reason for denying a live-in aide for a person with a disability. The regulations provide that a live-in aide does not have to meet tenant eligibility requirements. The rationale is that a live-in aide is not a tenant and does not receive a housing subsidy, because the rent is not calculated based upon the live-in aide’s income. A live-in aide merely makes it possible for the elderly, near elderly, or disabled individual to benefit from the housing program.

2024-01-04T11:31:02-05:00May 24th, 2023|Children's Health, Fair Housing, Family Law, News, Veterans Services|

Head of JALA’s Veterans Legal Services Unit receives VA accreditation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Attorney Jacalyn Crecelius, who leads Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Veterans Legal Services Unit, has received Veterans Administration accreditation, a qualification that helps ensure claimants have access to responsible and qualified representation on their VA benefits claims. “This accreditation opens up major opportunities to serve northeast Florida veterans and their families,” Crecelius said. “There are so many underserved veterans who aren’t receiving the VA benefits they deserve, and I’m excited to be able to advocate for them in a notoriously complicated system.” With accreditation, Crecelius can represent claimants after the VA has issued an initial decision on a claim. She can help them further develop evidence to support their claim and devise legal arguments on their behalf to submit to VA. She can also help clients navigate the VA appeals process. “JALA is thrilled to have a VA-accredited attorney to better serve our veterans,” JALA President and CEO Jim Kowalski said. “VA studies have found that civil legal assistance is among the top unmet needs of unhoused veterans, and the affordable housing crisis has only increased the challenges faced by our veterans. Access to veterans’ benefits is critical to providing all low-income veterans with stability.”

2023-09-08T11:38:01-04:00May 24th, 2023|News, Veterans Services|

St. Johns County Legal Aid recognized for its service to the county’s Drug Court

As part of its 20th Anniversary Celebration, St. Johns County Drug Court recently recognized St. Johns County Legal Aid for its service to the court, a judicially-led program for non-violent addicted people with drug-related felony charges who reside within the county. The program involves regular court appearances before the judge, substance abuse treatment counseling, frequent random drug testing and supervision by probation. Five years ago, the treatment courts in St. Johns County, which include the Drug Court as well as a Veterans Treatment Court, asked St. Johns County Legal Aid to join their court team.  “The treatment court model was designed with prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement, and probation officers, as well as therapeutic counselors for mental health and addiction treatments, but the team was missing the civil legal issues that were holding down their success rates,” said Megan Wall, St. Johns County Legal Aid managing attorney. 

2023-05-24T10:13:04-04:00May 22nd, 2023|Children's Health, Family Law, News, Pro Bono|

Why giant investment company rentals are being blamed for affordable housing issues in Jacksonville

‘Flipping humans quickly’: I-TEAM investigates trend COJ report says is causing higher rent, fewer homes to buy JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A News4JAX I-TEAM analysis of Jacksonville property records found more than 9,600 homes across Duval County are owned by large, institutional investors, which are companies that have more than 1,000 homes nationwide in their portfolio. Single-family homes are being bought up by giant investment companies as rental properties. The trend is being blamed for contributing to rent hikes, leaving first-time home buyers with fewer options, and worsening Jacksonville’s affordable housing issues. A Jacksonville City Council committee pointed to this trend as one of the reasons for the city’s affordable housing issues. House prices and rents in Jacksonville have gone up nearly 50% since 2018, driven by people moving to Florida, a period of low interest rates and institutional investors. City Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman described the problem as “huge.”

2024-01-04T11:32:56-05:00May 19th, 2023|Fair Housing, News|

Presentation of the Pins honors pro bono attorneys for service

Attorneys in the 4th Judicial Circuit who contributed 20 or more hours of pro bono service were honored March 24 for their commitment in promoting access to justice. Held annually at the Duval County Courthouse, the William A. Van Nortwick, Jr. Presentation of the Pins Ceremony is a luncheon wherein attorneys are recognized by their peers as well as members of the judiciary. This event is aptly named for the late William A. Van Nortwick Jr., a well-respected Jacksonville attorney and retired member of the judiciary.

2024-01-04T11:33:41-05:00May 4th, 2023|News, Pro Bono|

2023’s Class of 40 Under 40: Alessandro Apolito of Lippes Mathias LLP

What has been your biggest accomplishment over the course of your career? My biggest accomplishment so far has been receiving the 2020 Florida Young Lawyers Division's Lynn Futch award for the most productive young lawyer. This is a statewide award presented to the most productive young lawyer in the state. How are you involved in the community outside of work (board positions, etc.)? I have previously been active in the community through my involvement with the Young Lawyers Section of the Jacksonville Bar Association, where I have held various positions, including the role of president in 2020. As part of my involvement with the Young Lawyers Section I have volunteered and helped to raise money for a number of local charitable organizations that include Rethreaded, the Anthony Stinson Association for Change, Clarke School for Hearing and Speech, and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.

2023-05-22T10:21:46-04:00April 21st, 2023|News, Pro Bono|

2023’s Class of 40 Under 40: Ashlea A. Edwards of Akerman LLP

What has been your biggest accomplishment over the course of your career? I have had successful outcomes and experience with trials, appeals, and cases that have been memorable, including successfully defending an appeal with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for the City of Neptune Beach, successfully defending claims made against a large airline and national big box store in a variety of forums, and assisting local charities seek and obtain 501(c)(3) status. Additionally, I do rewarding work with the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid where I assist qualified individuals through the probate process after a loved one has passed away.

2023-05-22T10:22:33-04:00April 21st, 2023|News, Pro Bono|

Lawsuit targets Florida Medicaid program over incontinence supplies

Attorneys for two women with disabilities have filed a potential class-action lawsuit alleging that Florida’s Medicaid program is improperly denying coverage for incontinence supplies. The lawsuit, filed Sunday in U.S. district court in Jacksonville on behalf of Duval County resident Blanca Meza and St. Johns County resident Destiny Belanger, contends that the state is violating federal Medicaid law and laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act. It said the state provides incontinence supplies, such as briefs, diapers and underpads, for Medicaid beneficiaries under age 21 and for certain adults, including people in nursing homes and people in what are known as Medicaid home- and community-based services “waiver” programs.

2024-01-04T11:35:42-05:00April 12th, 2023|News|

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