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LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MISSOURI
IntroductIon 1
SucceSS StorIeS 11
MeSSage FroM executIve dIrector 17
PractIce areaS 18
caSe StatIStIcS 23
volunteer attorney Project 25
Where We Work 29
donatIonS 33
trIbuteS 34
FInancIalS 35
our PeoPle 36
Legal Aid of Western Missouri has improved the lives of those in need through quality legal assistance
since 1964. Legal Aid provides free civil (non-criminal) legal assistance to people who need it most and can
afford it least. With offices in downtown Kansas City, Joplin, St. Joseph, Warrensburg and a neighborhood
office on Kansas City’s west side, Legal Aid serves a 40-county area where 281,000 people live in poverty.
What’s InsIde
throughout our annual report we use pseudonyms and stock photos to protect client confidentiality.
WWW.LAWMo.org
LEgAL AID oF WESTErN MISSoUrI oN
@LegalAidTweets oN TWITTEr
THINK ABOUT IT…
EVERY DAY,MISSOURIANS ARE
DENIED ACCESS TO THEBASIC RIGHTS TOWHICH THEY ARE
ENTITLED UNDER THELAW, SIMPLY BECAUSETHEY CAN’T AFFORD AN
ATTORNEY.
EQUAL ACCESS TOJUSTICE DOESN'T
JUST MAKE SOME OFTHE DIFFERENCE FOR
PEOPLE IN NEED.
IT MAKES ALL OFTHE DIFFERENCE!
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAYING IN A HOME AND LIVING
ON THE STREET; BETWEEN A SAFE FAMILY LIFE AND A LIFE OF FEAR AND VIOLENCE; BETWEEN PAYING FOR MEDICATIONS AND PUTTING
FOOD ON THE TABLE.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN.. .
STAYING IN A HOME &LIVING ON THE STREET
A SAFE FAMILY LIFE &A LIFE OF FEAR & VIOLENCE
PAYING FOR FOOD & MEDICINE & HAVING TO CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER
SINCE 1964, LEGAL AIDOF WESTERN MISSOURIHAS BEEN THE DRIVING
FORCE THAT MAKESCHANGE REAL IN THELIVES OF THOUSANDS
OF LOW-INCOMEMISSOURIANS.
WE FIGHT FORCHILDREN, VETERANS,THE ILL AND DISABLED,SENIORS, VICTIMS OFDOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
AND MORE.
LEGAL AID DOES IT ALL!
WE WORK TO ENSUREFAIR PLAY IN A
COMPLEX SYSTEM THATIS STACKED AGAINST
OUR LOW-INCOMENEIGHBORS.
BUT, GUESS WHAT... AFTER 50 YEARS, THE PLAYING FIELD STILL ISN’T LEVEL.
IT’S HARD TO PLAYIN A GAME WHERE
YOUR OPPONENT HASTHE GEAR AND YOU
HAVE NOTHING.
OUR CLIENTS FACETHE LEGAL SYSTEM
EMPTY-HANDED.
WITHOUT LEGAL AID,OUR CLIENTS WOULDN’T
STAND A CHANCE.WITH LEGAL AID,THERE IS HOPE.
THAT HOPE IS WHATKEEPS US GOING.
THAT HOPE IS WHAT WILLKEEP US GOING FORTHE NEXT 50 YEARS.
AS A RESULT OF YOUR SUPPORT, EQUAL
ACCESS TO JUSTICEISN'T JUST A DREAM.
IT'S A REALITY.
WE THANK YOU!OUR CLIENTS THANK YOU!
thanks to a hardWorkIng LegaL aId ParaLegaL, kImmIe noW receIves reguLar medIcaL care
11
Kimmie came into the Legal Aid office for assistance with her MO HealthNet
(Medicaid) appeal. She had massive swelling in her legs and feet; her feet and
legs were discolored; and she had to wear flip-flops because she could not
put shoes on her feet. She had several recent hospitalizations and emergency
room visits but could not establish regular medical care.
Her Legal Aid attorney obtained photographs of Kimmie’s feet, medical
records and an affidavit from Kimmie. These were submitted to the hearing
officer within the week requesting an on-the-record decision. A ruling was
made in Kimmie’s favor and her Medicaid eligibility was established with prior
quarter coverage.
Kimmie had been receiving daily medical collection letters. Legal Aid sent let-
ters to thirteen separate medical providers, notifying them of Kimmie’s Med-
icaid approval and advising that they could now submit their bills to the state
for payment.
Kimmie is now able to receive regular medical care and is very relieved to have
her medical bills from the last year paid.
meet kImmIe
QuIck actIon by LegaL aId’s forecLosure PreventIon unIt saved broderIck’s home
13
Broderick worked hard to set aside money to buy a house and for years made
timely mortgage payments. But after Broderick became permanently disabled
and could no longer work, he could not afford his $735 mortgage payment
on his $996 monthly diability payment. He attempted to obtain a modifica-
tion of his mortgage loan on his own, but his requests were denied. When his
mortgage company threatened to foreclose, Broderick contacted Legal Aid
for assistance.
Broderick’s Legal Aid attorney reviewed his circumstances and determined
that Broderick was eligible for a loan modification under the federal Home
Affordable Modification Program. The attorney prepared and submitted to
Broderick’s mortgage company a 26-page loan modification request with
all of the necessary documentation. The loan modification was promptly
granted, which brought Broderick’s loan current and reduced his interest rate
from 6.625% to 2%, and his monthly mortgage payment from $735 to $386.
The Legal Aid attorney also advised Broderick of the Missouri Property Tax
Credit, which due to his disability and limited income should provide him with
a much-needed tax refund each year.
Thanks to Legal Aid, Broderick can now afford to pay his mortgage and other
living expenses, and no longer worries about losing his home.
meet broderIck
14
odessa & her chILdren are free from theIr abuser—they had LegaL aId on theIr sIde
15 15
Odessa contacted Legal Aid for help with a divorce. Her husband, Rod, had
physically abused her during their marriage, shoving her, slapping her in the
face, throwing her around their kitchen and tackling her. He also forced her
to engage in sexual acts against her will. Odessa finally moved to Oklahoma
to escape the relationship, taking their two-year-old child with her. She was
pregnant with their second child when Rod filed a divorce case against her in
Missouri. Odessa thought about asking the judge to dismiss the case for lack
of jurisdiction over child custody, but she ultimately decided to litigate in Mis-
souri because she wasn’t sure she could obtain legal services in Oklahoma.
Rod had an attorney and the case went to trial. Legal Aid presented recordings
of phone conversations in which Rod was supposed to be talking to the two-
year-old but instead cursed at Odessa and called her names. Odessa’s Legal
Aid attorney also introduced records showing that Rod harassed Odessa by
calling her phone as many as twenty times in a two-hour period. The judge
awarded Odessa sole legal and physical custody of the children, and ordered
Rod to complete anger management counseling before he could have any
unsupervised visitation with the children. The judge also ordered Rod to pay
child support.
Odessa now has financial support for her children. Most importantly, she will
be able to make all of the decisions affecting her children without having to
interact with her abuser. Her family will be safe and intact.
meet odessa
16
“YOU ARE WISE AND GIVESUCH GOOD COUNSEL. NO
MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME, IT’S NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE
HAVE MY BACK.” — ANGELA
17
a message from the executIve dIrectorIn the summer of 2011, I saw one of the most inspir-
ing visions of perseverance I’ve ever witnessed. I was
in Joplin, meeting with our team there as they worked
to help the community recover from the devastation
of the May tornado.
After the meeting, I took a tour through what was
left of the town. Amid the piles of rubble, there were
thousands of trees that had been savagely mangled
by the tornado—all but a few core limbs had been
ripped off and they had lost all of their leaves. When
I had driven through in May, they looked dead, but
two short months later, they were starting to sprout
branches and small green leaves were soaking up
the summer sun—an act of tremendously beautiful
natural defiance and revival. It was a harbinger of the
revival of the Joplin community.
The last few years have been horribly difficult for our
clients. Poverty has mushroomed in western Missouri
even faster than it has elsewhere in the country.
Foreclosures have been a cancer on our communi-
ties and domestic violence has grown and the attacks
have become more violent . Thousands of people
who are entitled to basic public benefits have been
denied them.
We are, however, starting to see some signs of hope
and recovery for our clients, as we and they fight
back against these hard times. In 2013, our Medicaid
Appeals partnerships expanded and took root in St.
Joseph, Nevada and Lamar. The Missouri Supreme
Court adopted a modest dues increase of $30 that
all Missouri lawyers will pay to support the work of
the legal aid programs. Congress passed a budget
that includes a 6.2% increase over last year and we
secured special funding for projects to help veterans,
low-income homeowners, former felons trying to
return to society and people seeking health insur-
ance under the Affordable Care Act.
Like the new growth on the trees of Joplin, these are
small steps in the recovery. For tens of thousands of
low-income people in western Missouri, life is still
much harder than it was six years ago. I’m optimistic,
however, that these changes are harbingers of better
times ahead.
I hope you enjoy meeting Kimmie, Broderick, Odessa
and our other Legal Aid clients whose stories you will
find in this wonderful report. Please remember that
their stories are a reflection of the work that our tal-
ented and dedicated staff did for more than six thou-
sand clients in civil matters in 2013.
With your support, the success that our staff had in
these cases is yet another harbinger of better things
to come.
Gregg Lombardi
Executive Director
18
our maIn PractIce areasfamILy LaW/domestIc vIoLence ProtectIonFor more than 30 years, Legal Aid’s largest practice
area has been domestic violence prevention. Legal
Aid’s experienced family law advocates help ensure
lasting safety for survivors of domestic violence and
their children. We provide legal representation to
low-income survivors of abuse and secure protec-
tive orders, establish paternity, obtain divorces and
establish child custody and child support orders.
Due to our limited resources, our attorneys accept
only cases that involve domestic violence and prior-
ity is given to those in which children are at risk.
Effective legal representation, combined with our
ability to refer clients to other community resources
for assistance with non-legal matters, has proven
to be one of the most effective means of stopping
domestic violence for our clients. With Legal Aid’s
assistance, domestic violence survivors are able to
achieve physical safety and financial security. With
this support, victims are more likely to leave their
abusers and have the personal and financial capac-
ity to establish a life free from abuse.
housIng assIstanceLegal Aid’s housing advocates provide a broad
array of legal services to clients living in poverty.
We primarily focus on public housing and Section 8
housing. We also represent people with disabilities
with accessibility issues, and we help other clients
with disputes over eligibility for public and subsi-
dized housing. Our housing counselors regularly pro-
vide advice or representation to help our clients avoid
wrongful evictions, secure wrongfully withheld secu-
rity deposits and correct improper rent calculations.
heaLthcare/state benefItsLegal Aid represents people who experience prob-
lems with state-administered public assistance pro-
grams. These programs include MO HealthNet for
the Aged, Blind and Disabled (Medicaid), Medicaid
Spend Down, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB),
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB),
temporary assistance, food stamps, childcare assis-
tance, Blind Pension, Supplemental Aid to the Blind,
home and community-based services, among others.
Legal Aid also provides assistance to families, chil-
dren and pregnant women to obtain and maintain
their Medicaid coverage. We provide legal represen-
tation to individual clients at administrative hearings
and in negotiations with state agencies. We also pro-
vide advice and counsel to clients regarding eligibil-
ity requirements for public benefits programs. Our
partnerships with Truman Medical Center, Heartland
Health and other regional healthcare providers cre-
ates one of the largest Medicaid appeals networks
in the country, providing access to medical care for
hundreds of low-income people every year.
We conduct extensive community outreach and
education about public benefits. This work improves
the quality of our clients’ lives through increased
access to healthcare, food assistance and income
support programs.
federaL benefItsLegal Aid provides assistance to clients with federal
benefit claims. Staff represent clients in administra-
tive hearings and in court to ensure they receive the
public benefits to which they are entitled. Typical
claims involve benefits such as Social Security,
Supplemental Security Income and Medicare.
19
forecLosure PreventIonSaving the homes of low-income, elderly and dis-
abled homeowners is a Legal Aid priority. Due to the
lingering effects of the nationwide foreclosure crisis,
thousands of Missourians face the imminent loss of
their homes — primarily due to job loss or disability,
high medical bills or other debts that forced them
to fall behind on loan payments leading to a home
loan delinquency.
Through litigation in state and federal courts, we
raise deficiencies in the foreclosure process and fre-
quently are able to stop foreclosure sales or to set
aside legally invalid sales. We file Chapter 13 bank-
ruptcies to stop the foreclosure process and allow
homeowners additional time to repay or restruc-
ture their debts and also to contest improprieties in
the foreclosure process. Legal Aid also negotiates
directly with loan servicers to pursue loss mitiga-
tion options, including loan modifications to reduce
interest rates and payments. We counsel homeown-
ers and tenants on their legal options before and
after a home is foreclosed and provide legal repre-
sentation when needed.
At times, homeowners living on a small retirement
or disability income fall behind in paying their prop-
erty taxes and are faced with tax sales. Legal Aid
helps homeowners save their homes through tax
redemption contracts, filing Chapter 13 bankrupt-
cies or seeking legal redress due to deficiencies in
tax sale proceedings.
economIc deveLoPment The Economic Development Unit represents non-
profit community organizations in neighborhood
improvement activities, including the creation of
low-income housing in Kansas City. Staff attorneys
provide legal assistance to neighborhood associa-
tions seeking to remedy vacant, blighted homes,
to nonprofit social service providers for low-income
residents, and to community development corpora-
tions seeking to rehabilitate and develop residential
units in their neighborhoods. Legal services include
property acquisition, financing, real estate closing
and syndication, tax abatement, zoning and con-
tracts with service providers.
emPLoyment LaWLegal Aid assists many workers to obtain unem-
ployment benefits when they are terminated from
employment through no fault of their own. Staff
also advise employees regarding their rights under
the equal employment laws.
consumerLegal Aid advises and represents low-income cli-
ents, particularly seniors living on Social Security,
in a variety of consumer issues. These include cases
involving utility shutoffs, predatory loans, home
repair, warranty claims, illegal and unfair debt col-
lection practices and other debtor-creditor issues.
ImmIgratIon LaW ProjectLegal Aid staff represent individuals and their fami-
lies in immigration cases including applications for
work permits, temporary and permanent resident
status and United States citizenship. Legal Aid also
provides advice on immigration issues to the immi-
grant victims of domestic violence, as well as training
for caseworkers at domestic violence shelters and
others assisting battered immigrants and those who
are victims of violent crime and human trafficking.
20
A
The transformation of public housing in Kansas
City began in 1989 when Julie Levin, the Managing
Attorney of the Central office of Legal Aid of Western
Missouri, filed the Tinsley vs. Kemp et al lawsuit in
Federal District Court on behalf of public housing
tenants and applicants. The lawsuit was filed against
the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri
(HAKC) and HUD. The suit alleged severe uninhabit-
able living conditions in Theron B. Watkins causing
the de facto demolition of the development. HAKC
had violated federal law requiring housing authori-
ties to obtain approval from HUD before demolish-
ing a public housing development.
In 1991, HAKC and HUD entered into a Consent Decree
that required the complete renovation of Theron B.
Watkins and the desegregation of public housing in
Kansas City. However, HAKC and HUD soon violated
the provisions of the decree and, after two contempt
hearings, HAKC was placed in receivership.
As a result of the receivership, the court ordered the
renovation of all of HAKC’s properties and the pres-
ervation of its resources. This resulted in the one-
for-one replacement of any public housing unit that
was sold or demolished. A tenant organization, the
Public Housing resident Council (PHrC), was formed
and has assisted Ms. Levin in monitoring all HAKC
policies, procedures, operations and the construc-
tion and development of HAKC’s properties.
Under receivership, HAKC became a model public
housing authority cited by HUD as a housing author-
ity to emulate. The agency has renovated or replaced
nearly every public housing unit in Kansas City and
has entered into development partnerships to create
new mixed-income and affordable housing devel-
opments. HAKC now provides housing or housing
assistance to more than 10,000 low-income families
and has a public housing waiting list of nearly 9,500
families and a Section 8 voucher waiting list of over
17,000 families.
HAKC was removed from receivership in April 2014.
If HAKC compliance continues, the Tinsley case will
be dismissed in April 2015.
RiveRview ApARtments: BefoRe And AfteR
LegaL aId transforms PubLIc housIng In kansas cItya Look back at LegaL aId’s hIstory
21
sPecIaL ProjectsLegal Aid continues to develop innovative partnerships and programs designed to
concentrate legal services in areas of particular need in our client community.
ABANDONED HOUSING ACT PROJECT (ST. JOSEPH)
ADVOCATES FOR FAMILY HEALTH
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PROJECT
BENEFICIARY DEED PROJECT
FAIR HOUSING PROJECT
LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC
MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH:BARTON COUNTY HOSPITAL•HEARTLAND HEALTH (ST. JOSEPH)•KANSAS CITY CARE CLINIC•NEVADA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER•ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL SYSTEM•TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER•
MIGRANT FARMWORKERS PROJECT
NEIGHBORHOOD ATTORNEY PROJECT
POST-FORECLOSURE TASK FORCE
PROJECT ASSIST-NORTHWEST (PROTECTIVE ORDERS)
PROTECTING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES PROJECT (PROTECTIVE ORDERS)
RURAL ASSISTANCE NOW (PROTECTIVE ORDERS)
SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAMS WITH KC MUNICIPAL COURTDRUG COURT•MENTAL HEALTH COURT•VETERANS’ TREATMENT COURT•
VETERANS PROJECT
VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROJECT SPECIAL PROJECTSABANDONED HOUSING ACT PROJECT•DOM. VIOLENCE INTERVENTION MENTORSHIP PROJECT•EDUCATION PROJECT•ELDERLY OUTREACH PROGRAM•HOMELESS OUTREACH•LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC ATTORNEY PANEL•NEIGHBORHOOD ADOPTION PROJECT•PRO BONO PROGRAM FOR BANKRUPTCY LITIGATION•PROJECT CONSENT (GUARDIANSHIPS)•PRO SE DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE CLINICS•TRANSACTIONAL LAW PROJECT•URBAN CORE ESTATE PLANNING PROJECT•
VOICES IN COURT (PROTECTIVE ORDERS)
ZOMBIE DEBT ERADICATION PROGRAM
22
The past few decades have seen dramatic changes
in the response to domestic violence in states and
communities throughout the United States. Some
of the earliest efforts to improve Kansas City’s
response came out of Legal Aid of Western Missouri
in the mid-1980s.
Legal Aid staff was concerned about the way
domestic violence cases were handled by the police
and courts. In 1985, they established Project Assist
to do broad-based systems advocacy and to work
with law enforcement agencies on domestic vio-
lence issues.
As part of this effort, Legal Aid recruited a number
of community organizations and formed a Court
Watch in the Municipal Court to demonstrate the
need for a consolidated domestic violence docket.
Because domestic violence cases were heard in all
eight of the Municipal Court courtrooms, they were
often handled inconsistently by different judges.
In addition, it was difficult for advocates to assist
victims with cases pending in multiple courtrooms.
The Court Watch Coalition included domestic vio-
lence shelters, as well as influential and highly-
credible community groups such as the Junior
League and the National Council of Jewish Women.
Legal Aid provided oversight and training for the
Court Watch.
For several weeks, the “court watchers” monitored
the courtrooms and found that, in general, domes-
tic violence victims had very bad experiences in
the court system. The project documented judges
making inappropriate comments and treating the
victims poorly.
The Court Watch also analyzed data on the dispo-
sition of domestic violence cases and found that
the outcomes were unpredictable, both within and
across courtrooms, as compared to other types of
cases which had more predictable outcomes. For
example, 60 percent of shoplifters were convicted
of an offense and that percent did not vary sig-
nificantly across courtrooms. In domestic violence
cases, however, less than 30 percent of offenders
were found guilty, and the outcomes varied widely.
The Court Watch prepared a report and recom-
mended changes. This report provided the sup-
port needed for the Circuit Court’s presiding judge
to order the Municipal Court to dedicate an entire
docket to domestic violence cases.
The Municipal Court’s dedicated domestic violence
docket continues today. And, Legal Aid’s Domestic/
Family Law unit continues to make great strides in
securing rights, protections and services for victims
of domestic violence.
consoLIdated domestIc vIoLence docket Is noW the norm
LegAL Aid oRgAnized A CouRt wAtCh in the KAnsAs City muniCipAL CouRt to demonstRAte the need foR A Con-soLidAted domestiC vioLenCe doCKet.
a Look back at LegaL aId’s hIstory
23
FAMILY LAW & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 30.8% 1,704
DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIVE ORDERS 13.3% 739
DOMESTIC ABUSE: MARITAL DISSOLUTION 7.5% 417
CHILD CUSTODY AND SAFE VISITATION 5.4% 300
OTHER FAMILY LAW CASEWORK 3.3% 184
JUVENILE NEGLECT AND ABUSE 0.7% 40
PATERNITY & CHILD SUPPORT 0.4% 24
HOUSING 21.4% 1,185
FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED & OTHER PUBLIC HOUSING 7.6% 422
TENANT RIGHTS 5.4% 300
HOMEOWNERSHIP 2.8% 157
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION 2.5% 138
BANKRUPTCY TO PREVENT FORECLOSURE 2.4% 132
BENEFICIARY DEEDS 0.6% 36
HEALTHCARE 19.2% 1,065
MEDICAID APPEALS 14.0% 776
MO HEALTHNET APPEALS 2.6% 146
OTHER HEALTHCARE CASEWORK 2.6% 143
PUBLIC BENEFITS 9.5% 528
INCOME MAINTENANCE 2.7% 152
FOOD STAMP APPEALS 2.5% 139
SOCIAL SECURITY APPEALS 2.2% 123
SOCIAL SECURITY- DISABILITY 2.1% 114
CONSUMER LAW 7.6% 423
ADULT GUARDIANSHIP, POA/ADVANCE DIRECTIVES 3.1% 173
EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT & TAX ISSUES 2.9% 163
GUARDIANSHIP FOR MINORS & ADOPTION 2.5% 137
IMMIGRATION & AGRICULTURAL WORKER ISSUES 1.7% 94
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & MISC. COMMUNITY 1.2% 69
totAL CiviL CAses CLosed 5,541
totAL KCmo muniCipAL CouRt CAses 7,719
totAL 2013 CLosed CAses 13,260
our numbers
24
“MY VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY WAS EXCELLENT. ALTHOUGH HE VOLUNTEERED HIS SERVICES,
HE TREATED ME WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT. HE WAS VERY UNDERSTANDING AND
COMPASSIONATE” — EDUARDO
25
voLunteer attorney ProjectThe Volunteer Attorney Project (VAP) places eligible clients with private attorneys who agree to provide free legal
representation to those who otherwise could not afford it. The private attorneys who volunteer their time through
VAP believe in the principle of equal access to the legal system, of making “justice for all” more than just a promise.
These attorneys are convinced that our legal system must work for all its citizens, and they donate their time and
considerable talents to make that ideal a reality.
During 2013, VAP attorneys closed 596 cases representing more than 3,098 hours of legal representation, approxi-
mately $619,600 worth of legal services. The following attorneys accepted new VAP cases in 2013.
kansas cItyJASMIN ABOU-KASSEMTODD ABPLANALPJOHN AISENBREYMILLARD ALDRIDGENANCY ALEMIFARDANIEL ALLENCOLLIN ALTIERI JASON AMERINEDAVID ANDERSONTERESA L. ANDERSON LOUIS ANGLESDWIGHT ARNRUSSELL C. ASHLEY JOHN AZIMI-TABRIZIANNE BAGGOTTMIRIAM BAILEYJOHN BARKER, IIIDAVID BARLOW TRACY BARNESJAMES BELLJENNIFER BERHORSTALYSSA MARIE BERNARDJAMES BERNARD, JR.JUDITH BERRY MARY ELLEN BIGGE NANCY BLACKWELLALLEN BLAIRMARY BETH BLAKEVAL BLEVINSJONATHAN BORTNICKSTEVE BOUGH SUSAN BRATCHERFAITH BRENNANDOUG BREYFOGLE
JOHN M. BRIGGCATHERYN BROOKSGARY BROUILLETTEWALTER BROWNLEE BRUMITTFRED BRYANT C. ROBERT BUCKLEYBRETT BURMEISTERSAM BURNETTCHRISTOPHER BURTONSTEPHANIE BURTONRYAN CALLAHANJOSEPH CAMBIANOROBIN CARLSONLYDIA CARSON ANDREA CHAMBERSSEEMA CHAWLAGINA CHIALA JOHN CHICK, JR.CARL CHINNERYTERESA CHUMATTHEW CLAIR-FEMRITEROBERT CLARKEGARY COLLINSNATALIE COOKHEATHER COUNTS-GARRETTCHERYL COWHERDERIN MAYFIELD CRAIGB.J. CRAIGFRED CROUCHHADEN CRUMPTONCHARLES CURRYDANA CUTLERKEITH CUTLERDON DAGENAISTOM DALTON
JASON DAVEYDONALD L. DAVISGARDINER DAVISPAUL DAVISKENDALL DAYTOM M. DEACYDAVID DEANJAY DEHARDT JEFF DEINESSHERRY DEJANES DAVID DESIMONEDANIEL DEVINE COULTER DEVRIESJANEEN DEVRIES JONATHAN DILLYJENNIFER DODSONBRIAN J. DOHERTYJENNIFER DOUGANERICA DRISKELLCARLY DUVALLSTEVEN EFFERTZJAMES ENSZMICHAEL FIELDINGJENNIFER FINCHNICOLE FISHERBRITTANY FLETCHEREDWARD FORD, III MICHAEL FORTINMICHAEL FOSTER DENNIS R. FOWLERJANE FRANCISJAMES FREEMAN, IIIMARSHA FRIEDMANDAVID FRENSLEYBRIAN GADDYSHERYLE GALLANT
26
VINCE GAULTIERDOUGLAS GHERTNERSTANLEY GILLESPIESARA GILLETTESTEVE GILLEYLINDSAY GIRSEBARBARA GLESNER-FINESJUAN GOMEZCHRISTINA GONDRINGROBERT GORDON CHARLES GOTSCHALLHUNTER GOULDGENE GRAHAMMIKE GRIERSTEPHEN GRIFFINRACHEL GUTHRIEANGELA HABEEBULLAHDEBORA HALE DANIEL HALL SHANE HAMMANLAWRENCE HAMELSARAH VOSS HANSENJOANI HARSHMANJAMES HARTKRISTI HARTMANNJOHN HASTINGSBLAKE HEATHBEN HEMBREETYLER HENSONNICK HERGOTTDAVID HICKEYANGELA HIGGINSTIM HILTONMICAH HOBBSROD HOFFMANMATTHEW HOLDMANCHARNISSA HOLLIDAY-SCOTTCHARICE HOLTSCLAW CAMRON HOORFARLYNN HOOVERSTEPHEN P. HORN TEDRICK HOUSHWILLIAM HUBBARD JOHN P. HURLEYALEXANDRA HUTCHINGSASHLEY IRWIN
DALE IRWINNANCY L. JACKSONKRISTEN JACOBSCHRIS JAVILLONARKATHLEEN A. JEANETTACHARLIE JENSENJOSEPH JEPPSONMAX JEVINSKYNANCY JOCHENSBEN JOHNSTONANDREW JONESDANA KAISERBARRY KATZKEVIN KELLYMATTHEW KENTNERTYSON KETCHUMJOHN KILGORERYAN KILIANYD. BRYANT KING, IIIJ. SCOTT KINGJEN KIPERDEBRA KNAPPRYAN KNIPP LLOYD KOELKER CHRIS KORTHABRAHAM KUHLJOHN KURTZADAM LABODAJESSE LANGFORDTHOMAS LASLEYLAURI LAUGHLANDTERRY LAWSON, JR.GARY LEFTRIDGEMEGAN LEIMKUEHLERBRENDA LEPPINTHERESA LEVINGSJACK LEWISHEATHER LOTTMANNHOWARD LOTVEN HAROLD LOWENSTEINAMY LUCKMELISA LUDEMANELIZABETH LYNCHKAY MADDENJEAN MANEKERYAN MANIES
ANTHONY MARTINEZSHANE MCCALLWILLIAM MCCOLLUMBRAD MCCORMACKMEGAN MCCURDYREBECCA MCMAHONTAMEE MCVEYANNA MARIA MERRITTJOSIE METZLERMARTIN M. MEYERSCHRIS MILES CHRISTINA MILLERJOHN MILLERR.B. MILLERTONY MILLERCHRIS MIRAKIANJASON MOEHLMANLEE MOOREMAURICE MOSSJAMES MUELLERTIM MURPHY MOLLY NAILROGER NAILTOM NANNEYKELSEY NAZAR DAVID NEUENDORFLEXI NGUYENDOUGLASS NOLANDHUGH O’DONNELLVINCENT O’FLAHERTYJANET OLIVERDANA OUTLAWNATHAN OWINGSDENNIS PALMERTEAGUE H. PASCORYAN PATTONLINDSAY PERKINSBENDA PETERSONSJIM PETRIE STEVEN PETRYWILLIAM PIEDIMONTEJOHN R. PINKLARRY PITTMANDEBORAH POLKMELISSA POSEYSUSAN PRATHER
voLunteer attorney Project (continued)
27
KEVIN PREWITTCHRISTY PULISPAM PUTNAMJENNIFER REAGAN BLAKE REEVESMARGARET RICHARDSROBERT W. RICHARDSR. SCOTT RICHART WILLIAM ROBERTSAMANDA ROBINSONTRACY L. ROBINSONJAMES ROSENBLOOMTHOMAS ROSZAKJEFFREY ROYER JOHN RYAN, JR.NEIL SADERG. MARK SAPPINGTONTINA SCHAEFERDAVID SCHATZANDREW SCHENDELKRYSTLE SCHERLING-DUNNKIMBERLY SCHEUERMANBEN SCHMITTASHLEY SCHOENJAHNWILLIAM SCHUTTEEMILY SCHWAPPACHMAUREEN SCULLYTIMOTHY SEARDARREN SHARPJUDITH SHARPDAVID SHAVERRYAN SHAWSTEVEN SHEPHERDHEATHER SHOREMALIKA SIMMONSGINA SIMONEJOHN M. SIMPSON WALTER SIMPSONANTHONY SMITHJOHN SOMMER SHANNON SORENSENDAVID SPENCERANGELA SPLITTGERBERJANICE STANTONTONI STEGEMANRACHEL STEPHENS
WILLIAM STILLEYJAMES STILLEY, JR.ROBERT STOPPERMANSTEVEN STREEN DAN STURDEVANTMICHAEL SVETLICLARRY SWALL JAMES SWANEY TIM SWANSONSUSAN SZCZUCINSKI MONICA TANZEYCASSANDRA TERHUNESCOTT THEINRON THIEWESJAMES TIPPIN KELLY TOBINCHRIS TROPPITOPAUL TURVEYLAURA TYLER D. PAUL TYSONJENNIFER VATHMATTHEW VERSCHELDENRICHARD WAGSTAFFCOURTNEY WAITSJOHN WATTBRIAN WEBBVICTOR WEBERBERNARD WEINANDDOUG WEMHOFFFRANK WENDTERIC WESLANDERRYAN WESTHOFFJEROME WHEELERSTEVEN WHITEDANA WILDERSSTANLEY WILKINSJOE WILLERTHBARBARA WILLIAMSEDWARD WILLIAMSLESLIE WILLIAMSTHOMAS WILLYFLORA WINITZBRENT WINTERBERG LINDSAY L. WOODLARRY WRIGHTLORNA WRIGHT
PHILIP WRIGHTTRACY WRISINGERERNIE YARNEVICH, JR . AMANDA YODERCHRIS YOTZROBERT ZELDINERIC ZIEGENHORN ANDY ZELLERS
joPLIn TINA LONGNECKER
st. josePh DAVID BOLANDERJIM GRAVESSCOTT ROSSTOM SUMMERS
WarrensburgBRANDON BAKER
28
“I AM A HEAD INJURY VICT IM AND CANNOT RETAIN
INFORMATION. I THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL THAT THE ATTORNEY AND PARALEGAL
CAME TO MY HOUSE AND TOOK CARE OF MY LEGAL NEEDS.”
— DONNA JO
29
Where We WorkjoPLInA staff of four attorneys, two full-time and one part-
time paralegals, one legal secretary, two private
contract attorneys and volunteers provide service to
six counties along Missouri’s southwest border. The
majority of cases handled by the Joplin office involve
victims of abuse seeking Orders of Protection, mar-
riage dissolution, paternity, custody, visitation and
support orders. The staff represents clients with
public benefits, landlord/tenant and consumer
cases. A HUD certified housing counselor serves cli-
ents facing foreclosure issues.
Many clients have problems beyond the immediate
legal issues that brought them to a Legal Aid office.
Close partnerships with community agencies enable
Legal Aid to help clients address these other issues.
kansas cIty - centraL offIceThe Central office in downtown Kansas City main-
tains a staff of 37 attorneys, 14 paralegals, 9 admin-
istrative staff, two intake specialists, eight legal sec-
retaries and three Volunteer Attorney Project staff
members. This location serves clients living in the
Kansas City metropolitan community counties of
Jackson, Clay and Platte.
The Central office is home to Legal Aid’s Municipal
Court Defense Unit. This program is funded by a
contract with the City of Kansas City and provides
representation to low-income clients charged with
jailable offenses in the City’s municipal courts.
kansas cIty - West offIceKansas City’s Westside community is served by Legal
Aid’s bilingual staff located in the office on Southwest
Boulevard. The staff includes five attorneys, one
paralegal, a legal secretary and several volunteers.
For the past 39 years, this dedicated Legal Aid team
has specialized in providing counsel and represen-
tation on issues of immigration, economic develop-
ment, community development and housing.
kansas cIty - mIgrant farmWorkers ProjectMigrant and seasonal farmworkers working in per-
ishable crops in Missouri are served by Legal Aid’s
bilingual MFP staff and volunteers. For the past 30
years, farmworkers have been represented on public
benefits, immigration and education issues, work-
place safety and pesticide conditions and access
to and case management for healthcare. The staff
includes two paralegals, two full-time volunteers
and other occasional volunteers.
st. josePhSt. Joseph’s staff of nine, which includes six attor-
neys and three paralegals, serve the 18-county area
of northwest Missouri. In addition, a Medical-Legal
Partnership project operates out of a small office at
Heartland Health in St. Joseph with one attorney and
one paralegal. These two individuals handle Medicaid
appeals.
The St. Joseph office represents clients in both rural
and urban settings. Many of the cases involve family
law, including marriage dissolution, custody, guard-
ianship and Orders of Protection. In addition, staff
handles cases involving consumer matters, land-
lord/tenant law, social security cases, unemploy-
ment denials, utility shut-offs and bankruptcies.
Community involvement plays a key role in the
success of the St. Joseph office. Staff members are
active in a variety of organizations, committees
30
and task forces that focus on specific issues facing
clients, such as homelessness, domestic violence,
financial stability, and access to services for those in
poverty. The staff also makes regular presentations
at various locations throughout the service area on
topics such as landlord-tenant and public housing
law, consumer law, legal protections for victims of
domestic violence and legal issues facing senior
citizens. As a result, the office has made a broader
impact on the client community through increased
case referrals and improved community education.
Warrensburg The Warrensburg office serves thirteen rural coun-
ties in west central Missouri. The staff consists of
four full-time attorneys and three full-time para-
legals. The Warrensburg office handles cases pri-
marily involving consumer law, housing, domestic
violence, landlord/tenant cases and public benefits
issues. The staff maintains a strong presence in the
community and works directly with local agencies in
several counties. Staff members also make presenta-
tions to local groups.
Where We Work (continued)
Anna is 91 years old and has lived in the same subsidized housing complex for almost twenty-five years. She has
been a wonderful tenant and enjoys her apartment and her neighbors. It was close to her recertification date
when new property managers sent her a very threatening notice. The notice warned her that unless she finished
her certification within ten days, her rent would increase and her tenancy might be terminated.
Anna contacted Legal Aid when she received the notice. She was very surprised, confused and upset. She said
she was contacted every year with a notice that gave her plenty of time to recertify and the previous notices
were never threatening. Her Legal Aid paralegal contacted the management company that oversees the prop-
erty managers. The paralegal explained that the recertification process had been handled improperly, the
threatening notice was not necessary, her rental amount should not be increased on the date indicated and
that we advised her to continue paying the same rental amount past the date indicated. The president of the
management company immediately contacted Legal Aid and apologized for the conduct of the site managers.
After the paralegal explained how upsetting this all was to Anna, the president of the management company
met with Anna personally and assisted her with recertification.
Anna can relax and enjoy her home of over 24 years.
meet anna
ANNA TOOK ON HER OVERZEALOUS PROPERTY MANAGERS &AVOIDED EVICTION – THANKS TO HELP FROM LEGAL AID !
31
servIce area maP
ATCHISONNODAWAY
WORTH
HOLT
GENTRY
DE KALB
ANDREW
MERCER
DAVIESS
HARRISON
GRUNDY
BUCHANANCALDWELL LIV
INGSTON
PUTNAM
SULLIVAN
LINN
CLINTON
RAYCARROLL
JOHNSON
SALINELAFAYETTE
MORGANBENTON
HENRY
PETTIS
CAMDENST. CLAIR
BATES
McDONALD
HICKORY
VERNON
NEWTON
JASPER
BARTON
PLATTECLAY
JACKSON
CASS
kansas cIty offIce
st. josePh offIce
Warrensburg offIce
joPLIn offIce
centraL kansas cIty offIce1125 GRAND BLVD, SUITE 1900KANSAS CITY, MO 64106816-474-6750
WestsIde kansas cIty offIce920 SOUTHWEST BLVD.KANSAS CITY, MO 64108 816-474-9868
joPLIn 302 SOUTH JOPLINJOPLIN, MO 64801417-782-1650/800-492-7095
st. josePh106 SOUTH 7TH STREET, 4TH FL.ST. JOSEPH, MO 64502816-364-2325/800-892-2101
Warrensburg305 NORTH HOLDENPO BOX 396WARRENSBURG, MO 64093660-747-7101/800-892-2943
mIgrant farmWorkers ProjectP.O. BOX 413223KANSAS CITY, MO. 64141816-968-2227
32
“MY ATTORNEY WAS VERY NICE AND HAD LOTS OF COMPASSION. SHE COMMUNICATED WITH ME IN
MY OWN LANGUAGE AND HELPED ME WITH RESOURCES
FOR COUNSELING. SHE EDUCATED ME AND GAVE ME A
LOT OF INFORMATION.. .” — JUANA
33
2013 donatIons & 2011-13 camPaIgn PLedges
PLedges & muLtI-year gIftsTHE CHILDREN OF BETH & ED SMITH (3-YEAR GIFT $475,000) SHOOK, HARDY & BACON LLP (3-YEAR PLEDGE $210,000)POLSINELLI PC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $168,000)HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP (3-YEAR PLEDGE $126,000)LATHROP & GAGE, LC(3-YEAR PLEDGE $120,000)STINSON MORRISON HECKER LLP (3-YEAR PLEDGE $60,000)BRYAN CAVE LLP (3-YEAR PLEDGE $57,750)HUMPHREY FARRINGTON MCCLAIN (5-YEAR PLEDGE $50,000)SPENCER FANE BRITT & BROWNE LLP (3-YEAR PLEDGE $48,000)DAVIS, BETHUNE & JONES, LLC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $45,000)SEIGFREID BINGHAM (3-YEAR PLEDGE $30,750)DAVIS, KETCHMARK, MCCREIGHT & IVERS PC (5-YEAR PLEDGE $25,000) GILMORE & BELL, PC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $24,750)DST SYSTEMS, INC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $15,000)J. MICHAEL VAUGHAN (3-YEAR PLEDGE $10,000)GOZA & HONNOLD, LLC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $7,500)SHAMBERG, JOHNSON & BERGMAN, CHARTERED (3-YEAR PLEDGE $7,500)THE MCCALLISTER LAW FIRM, PC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $7,500)ERLENE & SANDY KRIGEL FAMILY FUND (3-YEAR PLEDGE $5,400)WHITE, ALLINDER, GRAHAM & BUCKLEY LLC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $5,250)SLAGLE BERNARD & GORMAN, PC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $4,500)MILLER & COMPANY, PC (2-YEAR PLEDGE $4,000)KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (3-YEAR PLEDGE $3,750)C. PATRICK MCLARNEY (3-YEAR PLEDGE $3,000)
JOHN AND ELLEN AISENBREY (3-YEAR PLEDGE $3,000)PETERSON & ASSOCIATES PC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $3,000)POPHAM LAW FIRM, PC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $3,000)WAGSTAFF & CARTMELL LLP (2-YEAR PLEDGE $3,000)BAKER STERCHI COWDEN & RICE, LLC (2-YEAR PLEDGE $2,000)REDFEARN LAW FIRM, PC (3-YEAR PLEDGE $1,500)SiroSmithDickson (3-YEAR PLEDGE $1,500)THE LAW OFFICES OF STEPHEN R. BOUGH (3-YEAR PLEDGE $1,500)TERENCE J. THUM (3-YEAR PLEDGE $1,000)SHERRI L. WATTENBARGER (3-YEAR PLEDGE $750)STAN J. SEXTON (3-YEAR PLEDGE $750)LISA N. GENTLEMAN (3-YEAR PLEDGE $300)
2013 LaW fIrm, foundatIon & corPoratIon donatIons
donatIons of $10,000 & above HALLMARK CARDS, INC - LEGAL DEPARTMENT
donatIons of $5,000 & above DENTONS US LLPLAWYERS ASSOCIATION OF KANSAS CITYSLOUGH, CONNEALY, IRWIN & MADDEN, LLC
donatIons of $1,000 & aboveALLMAYER & ASSOCIATES, PCBAKER STERCHI COWDEN & RICE, LLCBATY, HOLM & NUMRICH, PCDOLLAR BURNS & BECKER, LCENSZ & JESTER, PCDRS. D. & M. JAROSEWYCZ MEMORIAL CHARITABLE GIFT FUNDLORDI MARKER FAMILY FOUNDATIONROBB AND ROBB LLCWYRSCH HOBBS & MIRAKIAN, PC
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD OF LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MISSOURI
donatIons of $500 & above JOHN M. AND DENA ADAMS FUNDJOHN R. CULLOM & ASSOCIATESHENNING LAW FIRM, PC
2013 IndIvIduaL donatIons
donatIons of $10,000 & aboveANDREW & KAREN SEE
donatIons of $2,000 & aboveWILLIAM L. ALLINDER & MARY SAWYERKAREN BISSETT & ROB BARNESBERNARD E. BROWNLAURENCE FRAZENMR. & MRS. BRIAN GARDNERROBERT J MORRISONMICHAEL J. THOMPSONJ. MICHAEL VAUGHANW. RUSSELL WELSHJUDITH & KENT WHITTAKER
donatIons of $1,000 & aboveGALEN BEAUFORTKELLEY CARPENTER & DAVID R. EULITTVIRGINIA & MATTHEW CRIMMINSJAMES CRONINKEVIN A. DUNNHONORABLE ARTHUR FEDERMANRICHARD HALLIBURTON & MIRIAM PEPPERGERALD M. HANDLEYBRYAN & LINDA JOHNSONBARRY M. KATZGREGG F. LOMBARDIP. JOHN OWENSTEPHEN B. PAULJOHN R. PHILLIPSMARK PORTERMARY E. PHILLIPS & WESLEY B. POWELLHELEN SAWYERSMARY M. STEEB & GLEN E. LITTLETONMARK ANDREW THORNHILLGENE E. VOIGTS
We are grateful to the following firms and individuals who have made pledges or donations in excess of $500. Legal Aid is
fortunate to have the generous support of such dedicated friends and many others who make our work possible.
34
IN HONOR OF BELLA THE DOG BY MARY STEEB
IN MEMORY OF CAROL BROOKS BY ALVIN BROOKS
IN MEMORY OF CATHY CONNEALY BY MARCIA K. WALSH
IN HONOR OF KAREN CUTLIFF & JACK THE DOG BY MARY STEEB
IN MEMORY OF THOMAS E. DEACY, JR. BY JOHN & ELLEN AISENBREY MARY SHAW BRANTON KEVIN M. CONNOR REX DARNALL PHYLLIS DREWS STEVE & ROBIN EDWARDS GLORIA & EDDIE FEINSTEIN JANE H. GRANT LINDA KEMNITZER JOHN M. KILROY, JR. SANDERS LAMBERT MR. & MRS. JACK L. MAHURIN LARRY L. MCMULLEN MORTON & ESTELLE SOSLAND SYLVAN BEACH RESORTS THOMAS A. VETTER
BARBARA D. WOLOCK DICK H. WOODS, JR. PURD WRIGHT JAMES R. WYRSCH
IN HONOR OF SUZANNE GLADNEY BY PAUL LAMBLE
IN HONOR OF DICK HALLIBURTON & MIRIAM PEPPER BY MONA J. RANDOLPH
IN MEMORY OF DICK HAYDON BY DAVID L. WEST
IN HONOR OF TOM & SUSAN JONES BY SEAN WINDSOR
IN HONOR OF SUSAN KEPHART BY MARCIA K. WALSH
IN HONOR OF ANTHONY & SARA KNIPP BY RYAN WOLFE
IN MEMORY OF TED KRANITZ BY FRANK D. CONNETT, JR.
IN HONOR OF JULIE LEVIN BY JOHN M. AND DENA ADAMS FUND CHARLES M. THOMAS
IN HONOR OF CHARITY LINDGREN BY THOMAS WHAM AND TRACY MCCREERY
IN MEMORY OF NEIL LOMBARDI BY DAVID L. WEST
IN MEMORY OF DAVIDA MARKOWITZ BY HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARY NETWORK OF KC, INC.
IN HONOR OF C. PATRICK & MARTINA MCLARNEY BY WILLIAM AND MAXINE STAGGS
IN HONOR OF PAUL T. MILLER BY JON R. GRAY
IN HONOR OF MR. MIYAGI THE DOG BY GOMEZ LAW, LLC
IN HONOR OF CYNTHIA NORTON BY NEIL SADER
IN MEMORY OF PATRICK O’BRIEN BY BRENNA C. O’BRIEN & FAMILY LARA O’BRIEN ROBERT P. O’BRIEN
IN MEMORY OF DAN WEARY BY HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP
IN HONOR OF JERRY WOLF BY ROBERT ALLAN LIEBERMAN
Each year, we receive many heartfelt gifts in memory of loved ones and in honor of family, friends or special occasions.
2013 trIbutes
donatIons of $500 & aboveJAMES R. BORTHWICKMISCHA D. BUFORD-EPPSKEVIN M. CONNORSTEVEN & LINDA DEESTHOMAS & MARY BETH DENZERDANIEL J. DEVINE & MICHELE CHOLLETWILLIAM J. DITTMEIERSTEVE & ROBIN EDWARDSWILLIE J. EPPS, JR.IDA PEARL FAIN
NANCY GARGULACHARLES & JAN GERMANKAREN T. HARENJOSEPH L. HIERSTEINERWILLIAM & IRMA LOU HIRSCHDAVID N. JOHNSONMICHELLE STARK KAUFMANCHARLOTTE KULLMANBETH BRUCE & DOUG MARTINSAMUEL MCHENRYCHRISTIE MELLER
DOUGLAS R. RUSHINGLONNIE J. SHALTONSHEILA & PAUL SHEPHERDRIK N. SIRO & TERESA WOODYTRACY L. SMEDLEYJULIE STEENSONSTEVEN J. STREENTERENCE J. THUMLAURENCE R. TUCKERGREGORY & MARILYN VRANICARBARBARA T. WEARY
Every attempt has been made to reflect accurately and completely the names of our generous contributors. We apologize for any errors or omissions. Space does not permit the listing every contributor, but we value all our donors.
2013 endoWment gIftsThe Legal Aid of Western Missouri Endowment is a charitable fund at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.
DWIGHT ARNJAMES G. BAKERWANDA J. BANKSBRUCE BETTINGERTHE BRYANT LAW FIRM
STEVEN AND LINDA DEESKATHERINE HOGGARDHONORABLE NANETTE K. LAUGHREYPAT MCINERNEYDOUGLAS C. MCKENNA
B. JOHN READEY, IIITHE CHILDREN OF BETH & ED SMITHHONORABLE SCOTT O. WRIGHT
donatIons & PLedges (continued)
35
fInancIaLs
FEDERALLEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION - BASIC ..............................................................................................................................1,684,532 MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES - ADVOCATES FOR FAMILY HEALTH ...............................................................250,000 LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION - MIGRANT .............................................................................................................................75,150 INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC .................................................................................................57,333 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL - AREA AGENCY ON AGING - LEGAL SERVICES..................................................................50,932 MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY - VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT .....................................................................45,791 EqUAL JUSTICE WORKS - AMERICORPS LEGAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM - DISASTER FUNDING ...............................................37,895 MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY - VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT ....................................................................................23,123 WEST TENNESSEE LEGAL SERIVCES, INC. ..................................................................................................................................18,000 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL - AREA AGENCY ON AGING - NATIONAL CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM ......................15,634 KANSAS LEGAL SERVICES - MIGRANT SUBGRANT ....................................................................................................................10,615 NORTHWEST MISSOURI AREA AGENCY ON AGING ....................................................................................................................10,025 CARE CONNECTION FOR AGING SERVICES - AREA AGENCY ON AGING ........................................................................................7,063 CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF KANSAS CITY-ST. JOSEPH, INC.............................................................................................................5,342 CITY OF ST. JOSEPH - CDBG .........................................................................................................................................................3,252 VANTAGE POINT AREA AGENCY ON AGING ..................................................................................................................................3,218 SALVATION ARMY ........................................................................................................................................................................3,080 LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION - DISASTER FUNDING .......................................................................................................... (50,058)SUB-TOTAL ...........................................................................................................................................................................2,250,927
CITY, COUNTY & STATEMISSOURI SUPREME COURT - STATE COURT FILING FEE .........................................................................................................900,202 MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY - STATE SERVICES TO VICTIMS FUND ..................................................................26,164 JACKSON COUNTY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FUND ..........................................................................................................40,000 JACKSON COUNTY HOUSING RESOURCE COMMISSION .............................................................................................................38,000 CITY OF KANSAS CITY - MUNICIPAL COURT DEFENSE ..........................................................................................................1,057,108 CITY OF KANSAS CITY - ABANDONED HOUSING PROJECT ......................................................................................................150,251 CITY OF KANSAS CITY - ZEAL PROJECT ....................................................................................................................................117,695 CITY OF KANSAS CITY - CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE ..................................................................................................................106,000 CITY OF KANSAS CITY - MENTAL HEALTH COURT .......................................................................................................................9,412 SUB-TOTAL ...........................................................................................................................................................................2,444,832
UNITED WAYS (INCLUDES DONOR DESIGNATION) ...................................................................................................................241,446
I.O.L.T.A. (INTEREST ON LAWYER TRUST ACCOUNTS) .............................................................................................................229,896
FOUNDATIONS, CHURCHES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONSTRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER, INC. - MEDICAID APPEALS PROJECT ..........................................................................................668,716 HEARTLAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ..............................................................................................................................205,340 ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL OF KANSAS CITY ....................................................................................................................................129,150 HEALTH CARE FDN OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ...............................................................................100,000 HEALTH CARE FDN OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - MENTAL HEALTH COURT ................................................................................27,000 HEALTH CARE FDN OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP .....................................................................80,289 HALL FAMILY FOUNDATION .......................................................................................................................................................40,000 GREATER KC LINC, INC. ..............................................................................................................................................................33,360 MISSOURI BAR FOUNDATION ....................................................................................................................................................31,930 NEVADA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER ......................................................................................................................................22,271 H & R BLOCK FOUNDATION ........................................................................................................................................................20,000 HEALTH CARE FDN OF GREATER KANSAS CITY - MIGRANT ADVOCATE .....................................................................................19,000 JACOB L. AND ELLA C. LOOSE FOUNDATION ............................................................................................................................... 7,500 SUB-TOTAL ...........................................................................................................................................................................1,384,556
OTHER (FUNDRAISING, CY PRES AND MISCELLANEOUS) .....................................................................................................1,603,309
TOTAL REVENUE................................................................................................................................................................... 8,154,966 LESS CONTRIBUTIONS / TRANSFERS INTO ENDOWMENT FUND ........................................................................................... (322,290)REVENUE AVAILABLE FOR OPERATIONS ............................................................................................................................ $ 7,832,676
PERSONNEL COSTSSSALARY - CLERICAL .............................................................421,225 SALARY - ATTORNEY .......................................................... 3,167,970 SALARY - PARALEGAL ........................................................1,089,162 SALARY - ADMINISTRATION ..................................................679,691 FICA TAX EXPENSE .................................................................396,195 HEALTH INSURANCE ..............................................................913,669 DISABILITY INSURANCE ..........................................................41,756 WORKERS COMPENSATION .....................................................15,930 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ...................................................5,678 RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION ................................................392,968 RETIREMENT PLAN ADMINISTRATION ....................................11,990 SUB-TOTAL ........................................................................ 7,136,234
NON-PERSONNEL COSTSAAUDIT ....................................................................................25,965 DATA PROCESSING ...................................................................15,168 TRAVEL ....................................................................................81,761 RENT ......................................................................................360,509 UTILITIES ...................................................................................7,666 JANITORIAL ...............................................................................3,380 OFFICE SUPPLIES .....................................................................71,679 PRINTING .................................................................................31,496 POSTAGE ..................................................................................49,193 EqUIPMENT MAINTENANCE ....................................................47,610 LAW LIBRARY ..........................................................................91,500 EqUIPMENT RENTAL ................................................................22,339 MALPRACTICE INSURANCE......................................................13,037 LIABILITY INSURANCE .............................................................22,497 TELEPHONE AND COMMUNICATION ........................................93,847 DUES AND FEES .......................................................................32,586 TRAINING ................................................................................61,373 LITIGATION ................................................................................7,196 MISCELLANEOUS ...................................................................138,385 BAD DEBT ...............................................................................12,987 CONTRACT SERVICES TO PROGRAM .......................................208,934 CONTRACT SERVICES TO CLIENTS ............................................99,025 FIXED ASSET INTEREST, DEPRECIATION, DISPOSAL .................70,289 SUB-TOTAL .........................................................................1,568,422
TOTAL EXPENSES ..............................................................$8,704,656
2013 revenue 2013 exPenses
Under applicable accounting rules, we are required to rec-ognize funding for future year’s expenses that we received commitments for in the year that we received the commit-ment. This results in a timing difference between recogniz-ing revenue and the corresponding expense. Accordingly, specific revenue associated with our current year expenses were recognized in prior years resulting in a budget deficit in the current year. However, if revenue was recognized when earned rather than when the commitments were received, our resulting deficit for the year would be $181, 658, which is 2% of our expenses.
36
board of trusteesMISCHA D. BUFORD-EPPSPRESIDENT
LISA WEIXELMANVICE PRESIDENT
SHAUNA WOODY-COUSSENSTREASURER
LINNEA HANSHAWSECRETARY
AARON AURAND DAVE BOLANDERMICHAEL T. CAREYMAMIE COLEMANLAJUANA COUNTSSHARON COURTERALDO DOMINGUEZMARY JO DRAPERCAROL EDWARDSWILLIAM HALLBLAKE HEATHSUSAN HILLCHRISTINE HUDECBRANDY IMLAYCHRISTOPHER JAVILLONARJOE MATTOXDAVID MEYERMAXINE PHILLIPSBETH TONGDAVID TUSHAUSJERRY VENTERSDAVID VOGELGILLIAN RUDDY WILCOXBRAD YERETSKY
jfa camPaIgn LeadershIP commItteeC. PATRICK MCLARNEY, CO-CHAIRJEROME T. WOLF, CO-CHAIRGORDON D. GEE, CO-CHAIRGRANT L. DAVIS, CO-CHAIRWILLIE J. EPPS, JR., CO-CHAIR
JACK T. BANGERTJEFFREY BURNSMAX CARR-HOWARDSTEVE DEESLEANNE DESHONGMARIE DISPENZAMARY JO DRAPER
WILLIAM D. FARRARERLENE W. KRIGELTHERESA L. F. LEVINGSJ. GARY MCEACHENBRENDAN MCPHERSONTIMOTHY D. O’LEARYDENNIS PALMERROBERT J. PAYNEADAM SACHSANDREW SEEMARK THORNHILLSEN. CHARLES WHEELERJUDITH WHITTAKER
vaP advIsory boardJOHN AISENBREYDWIGHT ARNKATIE CRONINSTEPHEN BOUGHJANEEN DEVRIESJONATHAN N. DILLYW. BRIAN GADDYTEDRICK HOUSHDALE IRWINAMBER HACKETTCHRISTOPHER JAVILLONARBILLIE ORRJENNY JORDAN REDIXWARREN WADEGILLIAN RUDDY WILCOX
LegaL aId staffjoPLIn offIceSHELLEY BOSTONPAMELA ROYCHAUDHURY-BHENDSANDRA BLACKFORDAUTUMN DEERJANICE FRANKLINLISA LIVINGSTON-MARTINJEFFINER THOMPSONMISTY LEWIS
centraL offIce-kcLATRICIA ADAMSBRIAN ADKINSMICHELLE ALBANOKATHY ANDERSON-REINKEAMANDA BASRIBROOKE BIGGSLAURA BORNSTEIN
TAMA BYRNESCAREN COLLINSJAMES CRUMPKAREN CUTLIFFEFFIE DAYCRISSY DEL PERCIOMARY BETH DENZEREMILY DESTEPHANOJACKIE DOMIANCHRISTY DRAYDANIELLE ELAM-JOBEERIN FOXMEGAN FREDERICKSONCHRISTINA FROMMERLISA N. GENTLEMANTRACIE GRIDDINEKARA HARMSCLAYTON HASSERVINCE HAYESADRIENNE HAYNESKAREN KARNESSUSAN KEPHARTSELINA KHANSANDRA KINCAIDLISA KIVETTCAROL KLINKENBERGKATHLEEN KOROSEC-HOLMESLEAH KRIEGERJULIE LEVINCHARITY LINDGRENGREGG LOMBARDIEDDIE LORENZOPATRICIA LUKENBILLPAMELA MAYSAMUEL MCHENRYSUSAN MCRILLDALE MEYERLILY MILLERJESSICA OGRANSARA OLAZARBILLIE ORRCRYSTAL PACHECO-HECKEYCYNTHIA ROUNTREECODY RUSSELLSANAM SADEGHISTACY SCHAUBJAMES KENDALL SEALMEGAN SIMPSONJAMES SMITHWAYNE SMITHGWEN SOWDER
BEN SUMMERSRIVER TEMPELINCLAUDIA TRUJILLOWARREN WADEMITCH WALKERLIDA WATSONMAURA WEBERMADISON WESSELMANKATIE WOODJANE WORLEYKIM WRIGHT
West offIce-kcMICHAEL DUFFYYOLANDA HERNANDEZPETER HOFFMANRACHEL HOGANRON NGUYENJENNIFER WIEMAN EARLESJEFF WILLIAMS st. josePh offIceLINDA CLARKLISA CLARKMEGHAN ELLEDGE TIFFANY HOLLONGLORIA HOXWORTHALICIA JOHNSONJOHN KEIFFERMELISSA LAWYER LAURA LUTZJERRE MOOREJEREMY SWENSONDOUG TSCHAUDER
Warrensburg offIceKELLY BARTLETTKIM BASINGERERIN DARKJESI DEMEIRESUSAN HANRAHANABBIE ROTHERMICHKAYLIE SCHMUTZBILL SHULL
mIgrant farmWorkers ProjectERIN BARTLINGTINA HISTAND
our PeoPLeOur staff and volunteers are dedicated individuals who share a passion for justice.
ISAMAr WAS 78 yEArS yoUNg WHEN LEgAL AID’S MEDICAL LEgAL PArTNEr-
SHIP ACCEPTED HEr CASE. ISAMAr WAS BEINg SUED By A DEBT CoLLECTor,
AND CoULD NoT FIgUrE oUT HoW SHE CoULD oWE IN ExCESS oF $1,000 oN A
DEBT SHE DID NoT KNoW ExISTED. THE DEBT CoLLECTor WAS PrESSUrINg HEr
To CoNSENT To A JUDgMENT AND TUrN ovEr HEr SoCIAL SECUrITy CHECK,
or THEy WoULD “SEND HEr To JAIL.” SHE WAS AFrAID AND CoNFUSED.
WITH LEgAL AID’S HELP, ISAMAr WAS ABLE To FILE HEr ANSWEr, ALoNg WITH
MoTIoNS For DISCovEry. AFTEr THE FILINg oF ADDITIoNAL PLEADINgS, THE
DEBT CoLLECTor voLUNTArILy DISMISSED THEIr CLAIMS. IN JUST 11 DAyS,
ISAMAr’S zoMBIE DEBT WAS ELIMINATED.
NoW, SHE IS FrEE To DrINK HEr AFTErNooN CoFFEE WITH FrIENDS AND PLAy
BoArD gAMES WITH HEr grANDSoN, WITHoUT FEAr oF DEBT CoLLECTorS.
meet Isamar
CENTRAL OFFICE1125 GRAND BLVD, STE 1900KANSAS CITY, MO 64106816-474-6750
JOPLIN302 SOUTH JOPLINJOPLIN, MO 64801417-782-1650/800-492-7095
ST. JOSEPH106 SOUTH 7TH ST, 4TH FLOORST. JOSEPH, MO 64502816-364-2325/800-892-2101
WARRENSBURG305 NORTH HOLDENWARRENSBURG, MO 64093660-747-7101/800-892-2943
WEST OFFICE920 SOUTHWEST BLVDKANSAS CITY, MO 64108 816-474-9868
MIGRANT FARMWORKERS PROJECTP.O. BOX 413223KANSAS CITY, MO. 64141816-968-2227
LegaL aId of Western mIssourI 2013 annuaL rePort
www.LAwmo.oRg
“MY ATTORNEY WAS REALLY HELPFUL.
I WAS SO SCARED. SHE TALKED TO ME.
SHE LISTENED TO ME AND I’M VERY
THANKFUL FOR HER. I GOT A CHANCE
FOR A NEW LIFE. THANK YOU.”
— WESLEY
