Members in Action

In 2009 my consumer rights practice moved into gear.  Filed federal cases under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Truth-in-Lending Act, and Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as well as c. 93A and other cases in state court.  Bankruptcy cases became more challenging, as clients with higher incomes and more assets have seen their solvency deteriorate in the face of the national financial crisis.  This was the year that Neil Berman, Neil Burns and I created a Street Law Clinic curriculum on consumers’ rights and bankruptcy, which we look forward to road-testing in the coming year.  Finally, having assured that my section 8 client would not be evicted from her home, I invested the settlement proceeds in replacing eaves and trim, successfully evicting the squirrels from the attic of my own home. -Deborah Roher

Joined the Board of Directors of the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice.  Was awarded my second Iron Runner Jacket for completing all seven 2009 US Track and Field Championship Races from 5K to Marathon (in cold pouring rain); contributing to Veterans Team that won the Seven Race Combined Championship for 2009 and 2008, and placed in top 10 in one of seven races in each year.  Achievements are that I am still able to walk and am still lawyering in my spare time. -Mark Stern

I headed up a team of five NLG Legal Observers at the Transgender Pride March in Northampton on 10/3/09.  Our team was ably trained by NLG member Jeffrey M. Feurer.  Happily nobody was arrested, but our team did have to brave pouring rain, suspicious conduct by “trench coat man” and “dark glasses guy,” and had to work hard not to cheer (and thereby lose our impartiality), at the incredibly moving and powerful speakers and acts throughout the day.  My fellow team members were law students Lisa Elliott, Gail Hills, and Patrick Greenhalgh of WNEC (see our photo on p. 6), and Allison Cleveland of BC law.  Thanks to NLG, GLAD and MLGBA for their support and encouragement.  Our presence definitely made a difference.  Hooray for NLG! -Cathy Reuben