They Were Always There When I Called

By: Michael Lucas, Director of Housing and Consumer Law Programs, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation

Ms. B arrived for her appointment at the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s (AVLF) Saturday Lawyers Program desperate for help in getting her, her daughter, and her four year-old granddaughter out of the deplorable living conditions they had been subjected to – and felt trapped in – for several months. After hearing of the severe structural, mold and mildew conditions leading to the counters collapsing and Ms. B literally falling through a wall left brittle by moisture, the insect infestation resulting in spider bites on the four year-old, and damage to personal belongings, David Zacks, Kilpatrick Townsend Partner and seasoned litigator, Hillary Rightler, first-year associate in Atlanta’s Complex Business Litigation group, and Nick Stanislo, the Firm’s Manager of Civil Investigations and recent recipient of AVLF’s annual “Making a Difference” award, jumped on board.

This team got to work immediately. Nick focused on unraveling a complicated ownership and management picture, and within a few days I was pulling into Ms. B’s apartment complex with David, Hillary, and Nick. The situation was worse than we expected: a several building, several-hundred unit, sprawling complex that – save maybe a half-dozen occupied units – looked like a ghost town with whole buildings roped off, boarded up, and likely full of squatters. The management office looked deserted, although the landlord still managed to collect Ms. B’s rent and threaten eviction. We quickly attracted the attention of the hapless “maintenance man” – apparently acting in that role in name only – who questioned our presence as Nick gathered photographic evidence for the case.

It was what happened inside, however, and the quick outcome that followed, that I will carry with me as an example of the Saturday Lawyer Program, Kilpatrick Townsend, and the Atlanta Bar at its very finest. The remarkable professionalism and skill with which David and Hillary gathered pertinent information, assessed the situation, and formulated a litigation plan was, for me, rivaled only by the level of respect they showed for Ms. B’s dignity and intelligence. Rarely do attorneys get both so right. Within a couple of weeks, Ms. B was able to move her family into a new apartment, thanks not only to the $2,500 cash settlement and lease rescission David, Hillary, and Nick secured, but equally to the confidence, support, and sense of empowerment their representation gave her. What looked effortless to – and came just in time for – Ms. B was actually the result of expert investigation, efficient research, and skillful negotiation. Having David Zacks taking the lead didn’t hurt either.

Last week, Hillary received a call from Ms. B. Ms. B wanted everyone to know that she was all settled into her new place in Decatur and that it was safe, quiet and clean. What left an impression was that Hillary reported hearing a significant change in Ms. B’s voice and mood, just from their short phone conversation. She seemed upbeat and ready to start over. While my position at AVLF exposes me to far too many dire situations like Ms. B’s, it also allows me to witness – and be moved by – the better angels of our nature reaching out to help. Our profound thanks to David, Hillary and Nick and to Kilpatrick Townsend for always saying yes.