ECLAASummaryReporttoDonors–FY2015 Page1of7

EssexCountyLegalAidAssociation(ECLAA)SummaryReporttoOurDonorsin2015ExecutiveSummaryECLAA,foundedin1906,isa501(c)(3)nonprofitorganizationthatprovidesfreeemergencylegalservicesoncivilmatterstoincome-eligibleresidentsofEssexCounty,NJ.ECLAA’stwostaffattorneysandoneparalegalprovideimmediateadvicetosuchclientsatoursmallofficeintheHallofRecordsbuildingat465Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.BoulevardindowntownNewark.

• In2015,ECLAAhelped1,444low-incomeclients,allofwhomlivedinEssexCounty.• 82%ofourcaseslastyearwerehousingmatters,largelylandlord/tenantissues.• 69%ofourclientslastyearwerewomen.• 55%ofourclientslivedinNewark,15%inEastOrange,11%inIrvington;wealsohelped

residentsof13otherEssexCountymunicipalities.• Wehelpedclientsfrom18to85yearsold.• Theirhouseholdincomeswereeachlessthan250%ofFederalpovertyguidelines.• EachclientwashelpedforfreebyanECLAAstaffattorney–workingface-to-faceandone-on-

one–whocounseledthatclientprofessionallyandwithrespect,candorandempathy.

ECLAAwasabletobebotheffectiveandincreasinglyefficientin2015,bydoingmorewithless:

• WeprovidedECLAA’scourt-basedlegalservicesfourdaysaweeklastyearfor$171,940.• Ouraveragecostofhelpingeachclientwas$119in2015(vs.$142in2014and$164in2013).• Ourcostperpersoninclients’householdswas$45in2015(vs.$56in2014and$64in2013.)

Asa501(c)(3)nonprofitorganization,theEssexCountyLegalAidAssociationistotallydependentondonorsupport–andwearehonoredtoreportthatwehavebeenabletostretchourdollarsyearoveryear,withthatefficiencyallowingustoincreasethenumberoflow-incomeclientswehelpyearafteryear.WethankallECLAA’s2015donors.

Wereceived$75,000fromtheLegalServicesFoundationofEssexCountyand$40,760fromtheIOLTAFundoftheBarofNewJerseyin2015–downatotalofabout$15,000fromtheprioryear.TheThomasandAgnesCarvelFoundationmadeafirst-time$10,000donationtoECLAAin2015.Duringour2015CampaignforECLAA,wealsoreceiveddonationstotaling$37,251from43lawfirms,12attorneys,8generousnon-attorneyindividuals,thelegaldepartmentofonelargeNJcorporation,onevendortothelegalcommunity,andsomemiscellaneousdonationmatchingprograms.Eachofthesedonorsisacknowledgedonpage7.Wearegratefultothemall.

Youcanmakeadifferencein2016.YourmeaningfuldonationcanassurethatpoorclientsindesperateneedofemergencylegaladviceaboutcivillawcriseswillgetECLAA’sfreehelp!

Todatefor2016,wehavereceivedpledgesof$110,760,andthistotalaccountsforabout63%ofour2016operatingbudgetof$177,100.Willyouhelpusclosethis$66,190fundinggapduringour2016CampaignforECLAA?Yoursupportwillallowustoremainopenfourdaysperweekallyear.Ifwedonotfillthat$66,190fundinggap,ECLAAwillhavetocutofficehours–whichwillreducethenumberoflow-incomefamilieswecanhelp.InformationonhowyoucandonatetoECLAAisatwww.eclaanj.organdonpage8ofthissummaryreport.

ECLAA’sfundraising/developmentdirectorRobertAdlerpreparedandreleasedthisreportaftertheECLAAboardreviewedit.PleasecontactMr.Adlerwithanyquestionsabouthowyoucansupportourfreeemergencylegalworkonbehalfofourpoorclients.Ifinterested,youcandonatesecuritiestoECLAA.Low-incomeresidentsofEssexCountyneedyoursupportofECLAA’swork.

PleasecallRobertAdlerwithanyECLAAdonation-relatedquestionsat(908)672-0738orwritetohimatradler@eclaanj.org.Thankyou.

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EssexCountyLegalAidAssociation:2015OperatingRevenueandExpensesIntheinterestoftransparency,hereareECLAA’sfinancialsforfiscalyear2015.BreakdownofECLAA2015OngoingOperatingExpenses $FY2015 %FY2015Personnel-providingdirectlegalservicestopoorclients $126,023 73.29%Personnel-administration/developmentwork $27,500 15.99%Independentaudit(IOLTA-required)+taxprep $4,775 2.78%Insurance(liability/bond/workerscomp/property) $3,500 2.04%Phone/fax/internet-fordirectlegalservices $2,694 1.57%Payrollprocessingservice $2,466 1.43%Technologypurchases/servicecontracts $1,183 0.69%Legalreferenceservice-fordirectlegalservices $1,170 0.68%Website+development+credit-cardprocessing $1,132 0.66%Officesupplies+postage/delivery $681 0.40%Cloud-basedclientmanagementsoftware $540 0.31%Professionaldevelopment $200 0.12%NJstatelicenseandfees $58 0.03%Bankingfees $18 0.01%

Total $171,940 100.00%

WhoDonatedtoECLAA’sOngoingOperationsin2015 $FY2015 %FY2015LegalServicesFoundationofEssexCounty $75,000 45.73%IOLTAFundoftheBarofNewJersey $40,760 24.85%TheThomasandAgnesCarvelFoundation $10,000 6.10%40lawfirms(notECLAAboardfirms) $25,825 15.75%ECLAAboardmembers+theirfirms $5,175 3.16%13non-attorneyindividuals $3,933 2.40%2corporatelegaldepartments $2,000 1.22%9individualattorneys $1,270 0.77%3miscellaneouscorporategiving/matchingprograms $48 0.03%

$164,011 100.00%

Note1:Thesearepre-auditfigures.Note2:AnyFY2015operatingexpensesnotcoveredbyFY2015donationswerefundedbyECLAA'smodestassets.Note3:ECLAAbeganworkin2015onaseparatelyfundedTenancyClinicproject–apilottestofprobonoattorneysservingtheneedsofincome-eligibletenantsfacingimminenteviction.Wearemonitoringtheeffectivenessandefficiencyofthesemonthlytenancyclinicswithourpilottestpartners–acorporatelegaldepartment,alawfirm,andtheEssexVicinage.Thepilottestwillrunthroughmid-year2016,whenECLAAandourpartnerswillevaluatethebenefitstotenantsservedrelativetothecostofthetenancyclinics.All2015and2016ECLAAcostsassociatedwithpilottestingtheprobonoclinics–initiallyestimatedat$40,000–arefundedseparatelybythepartneringcorporatefoundation.

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EssexCountyLegalAidAssociation’sFree2015WorkforOurPoorClients TotalNumberofLow-IncomePeopleWeHelped Clients 1,444DependentChildreninOurClients'Households 1,494OtherAdultsinOurClients'Households 919TotalNumberofPeopleinOurClients'Households 3,857

TypeofLegalWorkWeDid Counsel&advice 1,238(86%)Briefservices 82(6%)Referralafterlegalassessment 124(9%)

TypesofCasesWeWorkedOn Housing 1,183(82%)Consumer/Finance 162(11%)Family 64(4%)Education/Employment/IndividualRights/IncomeMaintenance,etc. 35(2%)

OurClients’Ages 18-20 14(1%)21-25 113(8%)26-35 353(24%)36-45 365(25%)46-55 310(21%)56-65 210(15%)66-75 61(4%)76-85 18(1%)

OurClients’Races Black 1,097(76%)Hispanic 221(15%)White 106(7%)Asian/PacificIslander+NativeAmerican 20(1%)

OurClients’Genders Female 1,000(69%)Male 444(31%)

WhereECLAA’sClientsLive Newark 800(55%)EastOrange 216(15%)Irvington 166(11%)Orange 72(5%)Livingston 52(4%)Bloomfield 37(3%)WestOrange 28(2%)Belleville 26(2%)Caldwell,CedarGrove,GlenRidge,Maplewood,Montclair,Nutley,S.Orange,Verona 46(3%)

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EssexCountyLegalAidAssociation:SomeSpecificClientsWeHelpedin2015Wehighlightbelow19ofourcasesforindividualclientsoverthecourseoftheyear.Morethanmeredatasummaries,thesecasesshowtheimpactECLAAhadonthelivesofat-riskclientsandtheirfamilies.Thesecivillawcrisesallrepresentedimminentthreatstoourclients’wellbeing:1. Anelderlytenant’sgrandson,whilevisitingher,attackedthebuildingmanager.Onceshewas

notifiedoftheviolation,ourclientimmediatelyceasedallowingvisitsbyhergrandson.Evenso,shewasevicted.WefiledanAffidavitonherbehalf,whichledtotheevictionbeingvacated.

2. Theconditionsofourclient’sapartmentwereegregiousandunsafe.Thetownclosedthebuilding.Ratinfestationwaspervasive,withratnestsinplainsight.Thebuildingmanagermadeanattemptatrelocation,butthenewapartmentwassimilarlyunsuitable.Afterwepreparedpaperworkandworkedwiththebuildingmanager,amoreappropriatedwellingwassecuredforourclient.

3. Apre-medstudent’shousingfeeswerepartofheracademicscholarship.Duetoherfather’sdeportation,someelementsofherscholarshipwerebeingreviewed.Paymentonherhousingwastemporarilyhalted.WepreparedanAffidavitonherbehalfdelineatingtheuniqueissuesandobtainedaone-monthrespitefromevictionwhilereviewofherscholarshipwaspending.

4. Wehelpedamentallyillclientwhothreatenedothertenantsinthebuilding.Shehadreceivedanoticeterminatinghertenancy.WiththehelpofEssexCountyMentalHealthServices,wewereabletoobtainanextensionontheevictionuntilamentalhealthadvocatecouldbeappointed.

5. WepreparedaCertificationinOppositiontoanEjectmentonbehalfofourclients.Thelandlordallegedthattheclientsweresquattersandhadnotenancyrightsintheapartment.Ourcertificationaddressedourclients’agreementtopaythelandlordrent,attachedtheirreceiptsforrentalpaymentsplusareceiptshowingclient’spaymentforthetotalcostofanewboilerontherentalproperty.TheEjectmentwasdismissed.

6. WepreparedaMotiontoVacatethelandlord’spossessionduetothelandlord’slackofcompliancewithSection8recertificationrequirements.Theclientwasuptodatewithherportionoftherentbutwasneverthelessevicted.OurmotioncontainedaletterbrieftothecourtoutliningthegoalsofSection8topreventhomelessnessandindicatingthatanevictionbasedonthelandlord’sfailuretocomplywiththeirrequirementsrancontrarytothepublicpolicyunderlyingsubsidizedhousing.Thatevictionwasvacated.ThelandlordwasdirectedtocomplywithSection8.ThisclienthadlivedintheapartmentasaSection8tenantforfiveyears.

7. Atenantlivedwithoutheatorwaterfortwoyearsbutwasafraidtoconfrontthelandlordorreportthemattertothetown.Withourassistance,theclientwasabletoaddressthismatterwithcodeenforcement,whichimposedfinesonthelandlorduntiltheutilitieswererestored.

8. Aclientwasdisplacedbyafireintheapartmentbutwasnotrelocatedbythelandlord.Sheincurredsignificantcoststomoveheritemsfromtheapartmentandplacetheminstorage.Shealsoneededtorentanotherapartmentwhilethefire-damageddwellingwasremediated.Thesecostsexceededherpreviousmonthlyrent.Weassistedtheclientinobtaininganimmediatereturnofhersecuritydepositandacredittowardshermonthlyrentoncethefire-damagedpremiseswererestored.

9. InaHUDmatter,weassistedtheclientwhowaschargedanexcessiverentincreasedespitethecertificationprocessineffectattherentalsite.Wecontactedthelandlord/agencyandnegotiatedapaymentplanforthearrearsandestablishedarevisedmonthlyrentreflectingthenewcertification.

10. Weassistedafamilywhohadpaidthelandlord’srealestateagentasecuritydeposittoholdanapartment.Afterourclientmadethedeposit,thelandlordrefusedtorenttheapartmentbecauseofpriorlandlord/tenantcomplaints.However,thelandlordwasnotvoluntarilyreturningthesecuritydepositmoney.Wecontactedtheagent,spoketoandnegotiatedwiththelandlord,andourclientwasallowedtorenttheunitasinitiallypromised.

11. Ourclientwasafirstfloortenantwhereheandhiswiferesidedforthirtyyears.Theclientcomplainedaboutexcessivenoiseandunauthorizedvisitorstothepropertythatdirectly

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impactedhisWarrantyofHabitability.Wehelpeddraftalettertothelandlord,settingforththetenant’srightstoquietuseandenjoymentofthepremises,andconsequencesofbreakingthisWarranty.

12. InanotherWarrantyofHabitabilitycase,wereviewedaleaseandthetermsthereintoaddresscertaincomplaintsfromtheclient/tenant.Theclientcomplainedaboutdefectsintheapartment–includingbutnotlimitedtodefectivedoors,adefectiveintercomsystemanddamagedwindowsandscreens.Wepreparedalettertothelandlordaddressingthesedeficiencieswhileplacingthelandlordonnoticethattheybreachedthelease.

13. Weassistedatenantwhoclaimedanadditionalsurchargewasaddedtohermonthlystatementwithoutexplanation.Wecontactedthepropertymanageranddraftedaletterseekinganaccountingofthesechargesandareimbursementofoverpaidmonies.

14. Weassistedaclientfacingevictionforcriminalactivityallegedbyanothertenant.Thecasewasbasedonlyonthehearsayofthatothertenant,whohadrepeatedlyfiledfrivolouscomplaintsinmunicipalcourt.Theclientsoughtadviceonpreparingfortrial.WeguidedherinobtainingcopiesofthecriminalcomplaintsandthesubsequentdismissalsfromtheCourt.Weinstructedtheclienttobringrelevantwitnessestocourttodisputetheallegationsinthecomplaint.

15. Weaddressedthecontractualliabilityassociatedwithsigningayearlylease.Thetenantallegedthatunsafeconditionsoftheapartmentbuildinghadledhimtoberobbedonmultipleoccasions.Thetenanthadsignedaone-yearleaseandsoughttoproperlyterminatethelease.Wedraftedalettertothelandlordexplainingthat,asaresultoftheirfailuretoprovidesafehousing,thelandlordhadbreachedtheWarrantyofHabitabilityaffordedtoalltenants.Thisletterhelpedourclientproperlybreaktheleasewithoutenduringthecontractualliabilityattachedtosigningthatlease.

16. Weassistedaclientwhowasimproperlybilledforworkconductedbyasuperintendentintheregularcourseofthebuilding’smaintenanceandrepair.Wepreparedaletterpointingouttheunreasonabledemandassociatedwiththesuperintendent’slimitedwork.

17. OurhelpwassoughtinamatterwherethelandlordobtainedajudgmentofevictionbutfailedtohonortheOrderforOrderlyremovalobtainedbythetenant.Wecontactedthelandlord’sattorneyandfacilitatedtheclient’sre-entryintotheapartment.

18. Weassistedaclientwhoresidedinaroominghouseandfacedexcessiverentincreases.WeresearchedandadvisedtheclientregardingherrightsundertheAnti-Evictionstatutethatextendedtoroominghouses,andthus,protectedherfromunlawfulexcessiverentincreases.

19. WeprotectedaclientwhoseSSIpaymentswereimproperlyleviedcontraryto42USC407(a)bypreparinganexplanatorylettertoopposingcounselwithsupportingdocumentsofSSIpayments.ThroughECLAA’shelp,theclient’srightstoherSSIpaymentswereprotected.

FreeLegalHelp:Pleaseencouragelow-incomeEssexCountyresidentstoseeus.Pleaseencourageanylow-incomeresidentofEssexCountyneedingemergencylegalhelponacivilmattertocometoRoom118,465Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.BlvdinNewark.WeareopenMondaytoThursdaystartingat8:00a.m.Pleaseencouragepotentialclientstocalltheofficefirstat(973)622-0063,sothattheycanbeadvisedabouthowbesttoprepareformeetingwithoneofourattorneys.Legaladvicecannotbegivenbyphone.PleaseaskanynewclientstoarriveattheECLAAofficeby1:00p.m.,whenwedoourlastintakeoftheday.Attorneysmaybeintheofficeuntil2:00to3:00,workingonmattersbroughttoECLAAbyclientsfrom8:00a.m.to1:00p.m.

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EssexCountyLegalAidAssociation:ManyThankstoOurGenerous2015Donors

LawFirmsAnsellGrimm&Aaron,PC($500) Lentz&GengaroLLP($250)Baldassare&Mara,LLC($300) LowensteinSandlerLLP($2,500)BenditWeinstock,PA($1,000) LumDrasco&Positan,LLC($250)BerkowitzLichtsteinKuritskyGiasullo&GrossLLC($450)MandelbaumSalsburg,PC($1,000)BrachEichlerLLC($1,500) MarazitiFalcon,LLP($725)Bressler,Amery&Ross,PC($150) MazieSlaterKatz&Freeman,LLC($400)ConnellFoleyLLP($2,000) Mescall&Acosta,PC(($250)DLAPiper($500) Meyner&LandisLLP($1,000)DuaneMorrisLLP($500) MorganMelhuishAbrutyn($300)EhrlichPetrielloGudin&PlazaPC($250) NagelRice,LLP($1,000)EpsteinBecker&Green,PC($1,000) Ogletree,Deakins,Nash,Smoak&Stewart,PC($1,300)FoxRothschildLLP($1,000) Renda&Voynick(($150)FranzblauDratch,PC($250) RobinsonMillerLLC($1,000)GordonReesScullyMansukhani,LLP($500) RuprechtHartWeeks&Ricciardulli,LLP($600)GreenbaumRoweSmith&DavisLLP($1,000) SaiberLLC($500)GreenbergDauberEpstein&Tucker,PC($500) SaulEwingLLP($150)GreenbergTraurig,LLP($1,000) Sedita,Campisano&CampisanoLLC($100)HartmannDohertyRosaBerman&Bulbulia,LLC($150)SillsCummis&GrossPC($1,000)Holland&KnightLLP($500) Stern,Lavinthal&Frankenberg,LLC($500)Kirsch,Gelband&Stone,PA($500) TrenkDiPasqualeDellaFera&Sodono,PC($500)KrovatinKlingemanLLC($750) WeinsteinLindemann&Weinstein,PC($750)LasserHochman,LLC($300)Lawyers(andtheirfamilies)RobertBorteck($25) MarkLurie($170)WilfredP.Coronato($350) F.PeterPhillips($100)JessicadeKoninck ($125) SidneyShaievitz($100)StevenD.Fleissig($200) MichaelD.Thompson($500)Walter&TheresaGreenhalgh($150) FrankZazzaro($250)ClaireG.Keyles($375) OtherIndividualsDavidGoodman($72) RickSchwartz($200)Marjorie&PaulGrayson($50) MaureenMcCullyWinograd($550)PatLeiter($300) Anonymous($2,000)Reimer&SueMellin($170) Anonymous($134)IrenePassmore($100) Anonymous($75)Phil&AmandaRabbat($100) Anonymous($32)BarbaraRedcay($50) CorporateGivingDun&BradstreetLegalDepartment($1,000)RDLegalFunding($1,000)GannLawBooks(in-kind–NJRulessubscription)NewJerseyLawJournal(in-kind–adspace)MiscellaneousGiving/MatchingPrograms:

PricewaterhouseCoopers($100)OmahaSteaks($29)Staples($15)AmazonSmile($5)

FoundationsIOLTAFundoftheBarofNewJersey($40,760)LegalServicesFoundationofEssexCounty($75,000)TheThomas&AgnesCarvelFoundation($10,000)

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HowYouCanSupporttheEssexCountyLegalAidAssociationin2016

Ifyouareapriordonor,wehopethatthisreportencouragesyoutoreneworevenincreaseyoursupportduringour2016fundraisingeffort.IfyouhavenotdonatedtoECLAAbefore,wehopethatthisreportconvincesyoutomakeagenerousfirst-timedonationthisyear.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecontactECLAA’sbusinessadministratorRobertAdlerat(908)672-0738oratradler@eclaanj.org.

In2016asinprioryears,alldonorswillonceagainbethankedpubliclyindisplayadvertisementsthatECLAAwillbeabletoplaceintheNewJerseyLawJournal,becauseoftheongoinggenerosityofNJLJ’spublisher.

TheEssexCountyLegalAidAssociationisa501(c)(3)nonprofitorganization.ECLAA’sFEINis22-1487177.

1.YoucanmailadonationcheckmadeouttotheEssexCountyLegalAidAssociationto:

EssexCountyLegalAidAssociationAttn:RobertM.Adler,BusinessAdministrator41WatchungPlaza,#233Montclair,NewJersey07042

2.YoucandonatetoECLAAviacreditcardorPayPalatECLAA’swebsite:

http://www.eclaanj.org/Donate.html

3.YoucannowdonatesecuritiestoECLAA,whichmaybeparticularlymeaningfultoyouifyouhaveunrealizedcapitalgains.Ifinterested,pleasecallRobertAdlerat(908)672-0738oratradler@eclaanj.org.

TheEssexCountyLegalAidAssociationhasearnedtheGuideStarGold-levelExchangeSeal,whichdenotesthatECLAAis"transparentandproactiveinprovidinginformationanddocumentstohelpdonorsandfundersmaketheirgivingdecisions."

PleasedonatetoECLAAtohelpensurethatthewords“…andjusticeforall”areparticularlymeaningfulhereinEssexCounty.Youcanassurethatourlow-incomeneighborsgetfree,confidentialandprofessionalhelpfromECLAAattorneyswiththeircivillawemergencies.

ECLAA’sBoardofTrustees:President:RobertM.Rich,Esq.,solepractitioner Secretary:ClaireG.Keyles,Esq.,TheOsborneAssociationTreasurer:StevenD.Fleissig,Esq.,GreenbergTraurigTrustee:SelinaN.Anabwani,RN,Esq.,PricewaterhouseCoopersTrustee:KennethCohen,Esq.)Trustee:Hon.F.MichaelGiles,retiredJudge,SuperiorCourtofNJ,CivilDivisionTrustee:JodiAnneHudson,Esq.,ConnellFoleyTrustee:Hon.JamesS.Rothschild,Jr.,retiredJudge,SuperiorCourtofNJ,CivilDivisionTrustee:MichaelD.Thompson,Esq.,EpsteinBecker&GreenNon-votingEmeriti:DavidGoodman,MaureenMcCullyWinograd)Non-votingStaff:YvetteGibbons,Esq.(ygibbons@eclaanj.org),interimdirector,pastpresidentofEssexCountyBarAssociationRobertM.Adler(radler@eclaanj.org),ECLAAfundraisinganddevelopmentdirector