Florida Civil Legal UPDATE

From the next issue of the Florida Bar News…

Administrative Law Section works to help disabled adults and children

The state is in such dire straits right now that those lawyers blessed with the gift of a little spare time are apt to find long lists of people needing help. A new measure by The Florida Bar’s Administrative Law Section and Florida Legal Services is aimed at helping Florida’s disabled adults and children rise to the top of that list. And they’ve made it quick, free, and relatively easy for lawyers to get up to speed in time to roll up their sleeves and pitch in….

The section held training for both groups in November and December in Tallahassee to educate future volunteers, but those who missed it shouldn’t worry: all the documentation for both trainings, as well as video, are available both at floridaprobono.org and the Administrative Section’s Web site, www.flaadminlaw.org.

Sheila Meehan of Florida Legal Services coordinates the program, which is just getting off the ground now and very actively seeking volunteers. Meehan credits McArthur and former administrative law section chair Andy Bertron with being the first to sign up. The two are awaiting their first cases.

“These are the people who are least able to help themselves — they are in financial need and have been disabled before they reached adulthood — they’re in this situation through no fault of their own,” Bertron said. “I can’t think of a more deserving class of people for us to help.”

There’s much more at the source.

We learned last week that the First DCA did not agree with the Advocacy Center that every person facing a reduction in services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities is entitled to a fair hearing on the mertis.  We covered the challenge here.

Now there’s reporting on the status of denial letters.

Of the 5,400 people who have appealed, the agency has judged that about 800 are “legally sufficient” for review by the Department of Administrative Hearings. The agency is still mailing out response letters. About 2,000 denial letters went out last week, and more people will get letters in the next several weeks. Those turned down have 10 days to amend their complaint and try again.

That’s obviously not a lot of turn-around time.  For legal services advocates concerned about this issue, please visit and join the Health & Senior Law Section of FLAdvocate.org.  There we have training, practice materials, and a community of advocates working to bring justice to some of our most at-risk neighbors.  A pro bono program also has been launched through the Administrative Law Section of the Bar.  Check out floridaprobono.org for more information.