Upcoming Events

 

Join Civil Justice and MCRC for a screening of "Stealing Trust", December 3rd, 5pm at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring

Civil Justice and the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition invites you to a screening of the powerful documentary "Stealing Trust" on December 3rd, 5pm-7pm at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring.  "Stealing Trust" is a film that shows Marylanders speaking out on frauds, scams and financial abuses.  Through the voices of victims of financial abuse, this film, produced by MCRC, depicts the devastating human toll of predatory practices on individuals and families.  It makes clear the necessity to protect working families in these tough economic times, with 14 million Americans jobless and more than 10 million families having lost their homes to foreclosure.  Following the film, there will be a discussion regarding moving forward, and what actions will better protect consumers.

Tickets for the event are $10 per person.  Click here for a flyer on the screening.  For additional information and how to purchase tickets, please call Erica Evans at 410-706-0174 or email eevans@civiljusticenetwork.org

Maryland Foreclosure Mediation and Mortgage Fraud Prevention CLE December 1st

Civil Justice and Allegany Law Foundation are presenting a CLE course entitled Maryland Foreclosure Mediation and Mortgage Fraud Prevention Act on Thursday, December 1, 1p.m. to 4p.m. at the Allegany College Continuing Education Building in Cumberland.    The training will cover the Maryland Foreclosure Mediation law and regulations, and share real life mediation experiences from the perspectives of secured parties, homeowners and other interested parties. This portion of the class will be presented by Jeff Nadel, Esq., and Phillip Robinson, Esq.  The second portion of the training will cover litigating mortgage servicing claims under the Maryland Mortgage Fraud Prevention Act.  Sample pleadings, Discovery, Motions, and Attorneys Fees will be reviewed.  This portion of the class will be presented by Phillip Robinson, Esq.

This training is free with a pro bono commitment.  Please click here for additional information.

Defending Criminal Felony Cases in Federal v. State Court - CLE Offering on December 7th

Civil Justice's latest CLE offering, Defending Criminal Felony Cases in Federal v. State Court, will be held December 7, 2011 at 9:50 a.m. at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.  This seminar will examine the fundamental difference between felony trial practice in federal and state court.  The course will take a look at the differences in the courthouse culture as well as pre-trial and post trial procedural steps and processes unique to each jurisdiction.  This class is a must for attorneys to efficiently advocate for their clients as they go through the different possible proceedings.  To register for this class, or for additional information, please click here.

Position Announcement

Award Winning, Cutting Edge Non-Profit Legal Services Organization Seeks Executive Director 

Civil Justice, Inc., a nationally recognized legal services organization in Maryland, seeks applications for Executive Director.  CJ serves moderate and low income clients directly and through a network of solo and small firm lawyers.  Candidates should have significant litigation (preferably consumer) and law office management experience, be licensed in Maryland or willing to apply for admission, and be a strong leader.  For a complete position announcement, please click here.

Mission

Civil Justice, Inc is a Maryland non-profit corporation formed for the purpose of increasing the delivery of legal services to clients of low and moderate income while promoting a statewide network of solo, small firm and community based lawyers who share a common commitment to increasing access to justice through traditional and non-traditional means.

The Latest from our Blog

Director of CJ's CAPP Program, Rebecca Coleman, contributes to OSI's Audacious Ideas Blog:  Rebecca Coleman, Director of the Credit Abuse Project (CAPP) and a 2010 Open Society Institute Baltimore County fellow has contributed to the Open Society Institute Audacious Ideas blog.  Her article, entitled "Make Creditors Prove They are Entitled to Collect a Debt" can be viewed here.  Audacious Ideas is a blog that was created to stimulate ideas and discussion about solutions to difficult problems in Baltimore.

CJ Member Peter Holland has published an article titled "The One Hundred Billion Dollar Problem in Small Claims Court: Robo Signing and Lack of Proof in Debt Buyer Cases".:  CJ Member Peter Holland has published an article titled “The One Hundred Billion Dollar Problem in Small Claims Court: Robo-Signing and Lack of Proof in Debt Buyer Cases.”  Below is the abstract.  ABSTRACT Recent years have seen the rise of a new industry which has clogged the dockets of small claims courts throughout the country. It is known as the "debt buyer" industry. Members of this $100 billion per year industry exist for no reason other than to purchase consumer debt which others have already deemed uncollectable, and then try to succeed in collecting where others have failed. Debt buyers pay pennies on the dollar for this charged off debt, and then seek to collect, through hundreds of thousands of lawsuits, the full face value of the debt. The emergence and vitality of this industry presents several legal, ethical and economic issues which merit exploration, study and scholarly debate. This article focuses on the problem of robo-signing and the lack of proof in debt buyer cases. Althou