Phillip Robinson is the Executive Director of Civil Justice Inc., a Maryland based public interest legal association which provides services to Maryland consumers.  Civil Justice has been recognized as a model program bringing together a network of Maryland solo and small firm attorneys interested in doing well while doing good. 

Phillip was recognized as the 2008 Denis J. Murphy Maryland Consumer Advocate of the Year by the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition and a Maryland ”Super Lawyer” for 2008-2009 for his work as a leading public interest attorney helping consumers who are victims of unfair foreclosure, predatory lending practices, and mortgage fraud. 

Phillip’s work at Civil Justice concentrates in certain program service areas designed to help at risk homeowners avoid becoming the victim of certain predatory real estate practices.  He serves as class counsel in several class action lawsuits and project manager for several pro-active public education programs designed to prevent residents from entering into illegal transactions in the first instance. 

Phillip is a Member of the State and Federal Bars of the State of Maryland, District of Columbia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th and 11th Circuits, and has served as class counsel in the past.  He has a BA in Political Science from American University in 1989 and attended both Georgetown Law Center and Widener University School of Law where he received his JD in 1998.

A 1997 graduate of the University Of Baltimore School of Law, Anthony DePastina has served as Legislative Aide to the Chair of the Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee as well as Assistant People’s Counsel for the State of Maryland representing Maryland residents in matters involving Energy and Telecommunication Matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Maryland Public Service Commission, as well as State and Federal Courts.   Mr. DePastina has lobbied both at the State and Federal levels and testified on multiple bills before the Maryland General Assembly involving energy, telecommunication and consumer protection statutes.   In addition, Mr. DePastina has maintained an active private practice as a general practitioner.

Currently, Mr. DePastina serves as Director of Litigation for Civil Justice where his practice focuses on Consumer and Foreclosure Defense law in both State and Federal Courts.  Mr. DePastina is a Member of the Maryland State Bar, the United States District Courts for the District of Maryland and for the District of Columbia, the United State Court of Appeals for the 4th and 11th Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court.   

Rebecca is the Director of the Creditor Abuse Prevention Project (CAPP).  After graduating third in her class from University of Baltimore Law School in May, 2010, Rebecca was awarded a fellowship from the Open Society Institute to crate CAPP.  The Open Society Institute awarded seven fellowships this past year.  This project grew out of Ms. Coleman's previous work as a law clerk for Civil Justice in their Foreclosure Prevention Project.

In addition to clerking for Civil Justice, Rebecca was a summer associate at Whiteford, Taylor and Preston, LLP, and interned with the Honorable Duncan Keir, Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. Ms. Coleman holds an undergraduate degree in History and Secondary Education from Boston University/  She is a member of the Maryland State Bar, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

Shirley Appelt has worked in the legal field for many years.  While working as Assistant to the Director of Juvenile Law Clinic at the University of Maryland School of Law, Shirley obtained her paralegal degree from University College.  Shirley worked as Program Director/Office Manager of the Clinical Law Program at the University of Maryland School of Law for approximately 25 years.  Shirley was involved with the formation of Civil Justice in 1998, and has been working at CJ ever since.

Carrie McCully began working for Civil Justice in September 2008 as Project Coordinator for the Foreclosure Prevention Project. Prior to working for Civil Justice, Carrie worked for 4 years as a senior mortgage processor at two national mortgage brokers.  She graduated in 1998 from Lock Haven University with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism.  Carrie is a routine presenter to housing counselors throughout the state of Maryland regarding Maryland Foreclosure procedures.