Client Stories Archives - Page 6 of 15 - Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.

Pro bono attorney helps widow and mother of three escape a nightmare home

Pro bono attorney helps widow and mother of three escape a nightmare home

Christina McEuen was still adjusting to life as a widowed mother of three when she signed a lease on a small home in the Mandarin neighborhood of Jacksonville in 2016. Almost immediately after moving in, McEuen found the house had leaks everywhere, including the roof, pipes, and water heater. When an outlet caught fire, she discovered the fire extinguisher didn’t work. The handyman sent to correct the problems essentially applied useless Band-Aids to gaping wounds. “This house was a nightmare,” said McEuen, who had been a server at St. Mary’s Seafood and More until she gave birth to a baby with a compromised immune system and other special needs, including severe autism. Early in her pregnancy, her husband had died in a trucking accident, so she was alone in caring for her little Mikey and his older brothers, William and Jeffrey.

Dennis Harrison2021-12-02T12:13:11-05:00July 20th, 2021|Client Stories, Fair Housing, Pro Bono|

Veterans Services Unit helps father keep majority time-sharing of his daughter

Veterans Services Unit helps father keep majority time-sharing of his daughter

In 2010, Troy Bragg, a post-9/11 veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, discovered he was the biological father of a daughter and immediately filed a petition for paternity on his own. His petition was granted, and he and his daughter’s mother reached a mutually agreeable parenting plan and time-share agreement. The judge’s order provided Bragg with majority time-share, which was successful for 10 years. But in August 2019, the girl’s mother began to take from Bragg’s time with their daughter and tried to alienate her from Bragg.

Dennis Harrison2022-09-23T11:15:06-04:00July 9th, 2021|Client Stories, Family Law, Veterans Services|

Veterans achieves legal ownership of inherited property with help from JALA

Veterans achieves legal ownership of inherited property with help from JALA

Rodney came to JALA’s Clay County office seeking help with probate on an estate he had inherited. Since he was a veteran, he was referred to JALA’s Veterans Services Unit. Declan Duffy, who leads the unit, drafted two separate petitions and three corresponding orders and filed each of them with the Clay County Clerk of Courts. These included an order to admit the will and one for homestead status on the family home.

Dennis Harrison2021-05-21T10:47:22-04:00May 21st, 2021|Client Stories, Fair Housing, Veterans Services|

JALA attorneys work together to help Army veteran retain custody of her baby

JALA attorneys work together to help Army veteran retain custody of her baby

“Julia,” 26, a U.S. Army veteran and mother of three, became pregnant and moved to Jacksonville to begin a new life with children, her partner and their soon-to-be-born child. But with the stress of the pandemic, cracks appeared in their relationship. After being with her for their baby’s birth, the father told Julia that he was going to take the baby to see his parents, who were visiting from out of town. Julia agreed. But it turned out that the baby’s father was in fact headed out of state with the baby. When she begged him to return, he refused.

Dennis Harrison2021-05-14T11:54:55-04:00May 14th, 2021|Client Stories, Family Law, Veterans Services|

JALA enables tenant to break lease on mold-infested apartment without penalty

JALA enables tenant to break lease on mold-infested apartment without penalty

One day, “Anais,” who lived in a subsidized apartment with her 14-year-old son, noticed severe mold and mildew in the living room air vents of her apartment. Soon, the infestation had spread throughout the unit. Anais has an autoimmune disease, and after the mold was discovered, her doctor diagnosed her with respiratory ailments that required treatment and medication.

Dennis Harrison2021-04-07T17:12:27-04:00April 7th, 2021|Children's Health, Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA helps veteran become legal guardian and keep teenager out of foster care

JALA helps veteran become legal guardian and keep teenager out of foster care

“James,” 70, had helped raise “Cole” since he was born in 2007. A veteran living primarily off his Social Security income, he had known Cole’s mother for almost two decades and had allowed her and Cole to live in his home even though they were not related. She and Cole had been abandoned by Cole’s father, and James had become a role model and source of stability in the young boy’s life.

Dennis Harrison2021-05-04T12:41:41-04:00March 31st, 2021|Client Stories, Veterans Services|

Longshoreman returns to work at the port with help from JALA

Longshoreman returns to work at the port with help from JALA

Rahmaal Fisher, 44, had been a longshoreman at Jacksonville’s port since he was 16, but after serving time in prison, he was barred from the job he loved because the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would not issue him the required Transportation Worker Identification Card, or TWIC. “Once I got sentenced to prison, I thought I had it arranged to where it wouldn’t affect my port pass,” Fisher said. “Once I got released, I saw that it had affected it. Because I applied with TSA for the TWIC pass, and they denied it. So, I had to apply again, and they denied it again.”

Dennis Harrison2021-03-04T08:23:12-05:00March 4th, 2021|Client Stories|

JALA gets landlord to address mold problems affecting asthmatic toddlers

JALA gets landlord to address mold problems affecting asthmatic toddlers

“Shameka,” a single mother of three young children, had been a tenant in her subsidized housing unit for over two years when her apartment’s air conditioner developed a problem that caused a build-up of moisture and a consequent mold infestation. Shameka’s 2-year-old twins suffer from disabling bronchial asthma, which the conditions in the apartment were exacerbating, causing potentially life-threatening symptoms.

Dennis Harrison2021-03-04T08:24:24-05:00February 12th, 2021|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

After gunshots tear through a grandmother’s home, JALA enables her to relocate

After gunshots tear through a grandmother’s home, JALA enables her to relocate

“Roberta,” a grandmother living in subsidized housing, lived in fear for her life and that of her loved ones after bullets from random, drive-by shootings had twice gone through her house, the second time severely injuring a visiting relative who subsequently had to undergo multiple surgeries. Roberta was diagnosed with severe anxiety after these two incidents. When she tried to break her lease so that she and her grandchildren could move to a safer home, the local public housing authority denied her a new housing voucher because her landlord claimed she owed more than $1,400, an allegation Roberta disputed.

Dennis Harrison2021-01-06T16:03:38-05:00January 6th, 2021|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA ensures apartment complex provides accessible parking, ramp

JALA ensures apartment complex provides accessible parking, ramp

“Theo” turned to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid for assistance in obtaining reasonable accommodations due to his disabilities. He had been living in the same apartment complex for 28 years and was previously accommodated by the property management with an accessible parking space. However, after the property management repaved and repainted the parking lot in the apartment complex, his accessible parking space was removed and not replaced. In addition, although Theo had been provided with a ramp to his unit, the property management had never installed grab bars or railings as promised.

Dennis Harrison2020-12-17T14:58:35-05:00December 16th, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing|