by Kathy Para
JBA Pro Bono Committee Chair
Recognition is in order for Lanesha Sims, an attorney at Holland & Knight, for her outstanding dedication to pro bono service.
She is honored as the Pro Bono Attorney of the Month for the month of February for her work not only serving individual clients, but also for being a regular participant at the “Ask-A-Lawyer” events.
Lanesha states that she believes all lawyers have a unique ability to help others.
“I became involved in pro bono work as a way to give back to my community,” said Sims.
A recent pro bono case exemplifies this commitment. Lanesha accepted a case from Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) involving a woman who was a teen mother of two and who lived in a low-income apartment complex.
The landlord of the property had a policy that required tenants to display a parking permit on their vehicles. The purpose of this policy was to keep unauthorized visitors’ cars off the property.
Lanesha’s client, a lawful resident of the housing complex, requested and was denied a parking permit. Soon after, her car was towed and sold at auction.
There was no dispute that the vehicle belonged to Lanesha’s client. There was also no dispute that the car was in running condition before it was towed and sold.
After consulting with her client, Lanesha sent demand letters to both the landlord and towing company seeking treble damages under the civil theft statute.
Lanesha and her client received no substantive response from either the landlord or the towing company. They filed a petition in court and obtained a default judgment against the landlord.
On the eve of trial, the landlord hired an attorney, and the parties ultimately reached a settlement agreement. The settlement was beneficial to Lanesha’s client because it allowed her to purchase another vehicle.
“Too often landlords enforce apartment complex policies in an unreasonable and even unlawful manner. Lanesha’s advocacy in this case sent a message not just to this landlord, but to others, that they will be held accountable,” says Jeff Haynie, lead housing and landlord/tenant attorney at JALA.
“We’re grateful that this client was able to get relief that resulted in securing transportation for her family. Lanesha was determined and went above and beyond to see this case through to a favorable outcome,” he said.
In addition to representing individual clients, Lanesha is a regular participant in The Jacksonville Bar Association “Ask-A-Lawyer” events. It is not unusual for Lanesha to be the first attorney to arrive and the last attorney to leave the event. She’s always willing to stay until the last client is served.
Lanesha Sims has both a litigation and appellate practice. She obtained her Juris Doctor in May of 2006 from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Lanesha previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Henry Lee Adams Jr., in the Middle District of Florida, and the Honorable Carl E. Stewart, on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
“I believe it is the obligation of every lawyer to serve low-income clients in need of legal services. I really did nothing above my obligation,” said Lanesha.
Attorneys are encouraged to engage in pro bono representation. Attorneys interested in assisting by accepting a pro bono case or being involved with a pro bono legal services project should contact Kathy Para, chair, The Jacksonville Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, at [email protected] or 356-8371, ext. 363.
Information can be provided on pro bono opportunities through Guardian ad Litem, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, the Office of Public Defender, Missing Link, and the Northeast Florida Medical Legal Partnership, all of which are organizations that provide legal assistance to low-income and vulnerable clients.