by Kathy Para
JBA Pro Bono Committee Chair
Having one’s car towed can be a frustrating experience. However for a low-income client on a fixed income, a towing fee and the loss of a vehicle can be devastating, especially if the client is the caregiver of a sick spouse.
In this Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) case, the client’s vehicle was legally parked in his own parking space in the mobile home neighborhood where he lived.
He had been taking care of his sick wife for weeks and was unaware that his vehicle registration tags had expired. This caused him to be in violation of the vehicle regulations of his mobile home community. He received no written or verbal notice of this infraction and his car was towed.
Because of his fixed income and the constant care needed for his wife, the client was unable to pay the towing fees and reclaim his car.
When asked to assist this client, attorney Penny W. Schmidt agreed. With diligent work, Penny and law clerk Matt Collett were able to get the amount of the towing and storage bill reduced significantly so that the client could afford to get back his vehicle.
Being without his vehicle simply exacerbated the client’s already difficult situation. With the vehicle bill resolved and the vehicle reclaimed, the client is now able to focus on his responsibilities as caregiver.
“For this client in this situation, the loss of the vehicle was simply overwhelming with far-reaching impact for his wife and him. I’m just pleased that it’s now one less thing he has to worry about,” said Schmidt.
When asked why she is involved in pro bono work Schmidt stated, “I want to give back in some way. I feel fortunate to be a lawyer and I believe I should try to help others with the legal knowledge that I possess one case at a time.”
Schmidt accepts pro bono cases whenever she can and other attorneys are encouraged to follow suit.
“Pro bono involvement really is very manageable, even in the mix of our many responsibilities. It’s work that matters and is rewarding. It reminds me of why I went to law school,” added Schmidt.
Attorneys interested in assisting low-income and underserved clients should contact Kathy Para, The Jacksonville Bar Association Pro Bono Committee Chair, at [email protected] or 356-8371, ext. 363.
One client. One attorney. One promise.