by Kathy Para
JBA Pro Bono Committee Chair
Community development corporations, known as CDCs, refer to nonprofit organizations incorporated specifically to promote and support community development. CDCs’ goals aim to serve lower-income persons and revitalize struggling neighborhoods.
Through her continued commitment to pro bono work, Beth Rothenberg has greatly advanced the cause of CDCs, namely by aiming to improve the surrounding community of Jacksonville. One case in particular demonstrates this dedication.
Rothenberg willingly accepted a case involving a client who owned residential property on the Northside of Jacksonville. Her client agreed to sell half of her property, but the purchaser later asserted that the agreement was for the entire property. When Rothenberg’s client refused to sell the whole property, the purchaser filed suit for specific performance.
This would have forced Rothenberg’s client to sell her entire property for half of its total worth. To add further stress to her client, this case had been ongoing for several years without any resolution or much progress when Rothenberg got involved.
Through diligent efforts, Rothenberg was able to negotiate with opposing counsel and clearly articulate her client’s position. Rothenberg took the aggressive position that costs, including a trial, if necessary, would not be an issue for her client because she was taking this case pro bono. With this strategy, Rothenberg was able to put more pressure on opposing counsel to evaluate and settle this case more quickly.
The client was very happy with the settlement, under which she was able to keep all of her property. The client’s intention was to then sell the property to a local CDC for redevelopment.
Rothenberg gained valuable experience by being solely responsible for this case — one of the many benefits of pro bono representation. Rothenberg’s colleagues at McGuireWoods also served as a great resource for advice.
“I’m not sure what would have happened to my client and her property had JALA not been able to step in on her behalf. This legal issue was a tremendous source of stress in her life, and I realized how even just a few hours of a lawyer’s time can make a huge difference. I didn’t make any groundbreaking arguments or spend hundreds of hours on the case, but because I understood the law and was able to negotiate on the same level with opposing counsel, we came to a successful resolution fairly quickly. And the best reward of all is the relationship I have with my client; we still talk regularly and I’m certain we’ll continue to keep in touch.”
Rothenberg is an associate attorney with McGuireWoods, practicing primarily in the areas of environmental, health and safety law for large corporate clients.
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid would like to once again thank Beth Rothenberg for her continued devotion and enthusiasm toward the representation of pro bono clients. Her impact is both clear and profound.
Local attorneys interested in pro bono involvement in the Fourth Judicial Circuit can contact Kathy Para at [email protected], 356-8371, ext. 363.