Legal Aid Center in the News
More seniors are being buried by housing debt
June 2, 2015
By Paul Wiseman, The Associated Press
USA Today
WASHINGTON (AP) — Al and Saundra Karp have found an unconventional way to raise money and help save their Miami-area home from foreclosure: They're lining up gigs for their family jazz band.
They enjoy performing. But it isn't exactly how Al, an 86-year-old Korean War vet, or Saundra, 76, had expected to spend their retirement.
State Bar LRIS Grants Awarded
June 2, 2015
State Bar of Nevada
The State Bar of Nevada presented several Nevada organizations with grant monies from its Lawyer Referral and Information Services program at an awards ceremony last week. This year the bar was able to grant $92,500 to the following organizations/programs:
Family denied apartment refund after grandmother suddenly dies
May 22, 2015
By Tricia Kean
Channel 13 News
A valley woman dies unexpectedly and her family is told they can't get her apartment security deposit back. Then Contact 13 stepped in and things suddenly changed.
56-year-old Bernadette Berdella died unexpectedly in March, months after welcoming a new granddaughter into the world.
8 On Your Side: Organization offers free legal advice Friday
May 1, 2015
By Michelle Mortensen
Channel 8 News
Need to talk with a lawyer, but can't afford the legal fees? In honor of National Law Day, one organization is providing free legal consultation on May 1st.
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada is hosting an Ask a Lawyer Clinic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Vegas Community Senior Center at 250 N. Eastern Avenue.
Courts, lawmakers working on protection for weakest citizens
April, 12, 2015
By Colton Lochhead
Las Vegas Review Journal
Judges and lawyers responsible for Clark County’s flawed guardianship system acknowledge they have a problem.
They just say they’re powerless to fix it.
Guardianship Commissioner Jon Norheim and his supervisor, Family Court Judge Charles Hoskin, say they lack the money, staff and authority to prevent the financial exploitation of county wards detailed Sunday by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
No Car Payment? Cut The Engine
Apr 15, 2015
By Joe Schoenmann
Some state lawmakers are toying with this idea: if you are 10 days late on your car payment, your lender could shut down your car by remote control. A second late payment would result in a shut down after just five days. Existing law gives someone 30 days to make a payment.
The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada has testified against the bill, which is still alive in the Legislature. Consumer rights attorney Sophia Medina has represented two clients whose vehicles were turned off as they were driving.
Bill Would Let Lenders Use Tracking Devices on Nevada Cars
April, 2015
By Troy Wilde
Public News Service
CARSON CITY, Nev. - Nevada lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow lenders to remotely shut off a person's vehicle if he or she is a borrower late with their loan payment.
Assembly Bill 228 authorizes a person who finances the sale or lease of a motor vehicle to install a device which can be used to remotely locate or disable it.
Education Notebook, March 26-April 1, 2015
March 26, 2015
By Staff
Las Vegas Review Journal
CSN TO HOST MASTER PLANOPEN HOUSE MARCH 26
The College of Southern Nevada plans to host an open house from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 26 in the C Building lobby on the Henderson campus, 700 College Drive, to answer questions and collect feedback on the campuses’ proposed physical master plans.
The college is in the process of developing the plans, and once finalized, they will provide college officials with a blueprint to maximize space at each of CSN’s campuses and identify where potential new buildings, parking and student spaces are desired.
State, Clark County differ on public disclosure of child deaths
March 22, 2015
By Yesenia Amaro
Las Vegas Review Journal
Nevada and Clark County are clashing over what state and federal laws actually require when it comes to reporting child fatalities and near fatalities to the public.
Those who have been involved with the issue say there’s been an ongoing “dispute” about that for years. The fact that both entities haven’t resolved the conflict is unacceptable, said former Nevada lawmaker Barbara Buckley, who is executive director of the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada.
Local consumer activists protest payday loan companies
January 27, 2015
By Mauricio Marin
Channel 8 News
LAS VEGAS -- A group of people protested the practices of payday loan companies outside of a Money Tree store on Tuesday.
They were demonstrating against what many call "unfair" business practices. Currently in Nevada, there isn't a limit on how much interest a payday loan company can charge, so activist are pushing to change the law.
Jose Matias said his family used to turn to payday loans when they were in desperate need of money to pay their bills.
Backers of autism therapy hope for Nevada aid
November 26, 2014
By JANE ANN MORRISON
Las Vegas Review-Journal
They may be giving thanks prematurely, but advocates for autistic children are optimistic that Gov. Brian Sandoval’s next budget will include a major boost for therapy, expanding coverage to include applied behavior analysis, or ABA, a rehabilitative therapy with a record of success.
More than 500 of Nevada’s autistic children are on waiting lists to obtain therapy, and if Sandoval includes a requested $31 million in his budget for ABA therapy in his next two-year budget, Nevada would receive $58 million over two years in federal matching funds for the autism therapy program previously not covered by Medicaid.
Applied behavior analysis therapy takes an early intervention approach. The goal is to change behavior allowing an autistic child to function in school, at home and in the community. The techniques include rewarding positive behavior, timeouts and losing privileges, although it’s not that simple.
Do you know your legal rights as a renter?
November 17, 2014
By Daniel Gutierrez
Channel 13 News
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Some of the biggest complaints we get at Action News involve rental properties.
We recently spoke to one local man who says he moved into a filthy house, crawling with bugs, and even a green pool in the backyard.
"It looks like they never cleaned after the last tenants," said Anthony Lund.
I-Team: 'Repo by remote' raises safety questions
November 6, 2014
By Glen Meek, I-Team Reporter
Channel 8 News
LAS VEGAS -- Imagine having your car shut off while you're driving at highway speeds. That's what several local women say happened to them because of a device installed on their car by the finance company.
It's a payment collection practice that consumer advocates call "dangerous and unlawful." It's sometimes referred to as "repo by remote."
In order to qualify for auto financing, some people are being required to have remote control shut-off devices on their cars. The idea is to deny the owners use of the car when they've missed a payment.
8 on Your Side: Self-Help Center offers free assistance
October 27, 2014
By Michelle Mortensen, Investigative Reporter
Channel 8 News
LAS VEGAS - If you are in a dispute with your landlord, a small business or even your neighbor, you need to know your rights, so you can fight back and win.
If you can't afford a lawyer, you may feel destined to lose. That's not the case thanks to a little known place called the Self-Help Center.
The Self-Help Center is located inside the Regional Justice Center. Workers provide free assistance and guidance about any questions you may have.
Downtown Dedication Sparks Expanding Legal Aid Services
October 1, 2014
By Katherine Bishop
Attorney at Law Magazine
