Legal Advice Available for Kansas Tornado Victims

CHICAGO, May 25, 2007 — Recent tornadoes that hit portions of Kansas left behind a legacy of destruction as many residents struggle to deal with lost documents, damaged property, landlord disputes, and perplexing insurance requirements.

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Kansas Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section, has established a toll-free hot line and on-site legal clinic to provide disaster legal assistance aiding those affected by the tornadoes that struck on May 4.

Through a 1978 agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the ABA YLD has been called upon to provide legal assistance to victims of natural disasters. When the U.S. president triggers federal assistance to a stricken area by declaring it a “major disaster,” the ABA YLD mobilizes lawyers to coordinate volunteer activities through hot lines or by staffing disaster recovery centers in the hardest-hit counties.

Storm victims who can’t afford a lawyer in any Kansas county declared a disaster area may call the hot line at 800/928-3111 between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (CDT) daily. Callers should identify that they are seeking storm-related legal representation. In addition, on-site assistance began on May 22 and will be available through May 29 from 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center located at Barclay College Gym in Haviland, Kansas. Appointments for in-person consultations may also be made at any time by calling the hot line.

The kind of legal help available includes:

* Help with re-establishing identities
* Advice on employment and estate matters
* Preparing/filing insurance claims.

Eric G. Kraft, District Representative for the ABA YLD in Kansas and Missouri who helped coordinate these efforts, has personally been affected by the storms. “My parents’ home, along with the homes of many others, has been destroyed,” Kraft said. “By creating a hot line for legal questions, we hope to assist those victims by providing valuable guidance in re-establishing their lives.”

Lawyers licensed in Kansas wishing to volunteer their services in this effort should send an email to the Kansas Bar Association at info@ksbar.org or call Becky Hendricks at 785/234-5696. For general information relating to the helpline, contact Eric Kraft at 913/498-3536 or ekraft@kc-dsdlaw.com.

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division is the ABA’s largest entity, composed of approximately 144,000 members. The mission of the Young Lawyers Division, as the national organization of young lawyers, is to provide leadership in serving the public and the profession, and to promote excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law.

With more than 413,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law in a democratic society.

Source: ABA

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