HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-06-22 Free Legal Assistance Available for Hawaii Island Disaster Survivors -- press release
FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
FOR HAWAII ISLAND DISASTER SURVIVORS
June 18, 2018. A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available to survivors of the state of Hawaii’s recently
declared disaster areas in Hawaii County for the Kilauea Volcano eruption and earthquakes. The
service, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer to aid in disaster related matters, is a
partnership between the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, the Hawaii State Bar
Association, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Hawaii State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and
United Policyholders.
Survivors facing legal issues who are unable to afford a lawyer may call 1-800-499-4302 toll-free
between 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, to request assistance.
When connected to the hotline, callers should identify that they are seeking disaster-related legal
assistance, brief details of the assistance needed and in which area of Hawaii Island they are located.
Callers can also email their information to disasterhelp@legalaidhawaii.org. Individuals who qualify for
assistance will be matched with Hawaii lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal assistance.
The type of legal assistance available include:
● Assistance with securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster survivors;
● Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims;
● Help with home repair contracts and contractors;
● Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster;
● Assistance in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures;
● Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems; and
● Counseling on landlord-tenant problems.
Background
On June 14, 2018, a Major Disaster Declaration was issued for the state of Hawaii, making federal
funding available for to individuals and business owners in Hawaii County. To register with FEMA,
and if eligible, apply for federal and state disaster assistance, register online at
www.DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone, or Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Applicants may
also call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY) seven days a week from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific
Time. Applicants should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves, insurance
coverage, and any other information to help substantiate the loss. The deadline to register with FEMA
is August 13, 2018.
Survivors should be aware that there are limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is
not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the
settlement by a court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.
Partner Members
The following organizations have joined forces to establish a toll-free phone line for Hawaii disaster
survivors to request free legal assistance and to provide volunteer attorneys to handle cases arising from
the recent disaster in Hawaii County.
American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division
(http://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers.html) The ABA YLD, the largest national
organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and
promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is the
national voice of the legal profession and the largest voluntary professional membership group in the
world.
Hawaii State Bar Association and Hawaii State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division
(www.hsba.org) – The Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) is the administrative entity for the unified
Hawaii bar, whose members include all lawyers licensed to practice law in the State of Hawaii. Its
mission is to unite and inspire Hawaii’s lawyers to promote justice, serve the public and improve the
legal profession. All members of the HSBA in good standing under thirty-six year of age, and all
members who have been admitted to their first bar for less than five years, are automatically members of
the HSBA Young Lawyers Division, which provides activities, camaraderie, and a means of
participating and improving the administration of justice for Hawaii’s young lawyers.
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii (https://www.legalaidhawaii.org) – Legal Aid Society of Hawaii (LASH)
has helped the people of Hawaii meet their legal needs since 1950. As one of the state’s oldest and
largest non-profit, public interest law firms with offices statewide, LASH helps ensure justice and
fairness for all by providing civil legal aid to the most vulnerable in our society.
National Disaster Legal Aid Online (www.disasterlegalaid.org) – NDLA is a collaborative effort of
Lone Star Legal Aid, the American Bar Association, the Legal Services Corporation, the National Legal
Aid and Defender Association, and Pro Bono Net.
United Policyholders (https://www.uphelp.org) - United Policyholders (UP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3)
organization whose mission is to be a trustworthy and useful information resource and a respected voice
for consumers of all types of insurance in all 50 states. United Policyholders a non-profit 501(c)(3)
whose mission is to be a trustworthy and useful information resource and a respected voice for
consumers of all types of insurance in all 50 states. UP focuses on helping survivors navigate insurance
claims toward a full, fair and prompt settlement, and provides guidance on debris removal, temporary
living arrangements, government aid, construction issues, hiring professional help, and deciding how
and if to repair, rebuild, or buy a replacement home.
Contact:
Andrew VanSingel
DLS Coordinator, ABA YLD
vansingelDLS@gmail.com
616.293.4729