Lawyers To Provide Free Legal Assistance
to Fire Victims

SAN DIEGO, CA, October 29, 2003 -- With devastating wildfires still raging, the county’s lawyers are banding together in an effort to coordinate free legal services for the thousands of families whose lives have been disrupted. This will include providing legal information at Disaster Recovery Centers across the county and referrals to qualified lawyers who will advise fire victims free of charge.

Those impacted by the fires with legal questions can call a toll-free hotline at (800) 464-1529.

“ Our goal is to provide effective legal guidance to those who have suffered losses in the fires,” said San Diego County Bar Association President Christopher W. Todd, chair of the coalition of law-related groups working together on the program. “And, we’ve had a tremendous response from the legal community.”

Legal issues faced by the fire victims will run the gamut from insurance coverage to landlord-tenant concerns to employment questions.

The program will connect those affected by the wildfires in San Diego County to experienced lawyers who will advise them. The lawyer assigned will not charge the client for his or her legal services. Services will be available in both English and Spanish.

The lawyers in San Diego County “are always eager to help those in need, and this crisis is no exception.” Todd said. “In fact, offers of assistance started coming in as soon as the fires broke out.”

The coalition is comprised of area law-related groups including the San Diego County Bar Association, Lawyers Club of San Diego, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, Bar Association of Northern San Diego County, Foothills Bar Association, Cardozo Society, the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program and the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, together representing the over 12,000 lawyers in San Diego County.