Massachusetts residents facing legal issues due to the tornadoes can call volunteer attorneys for free legal advice from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 22.
Thomas A. Kenefick III of the Hampden County Bar Association speaks during recent law day ceremonies at the Hampden County Superior Court in Springfield.SPRINGFIELD – Victims of the June 1 tornadoes that hit Central and Western Massachusetts can receive free legal advice from attorneys on June 22 through the Disaster Relief Dial-A-Lawyer.
The program will be jointly offered by the Massachusetts and Hampden County bar associations and Western New England School of Law.
“The Massachusetts Bar Association extends its deepest sympathies to the residents of Western and Central Massachusetts whose lives and property were adversely affected by the devastating tornadoes that hit the region earlier this month,” said association president Denise Squillante.
“We hope this service provides residents with the legal assistance they need as they start to rebuild their lives.”
Massachusetts residents facing legal issues due to the tornadoes can call volunteer attorneys for legal advice from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 22. The legal advice is provided at no charge as a public service by the bar organizations.
The Disaster Relief Dial-A-Lawyer phone number is (413) 782-1659. If a caller gets a busy signal, they are asked to hang up and try again. Normal telephone charges will apply.
“We are pleased and indeed gratified that our outreach to Hampden County residents is being embraced by the Massachusetts Bar Association in conjunction with the Dial-A-Lawyer program,” said Hampden County Bar Association president Thomas A. Kenefick III.
“There is, to be sure, strength in numbers and the magnitude of this catastrophe can be better addressed through the joint effort of our bar association. For that, I am most appreciative and look forward to working with the Massachusetts Bar Association.”
The county bar group is also providing additional services to residents, including free legal assistance related to condemnation complaints, insurance claims and related matters at Hampden Housing Court on June 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 and July 1.
Kenefick said a major concern is the condemnation of homes and small businesses.
“The house being condemned is not necessarily a death certificate to the resident,” said Kenefick. “If they can begin to figure out a plan, the idea is moving toward obtaining a certificate of occupancy again.”
The lawyers will not work through an individual case from beginning to end, but will discuss options, which documents to prepare and which organizations to contact, he explained.
“We’ll give them a road map,” said Kenefick.
Residents of Western and Central Massachusetts who are in need of an attorney for other issues are welcome to contact the Hampden bar association’s lawyer referral service at (413) 732-4648 or the state organization’s lawyer referral service, toll free, at (866) 627-7577.