October 22, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ — The tornado that touched down in Joplin, Missouri earlier this year reminds us just how devastating natural disasters can be. This deadly tornado not only destroyed countless homes, but also decimated a number of Joplin businesses in the process.

In a statement to CBS News, Rob O’Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, estimated that as many as 300 businesses were lost due to the tornado – affecting as many as 4,000 jobs.

Many of the area’s largest employers, including national chains and large businesses, have pledged to rebuild. Even small, local businesses are refusing to give up and plan to use their insurance proceeds to start over.

Businesses fortunate enough to have tornado damage coverage in their insurance policies may at least have the option to rebuild, but what can they do about their lost business during the time it takes to start again?

Business Interruption Insurance

Even if businesses have the option to rebuild, many cannot afford to be out of business for months at a time. The lost income may doom a business to failure before it ever has a chance to get back up and running. Business interruption insurance was created for situations exactly like this.

The basic purpose of business interruption insurance is to compensate a business for losses arising from an interruption of normal operations due to the destruction of the business by a covered hazard. Generally, business interruption insurance preserves the continuity of the business’s income and places the business in a position it would have been in, had there been no interruption at all – basically it covers the business’s lost earnings and additional expenses incurred during the interruption.

As with any insurance claim, it is important to obtain an independent review of your damage when disaster strikes. If your business has recently been destroyed or damaged in a natural disaster, contact an experienced attorney in your area to assist you in getting the compensation you are entitled to from your insurance provider.

Article provided by Doyle Raizner LLP
Visit us at www.doyleraizner.com

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ANN ARBOR, MI, October 22, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ — by: Edward Macey

A recent ruling from Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals specifically confirms that the federal civil rights laws protect certain volunteers from discrimination at work. The case brought by a volunteer firefighter against the Middlefield Fire Dept. was originally thrown out before trial by the lower court. The Appeals court ruling reverses the lower court and sends the discrimination case back for trial, based on a determination that the law’s protection against discrimination and harassment for "employees" includes employees who are unpaid.

The plaintiff in Bryson v. Middlefield had alleged sexual harassment in the form of unwanted advances by her supervisor which led to her eventual termination when she rejected the advances. The volunteer firefighter brought suit after the EEOC issued her a Notice of Right to Sue after concluding that there was enough evidence that she was "sexually harassed and subject to a sexually hostile work environment." The volunteer "employee" brought her suit in district court, where the fire department argued that Bryson, as a "firefighter member" could not be considered an employee because firefighter members were volunteers; and not "employees" under Title VII. (Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin). The lower court bought the argument and granted partial summary judgment finding the Department did not meet the statutory definition of employer by not having enough employees to be covered by federal law. The Sixth Circuit disagreed and reversed.

The Sixth Circuit’s groundbreaking analysis rejects a previous Second Circuit Court opinion on employee/volunteer determination and, as some employment rights advocates might say, has made a significant push for employees’ rights by stretching the boundaries as to who is considered an "employer" and "employee" with regard to Title VII claims. Because Bryson established that firefighter-members received "worker’s compensation coverage, insurance coverage, gift cards, personal use of the Department’s facilities and assets, training, and access to an emergency fund," the Sixth Circuit ruled that the district court made an error by adding the requirement of "significant remuneration" when trying to determine if an individual can be considered an "employee." As a result of this classification, the Department can be held responsible for discrimination and harassment under Title VII. The case now returns to the district court to determine whether sexual harassment occurred.

The lawyers at Nacht Law will continue to monitor the developments in this area. If you have any questions or would like more information on the issues discussed in this comment, please contact the author. Attorney Edward Macey is an associate at the Firm of Nacht, Roumel, Salvatore, Blanchard & Walker PC, practicing in the area of employment rights and civil rights.

About Nacht Law:

Navigating any difficult situation starts with sensible, legally sound advice. Nacht Law in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a full-service law firm committed to providing clients with aggressive, flexible and affordable counsel across a wide range of legal disputes.

Nacht Law
101 North Main Street, Suite 555
Ann Arbor MI 48104

Telephone: 734-418-0356
Toll Free: 888-312-7173
Web: http://www.nachtlaw.com

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The last date for admission is October 31, 2011

India, Thursday, October 20 2011: AVAGMAH Online School (AOS), continuing education initiative of 24×7 Learning is a recognized Online Business School for higher education in India. AVAGMAH Online School offers various undergraduate and post graduate management courses in partnership with various universities and the programs are UGC and DEC recognized. The undergraduate program includes online BBA and the post graduate programs include online MBA in Media & Entertainment, Hospital Management, Banking & Finance, Sales & Marketing, International Business and Human Resource Management. AVAGMAH Online School helps working professionals and individuals who want to pursue their higher education but are unable to do so due to work pressure.

AOS allows its students to study from the comfort of their homes at a time convenient to them. All that the student requires is an access to the Internet. The school provides:

- Live online interactive lecture sessions through webinars

- Contemporary course content material built in partnership with Industry leaders

- Availability of international case studies from Harvard Business Publishing

- Industry experienced faculty

- Access to archived lectures whenever the student wants through the Tablet PC provided with every enrollment

- Guru Talks from CXOs every month

The last date for admission to AVAGMAH Online School is October 31, 2011. Students keen to join the virtual school can get more information by dialing the toll free number 1-800-4250-247 or by writing into admission@avagmah.com.

AVAGMAH Online School endeavors to offer an up to date education to the individuals which ensures guaranteed career success. The course content offered by AOS is in times with the industry requirement. For e.g. MBA in Banking and Finance is aligned to IFRS standards; MBA in Media & Entertainment course has been built in partnership with Network 18. Likewise MBA in HR is aligned with the SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management) guidelines of SPHR.

“India has nearly 26000 colleges in higher education which is not enough to cater quality education to the larger number of aspiring youths in the country. At AOS we are imparting quality education through quality content and top class faculties using technology as the backbone”, said Karthik KS, Founder & CEO, 24X7 Learning. He further added, “The programs offered by AVAGMAH Online School are industry specific keeping the working professionals in mind. Our endeavor is to equip the student with required knowledge and skill sets necessary for their success in the corporate world.”

AOS also offers career building certification and vocational skill courses like – International Financial Reporting Standards- IFRS certification in partnership with KPMG, Project Management Professional Training cum Certification, NexGen Managers, Certified Six Sigma Professional and have over 4000 more short term online training cum certification courses.

Rado unveils a glamorous line for him & her to rejoice the festive season

Mumbai, Oct 20th, 2011: Rado, the pioneering Swiss watchmaker and a part of the world’s largest watch conglomerate The Swatch Group, is proud to unveil a special collection of watches for this festive season. This assortment of beautiful diamond studded watches was unveiled in a style that exudes unlimited spirit at Hotel Shangri-la, Delhi. This spectacular range of watches will be available across India at all Rado stores.

The Rado festive collection offers an exclusive selection of the brand’s most celebrated products. These watches were showcased by stunning models through a fashion walk.

The Rado Integral, a refined beauty – in white and gold or silver, a combination of understated luxury with a classical design, along with all the benefits of high-tech ceramic. Linear and elegant.

The Rado Ceramica – in white with its silver or gold metallization dials is a distinguished statement piece as it uses its immaculate appearance to highlight all the gorgeous elements of the watch. Iconic and graphic.

The Rado Sintra, a timeless appeal – in full golden high-the ceramic case and bracelet which is accented with an eye popping glittered dial. Dazzling and precise.

The Rado eSenza, notable for its elliptical form and enthralling play on light. The case creates an oval with perfect proportions, while the entire circular dial is adorned with exquisite gemstones set in a Fibonacci spiral derived from the golden number. Refreshing and simply precious.

The Rado Centrix – the expression of the circle in its purest form. The authentic design and shape best embodies elegance with clarity. Classic and fluid.

Mr. Matthias Breschan, CEO of Rado said: “We are delighted to present a glamorous range of watches to add to the allure of festivity. Our collection of beautiful diamond studded watches will certainly add a touch of brilliance to this festive season.”

Rado leads the field in what has become a universal plight to make beauty last. The brand has been pioneer in watches made of high-tech materials such as hardmetal, high-tech diamond, high-tech ceramic and Ceramos®. Rado was also the first brand to produce convex, dome-shaped sapphire crystals, affording unmistakable watch designs.

Unlimited Spirit. RADO.

WASHINGTON American pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. has agreed to pay $14.5 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations related to its marketing of the drug Detrol, the Justice Department announced today. The settlement resolves the last of a group of 10 qui tam, or whistleblower, suits that were filed in the District of Massachusetts and two other districts, beginning in 2003. The other nine suits were settled or dismissed in 2009 as part of the governments global resolution with Pfizer, under which the company agreed to pay $2.3 billion dollars to resolve civil claims and criminal charges regarding multiple drugs.

The current settlement addresses allegations that Pfizer illegally marketed Detrol, a drug for the treatment of overactive bladder, for use in male patients suffering from benign prostatic hypertrophy and several allied conditions, notably lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder outlet obstruction all uses for which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not approved the drug as safe and effective. Under the terms of the settlement, the $14.5 million recovery will be divided between the United States and participating state Medicaid programs, with $11,878,846 going to the federal government and $2,621,154 going to state Medicaid programs. Under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, whistleblowers will receive a $3,282,019 share of the federal recovery.

Whistleblowers play an important role in protecting taxpayer funds from fraud and abuse, said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Departments Civil Division. Settlements like this one help maintain the integrity of FDAs drug approval process and support important federal and state health care programs.

The United States is pleased that Pfizer has agreed to resolve the last of the pending cases that were not settled as part of the 2009 resolution and plea, said Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. We hope and expect that this is indicative of a commitment to move forward in compliance with the law, and we will continue to watch vigilantly to ensure that Pfizer complies with the law in its sales and marketing of drugs sold to the public.

The case is U.S. ex rel. Wetherholt and Drimer v. Pfizer, which the United States declined to intervene in and was independently litigated by the relators. The United States subsequently participated closely in efforts to resolve the case.

This settlement is part of the governments emphasis on combating health care fraud and another step for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced by Attorney General Eric Holder and Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in May 2009. The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in that effort is the False Claims Act, which the Justice Department has used to recover more than $6.3 billion since January 2009 in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs. The Justice Department's total recoveries in False Claims Act cases since January 2009 exceed $8.1 billion.

WASHINGTON – The United States has sued Rodney Chestnut and Nafeesah Hines to bar them from promoting an alleged tax fraud scheme, the Justice Department announced today. According to the civil injunction complaint, the scheme is based on a frivolous redemption theory, which promoters falsely claim allows taxpayers to obtain funds from supposed secret U.S. Treasury accounts. Scheme participants allegedly use Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms, including Forms 1099-OID and 1099-A, to report large amounts of fictitious income tax withholding, in order to claim large tax refunds.

According to the complaint, Chestnut, of Middle Island, N.Y., is a former corrections captain who promotes the scheme and recruits participants, including some of his former co-workers at the New York City Department of Corrections. He allegedly prepares tax returns for his customers that fraudulently claim huge tax refunds based on the redemption theory.

The complaint also states that Hines, of Jamaica, N.Y., is an employee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration who prepares or files false forms with the IRS, both for Chestnuts customers as well as for others. According to the complaint, in 2009 and 2010 Hines prepared or filed more than 3,000 fraudulent forms that falsely reported over $54 million of purportedly withheld income taxes.

Claiming bogus tax refunds based on false Forms 1099-OID is one of the IRSs Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2011. In the past decade, the Justice Departments Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of tax-fraud promoters and unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website.

WASHINGTON A Virginia woman was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for her role in an extortion scheme involving a staged kidnapping in Guatemala, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride for the Eastern District of Virginia and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Miami Division.

Sheena Flores, 34, of Manassas, Va., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Flores pleaded guilty in August 2011 to one count of transmitting in foreign commerce, with intent to extort money, a communication containing a threat to injure another person.

Judge Lee also sentenced Flores to three years of supervised release to follow her prison term and ordered her to pay $3,000 in restitution.

According to court documents, in July 2010, Flores was living in Guatemala with a child under the age of two who was born in Guatemala.

Although Flores had no legal custody rights over the child, Flores had been taking care of the child in Guatemala while her husband was making arrangements to legally bring the child to the United States to live with him and Flores.

On July 6, 2010, from Guatemala, Flores contacted a family member in Manassas by telephone and reported that she and the child had been kidnapped by three men and that the men wanted $5,000 in two hours or they were going to kill Flores and the child.

At the time that Flores reported the kidnapping and the ransom demands, Flores was attempting to extort money from her family with a hoax kidnapping and false threats, as she and the child had not been kidnapped.

Upon learning of the kidnapping and believing it to be true, the Flores family member called law enforcement authorities in Virginia.

Shortly thereafter, FBI agents began investigating the kidnapping and members of the FBIs Crisis Incident Response Group were dispatched to the family members house to monitor the situation and assist the family in negotiating with the kidnappers.

Also on July 6, 2010, Flores husband, who was in Manassas, received numerous text messages from Flores cellular phone in Guatemala, which repeatedly threatened that Flores and the child would be killed if he did not pay $10,000 in ransom by the next day.

Believing that his wife and the child had in fact been kidnapped, Flores husband wired a partial ransom payment to Guatemala.

According to court documents, Flores enlisted the help of two men whom she believed were members of the violent gang MS-13 to help carry out the fake kidnapping.

Flores and the child were found on July 13, 2010, with the assistance of Guatemalan police.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebeca H. Bellows for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney James S. Yoon of the Criminal Divisions Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.

The Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs provided assistance.

The case was investigated by the FBIs Miami Division Extraterritorial Squad, with support from the FBI Legal Attach Office in San Salvador, El Salvador, and the FBI Transnational Anti-Gang Task Force in Guatemala.

WASHINGTON Jeffery K. Armstrong, 52, of South Riding, Va., was found guilty today by a federal jury on nine counts of wire fraud for obtaining more than $100,000 in salary payments by fraudulently holding concurrent jobs at the United Nations (U.N.) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The guilty verdict was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Departments Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride for the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant Director in Charge James W. McJunkin of the FBIs Washington Field Office; and David P. Berry, Inspector General for the NLRB.

Armstrong was indicted on June 28, 2011, by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia on nine counts of wire fraud for his scheme to defraud the U.N., an international organization committed to humanitarian and peace-keeping efforts, and the NLRB, an independent agency of the U.S. government.

According to evidence presented in the trial, in March 2008 Armstrong took a leave of absence from his position as a supervisory security specialist with the Department of the Army to accept a full-time position at the U.N. As an assistant chief of the Security and Safety Service at the U.N., Armstrong was responsible for all physical security of U.N. facilities in New York City, among other functions. According to evidence at trial, Armstrong received an annual salary from the U.N. of approximately $160,000. In February 2009, after working at the U.N. for almost a year, Armstrong applied for a position as chief of the security branch within the Division of the Administration at the NLRB in Washington, D.C. In April of 2009, Armstrong became a full time employee at the NLRB, with an annual salary of approximately $121,000.

From approximately April to September 2009, Armstrong was an employee of both the U.N. and the NLRB. Armstrong concealed his dual employment from both employers by, among other things, dissuading NLRB personnel from contacting his supervisor at the U.N., submitting incomplete or inaccurate employment forms to the NLRB, and causing to be mailed to the NLRB false correspondence suggesting that he no longer worked at the U.N. In addition, Armstrong submitted, and occasionally forged, medical leave documentation to the U.N., indicating that he was unable to work and was undergoing medical treatment, despite his full-time employment at the NLRB. According to evidence, Armstrong failed to notify his superiors at both entities of his concurrent employment and received more than $100,000 in concurrent salary.

Armstrong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 27, 2012.

This case was investigated by the FBIs Washington Field Office and the NLRB Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorney Eric G. Olshan of the Criminal Divisions Public Integrity Section and Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Dunn of the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Thank you, Sue, for that kind introduction. Its an honor to join you and all the distinguished panelists and guests who are here today to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Im pleased that this Administration has made ending domestic violence a priority from the strong leadership of the Office of the Vice President, to the hard work of
the Office on Violence Against Women, the U.S. Attorney's Offices, the FBI, ATF, staff here at Main Justice, and our federal agency partners.

The tragedy of domestic violence affects not only the immediate victims, but their families, neighbors, friends, and indeed entire communities. It touches the lives of people from every background, ethnicity, age, ability or sexual orientation.

Despite significant progress, still one in four women and one in thirteen men will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes.

On average, three women in America die each day as a result of domestic violence.

This is unacceptable, and we must do better.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we must recommit ourselves to the critical work still before us.

Attorney General Holder and I believe that its essential for the Department of Justice to lead the effort toward understanding how we can better serve victims of domestic violence, and how to prevent these terrible crimes from occurring in the first place.

This is especially true with respect to domestic violence homicides.

The double tragedy of deaths due to domestic violence is the realization that in many cases, they could have been prevented. There is a growing consensus among researchers and practitioners that domestic violence homicides are predictable and thus often preventable.

The patterns are chilling.

Perpetrators of these crimes often have a prior history of domestic violence.

Most women who are killed by a current or former spouse or domestic partner had been subjected to attempted strangulation, threats with weapons, stalking, sexual assault, and obsessively jealous and controlling behavior by their killers. So by the time abuse escalated to homicide, it is likely that someone in the family, the neighborhood, or the perpetrators or victims workplace was aware that something was terribly wrong.

As shocking as it is to know how predictable these terrible crimes are, this same information provides hope that real change is possible.

Thats why were working aggressively to identify these risk factors and improve a communitys response when those factors are present. The Departments Office on Violence Against Women has been using Violence Against Women Act funds to support domestic violence fatality review teams.

These teams examine domestic violence homicides in order to identify commonalities and fill any gaps in the response efforts that may put victims at risk.

By bringing together a wide range of professional and community members, these teams can discover ways to prevent these homicides in the future.

These teams and other interventions have been credited with helping to reduce the number domestic homicide fatalities.

The Violence Against Women Act, of course, provides the framework for our efforts.

This landmark legislation reflects the consensus that as a nation, we must do everything we can to address this problem.

Since its enactment nearly two decades ago, the Act has provided support for survivors of domestic violence and helped to reduce the intolerable number of Americans who are killed by an intimate partner.

The Act created a comprehensive approach to violence against women by combining law enforcement and prosecution strategies that hold offenders accountable, along with programs to support the victims of such violence.

Violence Against Women Act funding has played a critical role in building a coordinated community response.

That response, in turn, has changed the civil and criminal justice systems for the better encouraging victims to file complaints, improving prosecution of sexual assault and domestic violence cases, and increasing the issuance and enforcement of protection orders.

The increased availability of legal services for victims seeking protection orders has made it easier to obtain such orders when theyre needed, and actually helped reduce domestic violence and improve the quality of victims lives.

And finally, setting up specialized domestic violence prosecution programs has boosted rates of successful prosecutions.

The impact of these changes is real.

Research and experience since VAWA was first enacted make clear that while we have accomplished much, we can do even more to prevent domestic violence homicides.

As we approach the statutes next reauthorization, it should be a priority not only to reaffirm each of the laws existing protections, but to ensure that it includes the strongest possible provisions to prevent deaths from domestic violence.

The statute should be strengthened to reflect what weve learned about domestic violence homicides.

Finally, the reauthorization should address the very serious problem of domestic violence in Indian Country by recognizing certain tribes power to exercise concurrent criminal jurisdiction over domestic violence cases on tribal lands, regardless of whether the defendant is Indian or non-Indian.

It should also ensure that tribal courts have full civil jurisdiction to issue and enforce domestic violence protection orders; and it should strengthen the Federal criminal code to address the most egregious acts of domestic violence.

These and other proposals will help bridge existing gaps so that violence against Native American women can truly be reduced, and lives can be saved.

We look forward to working with Congress when it takes up the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization.

Over the years we have worked hard to bring the problem of domestic violence out of the shadows.

We have shined a spot light on it, studied it, and taken major steps toward dealing with it, not only as a law enforcement issue, but as a community issue.

While we have made great progress, there is still so much to be done.

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time to focus on this issue, but lets not forget that this is a problem we need to deal with twelve months a year.

I thank each of you for being here today, and especially thank our guests, who will share with us their own experience, research, and work in this area.

We look forward to continuing our work together so that we can not only reduce domestic violence, but end it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Laura [Stein] for those gracious, and very kind, words.

As he prepares for Sundays show, I just hope that David Gregory was listening.

It is an honor to stand with you tonight and to be among so many old friends, essential partners, and distinguished colleagues including Solicitor General Don Verrilli; White House Counsel Kathy Ruemmler; and leaders from all across the Justice Department and Administration.

To the entire Equal Justice Works team, its a pleasure to congratulate you on 25 years of remarkable service.

And Id especially like to thank my good friend, David Stern, for his work in bringing us all together; and for his many contributions to the progress that we celebrate tonight.

For a quarter of a century now since the day that Michael

Caudell

-

Feagan first rallied a small group of concerned, frustrated, and ultimately hopeful law students together to discuss ways to expand access to our legal system

this organization has been on the front lines of national efforts to ensure equal justice for all Americans.

As your network of supporters and partners has grown, youve succeeded in raising awareness about the deficiencies and disparities that we must address.

And youve mobilized law students and lawyers from across the public and private sectors to take action.

Youve also established a vitally important meeting ground for prosecutors, public defenders, general counsels, judges, legal advocates, academics, and aspiring attorneys to come together and share experiences and ideas.

And youve reminded lawyers across the country of the sacred responsibilities that we share: not only to strengthen our nations legal system, but to use our skills and training to help fulfill this countrys founding promise of equal justice under law.

This evening, as we reflect on the impact and importance of this organization we have many reasons to be proud, and to be encouraged about the days ahead.

But, as stewards of our nations justice system, we cannot yet be satisfied.

And none of us can become complacent.

Fifty years ago in his very first speech as Attorney General Robert Kennedy declared that it was time to, [prove] to the world that we really mean it when we say that all men are created free and equal before the law. Two years later, in Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution requires that defendants in criminal cases be provided counsel even if they cannot afford an attorney. Yet, here we are today a half century later and its clear that the goal expressed by Attorney General Kennedy, and the rights afforded under Gideon, have yet to be fully realized.

And despite all the progress that Equal Justice Works has helped to achieve in the last two and a half decades this organizations mission has never been more important.

All across the country as communities, states, organizations, and individuals struggle to overcome once-in-a-generation economic challenges, the assistance of public interest lawyers has never been more urgently or desperately needed.

Of course, you already know this.

Youve seen the alarming statistics.

Youve read about defendants who have languished in jail for weeks, or even months, before counsel was appointed.

And some of you have learned this truth in the hardest of ways by experiencing it on the ground.

Youve seen how in communities across the country, many

children and adults enter our criminal justice system with nowhere to turn for guidance.

You know that, in far too many jurisdictions, young people have been encouraged to waive their right to counsel; low-income adults have been denied the help they need from underfunded and understaffed public defender offices; and, each day, thousands of individuals are appearing in our courts with little understanding of their rights, the charges against them, or the potential sentences they face.

Even when lawyers are provided to the poor, too often they cannot represent their clients properly due to insufficient resources, overwhelming caseloads, and inadequate oversight that is, without the building blocks necessary for even the most basic public defender system to function properly.

This is nothing short of a crisis one that many of the people in this room have been working for decades to address and overcome.

And, today, although millions of Americans still struggle to access the legal services that they need and deserve we can all be encouraged by the fact that thousands of bright and eager recent law graduates are lining up, and stepping forward, to practice law on behalf of under-served individuals, communities, and causes.

Creating opportunities for that talent pool is critical and its what Equal Justice Works is all about.

Tonight, Id like to recognize a very special group of individuals who have helped us take meaningful, measurable steps forward: the more than 180 Equal Justice Works Fellows and former Fellows who are here with us; and who have worked, in a variety of different ways, to help ensure access to essential legal services.

I know that they already stood up once tonight, but I think this group deserves another round of applause.

All across the country, these Fellows have made a difference by

helping people in dire need access legal services; by securing much-needed benefits for disabled children, military families, and veterans; and by helping to safeguard and to empower the most vulnerable among us.

Not only have they helped to ensure justice they have saved time, court system resources, and precious taxpayer dollars.

And their work has allowed our nation to move forward in addressing and overcoming our most pressing legal challenges.

Of course, Im especially proud of the Justice Departments contributions to these efforts and of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our nations legal system is accessible, effective, and a model of integrity.

Nowhere is this commitment more clear than in the work of the Departments Access to Justice Initiative.

Last year, we launched this landmark Initiative to help ensure that basic legal services

are available, affordable, and accessible to everyone in this country regardless of status or income.

And, today, the Access to Justice office is collaborating with state, local, tribal, and federal officials as well as a variety of nonprofit and private sector partners to broaden access to quality legal representation.

I know that many of you are working closely with our Access to Justice team.

And as Ive often told my good friend Jim Sandman, the President of the Legal Services Corporation, who Im glad to see here tonight with the assistance and engagement of our partners, I have no doubt that we can build upon the progress thats been made in protecting funding for and expanding access to legal services.

And we can do even more to raise awareness about the challenges that current and future lawyers must help to address.

I also want to mention another historic step that the Justice Department took last year in awarding a $700,000 grant to launch the Public Defender Corps, a partnership between Equal Justice Works and the Southern Public Defender Training Center.

This innovative program selects highly qualified new lawyers to work in public defender offices and provides them with the training and support that they need to be effective.

Helping to get this program off the ground has been a priority for some time in fact, since the spring of 2008.

Thats when David Stern invited me and a group of white-collar defense lawyers to his home to meet with Jon Rapping, the founder of the Southern Public Defender Training Center, and some of the young attorneys that Jon had been working with.

Those of you who know Jon wont be surprised to hear that he spoke passionately about the importance of providing more public defenders with the training that they needed to become more confident in the courtroom and more skilled at leading investigations, making motions, and cross examining witnesses.

Jon believed that these specially trained lawyers could help change the culture of public defender programs that were doing little more than processing people in and out of our courts.

Of course, Jons arguments were compelling.

But I was stuck and inspired by a story that was shared by a young African-American woman named Janelle, who was working as a public defender in a small rural town outside of Atlanta.

She had started her career as a public defender with great enthusiasm committed to providing her clients with the very best representation.

But Janelle lacked the support she needed to succeed.

And when she experienced hostility from both prosecutors and judges she felt her confidence slipping away.

She described how she was laughed at by one judge while attempting to make a motion; and how some of her clients demeaned her calling her racial epithets, and asking for a "real lawyer."

In that environment, shed thought about giving up and getting out of this critical service area.

Fortunately, Janelle met Jon Rapping.

After Jons two-week boot camp, Janelle said she emerged a changed person.

Not only was she, once again, committed to ensuring the very best for her clients she knew how to provide the very best.

Janelle gained the strength and tools necessary to stand up to her adversaries, to earn the respect of her colleagues, and to succeed in the courtroom.

In short, she became a first-rate defense lawyer.

That night, I turned to David and told him that we needed more lawyers like Janelle and more training opportunities like the one Jon had created.

Maybe one day, David said to me, youll be in a position to help."

Nine months later, I became the Attorney General.

And let me assure you from day one, David has been reminding me that we had a lot of work to do, and a lot of people to help.

Thanks to him and to many other dedicated leaders and partners in August, the inaugural class of the Public Defender Corps began their training.

These 18 extraordinary lawyers were selected from more than 450 applicants and have brought their new skills to offices in Tennessee, North Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Tonight, I am pleased to report that all 18 of them are here with us and Id like to invite you to join me in a congratulating these exceptional, highly effective attorneys on all that they are accomplishing.

With their contributions, I have no doubt that we will prove the power of this model, which many are now describing as Teach for America for Lawyers and that more states and counties across the country will want to replicate this ground-breaking program.

But Im not just counting on these young public defenders.

Im counting on every person here to help address and overcome the challenges that 25 years ago first inspired the creation of Equal Justice Works.

Tonight, as we celebrate this milestone anniversary, let us also commit ourselves to carrying out the founding mission of this organization as well as the obligations that every lawyer shares.

Let us act with optimism, without delay, with adherence to the highest standards of professionalism, and with allegiance to the legal system that we are so privileged to serve.

This is our collective responsibility.

And it must become our common cause in the work that we do each day, and in the support that we provide to those in need of our assistance.

Never forget that if we work together, if we stay committed the change, and the progress, that we seek are possible.

Each one of us must find new ways and seize every opportunity to make the promise of our justice system a reality for all Americans; and to advance our nations long and ongoing pursuit of a more equitable, more just, and more perfect union.

Thank you all.