SouthCoast Fair Housing v. Saunders

  • Filed: 09/26/2018
  • Status: Closed
  • Latest Update: Sep 26, 2018
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Summary

This is a federal lawsuit on behalf of SouthCoast Fair Housing against the RI Supreme Court over a court rule that is preventing the organization from providing legal help to victims of housing discrimination in RI. As the rule is currently written, non-profit organizations cannot obtain a license to practice law in the state unless they serve only “indigent” clients. This is despite the fact that the Court’s own rules recognize that it is not just the poor, but “sometimes persons who are not poor” who are unable to afford adequate legal assistance. Update: In October 2019, the RI Supreme Court revised the rule.

Attorney(s):
Mark W. Freel and Jeffrey Ankrom

News & Commentary

Oct 22, 2019

Lawsuit Over Ban on Non-Profit Legal Organizations Assisting Non-Indigent Clients Resolved

The R.I. Supreme Court has revised a court rule that favorably resolves objections that had been raised in a federal lawsuit filed last year by ACLU of Rhode Island cooperating attorneys on behalf of SouthCoast Fair Housing (SCFH), which had been prevented by the rule from providing legal help to victims of housing discrimination in RI. As a result of the revisions, SCFH will be dismissing the suit.

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Sep 26, 2018

Lawsuit Challenges RI Court Rule Barring Non-Profit Legal Orgs from Assisting Non-Indigent Clients

With legal assistance from the ACLU of Rhode Island, SouthCoast Fair Housing (SCFH) today filed a federal lawsuit against the RI Supreme Court over a court rule that is preventing the organization from providing legal help to victims of housing discrimination in RI. As the rule is currently written, non-profit organizations cannot obtain a license to practice law in the state unless they serve only “indigent” clients. This is despite the fact that the Court’s own rules recognize that it is not just the poor, but “sometimes persons who are not poor” who are unable to afford adequate legal assistance.

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Learn More About the Issues in This Case

Due Process First Amendment View All Issues

Related News & Podcasts

News & Commentary
Oct 22, 2019
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  • Due Process|
  • +2 Issues

Lawsuit Over Ban on Non-Profit Legal Organizations Assisting Non-Indigent Clients Resolved

The R.I. Supreme Court has revised a court rule that favorably resolves objections that had been raised in a federal lawsuit filed last year by ACLU of Rhode Island cooperating attorneys on behalf of SouthCoast Fair Housing (SCFH), which had been prevented by the rule from providing legal help to victims of housing discrimination in RI. As a result of the revisions, SCFH will be dismissing the suit.
News & Commentary
Sep 26, 2018
Placeholder image
  • Due Process|
  • +1 Issue

Lawsuit Challenges RI Court Rule Barring Non-Profit Legal Orgs from Assisting Non-Indigent Clients

With legal assistance from the ACLU of Rhode Island, SouthCoast Fair Housing (SCFH) today filed a federal lawsuit against the RI Supreme Court over a court rule that is preventing the organization from providing legal help to victims of housing discrimination in RI. As the rule is currently written, non-profit organizations cannot obtain a license to practice law in the state unless they serve only “indigent” clients. This is despite the fact that the Court’s own rules recognize that it is not just the poor, but “sometimes persons who are not poor” who are unable to afford adequate legal assistance.