Empire Justice Memo of Support - Amend CPLR 8602 to Define “Prevailing Party”

This bill (S. 4534 (Sampson)/ A.7395 (Schimminger)) would amend the definition of "prevailing party" in CPLR § 8602(f) to include "a party whose pursuit of a non-frivolous claim was a catalyst for a voluntary or unilateral change in position by the opposing party that provides any significant part of the relief sought." Read More

Empire Justice Memo of Support: Ensure Access to Justice in Lending

This bill promotes justice and will enable more homeowners to find legal representation when their homeownership is in jeopardy. Read More

Empire Justice Memo of Support for Critical Legislation to Help Stop Foreclosures

The Governor’s Program Bill #46 responds to the continued rise in foreclosure filings by strengthening and extending to more homeowners critical protections that have been proven to ward off the unnecessary loss of homeownership. Read More

Empire Justice Center Testimony at the Executive Budget Hearing on Human Services

Testimony before the Joint Legislative Committees on human services in the 2010-2011 executive budget. Read More

Empire Justice Center Testimony at the Public Protection Hearing for 2010-2011

Most years we confront the need to restore state funding to the budget. This year we confront that and so much more. We are facing a triple whammy: the elimination of over $13 million from the Executive Budget that had been in last year’s budget; a dramatic decline in funding from the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) fund; and an unrelenting increase in people desperately seeking legal assistance as the economy continues to strip them of the ability to hold onto their jobs, homes and their economic stability. Read More

Empire Justice Testimony at IOLA Hearings

Testimony focusing on four areas: our core belief in the rule of law, the role of the Empire Justice Center in the legal services delivery system in New York, the potential solutions to the chronic shortage of stable funding for legal assistance, and the unique opportunity we have in the midst of this crisis. Read More