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UB Law volunteers discuss Katrina ‘legal cleanup’
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Angela Novy and Thane Erickson, two of the seven University of Baltimore law students in New Orleans last week volunteering legal assistance for Hurricane Katrina victims, have personal connections to the city.
Erickson received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University, lived in New Orleans until 2003 and still has his parents and sister in the area. Novy was returning to the Crescent City after being forced to evacuate because of the extensive flooding.
“My basement floor apartment in the Carrollton/Broadmor section took in 5-6 feet of water,” said Novy, a law student at Loyola University in New Orleans before transferring to UB in the aftermath of Katrina. “It was a very emotional experience for me to come back.”
Erickson said his old Lakeview neighborhood, close to the 17th Street levee, was left in ruins.
Along with three University of Baltimore professors and three local public defenders — two from UB and one from Tulane University in New Orleans, Novy and Erickson aided the city’s public defenders office, understaffed since Katrina.
The students interviewed arrestees, searched for records, helped build cases, looked for prisoners lost in the system, tried to locate family members and communicated with courthouse officials to resolve minor case-related issues.
“These were not just people who were recently arrested, but people who have been in jail 16, 17, 18 months and hadn’t been able to speak to anybody,” said University of Baltimore professor Stephen Harris, who supervised the group. “We were really successful. We got five or six people out of jail — who should’ve been out months ago, but their records got mixed up in the devastation.”
Novy was the lead student organizer from the University of Baltimore working with the Student Hurricane Network, a national organization of 80 law schools providing long-term volunteer assistance to communities affected by Katrina.
Over winter break, more than 200 law students from nine law schools, including UB and the University of Maryland Law School, volunteered with the Katrina Gideon Interview Project, a cooperative effort between the Student Hurricane Network, the New Orleans Public Defenders Office and the Tulane University law clinic.
The University of Baltimore School of Law will hold a panel discussion, titled “Cease and Desist: UB Law Intervenes on Behalf of Victims of Hurricane Katrina,” at noon Thursday. Open to the public, it will be in the fifth-floor multipurpose room of the UB Student Center, 21 W. Mount Royal Ave.
“I have personal ties to the area and to be able to help people in prison was a great experience,” Novy said. “The legal community has a duty to serve any area affected by a catastrophe, and that’s what our volunteers did.”
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7:46 AM MST on Thu., Aug. 21, 2008 re: "White Marsh apartment tenants sue management company"
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Rose Johnson said:
I read the complaints about Ross Ridge apartments,I moved in April 22 of this year.I am having the same problems,I have not seen any mice yet and I live on the bottom floor.My air conditioner was leaking and they left nasty brown stains on my wall which have not been fixed yet,2 months ago.My carpet is wet by the door where the air conditioner is.My bathroom has mold and water stains all over the ceiling above shower head,and stain marks streaking all the way down the tile.I was told there is a leak upstairs and that needed to fixed first before they could fix mine,but that was 2 1/2 weeks ago.Also there is mold around the ceiling along with the water spots.My refrigerator door was not shutting for a month,and was leaving cold air out ,running more than it should have,the light stayed on constantly,open the door and water flys out at you.Took door off and said to take out light bulb.Well frig is still dripping.dishwasher is not bolted to counter,it falls out.They do not fix anything.
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Examiner Reader said:
Does anyone have an update on the ongoing suit of Ross Ridge Apartments being sued by tenants? Does anyone here know of someone that currently lives there? Has Ross Ridge made any changes or renovations to their apartments? Thank you in advance for your response.
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Examiner Reader said:
Does anyone have any update on Ross Ridge Apartments being sued by tenants? Thank you.
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Examiner Reader said:
I currently live in Morgan Properties Towson Crossing Apartments. I have been complaining about the mice infestation for over 2 years now. I was told the infestation was because of the renovations. They even put in there newsletter ways to control the infestation by using peppermint oil. This was something I told them I was trying. The exterminator they sent even said there are alot of holes around the baseboard of the floors that needs repairs. With our cheap renovation which consisted of spray painting the bathroom tub and shower, we also got new carpet in the halls, new number signs outside the apt building but no concern, help or remedy to the infestation.
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Examiner Reader said:
whats the status of this case... I live in the apartments now and am having the same problems
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Examiner Reader said:
Towson Crossings Apartments Tenants (Morgan Properties) are experiencing the same horrific living conditions! This morning one of the tenants posted a message in reference to the tenants moving out and the rodents moving in. Ignored work requests, filthy surroundings, trash and filth;I have encountered mice, waterbugs, roaches, crickets, spiders, in less than a month in my newly renovated $880+ top floor, 2-bedroom apartment. I'm so tired of tip toeing through my apartment out of fear of seeing/stepping on something. Its nerve wrecking for someone who maintains cleanliness, work hard to have to find peace outside of "what's considered home". Terrified Unhappy Tenant of Towson Crossings
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