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Available Cases

VIP offers the unique opportunity to positively affect the lives of low income Philadelphia residents. We provide resources to assist you throughout the case, including mentors, interpreters, law students and training materials. VIP has included potential core competencies that staff anticipate volunteer counsel would achieve by taking the case, but these experiences are not guaranteed. Every VIP case provides an opportunity for direct client contact and case management. Join the VIP team by taking a case!

If you are interested in taking one of the following cases, please click on the case number to send an email to the VIP staff. Thank you!

Civil Forfeiture

  • 13-0033667

    Client needs assistance to defend against a civil forfeiture.  The household includes client, her 9-month-old son, and client’s mother.  The property is owned by client’s mother.  Mother and client’s cousin were arrested on drug related charges.  Mother went to trial and was convicted.  Mother is currently in custody.  Client has power of attorney from mother.  Client would like to defend against the civil forfeiture and save the family’s home.  Trial is scheduled for June 11, 2013. 

    Core Competencies: Courtroom Experience, Negotiation Skills

     

Collections

  • 13-0033868

    Client needs assistance in a student loan matter.  Client's mother took out several private student loans in client's name.  The loan checks were sent directly to client's mother and neither client nor her college received any of the funds.  Client learned about the loans when client requested a copy of her credit report.  The loans are currently in default.  Client needs advice regarding her options for having the loans removed from her credit report and transferred to her mother's name.
    Core Competencies: Factual Investigation and Development; Analysis of Statutes

Consumer

  • 13-0033345

    Client and his girlfriend purchased a car together.  The amount of the car loan is $21,000 which includes $6,000 in finance fees.  Client states that he informed the car dealer that he was concerned about the cost and client was informed that client could refinance after two months and lower the monthly payments.  Client has been unable to refinance.  Client would like assistance to restructure the car loan in order to decrease the payments.
    Core Competencies: Negotiation Skills, Client Interviewing
     

  • 13-0033546

    Client purchased a car in February 2012 and has paid for the car in full.  The car dealer was responsible for having the title and registration transferred to client’s name.  Client never received a new registration and title for the car.  During a traffic stop by the police in February 2013, client learned that the car was never properly transferred to client.  The police towed the car and client was unable to claim the car because title was not in her name.  Client contacted PennDot and had the title and registration issue resolved.  However, when she attempted to retrieve the car she learned that the dealership had already claimed the car from impound.  The dealership refuses to return the car to client until she pays them the $750 they paid to retrieve the car.  Client does not believe she should have to pay the full amount because the dealership failed to properly transfer the car to client’s name.  Client needs assistance to regain possession of her car.
    Core Competencies: Negotiation Skills, Draft Pleadings
     

  • 13-0033544

    Client, a veteran, needs assistance in a consumer matter.  Client purchased a car on March 1, 2013.  Client was informed that the power windows on the car did not work but client now believes that there are other problems with the car that were not disclosed at the time of purchase.  The client did not learn that the car did not have a valid inspection sticker until after he took possession of the car.  Client has unable to obtain a valid inspection sticker.   Client would like the dealership to make any needed repairs to the car so it will pass inspection.  Otherwise, the client wants to return the car and receive a refund of payments made to date.
    Core competencies: Factual development and investigation, Negotiation skills
     

Contracts

  • 13-0033544

    Client, a veteran, needs assistance in a consumer matter.  Client purchased a car on March 1, 2013.  Client was informed that the power windows on the car did not work but client now believes that there are other problems with the car that were not disclosed at the time of purchase.  The client did not learn that the car did not have a valid inspection sticker until after he took possession of the car.  Client has been unable to obtain a valid inspection sticker.   Client would like the dealership to make any needed repairs to the car so it will pass inspection.  Otherwise, the client wants to return the car and receive a refund of payments made to date.

    Core Competencies: Factual Development and Investigation, Negotiation Skills

     

  • 13-0033475

    Client, a widow, needs assistance in an insurance matter.  Client’s husband died in July 2010.  Client attempted to claim the policies insuring her husband’s life.  At that time client learned that one of her husband’s policies had been cancelled.  Client states that she did not cancel the policy and had continued making payments on the policy.  Additionally, client was informed that her husband’s brother was the beneficiary of the policy that remained in effect.  The insurance company informed client that the proceeds were paid out to the brother but client says brother denies receiving payment.  Client seeks assistance to determine what happened to the insurance policies and proceeds.

    Core competencies: Factual development and investigation, Negotiation skills
     

  • 13-0033684

    Client needs representation in an insurance matter.  Client’s car was vandalized and burned in November 2012.  Client filed a claim with her insurance company and still has not received payment or a decision on the claim.  The police investigated but were unable to tell client what happened to her car.  The police released the car to the insurance company in January 2013.  Client needs assistance to convince the insurance company to pay the insurance claim.

    Core Competencies: Negotiation Skills, Factual Investigation and Development

     

  • 13-0033573
    Urgent Need

    Client needs representation in a small claims matter.  The opposing party is client’s ex-boyfriend.  The complaint alleges client fraudulently obtained title to opposing party’s car while opposing party was incarcerated.  Client states that opposing party gave the car to client after opposing party was incarcerated.  Opposing party has provided copies of signed and notarized documents from opposing party giving client authority to take ownership of the car.  Client paid the balance on a title loan taken out by opposing party prior to transferring title to her name in June 2008.  The car was stolen in November 2008.  Opposing party filed the complaint February 5, 2013 and is seeking $10,000.  The hearing is scheduled for June 10, 2013 at 9:15 am.

    Core Competencies: Courtroom Experience, Factual Development and Investigation
     

  • 12-0032823

    Client’s roof and interior of home were damaged by storms in 2011. Client's insurance company is covering the costs of the damage. Insurance company sent a check to the mortgage company to handle the distribution of the money. Client hired a licensed contractor to complete the repairs of her roof. Contractor was initially paid $5,380.51 to work on the repairs. Contractor put some patches on the roof and asked for more money in order to buy supplies to continue working on the roof. Insurance inspector came to the house and established that contractor only did 20% of the work.  Client would like money returned from contractor in order to continue to pay for the repairs of her home. Client seeks assistance in this matter. Client is elderly and Spanish-speaking.  VIP has language interpreter and translation services available upon request.
    Core Competencies: Factual Investigation and Development, Courtroom Experience