JUNE NEWSLETTER

Newsletter Archive

FG&I has received the 1999 Presidential Award from the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation ("OLAF"). FG&I was one of only three Ohio law firms honored for outstanding pro bono contributions in serving disabled Ohio children. OLAF is a statutorily-created nonprofit agency charged with improving access to justice of poor Ohioans. The Presidential Award is presented by OLAF annually to law firms or individuals who have made outstanding efforts to improve access to justice by pro bono publico service. Recently Congress changed the definition of who qualifies as a disabled child. This legislative change required thousands of families in the United States who received termination notices, to engage in a review process through the Social Security Administration in order to maintain benefits for their children. OLAF established a statewide hotline for Ohio families to call. Low-income families were then linked with a volunteer lawyer who provided representation to the child through the appeals process. FG&I associates were among those volunteer lawyers. In a press release announcing the awards, which were presented at the Annual Meeting in Cleveland of the Ohio State Bar Association, OLAF Board President Thomas V. Chema said: "The law firms we are honoring have been vital in the success of the statewide project to serve low-income disabled children with legal needs. When a law firm makes a commitment to pro bono service, those lawyers are representing the very best ideals within the legal profession by improving access to justice. They set an example for us all and we are grateful for their important work." The award, which is on display in FG&I's lobby, states that it is "For Outstanding Pro Bono Contributions in Assisting Disabled Children in Ohio." Charlie Faruki was a Partner for Justice in the Justice for All campaign that lead to the formation of OLAF some years ago.

Charlie Faruki has been asked to speak at the Ohio State Bar Association's Annual Antitrust Institute, which brings together antitrust practitioners and litigators from around the country. This year the program theme is dealer terminations. Charlie will be speaking on the subject of pre-termination due diligence, dealing with such topics as what steps counsel should take prior to the termination or nonrenewal of a distributor. This is an area where FG&I's litigation practice has a counseling component or spinoff. Since a dealer termination that is not carefully handled may result in unnecessary litigation, FG&I is frequently asked to consult about prospective dealer terminations. The Annual Antitrust Institute will be held in Columbus on November 12, 1999. You may contact Charlie for details if interested; his direct number is (937) 227-3705, and his E-mail address is cjf@fgilaw.com.