Volunteer Legal Services Project in N.Y. announces Knight Award

The Volunteer Legal Services Project (VLSP) has announced this year's McKnight Award winners, who will be recognized at the Law Day luncheon on Thursday, May 1.

The honorees are Christopher D. Lindquist, Nicole A. Rossow and John Witmeyer, three attorneys who have made significant pro bono contributions through the project.

Lindquist, an associate at The Wolford Law Firm LLP, has represented clients at unemployment Insurance Benefit Hearings, an area of great pro bono legal need, according to the VLSP.

In one successful hearing, Lindquist helped a pro bono client win retroactive benefits payments of $1,000.

Lindquist spent a total of 27 pro bono hours on unemployment insurance benefit matters, which are difficult to place with volunteer attorneys and difficult to resolve, according to VLSP.

He also handled a collection case involving a young woman who donated her 1991 Corolla to a charitable organization through an acquaintance. The car was later found abandoned, was towed and then stored by the towing company. The woman was sued.

Lindquist negotiated with opposing counsel, who withdrew the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment. In arbitration he prepared testimony and pre-arbitration submissions. After the hearing, the arbitrator dismissed all claims against Lindquist's client.

Nicole A. Rossow became a VLSP volunteer at the suggestion of law firm partner Nathan Van Loon, in the Law Offices of Harris, Chesworth, O'Brien, Johnstone, Welch & Leone LLP.

In the past few years, she has provided more than 200 hours to pro bono service in family law matters.

In June 2006 Rossow accepted a grandparent visitation case representing a mother who had to respond to a petition filed by the parental grandmother seeking visitation with her one-year-old child.

After resolving this matter, Rossow filed a petition for custody on the mother's behalf.

When the child's father was sent overseas for military duty, the petition was withdrawn. However, he filed a petition for custody upon his return and Rossow filed a cross petition.

The case was complicated by the fact that the parties' default divorce from Texas stated custody provisions. Rossow performed substantial research, court appearances, discovery and trial preparation. The matter ultimately settled on the day of trial with the mother obtaining sole custody.

Rossow also helped VanLoon with a VLSP divorce that involved domestic violence. She helped the client obtain custody, child support, maintenance and pension benefits by negotiating a separation agreement that was incorporated into the divorce judgment.

Witmeyer, a partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, has volunteered with VLSP since 1996.

Over the past 12 years, he has used his expertise in estate planning to help clients with devastating illnesses such as AIDS and cancer in guardianship matters and also by preparing wills and advance directive documents.

"His calm and nonjudgmental approach in dealing with clients who have complicated family situations is much appreciated by clients and VLSP's community partners," the organization announced.

VLSP Board President Sharon E. Underberg will present the McKnight Awards at the annual Law Day luncheon on May 1.

The awards are named for William (Bill) McKnight, who died in December 1985 at the age of 36. He was the first African-American partner with Nixon Hargrave, a dedicated pro bono attorney and member of the VLSP board.

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