Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
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  MILLIONS IN INMATE WELFARE FUNDS RESTORED   Public Interest Law Firm, with pro bono co-counsel Fenwick & West, represented a class of inmates in a successful lawsuit against the County of Santa Clara which alleged misappropriation of funds designated by state law to be used for the benefit of inmates. PILF alleged that the County violated this law by diverting money from telephone commissions away from the Inmate Welfare Fund (IWF) and using that money to pay for services that are legally mandated or not primarily for inmates’ benefit. After years of litigation and settlement negotiations, PILF reached a settlement with the County that requires sweeping policy changes in the administration of the IWF. It provides for the appointment of a consultant to assess inmate needs, creates enhanced oversight and auditing, and will result in $1.5 million in restitution to the IWF, over $1 million in new monies to be deposited to the IWF, and up to $450,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs.

  
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Public Interest Law Firm

PILF focuses its efforts on behalf of elders, youth, individuals with disabilities, those who are frequent victims of illegal discrimination and those who are poor. PILF believes in providing the highest quality of legal representation to its clients. PILF also believes in pursuing litigation only when it is the most effective solution to our clients' legal problems.

PILF has a wide-ranging litigation and advocacy docket in the following areas:

  • Civil rights
  • Fair, habitable, and affordable housing
  • Consumer protection
  • Disability access
  • Education and other youth rights
  • Rights of individuals in institutions
PILF acts as a resource by providing litigation support to local legal services agencies, including other Law Foundation programs, by assisting with formulating litigation strategies, co-counseling cases, and drafting and reviewing pleadings and briefs. Through its litigation support activities, PILF seeks to increase the capacity of these local agencies to conduct affirmative litigation in their areas of expertise.

PILF also provides information, referral, training, technical assistance and written materials for groups and individuals who seek to protect the human rights of and secure justice for underrepresented residents of the Silicon Valley area.

Public Interest Counsel Program

PILF leverages its resources by working with co-counsel on many of its cases as well as receiving direct financial support from individuals and law firms. This year the following organizations served as PILF's co-counsel: California Affordable Housing Law Project; California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.; Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund V, Inc.; Fenwick & West; McManis, Faulkner & Morgan; Morrison & Foerster LLP; Protection & Advocacy, Inc.; Public Advocates, Inc.; and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

Financial supporters of PILF's Public Interest Counsel Program include: Cooley Godward LLP, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Serena Alvarez, James T. Danaher, Virginia DeMarchi, Jay Fowler, Michael Kalkstein, Elizabeth Roth, Nicole M. Townsend, and Toni P. Wise.


 
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