Justice Center News
The Justice Center News blog features our advocacy on issues affecting low-income New Yorkers today and the latest CBJC happenings. For press releases, click here. For publications, click here.
Survivors of Domestic Violence Grapple with the Effects of Economic Abuse
by Kyara MartinezAugust 22, 2022
Kyara Martinez was the Project Coordinator for the City Bar Justice Center’s Legal Clinic for the Homeless and Pro Bono Initiatives department. *Disclaimer: Please note that pseudonyms have been used to protect the identity of CBJC program recipients and to preserve attorney-client confidentiality. More than forty percent of families that enter New York City shelters … Continue reading Survivors of Domestic Violence Grapple with the Effects of Economic Abuse
Read moreRecent New York State and Federal Debt Collection Regulations Increase Consumer Protections
by Ramona Morel, Esq.July 6, 2022
Ramona Morel is the director of the Consumer Bankruptcy Project. Individuals burdened with consumer debt have long grappled with abusive debt collection practices. Many have faced lawsuits on debts that were too old to be sued on, or dealt with defendant creditors without proof that debt was owed. In other instances, individuals have had default … Continue reading Recent New York State and Federal Debt Collection Regulations Increase Consumer Protections
Read moreCBJC’s Veterans Assistance Project Responds to the VA’s Proposed Changes to Mental Health Evaluations
by CBJC StaffJune 7, 2022
As of March 31, 2022, nearly 5.3 million veterans were receiving payments from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (the “VA”) for their service-connected disabilities. Each year, millions of veterans rely on VA benefits for access to vital medical care and essential resources.
Read moreSocial Security Benefits Extended to Same-Sex Partner Survivors after Years of Legal Battles
by Sofia ColosimoMay 11, 2022
For decades, LGBTQ partners experienced setbacks in accessing social security benefits upon a partner’s death, often due to discriminatory marriage laws. However, recent legal developments have increased accessibility to these benefits for same-sex couples, declaring the unconstitutionality of previous qualifications and making previously-denied survivors eligible for back pay.
Read moreVA Establishes New Rule for Reporting VA Debts to Consumer Reporting Agencies
by Makedah Salmond, Esq.May 3, 2022
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a final rule in the Federal Register amending VA’s procedures for reporting benefits and medical debt to consumer reporting agencies, effective March 4, 2022. The change in this rule and the conversations that have sparked as a result, come at a crucial time for veterans as the VA has resumed debt collection.
Read moreMicro-Entrepreneurs Go Digital: How the Pandemic Stimulated Online Business Growth and Opportunities
by Deborah PantaleonApril 26, 2022
When the Covid pandemic swept through New York two years ago, our city looked to the online business community to access goods and services that were once found in brick-and-mortar stores. As a result, most business owners were forced to re-evaluate their business models to accommodate the growing demand for online shopping if they hoped to survive the pandemic.
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