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Central Florida Attorneys Mobilize For Haitian Relief

Orlando, FL … In response to the Haitian people’s dire need for assistance in the wake of the January 12, 2010, earthquake, Central Florida attorneys and other legal professionals, many of whom are members of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), have spearheaded efforts to work with the area’s Haitian-American residents who have family in Haiti. In particular, Heather Pinder Rodriguez, president of the OCBA’s Legal Aid Society (LAS) and an attorney with Holland & Knight LLP, contacted the Haitian Consulate in Orlando less than 48 hours after the event, offered condolences, and said that the LAS “will continue to address the pro bono [free] legal needs in the Central Florida Haitian community.” Similar to the legal community’s response following the devastation in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, Diego “Woody” Rodriguez, president of the OCBA and an attorney with Marchena and Graham, P.A., thanked members for their generous financial and material contributions to relief agencies and asked them to consider offering additional pro bono legal services to meet the emerging needs of Central Floridians impacted by the crisis in Haiti. Mr. Rodriguez noted in a message to 3,000 bar members last week that “[a]s the rubble is removed and Haiti begins to restructure its governance and infrastructure, there will most likely be a number of ways in which your legal abilities may be utilized.” Attorneys’ commitment of time in this relief effort would be in addition to the annual pro bono contributions required of OCBA member attorneys.