FEBRUARY 2023

We believe that all people, regardless of their economic status, should have equal access to legal representation. 

In a pro bono case with Lawyers for Children America (LFCA), Liz Buchanan advocated for a child with multiple complex medical issues and was able to get the medical attention that the child desperately needed. Liz began representing Child G in May 2022 through Shipman’s partnership with LFCA, a child advocacy organization whose mission is to protect the rights of children in abuse and neglect matters ensuring that each child’s best interests are served. Child G was a 6-month old infant born with multiple birth defects and medical complications when Liz began representing her. 

Medical professionals treating Child G opined that her quality of life could be greatly improved with surgical intervention; otherwise, she would have lifelong complications including pain, discomfort, the risk of bacterial infection and sepsis, and the possibility of not being able to have her own children one day. The pediatric surgeon stressed the need for surgery before Child G got much older or the recovery process would be much more difficult. The parents of Child G were resistant to her undergoing surgery and wanted a second opinion, but never followed up despite two opportunities to do so. Unfortunately, this fell into a pattern of the parents being unwilling or unable to provide for the child’s complex medical needs even with resources and assistance provided by the Department of Children and Family (DCF).

Child G’s medical needs reached a critical turning point in August when the child was temporarily placed in DCF custody after a home visit deemed it unsafe for Child G to be there. As part of DCF’s temporary hold, Child G was taken to a medical center for evaluation. During the evaluation, the attending physician identified an immediate issue Child G was having that could put her at risk of intestinal blockage and damage. Although not life threatening at the time, the recommendation was to proceed with surgery to intervene and not wait until something more serious happened. When the parents of Child G refused to consent to the surgery, Liz Buchanan filed an emergency motion for medical treatment which was granted and surgery for Child G occurred that very day.

Through Liz’s ongoing advocacy for Child G, she is now flourishing with a foster family and is no longer considered medically complex. Although it was the support and pressure that Liz and DCF put on getting Child G’s medical needs addressed, Liz hopes that with an order now in place, the parents can grow and get the support they need to be reunified as a family. Child G will likely be an ongoing pro bono case for Liz, who says “every day that she’s safe and being cared for is a victory”. 

How many times have we watched the latest action thriller and applauded an unexpected landing of a plane on the roof of a building, or side of a mountain, or among farmlands without a second thought for the damage and chaos such a spectacle causes for the people who inhabit those areas? When a private plane crashed into the fields of Simsbury last summer, the results were devastating for real-life farmers. Through a pro bono referral from Legal Food Hub, a project of Conservation Law Foundation, Tyler Archer, Matt Gibbons, and Lisa Zana represented two BIPOC-owned farms who suffered significant damage to their crops and farming equipment as a result of the crash. 

The farmers provide fresh and organic produce at regional farmers markets and to Connecticut Foodshare (a statewide food bank), City of Hartford Public Schools, and local restaurants. The farmers are also well-known community organizers and educators working with local non-profits and universities to share knowledge and increase the abilities of urban farmers and underserved communities who lack access to affordable, high-quality produce. The pilot operating the private plane overshot the runway at a local public use airport and crashed into the fields beyond, destroying a greenhouse, irrigation systems, and various crops. A friend of the pilot was flying behind him in another plane and both returned to their homes in New York, leaving the farmers to find the crashed plane unaccompanied and without any idea how it got there. Thanks to the diligent efforts of Tyler, Matt, and Lisa and the farmers' comprehensive documentation of damages, the pilot’s insurance company agreed to pay the full $45,000 requested which covered the damages caused by the crash as well as potential future crop loss. 

"I jumped at this matter, one, because the airfield is a few miles from my house and two, because raising a family 'way out here' (as Aaron Levy calls it) among the farms, fields, and orchards has rekindled a passion for agriculture," Tyler says. "Shipman already has a deep roster of food and beverage clients but for smaller producers, often times 'big city lawyer' doesn’t make the monthly budget.  Working pro bono allows me to stay local and support those farmers working to feed our families."

Tyler also worked with Matt Ranelli on a lease renewal for a nonprofit equestrian center in Bristol, CT. The center is an equine therapy facility for individuals with disabilities and veterans. With Tyler and Matt's help, the equestrian center was able to negotiate a long term lease that would be rent free! A lease that established long term use of the property was especially important to the center because they planned to invest over $1 million to build a state of the art barn and riding ring to meet the unique needs of the center's year-round work. Tyler recently visited the center with his family and was able to see for himself the immense progress they have already made in improving the facility. 

Thank you to all involved in pro bono & community projects!

Liz Buchanan and Lee Duval for their humanitarian parole work with Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS).

Kelly Trahan and Sarah Boxer for participating in the Transgender ID Project with Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford.

Pat Fahey and Anne Littlefield for participating in the Transgender ID Project with the Hartford Healthcare Center for Gender Health.

Matt Gibbons and Joette Katz on an eviction matter for a veteran client with a disability through the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center.

Sarah Dlugoszewski for obtaining an honorable discharge for a veteran client through the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center.

Marc Esterman on a corporate governance project, post dissolution matters for a nonprofit, and lease and corporate restructuring for a local farm.

Liz Buchanan and Sarah Westby for spearheading the winter clothing drive for IRIS families.

Patti Manion and Tammy Brayton for leading the holiday gift drive for the women and children at Coventry House.

Vaughan Finn, Keegan Drenosky, and Sarah Westby were each recognized for their outstanding pro bono contributions and awarded the inaugural Shipman Pro Bono Award in September 2022, which included a $500 donation by the firm to a legal organization of each recipient’s choice.

BENEFITS OF PRO BONO

COMMUNITY

Doing good for the community is more than just an ethical obligation. You're providing access to justice for underserved populations.

COLLABORATE

Working on pro bono projects affords Shipman lawyers the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues outside of those you may normally work with.

PRACTICE

Exercise, practice, and build your legal skills by working on projects that allow you to take the lead and develop confidence.

EXPLORE

Pro bono work provides the opportunity for Shipman lawyers to explore areas of law they may want to expand into.