FEMA to Allow Lawyers at Disaster Centers to Sue Government (Texas)
Commentary
FEMA recently reversed its policy that had barred lawyers who provide assistance to individuals within government-run disaster relief centers from initiating litigation on behalf of those individuals against the government. Although the agency argues that this policy change moots a pending lawsuit against FEMA, the non-profit lawyers who filed the lawsuit are not convinced that their concerns have been met. For more information, see Legal Services E-lert of August 17, 2007.
FEMA Drops Policy Prohibiting Lawyers From Suing Government
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has discontinued a policy that says lawyers the agency provides to low-income disaster victims may not help their clients sue the government. U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks questioned the policy this month during an Austin hearing on a case in which two nonprofit organizations are suing FEMA. The nonprofits say the agency is keeping certain legal groups from working with disaster victims at centers where FEMA provides information about assistance programs....
Bibliographic Info: Corrie MacLaggan, Austin American-Statesman (Texas), August 27, 2007