Meet Our Clients
Meet Athens Client, Bonnie.
For decades, creditors hounded Athens resident Bonnie over an old $30,000 student loan that she could not afford to pay off. The calls caused the 79-year-old, who survives on a monthly income of $500, a lot of worry. She was afraid that her income would be garnished or that a lien would be placed on her home. So, she called Legal Aid.
After meeting with Bonnie and reviewing her case, Anandappa determined that Bonnie should be considered for a Department of Education (DOE) Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (TPD) of her student loan debt.
Anandappa then helped her apply for the TPD. Bonnie’s case was challenging because her loans were so old that her basic information was wrong in the paperwork, and she did not have a DOE online account where she could fix it, said Anandappa, who helped set up the online account.
“Bonnie would not have been able to open the online account to correct her information and apply for the TPD without our help,” she said. “For older adults who are not tech-savvy or who do not have internet access, online accounts and security measures like two-step verification can be very hard to manage. Not having online access in situations like these can be a barrier to applying for and benefitting from student loan debt relief programs.”
The help was much needed, Bonnie agreed. “I’m not great on the computer. I don’t hear well over the phone. I could not have done this on my own.”
Even with Anandappa’s help, the application was denied twice because the doctor’s office filled out the disability paperwork incorrectly.
Anandappa continued to pursue the request and eventually received notice that Bonnie’s application was approved and her 30-year-old loan, which now totaled $52,645, was discharged.
“It’s such a relief,” Bonnie said. “It was a great worry. If it hadn’t been for Miranda, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Meet Chillicothe Client, Kimberley.
A retired Airforce veteran had inherited a home from her aunt and began making payments on the mortgage. She soon discovered that her aunt was behind on payments and found herself unable to negotiate with the lender as she was not the borrower. Legal aid was able to transfer the home and mortgage into her name, enabling her to own and pay for her new home.
After years of renting, disabled Air Force veteran Kimberley had the chance to inherit her late aunt’s home. Encouraged by family, she moved in and began paying the mortgage, only to discover her aunt was behind on payments — and that she couldn’t negotiate with the lender because she wasn’t the official owner. Kimberley turned to Legal Aid, where Attorney Mark Gnatowski helped transfer the home into her name by working with the court and family members.
“If it weren’t for Mark and Legal Aid, I would not have this home,” Kimberley said. “I could not have done this without you—period."
Meet Columbus Client, Mei*.
When someone repeatedly called 78-year-old Mei* and threatened to put her in jail and harm her children and grandchildren, she was terrified and unsure what to do. The callers convinced Mei that they were watching her and demanded money to protect her family.
Mei wired them more than $180,000 from her retirement account and then quickly realized she had been scammed. Neither the police nor the FBI were able to identify the scammer or recover her money. At the suggestion of a friend, she called Legal Aid.
Although legal options were limited in Mei’s situation, Tax Attorney Megan Sullivan expanded on an innovative legal strategy. In addition to being scammed, Mei, a U.S. citizen, had paid heavy taxes for withdrawing the money from her retirement account. Sullivan requested that the IRS refund the tax payment because Mei did not benefit from the transaction.
After many months, the IRS agreed, and Mei received a $25,000 refund.
“I feel much better. I feel safer that I can live. I don’t have to worry. You helped me so much.”
*Name and photo changed to protect the client’s identity.
Meet Marion Client, Jennifer.
In the years since Jennifer overcame a substance use disorder, she has struggled to find a good-paying job. The mother of three wanted to contribute meaningfully to her family’s income, rather than relying solely on her husband’s wages.
Her job-hunting efforts were hindered by a decade-old criminal conviction she incurred before she began recovery.
When a local addiction treatment center posted a job that suited her, she applied and learned that the company would hire her if she was able to seal the conviction. She sought help from Legal Aid Attorney Brendan Newcomb, who works in our Marion office. Legal Aid helped her seal the charge and convinced the court to waive $1,600 in court costs.
“Everybody at Legal Aid was great,” she said. “It was amazing to have someone help me through all of it.”
Jennifer was hired in the fall and has already earned a raise. “I’m blessed,” she said. “I am working a great job. I love everything about my job—especially the people. I like helping them.”
Meet New Philadelphia Client, XXX.
When someone repeatedly called 78-year-old Mei* and threatened to put her in jail and harm her children and grandchildren, she was terrified and unsure what to do. The callers convinced Mei that they were watching her and demanded money to protect her family.
Mei wired them more than $180,000 from her retirement account and then quickly realized she had been scammed. Neither the police nor the FBI were able to identify the scammer or recover her money. At the suggestion of a friend, she called Legal Aid.
Although legal options were limited in Mei’s situation, Tax Attorney Megan Sullivan expanded on an innovative legal strategy. In addition to being scammed, Mei, a U.S. citizen, had paid heavy taxes for withdrawing the money from her retirement account. Sullivan requested that the IRS refund the tax payment because Mei did not benefit from the transaction.
After many months, the IRS agreed, and Mei received a $25,000 refund.
“I feel much better. I feel safer that I can live. I don’t have to worry. You helped me so much.”
*Name and photo changed to protect the client’s identity.
Meet Newark Client, Ron.
When the new owner of the building where Ron was renting a room tried to circumvent his lease by shutting off the water and having the building condemned, his family sought help from Legal Aid. Attorney Valerie Hendrickson represented Ron, a 72-year-old disabled Zanesville resident. She negotiated that the new owner rent Noble a fully equipped apartment at one of his other properties for the remainder of the lease.
Meet Portsmouth Client, Janet.
When the Department of Treasury sent Janet a notice that she owed the government more than $15,000, she was upset and confused. “I thought, I don’t owe $15,000. How did I get this bill?’” the 67-year-old said.
Knowing the sum was beyond anything she could ever pay let alone “immediately” as the letter demanded, Janet left it unanswered. When the government began garnishing her Social Security check by $200 a month, she worried about paying her utilities and buying groceries. “It was a big difference in my check,” the Wheelersburg resident said. “I had to do something.” Janet called Legal Aid and spoke with attorney Rachel Riddle in the Portsmouth office. She immediately felt better. “Rachel was trying to chase it down. She knew what needed done,” Janet said. “I appreciated that.”
Riddle requested and reviewed numerous medical and billing records and determined that Janet was being incorrectly charged for medical bills she incurred when she broke her arm while working as a cook in a nursing home.
“I informed Medicare that they were incorrectly billing her for care she received for the work injury,” Riddle said. “After reviewing her case, the officials agreed that she did not owe any money.” Medicare stopped the garnishment and refunded Janet the money it had taken.
“It’s all taken care of,” Janet said. “Now, I can breathe a little bit.”
Meet Steubenville Client, Suzanne.
When Suzanne learned that the 16-year-old neighbor that she agreed to raise had an Individualized Education Program (IEP), she wanted to make sure that the school district was doing all it could to provide George with an appropriate education and to help him work toward his career goals. She contacted Legal Aid for help, and Mary Kovalesky, an attorney in the Steubenville office, accompanied Suzanne to the annual IEP meeting.
Suzanne, who was unfamiliar with the IEP process, was wowed by Kovalesky’s efforts. She not only asked the district how it set benchmarks and evaluated George’s performance, but she seemed personally engaged in ensuring his success. “There are not enough adjectives to describe how valuable Mary’s help has been. She helped me understand how IEPs work,” Suzanne recalled. “She told them: ‘He’s not being challenged. I’m not seeing progress.’ The school district was put on notice that this is not some kid you’re going to pass until he graduates.”
Kovalesky worked with the family and the IEP Team to set annual goals and identify a tailored process for measuring George’s progress. The IEP Team also agreed that George needed catch-up work for the summer, which would be accomplished both at school and at home with materials provided by the school. It’s critical George gets the help he needs because he is trying to overcome numerous issues stemming from years of parental abuse and neglect, Suzanne said.
Ensuring that George receives a quality education and graduates from high school is a priority, Suzanne said. She is working with Kovalesky to push the school to join her in helping George succeed. “The school is just looking at the paperwork and his IEP. That's what they’re required to do. I’m responsible for raising this boy up to be a productive, capable member of society. Mary gets that. She wants that, too.”