RPS Improves Language Policies for Families
Richmond Public Schools Agrees to Significant Improvements in Policies for Non-English-Speaking Families – Agreement with U.S. Department of Education Resolves Civil Rights Complaint Filed by the Legal Aid Justice Center As the result of a complaint filed by the Legal Aid Justice Center with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, the Richmond […]
Read moreInappropriate Use of Restraint & Seclusion in Schools
U.S. Department of Education Finds Inappropriate Use of Restraint and Seclusion of Students with Disabilities at Virginia Schools Following a comprehensive investigation at two public special education schools, the U.S. Department of Education has found that the repeated use of physical restraint and seclusion to manage student behavior is ineffective and inappropriate. The Department’s Office […]
Read more“Child Find” Complaint Filed in Petersburg
The JustChildren Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center has filed a complaint with the Virginia Department of Education describing systemic problems with Petersburg City Public Schools’ “Child Find” program. Child Find is a part of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) that requires that schools provide free, appropriate education to children with […]
Read moreLegal Battle Against Zombie Debt Collectors
On March 27, 2014, we filed a lawsuit, Leoncio Paz v. Midland Funding, in Fairfax County. Our complaint alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act (FDCPA) based on Midland’s direct falsehoods and false implications in its attempt to obtain a default judgment against Mr. Paz. Midland withdrew their collection attempt when we stepped […]
Read moreImmigrant Clients Win In-State Tuition
Seven courageous immigrant students represented by Legal Aid Justice Center have won their effort to gain in-state tuition eligibility—not just for themselves, but for thousands of Virginia recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced this morning that DACA recipients are eligible to apply for in-state tuition under existing […]
Read moreJustChildren Helps Exonerate Innocent Youth
Edgar Coker was only 15 when, upon advice of court-appointed counsel, he entered a guilty plea to the rape of a 14-year-old neighbor and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. The complaining witness recanted her story two months later. However, it took seven years, several attorneys, […]
Read morePowell Fellow Joins JustChildren
The Legal Aid Justice Center is pleased to announce that Mario Salas will join the JustChildren Program in September of 2014. Currently a 3rd year student at the University of Virginia School of Law, Salas was named as the 13th recipient of the law school’s Powell Fellowship. The fellowship will fund a position in our […]
Read moreVirginia Students Sue for In-State Tuition
The Legal Aid Justice Center filed a lawsuit in Arlington County Circuit Court on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, on behalf of seven immigrant students from Virginia, all of whom have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status by the federal government. Although these students grew up in Virginia and graduated from Virginia […]
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