Dutchess Partners in Justice event honoring Tim Massie, Iseman Cunningham Riester & Hyde a huge success

On Thursday, September 22, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (“LSHV”) held its 3nd Annual Dutchess Partners in Justice Reception at Locust Grove Estate, 2683 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY. During the program, a fundraiser to support LSHV’s work in Dutchess County, Timmian Massie, Senior Vice President for Marketing, Public Affairs and Government Relations at Health Quest was honored as “Champion of Justice.” The law firm Iseman, Cunningham, Riester & Hyde LLP was recognized as “Advocate for Justice.” 225 people attended the event and enjoyed a networking reception catered by The Chocolate Mousse, which was followed by remarks about LSHV’s services by the organization’s CEO, Barbara Finkelstein, Esq., Board Member and Co-Chair of the Development Committee Josh Kimerling, Esq., who is the Managing Partner at Cuddy & Feder LLP, Elizabeth Corwin, Esq., an LSHV Staff Attorney for Domestic Violence Services, and her client Amy Goodman. The event was a success, raising significantly more funds than last year’s program.

Dignitaries who attended the event include: Dutchess County Public Defender Thomas Angell; NYS Assemblymember Didi Barrett; Emily Darrow, Director of Marketing and Communications, United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region; Jennifer Drake, Senior Program Officer, Dyson Foundation; Dutchess County Legislator Angela Flesland; Jim Fogler, President, Poughkeepsie Journal; March Gallagher, Esq., President and CEO, Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley; Hon. John B. Garrity, retired City of Poughkeepsie Court Justice; Dutchess County District Attorney William Grady; Hon. Linda Jamieson, Justice, Westchester Supreme Court; Dutchess County Legislator Barbara Jeter Jackson; Jennifer Killian, Program Officer, Dyson Foundation; Jode Millman, Esq., Member of the Board of Directors, Dyson Foundation; Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro; Hon. Joan Posner, Justice, Dutchess County Family Court; Hon. William Sanchez, Justice, Town of Rhinebeck Court; NYS Senator Sue Serino; Cecilia Stancell, Director of Programs, Dyson Foundation; Arthur Upright, Chair, Board of Trustees, Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.

Barbara Finkelstein, Esq., Legal Services of the Hudson Valley’s CEO, opened the program with a welcome to guests and thanked our community for its overwhelming show of support of LSHV’s work. She said “Legal Services of the Hudson Valley is the only provider of comprehensive, free civil legal services in our region. Our attorneys, paralegals, advocates and other professionals provide high-quality legal assistance in housing, family matters, access to subsistence income, and access to health care and education. In 2015, we handled more than 14,000 cases benefitting more than 32,000 people – more than 12,000 of them children. From Westchester to Dutchess and Sullivan to Ulster, more than half a million Hudson Valley residents are eligible for our services.”

After being introduced by Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, Tim Massie said in his heartfelt remarks that “Engraved above the entrance to the United States Supreme Court is the phrase that idealizes American jurisprudence: “Equal Justice Under Law.” It doesn’t say, “The Best Law Money Can Buy.” When individuals cannot afford to be represented by counsel in civil cases, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be. That’s where Legal Services of the Hudson Valley steps in. I studied theology for several years in Rome, and I'd like to put those studies to work for just a moment. In the translation of biblical texts from ancient Greek into the vernacular, the use of the words “justice” and “righteousness” are often intertwined. There is a slight difference in that we think of righteousness as an individual trait and justice as a societal exemplar. The two terms should go arm in arm. Righteousness, that understanding of doing the right thing, leads to justice for society as a whole. In a just world, women who do the same work as their male colleagues would receive the same paycheck. Citizens and those sworn to protect and serve them would respect and not fear each other. Members of the LGBT community could freely place a photo of their spouse or family on their desk at work, without wondering if that small act of love will cause them to lose their job. In this country especially – as Americans – we are all called to be righteous, in “Order to form a more perfect Union (and) establish Justice,” as our Constitution reminds us. That means speaking out against injustice, electing people who believe in equality and opportunity, helping those who need our aid, and treating others as we wish to be treated.”

Rick Mitchell, Esq., a Partner at Iseman, Cunningham, Riester & Hyde, who accepted the award on behalf of his firm, spoke about the great need to close the “Justice Gap” – the distance separating those who can afford to pay an attorney when their basic necessities of life are at stake and those, like LSHV’s clients, who can not – here in our own community. He told the audience that, in the seven counties of the Hudson Valley which the organization serves, there are over 545,000 individuals who qualify for LSHV’s assistance, meaning that they have total annual household incomes of no more than $48,600 for a family of four. Stating that members of the legal community have a special responsibility to help the indigent, he appealed to members of the private bar who were present at the event to consider getting involved with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley’s Pro Bono program.

This year’s sponsors were: Gold – Health Quest; Silver – Iseman, Cunningham, Riester & Hyde LLP and McCabe & Mack LLP; Bronze – Central Hudson, Cuddy & Feder LLP, Ettinger Law Firm, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, the Irwin Burlingame Bagtas Group of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management/Merrill Lynch Bank of America Corporation, Marist College, MVP Health Care, and Chuck and Mark Rollins of the Rollins Agency; Giving Tree – Jackson Lewis and two anonymous individuals.

Hudson Valley News Network (HVNN) and iHeart Media were this year’s Media Sponsors of the event. Adams Fairacre Farms contributed significant in-kind support. In addition, 14 corporations provided advertising or other financial support.

Information on LSHV’s programs is available online at www.lshv.org. To obtain assistance, call 1-877-574-8529 (877-LSHV-LAW).

Pictured (L-R): Rick Mitchell, partner at Iseman Cunningham Riester & Hyde; Barbara Finkelstein, LSHV CEO; and Tim Massie, Senior Vice President for Marketing, Public Affairs and Government Relations at HealthQuest.