Civil Law

Pennsylvania BarAssociation Pro Bono Awards, which recognize lawyers for noteworthy voluntary efforts to provide free or reduced-fee legal representation to low-income Pennsylvanians, have been presented in conjunction with National Pro Bono Week, Oct. 24 - 30. The award winners include the following individuals and law firms:

Berks County

• Michael C. Boland for his ongoing support of MidPenn Legal Services, including acceptance of subsidized housing cases and family law cases (including custody and protection from abuse), and for successfully appealing unemployment compensation losses before a referee to the Board of Review.

Bucks County

• Linda Shick for assistance to plaintiffs in protection from abuse cases.

Franklin County

• Kevin M. Taccino for handling pro bono cases for MidPenn Legal Services, Franklin County Legal Services and the Law Offices of WIN Victim Services; for participates in the bar association pro bono programs; and for developing the Wills for Heroes program in Franklin County.

Lackawanna County

• The firm of Abrahamsen Conaboy & Abrahamsen for demonstrating outstanding commitment to Lackawanna Pro Bono through services offered by the following lawyers: Edwin (Ned) A. Abrahamsen, Edwin (Chip) A. Abrahamsen, Jr., James Conaboy, Kevin Conaboy and Michael Parker.
   
• Powell Law for demonstrating outstanding commitment to Lackawanna Pro Bono through services offered by the following lawyers: James J. Powell III, Christopher T. Powell, Jr., Mark J. Powell, Christopher J. Osborne and Bruce S. Zero.
   
• The Mazzoni & Karam firm's outstanding commitment to Lackawanna Pro Bono through services offered by the following lawyers: Gerard Karam, Paul Mazzoni, John Petorak, Rocco Valvano and Christopher Szewczyk.
   
• Kelley & Polishan for demonstrating outstanding commitment to Lackawanna Pro Bono through the services offered by the following lawyers: Eugene Kelley, Timothy Polishan, Carrie Buscarini, David Solfanelli and Patrick Walsh.
   
• The firm of Dougherty Leventhal & Price for demonstrating outstanding commitment to Lackawanna Pro Bono through the services offered by the following lawyers: Thomas Cummings, John Finnerty, Sean McDonough, Paul Oven, Joseph Price and Judith Price.
   
• Charles F. Wilson for his ongoing commitment to pro bono service by representing numerous pro bono clients referred to him by Lackawanna Pro Bono.

Lebanon County

• John H. Witmoyer for handling bankruptcy cases directed to him by the local legal aid office.

Philadelphia

• Members of the Philadelphia Bar Association Senior Lawyers Professional and Public Service Committee for providing pro bono services to the public and the profession, including conducting pre-trial conferences on behalf of the Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District on appeals from arbitration which eliminated a significant backlog; assisting lawyers who were ill and families of deceased lawyers in dealing with open files to protect clients and others involved in open cases; mentoring young lawyers; monitoring election law complaints; and assisting victims of crimes and their families.

Schuylkill County

• Jeffrey Bowe for participation in the local county pro bono program for several years and for helping numerous clients obtain divorce decrees.