By Kari Lydersen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 1, 2006; Page A21
CHICAGO -- When Chicago resident Wallace Bradley filed a federal employment discrimination lawsuit against a construction company, he got a quick lesson in the legal process.
After being fired in 2002, Bradley did not have enough money to hire a lawyer and he wanted to deal directly with the company himself. So he filed the suit pro se , meaning he would represent himself in court. It wasn't easy.
The ins and outs are hard when you don't know what you're doing," Bradley said. "You're going against a company which can hire a major law firm to make you keep coming back to court again and again. It's rough."
Bradley, 53, a former gang member turned community activist who has run for Chicago City Council, said he was in the right and should have won the case. But, concerned that the judge might dismiss his suit, Bradley decided to settle out of court in 2004.
"A maze" is how many lawyers and judges describe the process of suing in federal court. But every year thousands of people such as Bradley try to navigate the process.
Now the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago has launched a program to provide free legal assistance for people in filing pro se federal lawsuits.
"I'm really glad they did that," said Bradley, sitting at a computer terminal in the federal court building recently, looking up cases for a friend. "There needs to be something done to assist people like me. A lot of people can't afford an attorney, and they are afraid of this building because they don't know how things work."
Judges and lawyers here who advocated for the help-desk program -- which was launched early last month as the District Court Self-Help Assistance Desk -- describe it as a win-win situation for all. It serves as a filter, weeding out frivolous cases or cases that do not belong in federal court, while aiding people with legitimate complaints.
"Lots of times we've had pro se complaints that are literally gibberish," said District Judge William J. Hibbler, who was involved in founding the help desk. "Trying to make heads or tails of their complaints was a big effort. There might be a kernel of a case there, but it's so poorly articulated that it gets dismissed. People need technical help to formulate complaints in such a fashion that we can deal with them."
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Can the System of Justice for ALL - not just a FEW - be made Easier?
The Judges and Lawyers who care are listening too! Thank you for this has made my day and may help save millions of lives due to acts that need damages to be awarded!
"When we help others we truly do - in the end - help ourselves!"-----------------
Stephen Rene
e-Business-Professionals
Non-Profit: www.ParentsWhoCare.us
Bus: www.eBusinessProfessionals.us
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
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