COLUMBIA (May 24, 2007) – Whitney Horn of Charleston, Leslie Sackett of Columbia, and Janice Morreale of Myrtle Beach received the 2006 E.W. Mullins Sr. Paralegal Pro Bono Awards during the Firm's recent paralegal retreat.   

 

Ms. Horn was recognized for her work assisting Cherie Blackburn and Stephanie Lewis in a case involving an Ethiopian who had been fired as a Human Resources manager.

 

Following his termination there were allegations that he broke into the facility and statements by the manager that he was "one of them" (referring to 9/11 terrorists). The Firm received the case just before trial, but the litigation had been going on for five years. The case involved claims for defamation and breach of contract. Ms. Horn spent countless hours getting the case ready for trial in a very short time period. The trial lasted 10 days, with Ms. Horn keeping attorneys organized, dealing with witnesses, handling deposition designations and other matters with opposing counsel. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the Firm's client for $307,000 on the defamation claim. Ms. Horn also assisted attorneys representing indigent individuals through the Crisis Ministries Legal Clinic and recorded 453 pro bono hours in 2006.

 

Ms. Sackett was recognized for her work representing a client who was informed by the S.C. Department of Health and Human Services that she was no longer eligible for Medicaid Waiver services to live in a group home. The client had been receiving services under this waiver based on medical information that she was mentally retarded and had a related disability. The S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs later determined she did not have a severe enough disability and that her waiver would be taken away. Ms. Sackett worked extensively to organize the records gathered by co-counsel and prepared documents to be used by experts and witnesses in a five-day hearing. An appeal was filed after the hearing, and Ms. Sackett was instrumental in gathering information from a multi-volume Record on Appeal for a 76-page initial brief and 25-page reply brief. In addition, she compiled information for a PowerPoint presentation for an oral argument in front of the administrative law judge. Ms. Sackett recorded 518 pro bono hours in 2006.

 

Ms. Morreale was recognized for her work with attorney Tom Moran in handling the estate of a victim on behalf of the children. Ms. Morreale worked with Mr. Moran on every aspect of the probate pro bono matter. She helped open the estate and set up conservatorships for two minor children. She arranged for funds to be received through the S.C. State Office of Victim Assistance. She negotiated with creditors, assisted in obtaining life insurance proceeds, and handled many other probate issues. 

 

The awards are named for Ed Mullins Sr., a founding partner at Nelson Mullins, and honor paralegals who exemplify the Firm's commitment to pro bono service.

Nelson Mullins, established in 1897, has more than 360 attorneys practicing from offices in Atlanta, Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Washington and Winston-Salem. For more information on the Firm, go to www.nelsonmullins.com, or call (803) 255-9794 or (803) 255-9280.