CONTACT:CHRIS RUYS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Chris Ruys (312) 337-7746
E-mail: chris@chrisruys.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2004
State Bar Association Seeks Florida-licensed Lawyers To Provide Advice to Victims of Hurricane

In response to a request from the American Bar Association (ABA), the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) is putting out a call for Illinois lawyers who are licensed in Florida to provide pro bono assistance by telephone for victims of Hurricane Charley in Florida.

John L. Nisivaco, a partner in the Chicago law firm of Lavin & Nisivaco, P.C., who serves on the ISBA Young Lawyers Division Council, received a request from the ABA Young Lawyers Division to identify attorneys who are licensed to practice in the state of Florida to handle phone calls pro bono from the storm's victims. ABA YLD officials expect to be faced with a large number of calls for disaster legal services over the next six months.

Nisivaco serves as the Illinois representative for the ABA Young Lawyers Division and is responsible for mobilizing disaster assistance volunteers from Illinois. Hurricane Charley ripped through Florida last week, leaving many people homeless. Estimates place the damage at $10- to $15 billion.

Florida-licensed lawyers willing to help should contact Craig D. Cannon, volunteer coordinator for the ABA, at his firm in Winston-Salem, N.C., (336) 721-3694 or by e-mail at ccannon@wcsr.com.

The 30,000-member Illinois State Bar Association, with offices in Springfield and Chicago, provides professional services to lawyers, and education and services to the public.