Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

The part about free lawyers is what prompted me to write, but I'll try 
to answer your specific question first: I'm assuming you mean the case 
involving the football players not the one involving the doctor, right? 
I don't know any Michigan lawyers but because I have been following the 
Dr. Larry Nassar case, I know that the most outspoken of the lawyers 
representing his victims is Jamie White whose law firm website is:

http://www.whitelawpllc.com/

That website specifically outreaches to campus sexual assault victims, 
plus Jamie White is already litigating MSU's response to sexual assault 
complaints in the Nassar case, so he seems like at least a possibility.

As far as paying lawyers, although I have practiced criminal law rather 
than civil almost exclusively, I might have some insight for all of you. 
Typically (speaking in very general terms) in civil suits, if the lawyer 
believes there is a potential for a big payout, they take the case on a 
contingency basis. (Meaning the lawyer gets paid a percentage of the 
claim if s/he wins, but nothing for a loss.) So, for example, in auto 
accident cases, if the injuries are horrific and the driver at fault 
works for a multinational corporation, there is no way the victims would 
have to be out of pocket. But if it's a minor fender bender with 
disputed facts, it will be very hard to find a lawyer who will take that 
case on spec. The same very broad principles apply to lots of different 
kinds of civil lawsuits.

It's of course not your job to assess what a case is "worth" to a lawyer 
but especially when there are multiple victims and some potential 
liability by the university itself, I think it's a mistake to assume 
that victims who want to sue are limited to either lawyers willing to 
volunteer their services or those who get paid. And personally, if the 
lawyer *is* suing on a contingency basis, I think that victims have the 
right to expect that person to be willing to represent them in campus 
proceedings as well.

Alice Vachss

On 2017-02-15 13:15, shc_firepeered wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I am writing to see if any of you have any low cost but preferable
> free options for clients who need legal counsel regarding being a
> survivor in the MSU case.
>
> Amber Mosley M.A.
>
> Coordinator of Sexual Assault Prevention Education
>
> Sindecuse Health Center
>
>
>
> (269)387-2990