Yesterday was the 6th Annual golf outing for the benefit of the Legal Aid Corporation of Tippecanoe County. I haven’t gotten the money count, but I think it may have been as successful as we have had yet. A lot of credit goes to 1st Source Bank which stepped up and became the major sponsor. The folks at 1st Source seem to be a solid addition to the Lafayette community. Huge credit also goes to Gregg Theobald, a local Lafayette attorney, who has taken the bull by the horns and turned a fair-to-middling event and turned it into a very good event. There were a good number of hole sponsors, including my own Hoffman, Luhman & Masson, but I want to give special thanks to Triclinic Labs. They had no prior relationship to Legal Aid, and stepped up with a hole sponsorship basically because I’m friends with one of their employees. Among other things, they provide chemical analysis – for example litigation support in intellectual property claims involving chemistry.
Legal Aid provides legal services to indigent citizens of Tippecanoe County in civil, non-fee generating cases. For criminal cases, the government provides attorneys. And, in cases where there is a pot of money at the end, poor people can find attorneys willing to take the case on contingency. But, in civil cases where there is no money to be made — for example a case involving the termination of parental rights — people need lawyers, but can’t get them without organizations like Legal Aid.
Our outing this year was at Coyote Crossing, and we had 50-55 people come and play. Because I know you were wondering, my foursome came in 4th out of 13 or 14 foursomes. And, I got lucky and won the closest to the pin hole. (This hole has been pretty lucky for me – #17 at Coyote – it’s the second closest to the pin I’ve won in the last month or so, and probably the 4th time I’ve won the closest to the pin on that hole over the past 5 years.)
Anyway, thanks to everyone involved; and hopefully it gets even better next year. Times are tough, and non-profits like Legal Aid are taking it on the chin. So, any money we can send their way is very useful.
Parents in CHINS cases get a free public defender, if they are indigent and if they so request. In most counties that function really isn’t Legal Aid’s bailiwick.
I am happy to show support for the organization you support, Dave, and will send a contribution to the Legal Aid Corp. of Tippecanoe County. I have been an attorney since 1968, and well know the needy need legal advice and assistance.