Recent Cases and Other Projects

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Recent Cases

NJP’s Bellingham office was able to help a client effect change in the Charity Care practices of a local hospital where the client had received emergency services. When she was not able to pay the bill, the hospital referred it to a collection agency. After the client was sued for collection of the bill, NJP advised her to submit an application for Charity Care to cover the cost of the hospital bill. The hospital refused to process her application based on its policy that “accounts in collection are not eligible for charity care.” NJP defended the collection action, which was dismissed. Because this policy violates the Charity Care law, NJP and private co-counsel filed an action challenging the policy. The case was settled when the hospital agreed to change its policy for all future cases, allowed the client to apply for Charity Care and agreed that the client was entitled to 100% coverage for the medical care she received.

NJP’s Olympia office secured greatly improved employment opportunities for three young adult students with disabilities. All three had left school during the prior academic year because they had not received support services they needed. They were out of school for several months and their Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) lapsed. NJP demanded meetings with the school district to develop new IEPs for each student to get them back into school in time to receive credits they needed for diplomas, and to obtain as many vocational services as possible so they could eventually be self-supporting. All three students were back in school within a month after NJP was contacted, receiving tailored services they helped design. The students graduated in June 2009, having gained valuable hands-on vocational skills, respectively, in Automotive Repair, Culinary Arts, and general job readiness program.

NJP’s Tacoma office helped an Army reservist who was referred by the Army’s Judge Advocate General (JAG). The client had sustained an injury while on active duty and was unable to return to his civilian employment. Although he was supposed to have been receiving “incapacitation” pay from the military, there had been a delay in processing the necessary paperwork, and nearly four months had passed during which he and his family had no income. As a result, he was unable to make his car payments and the family car was repossessed. NJP was able to work with both the lender and community resources to delay the forfeiture sale of the car and raise funds to redeem it. NJP also connected the client with community resources to help with money to pay necessary expenses, including rent and utility bills. Soon after the JAG office resolved the issues surrounding the soldier’s incapacitation pay.

NJP’s Vancouver office also prevented eviction of a veteran from a low-income housing tax credit property for non-payment of rent. Based on several procedural issues, NJP won a dismissal of the eviction case and obtained a favorable payment plan for rent arrears, allowing the veteran to remain in low-income housing.