Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2005

Contact: Angie Joe
713.743.8153 (office)
713.617.7138 (pager)
ajoe@uh.edu

Those with legal questions in the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina can receive free counsel from experts in a special session of “The People’s Law School” at the University of Houston Law Center this Saturday, Oct. 8.
“The People’s Law School” is a free semiannual event designed to help make the law “user friendly” to the layperson. The program was originated by Richard M. Alderman, Dwight Olds Chair in Law at UH, who is known to many as “The People’s Lawyer.”

Alderman will be offering the extra session of “The People’s Law School” to answer the legal questions of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita survivors. He said that many unexpected legal problems will arise for those displaced from their homes, prompting questions such as: do rent and mortgage have to be paid; what will happen if credit card bills are not paid; how do I get my insurance company to deal with me fairly; what do I do about probating my loved one’s estate; and should I consider bankruptcy?

During the week of Oct. 3, the Center for Consumer Law will try to answer all these questions and more by making its services available. Tonight, Alderman will appear on television from 7 to 8 p.m. on KUHT. The center will open a free phone line, 713-743-2168, from 4 to 7 p.m. this Wednesday through Friday to answer questions. Additionally, there will be a special session of the “People’s Law School” that deals exclusively with legal issues related to the recent hurricanes. Louisiana and Texas attorneys will be available to help.

A regularly-scheduled morning session will cover the typical subjects of “The People’s Law School,” including basic insurance law, employment law, health insurance law, consumer law, bankruptcy, wills and how to file claims in small claims court. The special session for hurricane victims will take place from noon to 3 p.m.

Both sessions are free, but participants must register at http://www.law.uh.edu/peopleslaw/register/
hurricane/register.asp, or by calling 713-743-2168. Those wishing to attend the afternoon session should show up by 11:30 a.m. to reserve a spot. For information, visit www.peopleslawyer.net, or call 713-743-2168.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.