2016-07-20T09:29:41-05:00 2015-12-31 271895149 Heveron & Company CPAs PLLC 260 Plymouth Avenue South Rochester NY 14608 990 2015-01-01 161487925 Empire Justice Center EMPI 5854544060 1 West Main Street No 200 Rochester NY 14614 Anne Erickson President and CEO 5854544060 2016-07-13 1 Brenda Smith P00617844 5852322956 2016-06-30 2015 2016-09-27 15:27:22Z Anne Erickson 1 West Main Street No 200 Rochester NY 14614 8106524 0 X www.empirejustice.org X 1995 NY Empire Justice is a statewide organization working to improve civil justice in NY (See Sch.O)The Empire Justice Center is a statewide multi-issue, multi-strategy organization focused on changing the systems within which poor and low income families live. Empire Justice provides legal assistance to those in need, offers training and support to community-based organizations, and works to improve programs and services for those in need. 13 13 91 419 0 0 786959 768792 6075489 7206221 11200 2764 0 0 6873648 7977777 0 0 0 0 4700477 5578883 0 0 0 2164281 2280321 6864758 7859204 8890 118573 2849701 2959679 1319669 1315028 1530032 1644651 X To protect and strengthen the legal rights of people in New York State who are poor, disabled or disenfranchised through: systems change advocacy, training and support to other advocates and organizations, and high quality direct civil legal representation. 0 0 1171307 1171307 NYS Office of Court Administration: Empire Justice Center receives Judiciary Civil Legal Services (JCLS) funds through the NYS Office of Court Administration to provide comprehensive legal services to specifically address the civil legal problems of low-income New Yorkers encountering problems involving the "essentials of life," such as subsistence income, housing and access to health care and education. 2059801 1968183 Foreclosure Prevention: In 2015, Empire Justice continued its role as Anchor Partner as designated by the NYS Attorney General in efforts to combat foreclosures in New York. In this role, Empire Justice oversees 54 legal services and housing counseling contracts, oversees data collection and provides statewide training, support and technical assistance to grantees. Empire Justice also provided direct representation to homeowners at risk of foreclosure in the Greater Rochester area. In 2015 assistance was provided to 186 homeowners who were victims of predatory lending and/or who were at risk of foreclosure. Continued on Schedule OThe foreclosure prevention work of Empire Justice Center achieved restructuring and refinancing of clients' predatory loans, saving them tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their loans. During the current reporting period, this work generated $650,801 in loan modifications and refinancing -- an average of $50,061 per loan -- stabilizing not just the homeowners represented, but the neighborhoods they live in and the property tax base of their communities as well. 1122214 1122988 Health: Empire Justice provides statewide training and technical assistance to legal services, other community-based organizations and local health center staff on public health programs to help them in determining eligibility for and access to affordable health coverage. As a contractor to provide assistance under health care reform, Empire Justice is part of the Community Health Advocates (CHA) network. In 2015, our staff provided 66 trainings to 2,454 community based health advocates presenting topics such as "Mandatory Managed Long Term Care," "Options for the Uninsured, and "Eligibility and Recertification for PHI." Continued on Schedule OOur attorneys and paralegals also provided substantive technical assistance to 29 CHA member agencies assisting them with complicated legal issues and cases. The New York State Office for the Aging contracts with Empire Justice to provide training and assistance on issues involving Medicare Part D. 2314333 2943743 Disability Benefits: Empire Justice contracts with New York State to provide legal assistance to individuals in Western New York who have been inappropriately denied or terminated from federal disability and supplemental security income programs. In 2015, Empire Justice administered a sub-contract with LawNY to provide these regional services. In 2015, 285 cases were closed in the region, generating approximately $257,436 in interim assistance to clients and an additional $1,818,565 in retroactive benefits. In 2015, the Western New York Disability Advocacy Program (DAP) won 70% of cases. Empire Justice also contracts with the state under DAP to provide training, support and technical assistance to local grantees throughout the state. Crime Victims: Empire Justice partners with the New York State Office of Victim Services, the University at Albany's Center for Human Services Research, and Pro Bono Net on the New York State Crime Victims Legal Network Project, a federally-funded project that brings awareness to the many civil legal needs of crime victims, while also helping victims access civil legal assistance. The Network focuses on the on the 57 counties outside of New York City. In 2015, the partners conducted a needs assessment to determine the civil legal needs of crime victims and the availability of those services. Empire Justice Center's Westchester offices also provide civil legal services to victims of crime, closing 78 cases and serving 295 crime victims in 2015.Other/General: These funds were used to fulfill the core mission of Empire Justice Center and to provide services in such area as Domestic Violence, public benefits and immigration; to provide services on Long Island through the Public Advocacy Center; and to support the Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellowship. In providing these programs and services, in calendar year 2015, the organization offered 159 training events, issuing 777 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits and reaching over 5,751 participants. Training topics included: "What Social Security Advocates Need to Know About Workers Compensation," "Advocating for Victims of Foreclosure Rescue Scams," "Representing Intimate Partner Violence Survivors: Practical Skills in Matrimonial Matters," "Techniques in Advocacy: Orders to Show Cause," "LGBTQ Cultural Competency & Best Practices: Laying the Foundation for Respectful Interactions." The Empire Justice website, with a vast array of legal resources, experienced 154,571 unique visitors who viewed 5,833,192 pages of material during 214,731 visits. Empire Justice staff closed 2,453 direct service cases during 2015, directly benefiting 4,118 people. This work resulted in over $28.3 million in client benefits. 2314333 2943743 6667655 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 1 91 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X 13 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 NY X X The Organization 5854544060 1 West Main Street No 200 Rochester NY 14614 Christine Rutigliano Chair 0.80 X X 0 0 0 Lynn Levey Member 0.30 X 0 0 0 JoAnn Smith Vice Chair 0.80 X X 0 0 0 Candice Lucas Secretary 0.40 X X 0 0 0 Michael T Harren Treasurer 0.50 X X 0 0 0 Latonia Early Member 0.20 X 0 0 0 Hon John J LaFalce Member 0.30 X 0 0 0 Jim Rahmlow Member 0.30 X 0 0 0 Edward F Premo II Member 0.40 X 0 0 0 Lauren Tobias Member 0.30 X 0 0 0 Melanie S Wolk Member 0.30 X 0 0 0 Raymond Brescia Member 0.30 X 0 0 0 Sara Valencia Member 0.20 X 0 0 0 David A Munro Member through 06/2015 0.20 X 0 0 0 Anne Erickson President and CEO 35.00 X 136564 0 11691 Hugh Higgins CFO (01/2015 - 09/2015) 35.00 X 68164 0 11897 Bryan Hetherington Chief Counsel 35.00 X 129546 0 16100 334274 0 39688 2 0 0 0 Legal Assistance of Western New York One West Main Street Suite 400 Rochester NY 14614 Legal Services 301897 NeighborWorks America 1325 G Street NW Suite 800 Washington DC 20005 Housing Counseling Training 277751 Volunteer Legal Services One West Main Street Suite 500 Rochester NY 14614 Legal Services 154311 The Legal Aid Society of Rochester One West Main Street Suite 800 Rochester NY 14614 Legal Services 107935 4 241204 61820 465768 4384 768792 Foreclosure Prevention 541100 1968183 1968183 Health HIV/AIDS 541100 1122988 1122988 Disability Benefits DA 541100 957304 957304 Attorney Fees 541100 641128 641128 Immigrant Assistance 541100 293024 293024 2223594 2223594 7206221 8930 8930 122581 128747 -6166 -6166 -6166 7977777 7206221 0 2764 X 228315 74127 154188 4129273 3525966 603307 903637 764395 139242 317658 263877 53781 11136 11136 1069 1069 1253184 1181854 71330 276072 238906 37166 82890 70173 12717 324134 269256 54878 157707 133878 23829 14376 11942 2434 42210 42210 Litigation Costs 7996 7996 109547 83075 26472 7859204 6667655 1191549 0 13952 150 1002950 56269 1087646 2028432 347538 315969 190442 186958 436604 358540 58337 78064 101021 247635 47815 46202 2849701 2959679 685174 756055 586647 42738 47848 46235 470000 1319669 1315028 X 1199484 1336904 330548 307747 1530032 1644651 2849701 2959679 118573 -3954 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 652744 752378 762885 786959 768792 3723758 652744 752378 762885 786959 768792 3723758 769850 2953908 1211 1095 5810 11200 8930 28246 3752004 27950656 0.78730 0.81880 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1594 10047 11641 7846493 7858134 542907 135727 0 0 404012 472012 493238 542907 1912169 2868254 67772 83819 14053 11641 177285 101003 118003 123310 135727 478043 717065 1355 5667 335 1594 8951 0 1 X 80840 28814 52026 311619 285581 26038 44145 44145 0 78064 8009140 -3954 35317 31363 7977777 0 7977777 7894521 35317 35317 7859204 0 7859204 Part IV, Line 2b: Client escrow funds are held in a separate, interest-bearing checking account. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11 The Form 990 shall be reviewed by the Executive Director and Treasurer and then presented to all Board members either electronically or by paper copy prior to its signing and subsequent filing with the IRS. At the next Board meeting, the Treasurer and tax preparer, if appropriate, will review the Form 990 with the Board. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c On an annual basis, the CEO or her designee maintains conflict of interest declarations for all members of the board. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The Board of Directors acting as a whole will have the responsibility to set CEO compensation and conduct an annual review of CEO performance. It will set compensation in a manner consistent with the requirements of section 4953 of the Internal Revenue Code: including: an independent compensation setting process; which is based on reliable information; with contemporaneous documentation; and that seeks to provide compensation that is reasonable compared to the compensation provided to CEO's providing like services, in similar organizations, under similiar circumstances. In setting CEO compensation the Board will periodically (no less than every three years) obtain and review information on compensation in comparable organizations. In the intervening years the board may rely on the last previous data collection and trend it forward to the current year. The process for determining compensation of the organization's officers or key employees includes the use of comparability data as well. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The Form 1023 application which was forwarded to the IRS and Form 990 for the previous three years shall be available for inspection by the public during normal office hours. The names and addresses of contributors on Schedule B shall be redacted in the Form 990's that are made available to the public. If someone from the public requests a copy of a Form 990, they shall be referred to www.guidestar.com where the Treasurer has confirmed it to be widely distributed. Otherwise, copies will be provided for a fee of $1.00 per page plus postage, if any. Other corporate documents, such as bylaws, minutes, financials and policies and procedures shall be maintained as internal documents and shall not be made available to the general public, unless for a business reason as determined by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board of Directors. Form 990, Part IX, line 11g Subcontracted Legal Services: Program service expenses 698,112. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 698,112. Payroll Processing: Program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 6,652. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 6,652. Other: Program service expenses 49,991. Management and general expenses 64,678. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 114,669. Healthcare Policy Education: Program service expenses 156,000. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 156,000. Housing Counseling Training: Program service expenses 277,751. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 277,751.