Updated as of Tuesday September 13, 2016
Some cases may be unavailable, as they are already on review with another attorney. The Case List marks these cases as “On Review.” These cases may return to the list if not placed with the reviewing attorney.
To request a case, please email Laura Levin-Dando, VLA’s Pro Bono Coordinator, at probono@vlany.org. Please indicate the case number in the email subject line.
Contract
Contract/Copyright
Copyright
Corporate
Dispute/Litigation/Negotiation
Employment
Immigration
Mediation
Non-Profit
Patent
Real Estate/Landlord/Tenant
Trademark
Wills, Trusts or Estates
Fashion
15389 – On Review
Client, a jewelry designer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to assess her rights in a possible breach of contract claim against her former publicist, whom Client paid for services not rendered.
*This is a New Jersey matter.
Mixed
15429 – New Case
Client, a not-for-profit theatre organization, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to advise on an opinion letter which the organization needs in order to apply for a loan.
Music
15323 – On Review
Client, a singer and songwriter, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to draft and negotiate a separation agreement with Client’s former band member. In particular, Client is concerned about ownership of the band’s intellectual property.
Film
15278
Client, a toy plane enthusiast who creates flight videos, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to bring suit against a YouTube user who has uploaded Client’s video without permission. Client has already engaged in DMCA takedown procedures to no avail.
15055
Client, a filmmaker, seeks assistance drafting a fair use opinion letter, in response to the removal of a video clip pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Takedown Notice for copyright infringement.
Literary
15194
Client, a screenwriter, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney for a rights of publicity and fair use assessment for his screenplay based on real life events.
*This is a New Jersey matter.
15180 – On Review
Client, a creator of greeting cards, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to determine whether certain illustrations that he used are in the public domain, and if they are not, he would like assistance in licensing those images.
15268
Client, an author, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney assess a potential copyright infringement claim and to bring a copyright infringement claim for two separate allegedly infringing novels under the same publishing company, if appropriate.
Music
15100
Client, a songwriter, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to enforce the copyright in a sound recording, which a musical performer sampled in another sound recording without his permission.
Theater
15420 – New Case
Client, a writer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney in a copyright dispute regarding the unauthorized use of a book he authored.
15417
Client, a playwright, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to respond to a cease and desist letter from a former collaborator, with respect to a work that was inspired by the collaborator’s personal experiences.
15148
Client, a playwright, seeks assistance licensing literature and poetry, which Client intends to incorporate into a play and set to music.
Visual
15352
Client, a sculptor who created a large-scale structure, seeks a volunteer attorney to assess a potential copyright infringement claim, and to pursue the claim, if appropriate.
15275
Client, the daughter of deceased illustrator, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to advise her on her rights regarding a publisher that used her father’s illustrations without authorization, and to pursue a claim if appropriate.
Film
15372 – On Review
Client, an independent full service film producer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to form an LLC for her film production business.
Dance
15398
Client, a company that organizes and produces flash mobs, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney in responding to a complaint filed by an events-planning organization alleging that Client misappropriated intellectual property and proprietary information. The deadline for responding to the complaint is November 15, 2016.
Fashion
15228 – On Review
Client, a fashion designer, seeks assistance obtaining payment for the use of designs she created, pursuant to an agreement.
Film
Film/TV
15358
Client, a freelance digital artist for a network television program, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to seek payment owed to him by, and obtain demo reel footage from, a digital art studio that claims it will be dissolving.
15255 – On Review
Client, a film screenplay writer and director, seeks assistance to receive credit and compensation for his contributions to a film collaboration.
15106
Client, a media producer, seeks the assistance of an attorney in recouping back pay owed by an employer.
Music
15353 – On Review
Client, a jazz and R&B vocalist, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to dispute a wrongfully terminated employment agreement.
Photography
15012
Client, a photographer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to terminate a partnership with his collaborator.
Visual
15388
Client, a not-for-profit museum, seeks assistance to assess the museum’s intellectual property rights with regard to certain transactions, and to discuss negotiating the museum’s agreement with its creative director.
15375
Client, a mixed media visual artist, seeks a volunteer attorney to defend her in a small claim brought by a subcontracted shipping company and to assist her in counterclaims against both the subcontractor and the contracted shipping company for failure to deliver her works to the designated destination as originally agreed. Client’s court date is August 5, 2016.
15355
Client, a painter, seeks compensation for a painting that was damaged while being displayed in a coffee shop.
15258
Client, an art curator, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to recoup back pay owed to her by her former employer.
15247 – On Review
Client, a sculptor, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to determine whether he has a viable claim under the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA), and to bring a claim if appropriate.
Fashion
15376
Client, a jewelry designer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to apply for an O-1 visa.
Film
15276
Client, an actor whose student visa expires in 2020, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to apply for an O-1 visa.
Music
14706
Client, a singer, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to apply for an O-1 visa.
Theater
15413 – On Review
Client, a not-for-profit organization that produces theatrical performances often including circus acts, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney in obtaining an O-1 visa for an internationally-renowned juggler.
Visual
15161
Client, a visual artist whose OPT visa expires in July 2016, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to apply for an O-1 visa.
Visual
15362 – On Review
Client, a Texas-incorporated not-for-profit organization, dedicated to providing interdisciplinary art education in connection with the sciences, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to move its operations to New York.
Dance
15245
Client, a dance instructor and the owner of a children’s dance studio, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to represent Client in an ongoing dispute with the studio’s landlord.
Visual
15272
Client, a writer and multimedia artist, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney in receiving payment for flooding damage to her loft apartment.
Fashion
15383
Client, a fashion designer of women’s apparel, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to draft a will, living will, and health care proxy.
Music
14914
Client, a beneficiary of her mother’s estate, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to file a petition for a full accounting with the Surrogate’s Court in order to collect performance royalties she is entitled to through the estate.
Visual
15337
Client, a painter, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to draft a will that addresses her wishes for her artworks internationally, while maintaining a separate will addressing her assets in India.
15309
Client, the son of a deceased paper-sculptor, seeks the assistance of a volunteer attorney to assess the likelihood of successfully contesting his father’s will.
