Sep. 13, 2012
Hernan D. Vera
See more on Hernan D. VeraPublic Counsel Law Center Los Angeles Practice type: litigation Specialties: housing protection, immigrant rights
Since taking the reins in 2008, Vera, president and CEO of Public Counsel Law Center, has increasingly flexed the organization's litigation muscle.
Recent activity at Public Counsel has demonstrated a bolder and broader focus on systemic issues such as housing protection, immigrant rights and disproportionate educational opportunities for children.
The more aggressive stance was "one of the main visions for Public Counsel I had when I applied for the position [of CEO]," Vera said.
Vera said he and his staff set out to build an infrastructure to enable more policy work and aggressive litigation through class action.
A central part of that design was the organization's newly formed impact litigation unit headed by Catherine Lhamon.
Vera "is a terrific leader [who is] fearless in taking on challenges," Lhamon said. She called Vera "inspiring" and said that with Vera at the helm, the nonprofit is "poised for bigger and better things."
Public Counsel's cases this year show the strategy is paying off.
In one complaint, the nonprofit served as co-counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Community Action League and many low-income Antelope Valley residents in a lawsuit accusing the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster of harassment and the use of intimidation to drive away black and Latino families who use section 8 vouchers.
Early last year, the organization reached a settlement with Palmdale in which the city agreed in part to end discrimination against low-income residents and terminate the use of a city-funded investigator to gather information on those receiving section 8 assistance. The case against Lancaster is still ongoing.
The firm is also keeping its eye on the Farmers Field stadium project. Last May, the nonprofit sent a letter to the Los Angeles planning department contending the project's environmental study does not adequately examine the effect the stadium would have on rents and housing prices in the surrounding downtown neighborhoods.
However, the organization's aggressive tactics and involvement in controversial matters have not scared away donors.
On the contrary, its proceeds have increased.
Last year, contributions made up 33 percent of its nearly $9 million budget revenues, a one percent increase from the year before. The nonprofit's overall revenue increased $600,000 since 2010.
"We have been very supported by the board to make the right decisions in terms of what issues effect our clients," Vera said.
In 2009, President Obama nominated Vera to the State Justice Institute's board of directors, a federal entity that provides grants to state court systems to increase access to justice. The Senate confirmed his nomination in June 2010.
- CONNIE LOPEZ
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