Touro Law Center creates disaster relief clinic

Village of Lawrence Mayor Martin Oliner and his wife, Reva, made a substantial donation to help fund the newly established Disaster Relief Clinic at Touro Law Center in Central Islip that will be overseen by recently hired Visiting Professor of Law Benjamin Rajotte.

Oliner, a practicing lawyer since 1972, is a member of Touro College’s executive board and has served as a school trustee for more than 30 years. “I am glad to be able to help fund this worthy endeavor,” Oliner said. “I know that the clinic will have far reaching benefits for families struggling to overcome the endless legal issues that face so many whose lives have been displaced.”

The clinic will provide free legal assistance with insurance claims, environmental remediation, government assistance programs including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, insurance and consumer fraud concerns and other legal problems that resulted due to Hurricane Sandy.

Under Rajotte’s supervision, seven law school students will interview and counsel clients, negotiate on their behalf and prepare cases for court or administrative forums. Students will work with established disaster relief networks and local institutions to address client issues, and with elected officials to provide education about referrals for available benefits, along with visiting shelters and community organizations.

Clients have already been referred to the clinic through the Touro Law Center Hurricane Emergency Assistance and Referral Team (TLC-HEART). Potential clients can call (631) 761-7198 or email tlcheart@tourolaw.edu.

“We are looking at previously referred cases and seeing how we can be of help,” Rajotte said.