09/18/2008
Cooley Associate Named Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program Honors Aaron Arnzen for Providing Outstanding Pro Bono Legal Services
San Diego, CA -- Aaron Arnzen, an associate in Cooley Godward Kronish's San Diego office, was named the 2008 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP). He was honored at the annual Justice for All Awards Dinner on September 18, 2008.
Arnzen was recognized for his leadership in Cooley's representation of Carlos Rosado who was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease while incarcerated. Mr. Rosado filed a pro-se civil rights action in federal court because he needed a liver transplant to survive. The prison physician refused to take any steps on the needed transplant. In 2004, Cooley became lead counsel and quickly moved for and obtained a Temporary Restraining Order to get Mr. Rosado immediate medical attention, and a hotly-contested Preliminary Injunction ordering prison physicians to pursue a liver transplant evaluation on his behalf. Cooley promptly took extensive discovery over a short period of time, including the depositions of several physicians who treated Mr. Rosado and defendants' expert. Unfortunately, Mr. Rosado passed away but Cooley, engaged by his estate, continued the action, finished discovery, defeated summary judgment, settled the case on favorable terms and are now handling the probate matter in California state court.
The case has important policy implications because it requires prison officials to pay for organ transplants if they continue to forego early treatment of the hepatitis epidemic in prison. By some estimates, approximately 40 percent of the 2.2 million in jail and prison are infected, compared with just 2 percent of the general population. There are a number of class actions surrounding such Hepatitis C early treatment programs that this case may impact.
In addition to Arnzen, the Cooley team included Darcie Tilly, Lorena Urrea-García, and former summer associates Dave Fox and Blake Zollar.
About Cooley Godward Kronish LLP
Cooley Godward Kronish’s 650 attorneys have an entrepreneurial spirit and deep, substantive experience, and are committed to solving clients’ most challenging legal matters. From small companies with big ideas to international enterprises with diverse legal needs, Cooley has the breadth of legal resources to enable companies of all sizes to seize opportunities in today’s global marketplace. The Firm represents clients across a broad array of dynamic industry sectors, including clean tech, technology, life sciences, real estate, financial services, retail and energy.
The Firm has full-service offices in major commercial, government and technology centers nationwide: Palo Alto, CA, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Reston, VA, Broomfield, CO, Washington, DC and Boston, MA.
About SDVLP
Since 1983, the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP) has changed the lives of thousands of poor women, children and men throughout San Diego County. A private, non-profit organization, SDVLP is the county's oldest and largest pro bono legal services program. SDVLP serves the most vulnerable members of our community: the homeless, abused children, domestic violence victims, elder abuse victims, veterans, immigrants and HIV/AIDS sufferers. Notably, more than 75% of SDVLP clients are women and children.
SDVLP's free civil legal services cover: Domestic Violence Prevention, Guardianship Law, Family Law, AIDS Law, Immigration Law, Children & Youth Law, Class Action and Impact cases, Elder Law, Law Library Clinics, Services to the Homeless and to Non-Profit organizations. SDVLP's award-winning staff is comprised of 20 legal, administrative and support staff. SDVLP currently boasts more than 3,000 registered volunteers, including lawyers, law students and others.
SDVLP is supported by grants and service contracts from public and private agencies, foundations and professional organizations, as well as contributions from businesses, corporations, law firms and individuals. Over the past twenty years, SDVLP has successfully expanded its scope of services to the needy. Each year, more than 6,500 clients are assisted. Unfortunately, resources are limited. In these difficult economic times, funding has decreased while demand for SDVLP legal services has increased. Consequently, SDVLP must still turn away an alarming number of disadvantaged San Diegans who desperately need the help that only a lawyer can provide.
For more information, visit http://www.sdvlp.org/index.htm.