The Pro Bono Corner

Berger Montague’s attorneys continue to actively support the community by doing pro bono work. Our commitment has been a founding tenet of Berger Montague.

Here are some of our recent pro bono activities: 

Our firm played a significant role in Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Diamondback, 4:22-cv-00472 (D. Ariz.). Our team partnered with Everytown for Gun Safety, Global Action on Gun Violence, and several other firms to represent the government of Mexico against five Arizona gun dealers, alleging they knowingly and systematically participate in trafficking military-style weapons and ammunition to drug cartels in Mexico through reckless and unlawful business practices. While the case is ongoing, we made an important step in compelling the Defendants to produce documents, despite their objections under the Tiahrt Amendment — language from Congressional appropriations bills, which the gun lobby routinely uses to shield its members from standard discovery obligations. Ellen Noteware, Julia McGrath, Sophia Rios, Mariyam Hussain, Will Walsh, Joseph Samuel Jr., Taylor Hollinger, Dominic Gallucci, Caroline Choe, Haroula Ginis, Liz Guzman, David Filbert, and Connie Simon were all involved in the victory.

We filed an amicus brief at the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of several prominent HIV advocacy organizations led by our client, PrEP4All, in support of the U.S. government’s efforts to hold pharmaceutical giant Gilead accountable for reaping billions of dollars in profit on a groundbreaking HIV preventative, PrEP, which was invented by the U.S. government using taxpayer money. Laurel Boman, Natalie Lesser, Joseph Samuel Jr., Bill Fedullo, Craig Hillwig, and Caitlin Wolfinger were involved in the effort. 

Matt Summers argued US v. Donald Felton, 23-1352 before the Seventh Circuit in an appeal of a criminal conviction in which the government violated his client’s Fourth Amendment rights by obtaining a defective warrant that omitted critical information and by exceeding applicable deadlines.  

The University of Minnesota Law School announced the final resolution in a class action brought on behalf of low-income seniors for excessive rent charges. A great success for the clinic program at the law school and for Berger Montague’s Jordan Hughes, who argued the case on appeal as a student. Learn more here.   

Counsel Dominic Gallucci continues his work with the King County Bar Association Records Project, helping clients vacate certain criminal convictions and waiving associated fines. 

The Philadelphia office hosted a well-attended “Lunch and Learn” with Beth Perez, the Director of Intake & Pro Bono Services at the Philadelphia Support Center for Child Advocates. At the event, Natalie Lesser and Ellen Noteware spoke about their experiences with the organization. Approximately 15 of our Berger Montague colleagues attended the event and several have begun the training to become a child advocate. Philadelphia office attorneys also continue to handle cases for indigent Philadelphians through Philadelphia VIP. The firm’s attorneys have handled approximately a dozen cases in the last year on behalf of our neighbors in need.