From: Dombroff, Robert M.
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 10:04 AM
To: George Weiss
Subject: Our First Victory for Say Yes to Education

Dear George:

At our Winter Event in support of the Say Yes program at the NY Public Library, many of you heard about the success the firm, Bingham McCutchen was having on behalf of its first Say Yes client. Maria M. has two daughters, one of whom is a Say Yes student. The family lives in subsidized housing that Ms. M obtained after having been homeless for some time.

Ms. M now works as a technician in a laboratory, and the rent she pays for housing is subsidized through a government tax incentive program. Last year, her landlord attempted to almost triple Ms. M's rent, apparently in a manner inconsistent with the subsidy program, and commenced an action against Ms. M alleging nonpayment of rent. He also threatened to begin holdover proceedings to evict her and her daughters from the apartment.

When Nia Cross and Mona Simonian first took this case on in early December, the M family was on the verge of being evicted. The immediate victory obtained by Nia and Mona was to avert that result. But there was still an issue about whether the rent could be raised, and to what extent. After weeks of unsuccessful negotiations with the landlord, the parties appeared yesterday at a hearing in Landlord/Tenant Court. Nia and Mona convinced the Court to arrange a very favorable settlement to the satisfaction of our client. Ms. M signed a new lease on the spot. She and her family will continue to live in their current apartment at an affordable rent. The specter of higher rents, eviction, and possibly homelessness having been removed from her life, Ms. M is overjoyed, relieved, and deeply grateful.

Congratulations to Nia and Mona for a spectacular result, and for achieving this inaugural success for the Say Yes program!

Sincerely,
Robert M. Dombroff
Bingham McCutchen