Attorney For The Poor Squeezed By Philly Budget Cuts Now Faces Foreclosure; Says City Is Stiffing Him Out Of $10-15K For Work Representing Abused Kids

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Daily News reports:

• THIS WEEK, 1,500 frantic state workers rallied in Harrisburg to protest the state's budget impasse, which has resulted in them receiving only partial paychecks this month. Until a deal is done, future paydays may also be slashed or even postponed.

• Neil Krum understands workers' terror, because he's living it. He's a lawyer who makes his living as a court-appointed attorney representing children in Family Court. It's been three months since the city cut him a check for the important work he does for a revolving caseload of about 100 clients. And that check - for a skimpy $60 - is a fraction of the $10,000-to-$15,000 he says the city owes him for representing poor kids who've been abused or neglected.

• His home in Ambler is about to go to foreclosure. He has wiped out his savings on routine household expenses and for services for his autistic son. He can barely afford gas and parking downtown, for hearings and client meetings.

For more, see Lawyers who help the poor are feeling the pinch.

In a related story, see The Legal Intelligencer: Court-Appointed Attorneys File Emergency Motion to Demand Pay.