Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law 1401 New York Avenue, NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20005 For Immediate Release Contacts: Kim Alton, Lawyers’ Committee (202) 662-8600 March 9 ,2006 Lawyers Release Guide to Homeowners’ Rights After Katrina Guide to Preserving Homes from Bulldozing, Taking in New Orleans (Washington, DC) - Today, numerous grassroots relief organizations and advocacy groups were sent a homeowner’s guide, “New Orleans Property Owners’ Rights After Hurricane Katrina,” prepared by lawyers at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in Houston, TX working with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The guide was prepared to help New Orleans homeowners understand steps they can take to preserve their property rights in their damaged homes as the City and state move forward with plans to demolish and clear property. Homeowners have been getting inconsistent and changing information from the City about its plans for bulldozing homes and rebuilding New Orleans. A lawsuit brought in January against the City to stop bulldozing in the Lower Ninth Ward resulted in a procedure that is not well-known by all homeowners. Moreover, informal appeals procedures are being used by some to preserve their property, but not everyone knows how to assert their rights, representatives of the Lawyers’ Committee said. “This guide will help clarify for homeowners what their rights are, and reach out to marginalized groups to make sure everyone knows what they can do to protect their rights,” said Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee. “Families displaced by the storm have already been through so much. Getting this information out is one step to help these homeowners save the value of their property and improve their chances of returning home to New Orleans.” The homeowners’ guide will be updated periodically as rebuilding planning for New Orleans goes forward. The Guide addresses several issues, including: • The notice the City must give property owners, should it attempt to bulldoze their homes; • Where to find out if the City intends to demolish your home; • What to do if the City improperly designates your home for demolition; and • The importance of the percentage of flood damage City inspectors assign to your home, and how to get it changed. “As so many New Orleans homeowners fled to Houston, we saw the storm’s devastating effect on property owners who lost everything and we were inspired to help them rebuild their lives,” said John Strasburger of Weil Gotshal, Managing Partner of Weil Gotshal's Houston office and a Lawyers’ Committee board member. “A central part of that is making sure they retain the property rights they have in their most valuable asset – their home.” About the Lawyers’ Committee The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, founded in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy, works with private law firms to enforce civil rights laws and fight discrimination. Central to the Lawyers’ Committee’s mission is promoting the development of marginalized communities, particularly minority communities, preserving property wealth of low- and moderate-income homeowners, and preventing African-American land loss. About Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is an international law firm of over 1,200 lawyers. Weil Gotshal is headquartered in New York, with offices in Austin, Boston, Brussels, Budapest, Dallas, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Miami, Munich, Paris, Prague, Providence, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Warsaw, Washington DC and Wilmington. back to Press Releases