FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2018
National Consumer Law Center Contact: Jan Kruse (jkruse@nclc.org); (617) 542-8010

Washington, D.C. – Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters can upend families and communities, but long after TV crews have departed the long road to rebuilding begins. To help households, especially the most vulnerable, recover from financial devastation after a disaster strikes, the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) has created a free Disaster Relief toolkit.

The online toolkit includes resources for families, advocates, and policymakers on:

• Obtaining mortgage relief;
• Getting short-termand longer-term federal student loan debt relief (English and Spanish);
• Avoiding home repair fraud(based on lessons learned after Hurricane Katrina);
• Identifying debt settlement scams(English and Spanish);
• Keeping households connected with utilities, including model utility consumer protections that states can adopt, an issue brief on helping low-income households with assistance in paying bills for heating and cooling, and an issue briefand fact sheet explaining how low-income households can remain connected with voice and broadband internet service; and
• Helping older consumers after a natural disaster(including tips on insurance benefits and obtaining assistance from FEMA).

NCLC will continue to add new resources, including how to avoid used cars that were in a flood. To access the full list of resources, please visit NCLC’s Disaster Relief & Consumer Protection Project at: https://www.nclc.org/issues/disaster-relief-consumer-protections.html.

 

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Since 1969, the nonprofit National Consumer Law Center® (NCLC®) has used its expertise in consumer law and energy policy to work for consumer justice and economic security for low-income and other disadvantaged people, including older adults, in the United States. NCLC’s expertise includes policy analysis and advocacy; consumer law and energy publications; litigation; expert witness services, and training and advice for advocates. NCLC works with nonprofit and legal services organizations, private attorneys, policymakers, and federal and state government and courts across the nation to stop exploitative practices, help financially stressed families build and retain wealth, and advance economic fairness. www.nclc.org

Blanco Tackabery was proud to support the G&B energy “Irons in the Fire” golf and social event to raise money for the Yadkin Valley United Fund (YVUF). Carolina blue skies and grilling smoke greeted over 150 golfers and volunteers participating in the 26th annual G&B Energy Irons in the Fire golf event held on Thursday, September 6th at Cedarbrook Country Club. This year’s tournament raised a record total of $20,202 to jump-start the YVUF fundraising campaign with 10% of the groups 2019 fundraising goal.

A major highlight of the Irons in the Fire event is the food. Grilling and beverage stations scattered throughout the 18-hole golf course feature grilled culinary delights by G&B Energy’s employee grill masters. This year’s tournament featured grilled pineapple and ice cream, smoked chicken wings, tender pork ribs, shrimp and pulled pork quesadillas.

“I am honored and continually amazed by the community support for this annual charity event,” said G&B Energy President Jeff Eidson. “With the hard work of the G&B employees, the giving spirit of our sponsors and volunteers and the continued participation of golfers, the Irons in the Fire tournament continues to be a success. I am grateful for the dedication and hard work by everyone that participated in today’s event,” continued Eidson.

Blanco Tackabery was proud to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication of the new Whitney M. Slater Shared Solar Farm facility located in Dillon County, SC. The 7.12-megawatt (DC) facility, owned by Freedom Solar, was developed by Pine Gate Renewables, which operates 12 facilities in South Carolina. Attending the event from Blanco Tackabery were Renewable Energy Attorney Daniel Vandergriff and Debbie Jo Marion.

This facility is part of Duke Energy’s shared solar program that provides South Carolina residents with a new option to utilize solar energy. The program allows customers to participate in the renewable energy marketplace without installing solar panels at their home.

The Whitney M. Slater Shared Solar Facility is named after Whitney, who passed away from breast cancer at the early age of 21. She had a mission to provide environmental health education, expand breast cancer awareness and make it possible for qualified young people to receive scholarships. In 2012, the foundation was created to continue Whitney’s mission.

Blanco Tackabery is proud to announce that three of their attorneys have been named to the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. The following three attorneys have been chosen by their peers in their respective practice areas:

Peter J. Juran
Commercial Litigation

Ashley S. Rusher
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Neal E. Tackabery
Trusts and Estates
Tax Law

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become a well-regarded guide to legal excellence. Over 52,000 leading attorneys cast more than 5.5 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Corporate Counsel Magazine has called Best Lawyers® “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

 

Blanco Tackabery was proud to celebrate Tarrfest on July 13^th at a Winston-Salem Dash baseball game. Tarrfest is in honor of the late Gene Tarr who was a bankruptcy law attorney at Blanco Tackabery for 28 years. This event was all about food, family and fun!  Over 100 people were able to attend the event and a good time was had by all.

 

 

Pictured here is Meghan Maguire (IP & Renewable Energy attorney), Cerene Setliff (Commercial real estate attorney) and Kirsten Bates.

 

Blanco Tackabery sponsored the 2018 Community Affordable Housing Equity Corporation (CAHEC) conference held June 5-6 in Greensboro, NC. The annual conference brings together leaders in the affordable housing industry. Attending the event were Debbie McKenney, Kelly Otis, Susan Campbell and James Goodwin who are all attorneys in our Affordable Housing and Community Development practice.

Pictured here is Susan Campbell who is an attorney focusing in HUD multifamily matters.

Blanco Tackabery was proud to sponsor and attend the 2018 Magnolia Ball for the Piedmont Opera on May 19th. The Magnolia Ball is Piedmont Opera’s largest fundraiser and featured an exciting night of entertainment based on the theme of “Fire and Ice”. Attending the event from the firm were Ashley Rusher, Caroline Munroe and Meghan Maguire. Ashley Rusher will be on the Piedmont Opera board for the upcoming season.

At the firm’s table were David Wilson, Meghan Maguire, Thomas Wilson, Caroline Munroe, Stephanie Hudson, Ashley Parlier, and Ashley Rusher.

Blanco Tackabery was proud to sponsor the Bethesda Center All Stars. Bethesda Center for the Homeless is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency and supportive services to hundreds of men and women experiencing homelessness in Forsyth County.

Blanco Tackabery was proud to support the 2018 Boys Scouts Distinguished Citizen award. Old Hickory Council held its annual Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner on May 10th. Community leaders, family, and friends gathered to honor Dr. Nathan O. Hatch, President of Wake Forest University. Dr. Hatch has had a significant influence through a lifetime of service and leadership to his community and nation. His passion and leadership are best described by the Boy Scout slogan, “Do A Good Turn Daily”.

Attending the event were Hudnall Christopher, Missie & Jim Vaughan and David & Jennifer Barksdale.

Blanco Tackabery attorney Christopher Seamster has been appointed to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority.  The purpose of the Authority is to assist local industry in securing bond financing.  He will serve on this board for a five-year term ending in 2023.

Click here to view Chris’s full bio.

Ashley Rusher has been elected to Business North Carolina magazine’s Legal Elite for 2018. Ashley practices in the area of business bankruptcy and creditor’s rights.

Business North Carolina magazine selects the Legal Elite through ballots sent to more than 28,000 attorneys who are active members of the North Carolina State Bar. Members are asked to select the best lawyer in each field and may not select themselves. Fewer than 3% of the state’s lawyers were named to the list this year.

View Ashley Rusher’s full bio.