Five Troutman Sanders Lawyers Honored for Outstanding Pro Bono Efforts
ATLANTA – Dec. 5, 2016 – Troutman Sanders announced today the recipients of its annual Pro Bono Awards. Partners Andrew Perel, William Hurd, Stephen Piepgrass and associates Chris Davis and Jasmine Hites were recognized for their outstanding pro bono performance.
Andrew Perel, a partner in the firm’s New York office, was honored for his work with Manhattan Youth Baseball, a nonprofit dedicated to delivering baseball and academic education opportunities for inner city residents. Andy provides corporate governance advice, insurance review, risk mitigation, and contract review as it relates to tournaments and league participation.
Richmond-based partners William Hurd and Stephen Piepgrass were recognized for assisting a veteran involuntarily committed in a mental hospital after law enforcement became concerned about the inflammatory rhetoric in some of his internet political postings. The client was released after a judge found no evidence that he had a mental illness or posed any threat to himself or others. Following the client’s release, the team filed a civil rights action against the mental health worker who had him committed. After summary judgment was granted in favor of the mental health worker, the team appealed the case to the Fourth Circuit, which concluded that the constitutional standard for mental health workers making commitment decisions was too unsettled to hold the defendant liable. Mr. Hurd and Mr. Piepgrass then petitioned for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. While the petition ultimately was not granted, the case brought into focus the need for clearer constitutional standards governing mental health commitments.
Chris Davis, an associate in the Atlanta office, has been a key volunteer at the intake clinic sponsored by Atlanta Legal Aid Society at the local VA hospital, which assists patients in the palliative care unit. Her dedication to our country’s veterans is apparent, as she has attended the clinic nearly every month since it began in June 2014.
Jasmine Hites, an associate in the firm’s Portland office, assisted a former prisoner who sued his prison guard for violation of his 8 th Amendment rights. Although outside their traditional scope of specialization, at the request of the Federal Court Jasmine and other energy lawyers served as the client’s trial team.
“This recognition is extremely well-deserved for each of these lawyers,” said David Gische, Chair of Troutman Sanders’ Pro Bono Committee. “The firm continually strives to make a positive impact in any way we can, and the work of these five is a prime example of the pro bono leadership and community service we value at Troutman Sanders.”
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