A Spencer Fane team, led by attorneys J.B. Fishman and Kim Kerns, worked hand-in-hand with the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Dedman School of Law Civil/Consumer Litigation Clinic to secure payment of more than $57,000 for a pro bono client.
J.B., who served as chief counsel and as a student fellow in the Clinic before joining Spencer Fane, began working on this case as a law student at SMU. While a student, J.B. successfully represented the client through litigation and obtained a mediated settlement agreement with the opposing parties in 2023.
When issues arose after the settlement the client reached out the SMU Civil Clinic and Spencer Fane for help – J.B. and Kim stepped in. Working with SMU clinical professor Eliot Shavin and hard-working law students, the Spencer Fane team led the charge by handling post-judgment work, obtaining a writ of execution, working with the local constable to seize property, and negotiating with the other side on behalf of the client. As a result, the team managed to obtain a new settlement agreement which included immediate payment of the entire judgment plus all accrued interest.
The client was overjoyed with the result. J.B. then hand-delivered the check to the client and drove her to the bank to ensure the money was deposited that very day.
The SMU Civil/Consumer Clinic is a legal clinic at SMU Dedman School of Law and has provided representation for low-income residents in Dallas for over 75 years. Through the use of supervised law students, the Clinic is able to provide pro bono legal services to communities in need.
The firm’s approach to serving clients, colleagues, and the community has made the firm of the highest performing firms nationally in client satisfaction, workplace satisfaction, diversity traction, and growth.
Although early in his career, J.B. has received numerous awards for his advocacy, including being the first student ever to be named a fellow of the Civil Clinic while still in law school. He continues to build on his early achievements and represents clients using all forms of dispute resolution to help his clients achieve their goals.
Kim, an accomplished trial attorney, guides clients through all phases of litigation in commercial and real estate matters. She uses her extensive courtroom experience to not only achieve favorable verdicts when trial becomes necessary but also coordinate favorable outcomes through dispositive motions and settlement to provide resolutions that match a client’s unique business objectives.
The SMU Dedman School of Law Civil/Consumer Clinic’s dockets contain cases involving tenant advocacy, consumer litigation, civil rights, and other general litigation not including family law. To learn more about the Clinic, click here.