Gia F. Colunga Serves as Pro Bono Counsel for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago

Gia F. Colunga, an Associate in the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group, served as pro bono co-counsel on behalf of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (LAF) to settle a Rental Property Utility Service Act case against CHA and their property manager, Legum & Norman.  LAF provides free civil legal assistance to low-income and elderly individuals around the Chicago metro area; these special needs groups require legal assistance to protect their homes, employment, public benefits, or to protect their constitutional or statutory rights. 

In 2006, LAF filed the complaint against CHA alleging that their client had been paying the electricity and gas bills for the common areas of her building since 1998.  After repeated complaints to the property manager and to CHA were ignored, she came to LAF for assistance.  It was soon thereafter that LAF enlisted Ms. Colunga as a pro bono attorney on the case.  After two years of litigation, and ten years of their client paying bills for the common areas of her building, Ms. Colunga and Julie Harcum, an LAF attorney, finally settled the case with CHA and Legum & Norman.     

"LAF gave me the freedom to manage the case as my own, while at the same time provided me with the guidance and support necessary to resolve the case in our client's favor.  Furthermore, our case enabled me to hone many of my litigation skills, including taking and defending depositions and drafting and arguing substantive motions,” said Ms. Colunga.  Based on her experience, she will also encourage her colleagues to consider taking on pro bono work with LAF.  

In September 2008, the Illinois Legal Aid Online non-profit organization recognized Ms. Colunga for her work, naming her the pro bono attorney of the month. In connection with this award, the organization featured Ms. Colunga and Freeborn & Peters LLP in a video, found at www.illinoisprobono.org, which highlighted her achievements as well as the firm's outstanding commitment to pro bono service.  Ms. Colunga’s areas of practice include complex disputes, employment litigation and products liability.  She received her B.A., cum laude, from Tulane University and earned her J.D., cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.