Attorneys Offer Assistance to Tornado Victims

"As Putnam County residents continue to deal with the damage from Tuesday’s tornado, attorneys with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands were offering free legal assistance Saturday at clinics at The Biz Foundry in Cookeville and at the Double Springs Church of Christ.

Andrae Crismon with Legal Aid said they hope to assist with a variety of questions.

"Since the president declared a federal disaster area, we expect that there will be persons with FEMA claims needing to bring their paperwork to be reviewed," he said. "But also, obviously, the housing issues (like) do I still owe my landlord?"

Crismon works out of Legal Aid's Nashville office, but credited Kevin Christopher and other local attorneys for organizing the clinics.

Christopher works in the Putnam County office of Rockridge Venture Law.

"Members of our RVL family lost loved ones, and seemingly everyone in this area has been touched by loss of property or life," the company said in an email. "In the wake of this loss, we've seen a tremendous outpouring of giving and volunteering, and we've been blessed to participate in recovery efforts alongside our neighbors."

Crismon said another clinic is scheduled Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at Double Springs Church of Christ, and the Upper Cumberland Bar Association will be hosting a clinic Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Putnam County Justice Center..."

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