AALL LawLibAssist

Status of Impacted Courts

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has moved its operations temporarily to Houston.  It re-opened September 21, 2005, for the most urgent business but has suspended operations effective September 23, 2005.

The Eastern District of Louisiana is closed, but is receiving filings.  Current plans are to divide the court operations among Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Houma, Louisiana.  The court has suspended operations effective September 23, 2005.

The Middle District of Louisiana has suspended operations effective September 23, 2005.

The Southern District of Mississippi is operational in Jackson and Hattiesburg.

The Southern District of Texas has suspended operations effective September 23, 2005, in Houston and  Galveston.

The United States Post Office is continuing to hold mail distribution for those areas that are still undeliverable.  The Postal Service acknowledges that there are massive amounts of mail being held at locations outside the affected area and that they will resume their deliveries to those areas as quickly as humanly possible.  Anyone from the affected areas that has put in a change of address request is getting mail forwarded.

The USPS is working with publishers of periodicals and standard mail mailers to make sure mail is processed and forwarded to persons who have a change of address form in the USPS system.  The Postal Service has informed us that all updates are listed daily on www.ribbs.usps.gov and/or www.usps.com.  There is also a map on this web site to show zip codes that are still affected and have no delivery.

U.S. Mail (Rita):  The Postal Service has started to suspend mail service to numerous zip code areas in Texas.  The affected areas are also listed on the Postal Service website www.usps.com.

Law Books Free to Anyone Who May Need Them

Federal Reporter 2nd & 3rd

Federal Supplement

Pacific Digest

Pacific Reporter 1st & 2nd

AmJur

US Reports

Federal Practice Digest

I can be reached at (303)628-9620 or email me at [email protected].  All books are in excellent condition.

LexisNexis Prepared to Assist Those in Affected Areas

As Hurricane Rita approaches the Gulf Coast, and as forecasters predict what damage it could bring to residents and businesses in Texas and Louisiana, LexisNexis is ready to enact a disaster recovery action plan for its legal industry customers in the affected regions.  While we are all hoping for a minimal impact on the region, LexisNexis is preparing to provide thorough business recovery and continuance services in the case of a severe hit.

Much as we have done -- and continue to do -- for those affected by Hurrican Katrina, LexisNexis is prepared to assist Gulf Coast law firms, legal practitioners and legal researchers in the steps to be taken in order to rebuild their businesses.  Details on interim locations and how LexisNexis will be assisting affected businesses will be released as they become available.

LexisNexis is in the business of helping law frims successfully operate their practices -- the efforts put forth in this time of need are no different.  Our best thoughts go out to the people of the Gulf Coast as they prepare for Hurricane Rita, and we will continue to provide whatever support is needed to these businesses as they return to work.

Contact:

Bob Sadowski, Public Relations Manager

Lexis Nexis

937.865.8816

[email protected]

Free Document Delivery to Libraries Affected by Katrina

The Dag Hammarskjold Library of the United Nations is offering free document delivery services for United Nations documents and publications to libraries and library communities affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Please contact:

Interlibrary Loan Service

Dag Hammarskjold Library

Room L-1B-68

United Nations

New York, NY 10017

Tel.: 212-963-2015/-2278

Fax: 212-963-9256

E-mail: [email protected]

Free Disaster Recovery Workshop

Libraries with collections damaged by Hurricane Katrina may find the following FREE disaster recovery workshop of interest:

The National Park services and Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) are partnering to provide a free half-day workshop on Wet Collection Salvage. It will be lecture and handouts. It will be focused on decision-making and resources. This workshop focuses on the initial response to a wet disaster and will cover safety issues, information sources, mold outbreak response, recovery materials and techniques, and salvage techniques for water-damaged collections.

Date, Time, and Location:

Wednesday September 28, 2005

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Room 123, Joseph Cook Library

124 Golden Eagle Drive

The University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, MS

The workshop is free. Registration in advance is not necessary, but is preferred. You may do so by contacting the Administrative Office of the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries at 601.266.4242 or by email [email protected]. Onsite registration begins at 9:30 AM. The program will begin at 10:00 AM and conclude at 3:00 PM, with an hour break for lunch.

To receive your parking pass for the day, please stop by the Information Booth at the front entrance of the USM campus off Hardy Street. Please inform the attendant that you will be attending the Disaster Recovery Workshop at Cook Library. Vehicles without parking passes will be ticketed.

Campus maps are available.

For more information please contact Shirlene Stogner at (601) 266-6168.

Thomson West offer-Update

To Thomson West customers affected by Hurricane Katrina

Everyone at Thomson West is deeply moved by the enormous loss suffered by the victims of Hurricane Katrina. As the floodwaters recede and the Gulf Coast begins to rebuild, it is only now that the true extent of the devastation can be understood. And though there are sure to be difficult times ahead, there is also hope that a sense of normalcy will once again return to you – our customers, friends and colleagues along the Gulf Coast.

For our part, Thomson West is committed to helping legal professionals restore practices and offices as soon as possible. The full resources of our business back this commitment.

To assist in the rebuilding effort, we’ve set up a dedicated hotline for Thomson West customers affected by Hurricane Katrina. If you have been displaced by the disaster, contact Thomson West Customer Service at 1-800-328-4880, ext. 67281, to let us know that you’re safe and what your needs are. When you’re ready to get back on your feet, we’re ready to help.

Affected Westlawâ customers can contact their Sales representative or call the Customer Service hotline to access a complimentary Westlaw password. Thomson West Reference Attorneys are standing by to help support your research needs. Our Technology organization can help establish new high-speed connections to support your practices. And, when it’s time to rebuild your library, Thomson West will replace any print or CD-ROM product for current subscribers free of charge. For legal professionals who use our products but do not have current active subscriptions, we’re offering a 50 percent replacement coverage to ensure everyone is able to restore their collections. For our law school customers in the affected areas, we’re replacing texts free of charge and working closely with the law schools in the area to support their rebuilding efforts. And lastly, Thomson is offering a double-match contribution for all employee contributions to the American Red Cross in support of the relief effort.

Thomson West is proud of its heritage and longstanding partnership with attorneys and the courts, and we are proud to stand with you throughout your process of recovery and rebuilding. Please know that our thoughts are with you and that we are here to help.

Very best wishes,

Peter Warwick

President & CEO, Thomson West

Houston Bar Association clothing drive-Urgent update

Update on Houston Bar Association Clothing Drive:

Everyone -- Thank you so much for your generous contributions to the relief efforts here in Houston.  The response from people across the country has been overwhelming.   So overwhelming, in fact, that Weil Gotshal's Houston office is bursting at the seams with boxes.  We are now asking people to send any future donations directly to the HBA. In fact, I recommend phoning the HBA for shipping additional packages to ensure that they still have storage capacity.  To speed the distribution process, please note the general contents on the sides of the boxes (e.g., "women's sweaters" or "infants").

The HBA's address is 1001 Fannin, Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77002.  Their phone number is 713.759.1133.  The boxes can be shipped to the attention of the HBA Clothing Drive.

I an continually amazed by the capacity of law librarians to give of their time and resources.   If you have any questions about this change, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Best regards,
Catherine
________________________________
Catherine Whitney
Assistant Librarian
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
700 Louisiana, Suite 1600
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713.546.5125
Fax: 713.224.9511
Email: [email protected]

Louisiana Supreme Court-Update

The Louisiana Supreme Court, and all courts in southeast Louisiana, are closed until October 1, 2005. Employees have been asked to report for work in Baton Rouge on that date. ( Not sure if this will change now that parts of the city will be opening up.)
All employees of the Law Library of Louisiana are accounted for and fine. Carol Billings is in Williamsburg, Janice Shull in Columbus, OH, Marie Erickson in northern New Jersey, Miriam Childs in Baton Rouge, Georgia Chadwick on the road, and I am in Fairfax, VA. The rest of the staff are with family in Louisiana. Losses range from total loss of house and contents to minimal loss. We are all feeling the effects of displacement.
The great news is that the building and the library came through unscathed. All we will have to deal with will be mountains of mail once that service returns.
We greatly appreciate the offers of help and support from our friends. We are all able to receive email at addresses on AALLNET or I can forward if necessary.

Cathy Lemann

NY Court Volunteers

400 N.Y. Court Volunteers Set to Aid Hurricane Victims
New York Law Journal

New York's Unified Court System has organized a contingent of up to 400 volunteer court officials to help the legal communities of Louisiana and Mississippi, devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye said that in light of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, "We have a very special expertise ... We know what it's like to have courtrooms brought to a standstill." The volunteers are set to help in such areas as court security, records recovery and the creation of temporary court sites.

(clipped from www.law.com today. See their website or New York Law Journal for full story.)

US Dept of Commerce-Assistance Clearinghouse

We need help at the US Department of Commerce in getting the word out
about a call center that we just established to assist businesses trying to
recover from Hurricane Katrina.  The announcement that we posted on our
sites is included below.  The Secretary has done a press release with
the national news services, but please post this information anywhere that
you think is appropriate.  Notice that the service is for businesses in the
affected region, and also for businesses that want to donate items.

Of course, we will also take calls from individuals and other
organizations but these will be referred to other agencies to handle.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Forrest Williams
Director
STAT-USA
(202) 482-3429

_____________________________________

09/12/2005: Through the National Emergency Resource Registry (NERR),
the Commerce Department is mobilizing the resources and good nature of
businesses across the country to help meet the needs of thousands of
businesses devastated by Hurricane Katrina. This call center will take
calls from affected businesses wanting to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina or businesses that want to donate supplies, funds, or other items.
The call center can be reached on the Web at www.nerr.gov  or toll free
on 888-4USADOC.