Anthony Ostlund is pleased and proud to share that our founding partner, Joe Anthony, was the honoree at the 42nd Annual Law Day Dinner benefitting Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. The event held at the Hilton Minneapolis on May 11, 2023 was organized by the Fund for Legal Aid and co-sponsored by the Hennepin County Bar Association. Joe was recognized for his decades of personal, professional, and financial dedication to the work of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.
In his remarks, Joe shared the story of the beginning of his—and our firm’s—involvement in what ultimately became a landmark settlement agreement (pending final approval) reached by the parties in Murphy et. al. v. Harpstead, a significant federal court civil rights lawsuit brought on behalf of a class of people with disabilities living in group homes.
In the first days of that case, Joe saw instantly that the impacted individuals’ most basic rights were being infringed and knew he had to do something about it. Joe also shared the understanding that Legal Aid and its lawyers do the type of work that often goes unnoticed and unrewarded by many in the community. He underscored his respect and appreciation for Legal Aid and the work that it does to make a difference in the lives of those who need access but can’t afford legal services. Joe closed his remarks with a spirited invitation for attendees to join him in generously supporting Legal Aid.
This year’s Law Day Dinner benefitted Legal Aid’s Community Clinic program which pursues a key element of their Racial Values Statement: Ensuring our work is rooted in the communities we serve. Legal Aid partners with a collection of trusted organizations to place legal aid attorneys in our clients’ neighborhoods to help with a wide variety of legal needs. The event raised over $200k.
Congratulations to Joe for this well-deserved honor and to Legal Aid for its ongoing heroic work in support of justice for all in our community.