RESERVISTS' RIGHTS: The Home Front Fight

Narrated Video News Package Plus Additional
B-Roll and SOTS

The following footage is provided free of charge by the American Bar Association for use in news broadcasts at your editorial discretion.

SUGGESTED ANCHOR LEAD:
More than 200,000 military reservists and National Guard personnel have been mobilized in the war on terror at home, in Iraq and around the globe.

Now that General Tommy Franks has declared that the "decisive combat portion" of the war in Iraq is over, many troops will soon be returning home. But as their active duty comes to an end, some may be fighting a new battle on the home front - to protect their legal rights.

Standing ready to help are volunteer lawyers who have enlisted in the American Bar Association's "Operation Enduring LAMP" project - a program to provide free legal help and information to reservists so they can understand and enforce their employment and financial rights. Lee Miller reports.

TITLES IN ORDER:

COUNTDOWN:
Ch. 1 - Narrator
Ch. 2 - BG & SOTs

Pkg. Runs 2:19

NARRATOR: Oscar Rodriguez, a Master Sergeant in the Air Force reserves, was called to active duty in the wake of 9/11. Oscar was stationed at Travis air force base in California maintaining C5 transport planes.

TITLE: Master Sergeant Oscar Rodriguez Air Force Reservist

O. RODRIGUEZ SOT: At that time I was 21 years in the service and I could exercise the option of retiring, but that's not why I joined, so I stood tall, and I was called to duty.

Oscar saying goodbye to Kathy and leaving Photo of Kathy & Oscar at construction site

Kathy with the bills

NARRATOR: In addition to leaving his wife and family, Oscar was forced to virtually close the construction company he owned. During his service his income significantly decreased and although he informed creditors of his right to lowered interest rates while serving, a number of them did not comply.

The family went through $80,000 in life savings before finally running out of money. Despite a federal law providing rights for activated reservists, creditors hounded them and some of their interest rates soared.

TITLE:Kathy RodriguezReservists Wife

K. RODRIGUEZ SOT: It was constant harassment, constant harassment.// Sometimes they would have me in tears and I would I basically would tell them that I was out of money.

Oscar meeting with lawyer

NARRATOR: Oscar was recently demobilized and now that he is back on the home front he is fighting a new battle - one to enforce his rights.

Military lawyer meeting with reservist

Shot of LAMP website Military lawyer meeting with reservist

NARRATOR: Military lawyers are the first line of defense for service men and women like Oscar. But because the number who may confront legal problems in the days ahead may strain military legal assistance offices, the American Bar Association has launched Operation Enduring LAMP.

Under the project, volunteer civilian lawyers in 41 states stand ready to provide free legal help to members of the military and their families.

TITLE:Alfred P. Carlton Jr. President, American Bar Association

CARLTON SOT: The American Bar Association is calling on the lawyers of America to voluntarily assist our men and women in uniform in their time of need. They are sacrificing so much for our country. There is no reason they should get harassed by credit card companies, loose their life savings, or lose their jobs.

Oscar meeting with lawyer Oscar and family working on stained glass

NARRATOR: Oscar and his lawyer are preparing for battle with the unlawful creditors. And he is putting the pieces of his life back together. Slowly he is rebuilding his company - yet he still stands ready to serve his country.

Oscar on Camera

O. RODRIGUEZ SOT: I don't know when that phone is going to ring again and I'm going to be called to duty. But, when that phone rings, I'll answer it, and I'll go.

Oscar and family working on stained glass

NARRATOR:This is Lee Miller reporting.

SUGGESTED ANCHOR TAG:

The first step for reservists who have problem is to contact their local militiary legal assistance office where they can get help or be connected with a volunteer lawyer.

The ABA has also produced a free online brochure on laws protecting active duty military personnel called "Spotlight on Your Legal Rights." It can be found online at www.abanet.org

• Rodriguez at work
• Rodriguez family
• Rodriguez going over legal documents with wife

ADDITIONAL SOTSTITLE: Master Sergeant Oscar Rodriguez Air Force Reservist

O. RODRIGUEZ SOT: During my activation, we ran though all our savings, we ran through all our recourses, liquid resources we had no more money. My wife called me up, I was activated in February, my wife called my up in November and she said, Oscar, we can't do this anymore.

O. RODRIGUEZ SOT: Some credit card companies have yet to reduce our interest rate to six percent, others have put derogatory statements in our credit rating, which is against the law.

K. RODRIGUEZ SOT: Pretty much the first few months were okay, I was making the payments, doing the payroll, making sure that the bills were paid.

K. RODRIGUEZ SOT: It was constant harassment, constant harassment. And when you are dealing with 13, 14 different companies you can only imagine… every three or four days they'd give you a call, and you tell them the whole story but they just didn't care.

TITLE: Alfred P. Carlton Jr. President, American Bar Association

CARLTON SOT: The regular JAG Corps is doing their job, however there are so many reserves being called up and so many new military personal that have needs that thecivilian bar needs to assist and with the American Bar Association calling upon the lawyers of American to provide that assistance, so that our men and women in uniform can go about doing their jobs with out worrying about what's going on at home.

CARLTON SOT: Our armed forces are protecting the liberty, freedom and security that we all enjoy. We have laws to protect them while they serve to help them do their jobs without worrying about what's going on at home. We at the American Bar Association stand ready, willing and able to help them take advantage of those laws that protect them while they serve.

For more information, please contact:
Julie Brown
312-988-6133
brownjd@staff.abanet.org