Public Defender Teresa McCune '80 Receives $1 Million in Funding for Legal Aid of WV

Mingo County Public Defender Teresa McCune '80 received $1 million in funding for Legal Aid of West Virginia. The $1 million in financial assistance was made possible by a class-action settlement in which the State of WV participated in a lawsuit against nationally accredited banks and financial organizations that were found guilty of illegal home foreclosures and unfair housing practices. In exchange for the funding from the Attorney General’s office, Legal Aid of WV has agreed to provide mortgage and litigation help for homeowners who experienced the foreclosures throughout WV who meet the income guidelines and other requirements set by the state.

McCune had recently received financial assistance for the local office from the Mingo County Commission, and said she wanted to voice her appreciation of their concern and support.

"The commission was very concerned when they were told the office was in a financial crunch,” stated McCune. "We were grateful they agreed to provide funding assistance.”

"Legal Aid is a very important service to the community and I’m relieved that we have secured this $1 million in assistance that will allow the local office to be operational for the next three years without worries about how that will be possible,” remarked the attorney.

"All 11 Legal Aid of WV offices across the state will receive funding out of the $1 million, but the bulk of it has been earmarked for the Logan-Mingo office.”

Read more in The Williamson Daily News, "WV Attorney General secures $1 million for Legal Aid"