Criminal Defense Benefit (Two each year)

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Who is Eligible Any covered member who is a Defendant in a criminal action arising from a non-work-related incident. Use of the Criminal Defense Benefit is limited to two Criminal Matters each calendar year.

What is the Benefit The Legal Services Fund will provide a covered member with an attorney from a panel law firm when the member is accused of committing any of the following in a non-work-related situation: a Violation, Misdemeanor, or up to a Class B Felony.

Exclusions and Limitations Excluded from the Criminal Defense Benefit are the following:

  • appearance by an attorney in Federal Court
  • traffic infractions
  • appeals from convictions for covered charges
  • class A-1, A-2 or A-3 Felony charges
  • a charge of murder, manslaughter, or an attempt at either
  • appearances by a panel attorney before the District Attorney or Police Department regarding matters unrelated to the arrest
  • charges in jurisdictions outside the Fund's Geographic Area of Coverage
  • charges arising from business or commercial activity, including, but not limited to, a member as landlord arrested on the complaint of a tenant; the sale of counterfeit or bootleg products (e.g. CDs, DVDs, handbags, etc.); ticket scalping, automobile chop-shop; operation of unlicensed after hours club; operation of a business causing environmental pollution or operation of a vehicle for hire.

How to Obtain the Benefit To obtain this benefit, you or anyone acting onyour behalf should contact the Legal Services Fund office. An appointment with a panel attorney will be arranged for you, after which time you and the attorney will fill out the appropriate claim forms.

Social Service Employees Union Local 371
AFSCME, AFL—CIO
817 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
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