Consilio In Action – Jamie Kerr, Albina Johnson and Jack Woodcock

Consilio in Action: Pro Bono Collaboration Brings Positive Change to Maine Foster System

Jamie Kerr and Albina Johnson at Consilio found themselves at the heart of a pivotal pro bono case to make life better for children and youth in Maine. This journey began when the national advocacy organization Children’s Rights, alongside law firm Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A. (Bernstein Shur), and the civil legal aid organization Maine Equal Justice, filed a class action lawsuit. The mission was clear and urgent: to hold the State accountable for adequately overseeing the administration of psychotropic medications to children in its care, and safeguarding the mental and physical health of children.

Jack Woodcock, a shareholder at Bernstein Shur, was a lead attorney on the case. Founded in 1915, Bernstein Shur is a New England-based law firm advising clients across the U.S. and around the world. The firm’s award-winning attorneys and professionals provide practical and innovative counsel, and practice in more than 20 key areas across a variety of industries.

Jack had known Jamie Kerr for many years, both personally and professionally, and their shared passion for the wellbeing of children brought them together on a special pro bono project at Consilio. Jamie, the project team lead, had a background as a social worker, which gave this project an added layer of significance for him. Both Jamie and Jack felt a deep commitment to ensuring that children received the health services and representation they needed.

Leveraging Consilio’s Consultative Approach

Close collaboration between Bernstein Shur and Children’s Rights was necessary for this project to succeed. Prosecuting the case required deep expertise in eDiscovery forensics, processing, hosting, and production, which made the Consilio team’s involvement invaluable.

Jamie Kerr led the Consilio team in providing detailed guidance on document exchanges, working hand-in-hand with the Children’s Rights lawyers to navigate the review and production phases of the case. Consilio conducted forensics work, ensuring that every piece of evidence was meticulously handled.

Albina Johnson’s role in this project was critical. As a senior project manager, she brought her expertise to the forefront, assisting with various complex tasks that were essential to the case’s success, from culling extensive amounts of data, to performing custom searches and managing batching processes. Her responsibilities didn’t end there; Albina’s role demanded a more consultative approach, particularly when it came to constructing specialized searches that the team relied upon.

The combined efforts of Consilio and the legal teams culminated in a settlement which will institute three main reforms: (1) improved and up-to-date medical records; (2) the creation of a new informed consent process to enable informed decision making on psychotropic medication; and (3) the creation of a clinical review team to conduct secondary reviews before and after the administration of psychotropic medications.

“eDiscovery is an often overlooked but decisive factor in the success of the impact litigation cases Children’s Rights brings in states across the U.S. when governments fail to adequately protect children in their custody,” said Marissa C. Nardi, lead counsel at Children’s Rights.  “We will be forever grateful to Jaime, Albina and the entire Consilio team. Their deep expertise and sense of urgency were critical to our success, and their concern for and commitment to children was evident every step of the way.”

Jamie reflected on the project, sharing, “Consilio made a difference because without our ability to present the evidence following modern eDiscovery practices, we might not have reached such a successful settlement.”

“We hope this is going to bring more attention to the issue of improving the lives of kids who are forced into government systems through no fault of their own. They face a tough life in state custody, and enhancing their health and safety is a very rewarding accomplishment,” said Jack.

The Impact of Pro Bono Dedication

Through their dedication and expertise, Albina, Jamie and Jack demonstrated the profound impact of pro bono work, proving that with the right support and commitment, significant strides could be made in advocating for the health and rights of children.

Jamie stated, “Professionally, I believe Jack sees the team here at Consilio as reliable, knowledgeable and consultative. We will continue to put forward industry best practices and maintaining our partnership and relationship with the firm is very rewarding.”

Albina stated, “Guiding the client in leveraging eDiscovery expertise to deliver the results they were looking for was essential. The most important thing to me is having a personal connection and relationship with the client, which plays a big role in understanding their needs.”

Through Albina and Jamie’s efforts, the team was able to build a strong case, aiming to protect the rights and well-being of children in Maine’s foster system. Their work not only showcased the participants’ skills and commitment but also underscored the importance of having a compassionate and knowledgeable team in such a critical endeavor.

“The trust in our relationship allowed us to provide valuable advice and play an important role in their legal strategy. Having such a trusting relationship with the client helped us guide them effectively through their legal challenges,” continued Albina.

When reflecting on the case and partnership with Consilio, Jack said, “I have such confidence in them as a partner in navigating eDiscovery. But it’s not only about their expertise—it’s about their people. I’ve developed a great working relationship with the team and have come to appreciate both our working and personal relationship.

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