Community Service

Manning Curtis Bradshaw & Bednar believes that pro bono and other community service activities are an important professional responsibility. We are committed to the principles articulated by the ABA that "the basic responsibility for providing legal services for those unable to pay ultimately rests upon the individual lawyer" and that "[e]very lawyer, regardless of professional prominence or professional workload, should find time to participate in serving the disadvantaged."

Our commitment is demonstrated by actions: In addition to time and money we spend on our own pro bono cases we help support community legal aid efforts through the "and JUSTICE for all" campaign, a joint fundraising effort on behalf of Utah Legal Aid, Utah Legal Services, Inc. and the Utah Disability Law Center. The firm contributes to the campaign the highest per lawyer amount of any Utah law firm. Although we give generously, our real distinction is in our in-house pro bono and community service efforts. Time spent working in community service and on pro bono issues is "equal" time. It is an important consideration in partnership evaluation and compensation decisions. When we undertake pro bono representation the client becomes a firm client and we assure that they receive quality representation. Among the pro bono community service activities in which our lawyers engage are the following: In November 2011 Manning Curtis Bradshaw & Bednar was  recognized by the Federal Bar Association - Utah Chapter's Pro Bono Firm of the Year. In April 2011 Brent V. Manning and Aaron C. Garrett were counsel in important First Amendment trial that established the right of visual artists to sell their original artwork on public property.  Shaun L. Christensen v. Park City Municipal Corporation, United States District Court, District of Utah, Case No. 2:06-CV-202. In a June 22, 2010 decision, Manning Curtis Successfully Represented Independent Gubernatorial Candidate Farley Anderson in a landmark e-signature case before the Utah Supreme Court. This is believed to be the first ruling on this issue in the nation, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that the Lieutenant Governor could not exclude electronic ballot access signatures submitted to him by independent Gubernatorial Candidate Farley Anderson.  Manning Curtis Bradshaw & Bednar successfully argued that Utah statutes and common law require the Lieutenant Governor to accept any mark, electronic or holographic, made by a citizen with the intent to make it his signature.  This decision by the Utah Supreme Court may pave the way for other courts to require acceptance of electronic signatures in connection with candidate petitions and petitions for initiatives or referenda, thereby expanding citizen participation in the electoral process. The firm was class counsel to a class of more than 5000, denied Social Security disability claimants in the Goodnight v. Chater litigation, one of the reported decisions in which can be found at 960 F. Supp. 1538 (D. Utah 1997). At the time of the settlement the Social Security Administration estimated it would pay back benefits of $22 million plus future benefits as a result of the settlement. The firm continues to serve as class counsel until all claims are resolved. Our lawyers provide pro bono representation in guardianship and adoption proceedings, protective orders, landlord-tenant disputes, environmental issues, consumer protection issues and as general counsel for various nonprofit organizations. MCBB was the first law firm partner in the University of Utah's Pro Bono Initiative in which law students work with local attorneys on pro bono projects. MCBB's attorneys are board members or regular volunteers for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including "and JUSTICE for all," Women Lawyers of Utah, Salt Lake Arts Academy and Utah Health and Human Rights Project.