Local 237 has long been a pioneer in the field of legal services. In fact, Local 237 was one of the very first unions to set up its own legal services office. Since its creation in 1975, the Teamster Local 237 Legal Services Plan has assisted thousands of active members and retirees in the Citywide and Housing Divisions with their personal legal problems.

The Legal Services Plan represents members in a wide range of civil matters in 11 New York State covered counties. These matters include domestic relations (Family Court proceedings, divorce and separation), purchase and sale of primary residences (co-op, condo, 1 and 2 Family homes), wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, adoptions, credit and consumer actions, tenant rights and bankruptcies.

Representation can include consultation, legal research, drafting of documents and pleadings, and negotiation on your behalf with you in court. A lawyer is provided at no cost to the member. Additionally, after paying a $150 deductible, a $500 litigation benefit is available for various court-related fees.

The Plan does not handle matters outside of the covered New York counties or cases involving workers compensation, employment discrimination, immigration, tax matters, criminal cases, matters involving an interest in a business, cases generally handled on a contingent fee basis (such as automobile and other accident claims), traffic violations or other administrative law cases, and cases against New York City Housing Authority.

If a retired member resides outside of the covered New York State Counties and has a covered legal matter, the retiree may be eligible for reimbursement of some paid attorney's fees pursuant to a schedule approved by the Welfare Fund trustees.

The Legal Services Plan currently has eleven full-time attorneys and a paralegal who work to handle members' cases and answer their questions. The best way to have the Legal Services Plan assist a member with his or her legal problem is to have the member call (212)924-1220 and schedule an appointment. If the member does not need an actual appointment, the Plan has an advice hotline where staff attorneys will try to assist the member over the telephone.

Contact: Phone (212) 924-1220 FAX: (212) 647-9421

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Legal Services Staff

Mary E. Sheridan, Esq., Director msheridan@local237.org

Jennifer E. Hudson, Esq., Deputy Director, jhudson@Local237.org

Sara N. Wagner, Esq., Assistant Director, swagner@local237.org

Rebecca J. Engel, Esq., Supervising Attorney, rengel@local237.org

Israel Y. Levin, Esq., Senior Attorney, ilevin@local237.org

April M. Calabrese, Esq., Staff Attorney, acalabrese@local237.org

Maeve M. Callagy, Esq., Staff Attorney, mcallagy@local237.org

Jessica A. Caruso, Esq., Staff Attorney, jcaruso@local237.org

Leon F. Dawson, Esq., Staff Attorney, ldawson@local237.org

Emily Nyren, Esq., Staff Attorney, enyren@local237.org

Anelle Morales-Rojas, Esq., Staff Attorney, arojas@local237.org

Caroline Tenesaca, J.D., Law Graduate, ctenesaca@local237.org

Ingrid Ventura, Office Manager