Perry Hopkins to Receive Simon K. Walton Civil Justice Award

COLUMBIA, Md. - May 27, 2016 - PRLog -- The Maryland Association for Justice, Inc. (MAJ) is pleased to announce Perry Hopkins, of Communities United, as the recipient of this year's Simon K. Walton Civil Justice Award. The award is in recognition of his advocacy and involvement in drawing attention to the "sex for repairs" scandal that led to a historic class action settlement on behalf of the victims of sexual harassment and assault in Baltimore's public housing community. Hopkins will receive his award during MAJ's annual President's Gala on June 11^th at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Perry Hopkins is an advocate and field organizer for Communities United, a Baltimore-based grassroots membership organization of low to moderate income individuals and families. In the summer of 2015, Hopkins was assigned to go into Gilmor Homes, the West Baltimore public housing project where Freddie Gray lived, and hold a community meeting to find out how he and his organization could help. One by one, numerous women came forward to tell him that publicly-employed maintenance men working for the Housing Authority of Baltimore City had refused to fix life-threatening conditions in their homes unless returned with sexual favors. Hopkins learned that these men had keys to all of the female residents' homes, came and went as they pleased, and, in some cases, physically assaulted them and demanded sexual favors. Some women conceded to these actions to protect themselves and their children, while others refused and were consequently forced to live without heat, electricity and other essentials - sometimes for years.

Hopkins encouraged these women to come forward and physically drove them to dozens of meetings with lawyers and court appearances. Hopkins organized and led multiple protests to bring attention to the issue and met with civic leaders, including Housing Authority staff. His work and dedication to helping these victims was pivotal in the efforts to find justice for these women. Hopkins' actions eventually led to repairs to the homes, Section 8 vouchers to move the women, the termination of the perpetrators, new policies and procedures to prevent future incidences, and the largest Fair Housing Act Settlement in history. According to Cary Hansel of Hansel Law, P.C., "I can't imagine a more deserving awardee than Perry Hopkins and Communities United."

MAJ is proud to offer this year's Simon K. Walton Civil Justice Award to Perry Hopkins.

The Simon K. Walton Civil Justice Award recognizes an individual whose hard work demonstrates a compassion and commitment to keeping Maryland families safe through advocacy, on behalf of those seeking to advance or preserve access to the courts. The award was created in memory of Simon Kenneth Walton; an accomplished Baltimore lawyer of Schultheis & Walton P.A. According to Stephen J. Cullen, a longtime friend, "… [Simon] was committed to the underprivileged and the poor and [helped] those who couldn't afford legal representation." Walton's work included one of the biggest pro bono representation projects in American history and bringing national exposure to numerous institutions and businesses across Maryland who failed to comply with the American Disabilities Act.

About Maryland Association for Justice, Inc.

The Maryland Association for Justice, Inc. (MAJ) represents over 1,200 trial attorneys throughout the state of Maryland. MAJ advocates for the preservation of the civil justice system, the protection of the rights of consumers and the education and professional development of its members.