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CHICAGO - Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., recently announced that Brinks attorney Benjamin Findley obtained a voluntary dismissal in an eviction matter against a Chicago woman. Mr. Findley took the woman's case on a pro bono basis, in association with Brinks shareholder Vincent J. Gnoffo, through the Legal Assistance Foundation (LAF). Mr. Findley filed a motion to dismiss for failure to provide the required five-day notice of nonpayment of rent.

In this case, the woman needed time to find a new apartment after receiving a notice of eviction from her landlord. In her one-year lease, the woman had arranged for the City of Chicago to pay one month's rent. She then made an oral agreement with her landlord to waive another month's rent and an additional half month's rent was waived due to deficiencies in the premises, such as a non-functioning heater and no kitchen appliances.

After signing the lease, the landlord filed suit against the woman alleging that she owed three months' back rent. However, before filing the suit, the landlord neglected to serve her with the required five-day notice informing her that rent was due and still owing. Immediately before the scheduled arguments for the Motion to Dismiss, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the case giving Mr. Findley's client sufficient time to get her affairs in order.

This case marks Mr. Findley's first pro bono win. He focuses his intellectual property law practice on trademarks, patent prosecution and litigation.

The Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago has been helping the less fortunate since the late 1960's. Based in Chicago, LAF provides free civil legal assistance to low-income and elderly individuals in Cook County and the Chicago area.

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is headquartered in Chicago with four other offices across the country serving the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 170 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual asset management, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer technology, as well as in trademarks or brand names for a wide variety of products and services.