Virginia Poverty Law Center

Contact: Jay Speer                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
804-782-9430, Ext. 12               October 23, 2008
jay@vplc.org

DOMONOSKE AND CAPERS TO BE NAMED ADVOCATES OF THE YEAR AWARD BY
VIRGINIA POVERTY LAW CENTER

RICHMOND- The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) will present Tom Domonoske and Sue Capers as the first recipients of the John Kent Shumate Jr. Advocate of the Year Award.  The award, in honor of the late John Kent Shumate Jr., a VPLC board member, will be given at the Statewide Legal Aid Conference on November 6 in Virginia Beach.  The award is given to both an attorney and non-attorney in Virginia who have made an impact in helping low-income residents of the Commonwealth.

Tom Domonoske is a nationally recognized litigator primarily working on auto sales fraud cases.  Domonoske has handled numerous federal and state auto, mobile home and home improvement cases throughout his 20-plus years of practicing law.

Domonoske practices law in Harrisonburg and has been an invaluable resource to the local Legal Aid in that community, Blue Ridge Legal Services (BRLS).  He has co-counseled on a significant number of challenging cases brought in recent years by BRLS attorneys, including cutting edge litigation involving payday lending, car title lending, mortgage rescue scams, Truth In Lending Act claims, and others. 

"Tom's commitment to and passion for justice is manifestly evident in everything he does. Tom eschews the pursuit of monetary gain in his practice of law in favor of attacking injustice on an individual and systemic level. Tom does not merely 'demonstrate' his passion and commitment to justice. He lives and breathes it," said John Whitfield, Executive Director of BRLS.
 
Sue Capers, this year's non-attorney recipient of the John Kent Shumate Jr. Advocate of the Year Award, has been a tireless supporter of issues surrounding homelessness and low-income residents in Virginia for over 20 years.  Capers founded the Virginia Coalition for the Homeless in 1986 and has been its main lobbyist since that time.

She was instrumental in getting the state government to provide funding for homelessness in the late 1980's and every bit of funding and programs ever since. In the days before e-mail and the World Wide Web, Capers got in her car and rallied groups that worked with the homeless to prevent the increasing number of homeless men, women and families in the Commonwealth.  Capers was also one of the first people in Virginia to speak of the importance of finding permanent solutions to homelessness in the state.

Phyllis Gilberti Chamberlain, Executive Director of the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness, said Capers, "Truly knows how to build partnerships.  She founded the Coalition for the Homeless, but was instrumental in keeping it going by bringing people together to fight homelessness."

To find out more about this year's John Kent Shumate Jr. Advocate of the Year Award winners, please contact the Virginia Poverty Law Center at 804-782-9430, Ext. 12.

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