Pro Bono Honoree: September 2008
Ralph Reda: Volunteer Fights Debt Collectors

As insurer and hospital bureaucracies get more cumbersome and health care costs skyrocket, low-income individuals are going into debt to pay their medical bills, which sometimes total hundreds of thousands of dollars. These are volunteer Ralph Reda’s clients.

Ralph came to Legal Aid thanks to his next door neighbor, George Corey of Corey, Luzaich, Pliska, de Ghetaldi & Nastari LLP. George, a Legal Aid supporter for decades, had educated Ralph about Legal Aid and the good they do in the community. Unlike most Legal Aid volunteers, Ralph is not an attorney but a successful retired businessman, who has personally experienced the frustration of being a medical consumer today. Ralph’s unique business skills prove invaluable as he negotiates through complex bureaucracies to resolve client issues. He works with Directing Attorney Melissa Rodgers and long-time volunteer Emeritus Attorney Jay White. 

After four years volunteering at Legal Aid, Ralph continues to be moved by his client’s stories. Ralph worked with Rodgers to help Nathan, who came to Legal Aid after receiving a $75,000 hospital bill for a hip surgery. Nathan had injured his hip and as a result lost his job at an auto shop. In pain and unable to work, Nathan was struggling to feed his four children. He was uninsured and could not afford to pay the hospital bill. He applied to the hospital’s charity care program for help with the bill, but the hospital denied his application and referred the debt to a collection agency, which brought a lawsuit against Nathan. Nathan did not know how to respond to the lawsuit or where to go to get the ongoing medical care he needed.

Ralph negotiated extensively with both the hospital and the collection agency on Nathan’s behalf. He succeeded in resolving the lawsuit with an agreement that Nathan would not have to pay the hospital bill unless he bought or sold real property within the next 10 years. Ralph referred Nathan to apply for Medi-Cal to get the ongoing medical care he needs.

Ralph keeps on volunteering because it "does the heart good, you really feel you helped someone" when you volunteer at Legal Aid.