Prof. Schaffzin Presents at International Municipal Lawyers Association Annual Conference

Associate Professor of Law and Neighborhood Preservation Clinic Co-Director Danny Schaffzin presented a panel entitled "Coalition Building for a Quality Environment" at the International Municipal Lawyers Association's 2019 Annual Conference on September 21, 2019, in Atlanta. Adjunct Professor Steve Barlow, who co-directs the Clinic with Professor Schaffzin, moderated the panel, which also featured Shelby County Environmental Court Judge Patrick Dandridge, former Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, and City of Memphis Chief Legal Officer Bruce McMullen.

The presentation focused on the City of Memphis' successful implementation of a blight-fighting strategy grounded in legal solutions and a broad-based collaboration of local, state, and federal government representatives, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and community leaders. The panel offered insights regarding best practices for fostering cooperative, comprehensive solutions to the complex problem of vacant and abandoned properties plaguing many cities.

The University of Memphis School of Law's Neighborhood Preservation Clinic represents the City of Memphis in public nuisance lawsuits filed directly against badly neglected, vacant and abandoned properties. Under the supervision of Professors Schaffzin and Barlow, and in collaboration with Neighborhood Preservation Clinic Staff Attorney Brigid Welsh, clinic students investigate property ownership and conditions; communicate with field code enforcement professionals; and research, prepare and file civil cases alleging claims arising under the Tennessee Neighborhood Preservation Act (NPA), T.C.A §13-6-101 et seq.