Austin, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/08/2017 -- An Austin woman watched helplessly as her family's Chihuahua was mauled by a neighbor's dog, only to then be attacked herself by the same dog.

Brenda Cortez dog was killed on the steps of her mother's house just feet from her own home…all while her young daughter looked on in fear. While Cortez was speaking to the dog's owner, she was viciously attacked from behind by the dog. The owner could not pull the dog off of Cortez because there was no collar or leash. The owner eventually put the dog in a head lock as Cortez's own mother, feeling helpless, had to watch as her daughter was being mauled by the same dog that killed the Chihuahua.

Cortez's mom treated her daughter's wounds until 1st Responders arrived. Cortez received 17 stitches, seven deep skin tears each pulling away patches of flesh. Since that time, Cortez's three children, ages 3, 5 and 7 remain inside their home. "Animal control didn't come out. After three days the victim reached out and we helped the victim activate 311 on a phone app", says Lenore Shefman, Cortez's lawyer, and principal of The Shefman Law Group and Cyclistlaw. 311 is a non-emergency directory used to report problems and request city services such as Animal Control. The app worked perfectly and Animal Control seized the dog within hours.

The dog is temporarily quarantined, but the hearing regarding the dog will not be heard for approximately a month. In addition, "the dog will be returned to its owner within 10 days", says Shefman.

Cortez and her family continue to live in fear and feel captive inside their home.

For more information regarding this story, please visit: http://keyetv.com/news/local/dog-attacks-woman-kills-chihuahua-in-southeast-austin

For more information about Attorney Lenore Shefman, please visit: http://www.shefmanlaw.net/ or http://www.cyclistlaw.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Kashaf Fatima is the winner of this year’s scholarship.

Austin, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/02/2017 -- We reviewed each and every application, transcript and essay sent to us for consideration. This is our first year providing a scholarship to a high school graduate or student attending college. Cyclistlaw's scholarship was available to any student graduating high school or in college, anywhere in the United States.

We were pleased, since the announcement of the scholarship in early 2016, to have received so many amazing applications. After having read each of them it was still difficult if not seemingly impossible to decide who should get the scholarship. Every application gave great attention to the essay submitted and that was my favorite part of the review process. Every applicant seemed to really need the scholarship we offered and want it. The essays were excellent, creative, and definitely given great thought and deliberation.

I worried so much over the decision, I started to call on the phone short listed applicants to discuss additional fine points about their application.

THE WINNER OF THE HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND HARD WORK SCHOLARSHIP IS:

Kashaf Fatima is the winner of this year's scholarship. Kashaf is a 12th grader at Houston's Alief Taylor High school. As a student, and community member, Kashaf has demonstrated outstanding academic desire, interest, and pursuit. I took great pleasure in reading what she wrote in her essay. Her application and essay demonstrated great honesty, integrity and not only a past of hard work but a perseverance and demonstrated continued pursuit towards more hard work.

This was such a fantastic experience learning about the young minds interested in making our world better and their plans for contributing to the future. We will be providing another scholarship next year, so if you did not receive this year's scholarship, please apply next year.

Congratulations! Kashaf Fatima.

Best,

Lenore Rae Shefman

For more information about Attorney Lenore Shefman, please visit: http://www.shefmanlaw.net/ or http://www.cyclistlaw.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Lenore Shefman has been appointed as part of the Criminal and Civil Justice work group for Mayor Steve Adler’s Task Force on Institutional Racism

Austin, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 01/03/2017 -- Personal injury attorney, Lenore Shefman has been appointed as part of the Criminal and Civil Justice work group for Mayor Steve Adler's Task Force on Institutional Racism. The 49-member task force was revealed on November 16, 2016, and will be composed of top city leaders from five subgroups consisting of finance, real estate and housing, education, health, and criminal and civil justice. These community members will include Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz and Huston-Tillotson University President Colette Pierce Burnette, both of whom co-chair, Chas Moore with the Austin Justice Coalition, and Shefman of Cyclistlaw.

Several high-status incidents involving Austin police officers prompted Mayor Adler to address concerns of institutional racism and develop a task force to help serve and protect communities and neighborhoods of color throughout the city. According to Mayor Adler, institutional racism refers to "discrimination typically found in social groups, schools, banks, and the law. We have structures in place that create unjust and inequitable outcomes". (http://kxan.com/2016/11/16/austin-mayor-creates-taskforce-to-root-out-institutional-racism/)

This new "Anti-Racist" task force comes on the heels of recent violent and highly controversial incidents that occurred in Austin. One incident involved the February 2016 shooting of a naked unarmed teen by former APD officer Geoffrey Freeman. Freeman stipulated that he feared for his life when 17 year-old David Joseph charged at him, so he shot him in self-defense. After an investigation, Freeman was relieved of his duties as a police officer. The second incident involved the vicious arrest of elementary school teacher Breaion King. A video of King's arrest shows APD officer Bryan Richter pulling her out of the car and slamming her to the ground. A grand jury decided not to file criminal charges against Richter; however King sued the city of Austin, which was later dismissed, as well as Richter for excessive use of force.

Although the task force was met with some cynicism, skepticism, and defensiveness after its initial unveiling, it will keep the people within Austin's communities and organizations updated about what's going on. Its goal is to help to combat racial inequality throughout the city by advocating for changes in certain areas and in March 2017 will present a plan of action to City Council on how to eliminate racial inequality in Austin, after which the task force will be disbanded.

About Lenore Shefman
Local attorney, Lenore Shefman, was appointed to the Criminal and Civil Justice work group for Mayor Adler's task force. Since 2000 Shefman has been practicing law in California and Texas, advocating for those who are underrepresented in our society. During that time, she has never lost a jury trial. Most of her practice is centered on personal injury cases resulting from bicycle, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents due to others' negligence.

In 1993, she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work and quickly began to create change in Austin by creating social and educational programs for urban youth and their families. In addition, she has volunteered her time and provided free legal help through the Homeless Advocacy Projects in Austin. Prior to her work within the Criminal and Civil Justice system, Shefman showcased her passion for helping others during her time as a search-and-rescue seaman and as a maritime law enforcement officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Her honesty, integrity and hard work make Lenore Shefman a force to be reckoned with.

Because of her distinguished history, Shefman has been honored to be included in many associations: Practice by the Supreme Court of Texas; The Supreme Court of California; The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; The United States District Court, Northern District; and The United States District Court for the Eastern District. She is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, The Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association, the State Bars of California and Texas, and is also a member of Bike Austin, and received the honor of Million Dollar Advocate, a distinguished honor vetted by her peers.

For more information about Attorney Lenore Shefman, please visit: http://www.shefmanlaw.net/ or http://www.cyclistlaw.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Austin Chronicle designated Shefman as “Best Biker with a Law Degree”. Shefman of Cyclistlaw is a personal injury attorney, advocating for the victims of motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents.

Austin, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/22/2016 -- Local Austin Attorney, Lenore Shefman is now a 2016 Best of Austin award winner!! The Austin Chronicle designated Shefman as "Best Biker with a Law Degree". There are so many things that can be determined as "the best" in 2016, but Lenore Shefman ended on the top of the list!

Shefman of Cyclistlaw is a personal injury attorney, advocating for the victims of motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents. With over 16 years of legal experience practicing law in Texas and California, Shefman has earned the reputation of being a tough-as-nails, no-nonsense, unrelenting, yet overall highly-attentive lawyer.

Shefman's unrivaled ability to get to the bottom of any case while successfully advocating for her clients, has brought her praise and admiration from the long list of victims that she has helped throughout the years. Because of her hard work, dedication, honesty, and integrity, Lenore Shefman has never lost a trial case.

Her taste for advocacy began almost 30 years ago when she joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a search and rescue seaman and maritime law enforcement officer. After receiving her Bachelors Degree in Social Work, and later graduating from Law School, Shefman dedicated her life to helping others, whether it be working to preserve the rights of San Quentin's death row inmates, volunteering with the Homeless Advocacy Projects providing legal assistance, or working with plaintiffs who have been injured by others' negligence.

Whether as a social worker or a lawyer, her many achievements have shaped the kind of lawyer she is today. "I'm a lawyer who cares about her clients, knows what they need, and knows how to get it," says Shefman. She's passionate about what she does, and has proven herself time and again.

Her accomplishments include being admitted to Practice by the Supreme Court of Texas; The Supreme Court of California; The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; The United States District Court, Northern District; and The United States District Court for the Eastern District. She is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, The Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association, the State Bars of California and Texas, and is also a member of Bike Austin, and received the honor of Million Dollar Advocate, a distinguished honor vetted by her peers.

For more information about Attorney Lenore Shefman, please visit: http://www.shefmanlaw.net/ or http://www.cyclistlaw.com/

For more information about her 2016 Best of Austin Award, please visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/lenore-shefman-appointed-to-pedestrian-advisory-council-740632.htm

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Austin, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/10/2016 -- On November 7, 2016, local Vulnerable Road User Lawyer, Lenore Rae Shefman, was appointed to a two-year term to the Pedestrian Advisory Council (PAC), which advises the City of Austin and other jurisdictions on a wide range of pedestrian issues, such as public awareness, safety, and enforcement.

The PAC includes members from a large diversity of backgrounds, from legal to engineering to architecture, who help to identify pedestrian issues and discuss ideas about pedestrian safety. The mission of the Pedestrian Advisory Committee is to advise the Mayor and City Council on policies, programs and regulations for improving pedestrian safety, security, well being, and accessibility. "I know the rules of the road, and I'm so honored to be a part of an organization that is created to discuss the concerns and ensure the safety of pedestrians", says Shefman.

About Lenore Shefman
Native born Texan, Lenore Shefman is an unbeaten personal injury trial lawyer that has tried cases in Austin, Texas and Northern California for over 15 years. She began her illustrious career in 1987 when she joined the US Coast Guard, where she served as a search-and-rescue seaman and a maritime law enforcement officer. Upon her honorable discharge in 1989, Shefman attended Texas State University where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. She was later hired as a social worker by Austin ISD where she generated social and educational programs for inner-city youths.

During law school, Shefman clerked for the Office of the State Public Defender working to protect the rights of San Quentin's death row inmates. Since that time, Shefman has focused her attention supporting motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians who have been personally injured. Praised time and again by current and former clients for her professionalism, honesty, integrity, and hard work, Shefman is the type of lawyer that goes above and beyond to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. Her no-nonsense attitude puts her above all others when advocating to protect and defend her clients.

Lenore Shefman has a plethora of associations attached to her resume'. She has been admitted to Practice by the Supreme Court of Texas; The Supreme Court of California; The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; The United States District Court, Northern District; and The United States District Court for the Eastern District. She is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, The Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association, the State Bars of California and Texas, and is also a member of Bike Austin, and received the honor of Million Dollar Advocate, a distinguished honor vetted by her peers.

For more information about Attorney Lenore Shefman, please visit: http://www.shefmanlaw.net/ or http://www.cyclistlaw.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm