SCRA Foundation

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Foundation

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      • Matthew R. Cooper, J.D.
      • Frank B. Melchiore, J.D.
      • Lisa A Hudson, B.S.
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Frank B. Melchiore, J.D.


 

Licensed by the Florida Bar and by the State Bar of Michigan, Frank B. Melchiore litigates state and federal cases exclusively on behalf of victims, and has done so for the past 27 years. Before that, Frank had the opportunity and privilege to serve the circuit court judges of the Kalamazoo County Michigan Bench as a judicial law clerk and bailiff. Frank earned his law and undergraduate degrees at Northern Illinois University. He is a member of the Veterans Law Institute Pro Bono Initiative, Stetson University College of Law, and Justice PAC.

In the 2011 federal trial of a case most significant to the rights of all Servicemembers and their Families, Frank was honored to represent the wife and dependent of Sgt. James Hurley. Hurley v Deutsche Bank, et al., 1:08-cv-00361 (MI W Fed Dis Ct 2007). The Hurley case rose to national prominence, paving a way for further amendment of the SCRA, the rights of Servicemembers and their Families.

Links referencing the Hurley case include:
CBS News
FOX News
NY Times
MSNBC

Frank’s Uncle served as a SEABEE during World War II. His father-in-law (now 91) served in the U.S. Army during World War II, as well as in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. As of January 2017, Frank has a nephew on active duty in the U.S. Army.

Click here to email Frank click here.

The founders of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Foundation pioneered the modern day application
of this area of the law. They laid the groundwork for the United States Department of Justice to obtain the largest SCRA settlement in its history.

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) provides critical consumer and other protections to the men and women serving our nation in the military, and to the Families of those Servicemembers. The enactment of the SCRA was recognition that those who are making great sacrifices to protect us mandate our full support at home. It is in this spirit of the law, and loyalty to those who are willing to lay down their lives for our freedom that the SCRA Foundation earns its daily breath.

To our Servicemembers and their Families:
Thank you for your service and for your sacrifices…….. ALWAYS!
News

“When the United States of America sends men and women overseas to serve our country, shouldn’t we, at least, be looking out for their homes?”

SCRA Foundation Chairman Matthew Cooper on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

October 13, 2016 marks the 6th Anniversary of the Congressional Amendments to the SCRA Drafters refer to as, "The Hurley Amendments." Please help us help Servicemembers meet and exceed the spirit and intent of the SCRA Amendments through supporting our programs.

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OUR PURPOSE
The SCRA Foundation directly implements the necessary actions for the SCRA to be effective in its mission and purpose of helping our Servicemembers and their families in their role of defending our Nation.


HURLEY v DEUTSCHE BANK
Hurley v Deutsche Bank, et al., No. 08-cv-361, 2009 WL 701006 (W.D. Mich.) The landmark Servicemembers Civil Relief Act case. The first time in the history of our country that a jury was seated to hear a case brought by a soldier against a financial institution for violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The Founders of the SCRA Foundation and their team took the Hurley case to trial after over four years of litigation. As a result of the Hurley case, the SCRA was amended (Hurley Amendments) clearly stating that Servicemembers, and their dependents, can now bring suit to right civil wrongs against them: “Private Right of Action.” Learn More

book cover smallPurchase Matt Cooper's Book on Amazon



WMU COOLEY JUDGE'S GUIDE
The 2015 Revised Michigan Judge’s Guide to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is a critical on-line and hardbound resource. The Revised Michigan Judge’s Guide to the SCRA serves to inform and educate (often for the first time) Servicemembers and their Families, judges, JAG Officers, attorneys, paralegals, media, anyone...on the purpose and application of the SCRA. The Revised Michigan’s Judge’s Guide to the SCRA is scheduled to be published and distributed to all Michigan federal, state and tribal judges FREE of charge, summer 2015. The costs of compiling, publishing, distributing and promoting the Revised Michigan Judge’s Guide to the SCRA are not covered by any taxpayer money, but from charitable donations. Please help support this most important resource for all Servicemembers and their Families impacted by violations of the SCRA, and donate today. Help us recognize the Military Consumer (Servicemembers) as equal in the eyes of civilian laws advocating consumer protection. Your donations are profoundly appreciated, and tax deductible. [IRS Code Section 170.]
Download the Guide
NOW AVAILABLE
INDIANA JUDGE'S GUIDE

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SOS: Serve Our Servicemembers


SCRA FOUNDATION
134 South Phelps Street, PO Box 64
Decatur, Michigan 49045
Phone: (269) 207-4237
Email: info@scrafoundation.org
The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

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