Finding 559679 (2024-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-05-06

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: One case was missing from the semiannual reports to LSC, violating 45 CFR Part 1644.
  • Impacted Requirements: The Organization failed to disclose all required case information on time.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Review and improve policies to ensure all cases are captured and reported correctly.

Finding Text

Criteria: 45 CFR Part 1644 requires that for each case filed in court by its attorneys on behalf of a client of a recipient, the recipient shall disclose certain information about the case in a report to be filed with LSC semiannually. Condition: During our audit we noted one case out of a sample of 60 cases that was not included on either of the semiannual reports filed with LSC in 2024. Cause: The one case noted was not captured by the Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc.’s (the Organization) process for case disclosure until after the second semiannual report for 2024 had been filed. Effect: The Organization did not comply with the compliance requirement in a timely manner for the one case noted. Questioned Costs: None Recommendation: We recommend that the Organization review its policies and procedures for capturing cases required to be disclosed with applicable employees to ensure that all cases for a given period are included on the disclosure report related to the period in which they occurred.

Corrective Action Plan

Three Rivers Legal Services updated its Case Management System (CMS) to better capture affirmative litigation cases by making litigation information entry fields mandatory to complete. CMS was also updated to automatically generate semi-monthly reports listing affirmative litigation cases. These reports are emailed to the Managing Attorneys, the Director of Litigiation, and the Executive director on a semi-monthly basis for review. Advocates are required to inform the Director of Litigation when affirmative litigation has been filed. The Director of Litigation will keep a running list of cases to be reported. The Executive Director will review the case report before submitting it to LSC.

Categories

No categories assigned yet.

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 559680 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136121 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1136122 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
09.610 2024 Basic Field Grant $3.18M
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $190,029
09.610 2023 Basic Field Grant $84,546
64.033 Va Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program $14,010
93.044 Special Programs for the Aging, Title Iii, Part B, Grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers $8,291
93.052 National Family Caregiver Support, Title Iii, Part E $2,254