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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAbigail Kuzma, the longtime executive director of the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, is leaving the Indianapolis not-for-profit to lead the state’s consumer-protection efforts.
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller made the announcement this morning, lauding Kuzma as a proven consumer advocate. She’ll begin her new job as section chief of the Consumer Protection Division on April 7.
Kuzma succeeds Brent Embrey, who is moving into another position within the office.
“She joins the office with an arsenal of experience and a solid reputation of protecting some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens,” Zoeller said in a release.
The Attorney General’s consumer protection division investigates consumer complaints and helps protect citizens from unscrupulous individuals and businesses.
Kuzma, 52, plans to expand the division’s education and outreach efforts, and establish satellite-office hours around the state.
“I plan to make our office accessible to consumers through education outreach, and to empower Hoosier families to protect themselves when faced with scams, identity theft, housing fraud, predatory lending and many other consumer problems,” she said in a release.
Kuzma founded the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic in 1994. It provides legal representation to low-income families in central Indiana and serves more than 8,000 clients a year. In 2004, its immigrant-outreach program was recognized with an Indiana Achievement Award.
She will be replaced at the clinic by Managing Attorney Josh Abel.
Previously, Kuzma spent five years in Washington, D.C., as a legislative assistant to Sen. Richard Lugar and in positions with the U.S. Senate Committee of the Judiciary.
Kuzma’s experience also includes serving as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, and as legislative counsel for the Indiana Legislative Services Agency.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin and a law degree from the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington.
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