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Who We Are

Our Board & Staff

Statement of Lived Experience

Many members of Cancer Legal Care’s board and staff share our clients' lived experience with cancer—having faced our own diagnosis, or that of a spouse, parent, or loved one. For many of us, we have also had to deal with employment, financial, and insurance coverage worries firsthand. So profound are these memories and experiences that we come together, from our differing backgrounds, with our diverse skills and talents, determined to make a difference for others.

Our Staff

Cancer Legal Care is staffed with caring professionals who understand the legal issues cancer patients and their families face, and are committed to providing the legal care our clients need.

  • Founder and Executive Director
    she/her

    Lindy Yokanovich
    Lindy Yokanovich

    Lindy Yokanovich is the founder and executive director of Cancer Legal Care, a non-profit organization providing free legal care to Minnesotans affected by cancer who also face any number of legal issues surrounding employment, insurance coverage, disability, housing, and estate planning as a result of their diagnosis and treatment. Compelled to bring Cancer Legal Care to life after witnessing first-hand the many legal questions and difficulties her own loved ones faced after being diagnosed with cancer, Lindy counts her work with Cancer Legal Care as the most profound and gratifying of her legal career.

    Lindy was named one of the 100 Most Influential Health Care Leaders in 2024 by Minnesota Physican Publishing, was awarded the 2017 Women’s Health Leadership TRUST Forum Collaboration & Partnerships Small Company Award, was a 2016 Women’s Health Leadership TRUST Health & Innovation Award Finalist, was named a 2015 Unsung Legal Hero by Minnesota Lawyer magazine, and is a past recipient of the Advocacy Award from Angel Foundation and the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award by the judges of Minnesota’s 10th Judicial District. Lindy frequently authors articles on cancer related legal topics and has presented over 100 seminars on the intersection of cancer and law to health care providers, attorneys, and cancer survivors.

    A current member of the affiliate faculty of the University of Minnesota Center for Interprofessional Health, and former member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota School of Law, Lindy also serves on the board of directors of GiveMN and the Shannon Leadership Institute, is a member of the National Cancer Legal Service Network, and is a recent past, two-term member of the Minnesota Cancer Alliance's Steering Committee.

    Lindy received her BA from the University of California, Irvine and her JD from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

    Lindy can be reached at 651-917-9000 or Lindy@CancerLegalCare.org.

     

  • Director of Operations
    she/her

    Laurie
    Laurie

    Laurie Overstad joined Cancer Legal Care as our part-time office manager in February 2016, but is no stranger to our organization. Laurie served as Treasurer on Cancer Legal Care's board of directors in our very earliest days.

    Laurie can be reached at 651-917-9000 or Laurie@CancerLegalCare.org.

  • Director of Legal Services & Managing Attorney, ICARE Program
    she/her

    Erin
    Erin

    Erin Hartung joined Cancer Legal Care in June 2020. She earned her BA in Urban Studies from the University of Minnesota in 2009 and went on to earn her JD from the DePaul University College of Law in 2013. Erin comes to Cancer Legal Care after working for several years at a small law firm focusing on healthcare provider revenue cycle consulting and litigation. Erin is excited to be a part of the Cancer Legal Care team, to combine her passion in helping others with her background knowledge of the healthcare industry and experience navigating the world of health insurance claim appeals. 

    Erin can be reached at 651-917-9000 or Erin@CancerLegalCare.org.

  • Development Manager

    Maddie
    Maddie

    Maddie Babel joined Cancer Legal Care in February 2025. At CLC, she is managing fundraising initiatives to ensure that CLC's programs can support clients for years to come. Maddie has ten years of non-profit development experience with organizations like the American Cancer Society, The Food Group, and Hennepin Arts, just to name a few. She enjoys developing relationships with supporters, so do not hesitate to give her a call.

    Maddie can be reached at (651) 917-9000 or Maddie@CancerLegalCare.org.

  • Managing Attorney, Legal Care Program
    she/her

    Rachel
    Rachel

    Rachel joined Cancer Legal Care in October 2019. Her background as a Registered Nurse—caring for Blood and Marrow Transplant patients and witnessing the injustices that many cancer patients faced—drove her to pursue a degree in law. While working as a nurse and later in a managerial role, she studied law and graduated from Mitchell Hamline in January of 2019 with her JD and Certificates in Health Law and Health Care Compliance. She believes that caring for a patient's legal issues—including insurance, disability, and housing concerns—are an important part of healing, and looks forward to continuing to serve patients affected by cancer at Cancer Legal Care.

    Rachel can be reached at 651-917-9000 or Rachel@CancerLegalCare.org.

  • Managing Attorney, Social Security Disability Advocacy Program
    she/her

    Meghan
    Meghan

    Meghan Scully joined Cancer Legal Care in September 2022. At CLC, she assists clients in navigating the Social Security Administration's disability programs.

    Meghan previously worked at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), a non-profit legal services provider. While at SMRLS, she focused her work on addressing legal issues that presented barriers to her client's health and well-being.

    When not advocating for her clients, Meghan can be found keeping up with her amazing kids (ages 5 and 9), singing along to Broadway musicals, tending to her family’s garden, puzzling, and cheering on the Minnesota Lynx.

    Meghan can be reached at 651-917-9000 or Meghan@CancerLegalCare.org.

  • Staff Attorney

    Brent
    Brent

    Brent Davis brings years of experience as a lawyer, manager and innovator in the health insurance industry to Cancer Legal Care. Prior to his start in April, 2024, Brent’s practice involved medical cost containment, interpreting plan language and negotiating agreements between insurers and health care providers for clinically complex and financially catastrophic health care matters– many of them involving cancer. Drawing upon this experience, Brent serves CLC’s clients by helping them address the legal challenges and financial complications of living with cancer.    

    Brent can be reached at (651) 917-9000 or Brent@CancerLegalCare.org

  • Operations Coordinator

    GaoXue
    GaoXue

    GaoXue X-T joined Cancer Legal Care in September 2024 and will be completing her B.A. in Psychology at Lakeland University during the summer of 2025. She brings a strong background in banking, customer service, and operations, having led interdepartmental projects during her time in the financial sector. Passionate about helping others, GaoXue is excited to apply her skills to support community well being. Outside of work, she enjoys portrait photography and spending time with loved ones.

Volunteer Leaders

  • Lead Volunteer ICARE Program, Health Insurance Advocate

    Bill Foley
    Bill Foley

    Bill Foley has worked in a variety of executive and managerial roles in the health insurance industry. His experience includes working with both payers and providers, and he is familiar with employer-based health plans as well as government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. He has often been in the position of making coverage determinations and is using that experience to help Cancer Legal Care clients who encounter health insurance disputes. He is a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities and currently lives in Minnetonka.  

    After five years of serving in a staff position in our ICARE Program, in January 2024, Bill transitioned his role to one of lead volunteer for the program. In this new role, Bill looks forward to engaging other advocates and attorneys in growing the capacity and impact of CLC's ICARE Program.

    Bill can be reached at 651-917-9000 or Bill@CancerLegalCare.org.

Visionary Former Staff Members

  • Lindsay Flint (Retired)
    Lindsay Flint (Retired)

    Lindsay Flint, Esq. was a founding board member of Cancer Legal Care, a former Board Chair, and the former Director of Legal Services. Lindsay’s involvement with the organization began during her own cancer treatment. 

    Lindsay was a social worker prior to attending William Mitchell College of Law, where she obtained her JD in 1989. She spent several years in private practice in the areas of estate planning, family, and juvenile law, also serving as an Adjunct Professor at William Mitchell College of Law. Lindsay was awarded the Minnesota State Bar Association's Bernard P. Becker award in 2015, awarded to "the lawyer who best exemplifies the high standards of the profession in combination with a commitment to public or community service."

    Lindsay retired in May 2021 and will forever be an integral part of Cancer Legal Care.

  • Chris Heffelbower (In Memoriam)
    Chris Heffelbower (In Memoriam)

    Chris Heffelbower was a vibrant, energetic, and transformational presence at Cancer Legal Care. Chris came to us as a volunteer attorney after she had completed her first round of grueling cancer treatment, determined to make a difference in the lives of others. She did that, and then some.

    We soon realized that we had a tiger by the tail and were thrilled when Chris came on staff as our Senior Staff Attorney and Partnership Ambassador. Chris provided life-changing legal care to clients facing employment and Social Security issues, supervised our law school interns, and helped widen the Cancer Legal Care circle.

    Our enduring image of Chris is of her handing her Cancer Legal Care business card to her doctor during one of her all-too-often hospital visits and telling him, "Get me better soon. I have to get back to doing this work!" That was pure Chris—selfless, determined, and always positive.

    Chris died of colon cancer on June 3, 2015 at the age of 40. Chris is survived by her husband Adam, their two young daughters, and a legion of family and friends. Chris brought a lot of magic to our work and our days—something we call "The Heffelbower Effect." We will carry on the work that meant so much to Chris, forever grateful for the imprint she made on our mission and our hearts.

    Chris' friends and family have created a fund to support the Heffelbower Fellowship, an opportunity for a law student or graduate program student to apply their academic pursuits in combination with the mission of Cancer Legal Care to engage the law to resolve the complex challenges facing people and communities affected by cancer.

Board of Directors

Cancer Legal Care's board is made up of people from all walks of life, all of whom have both a personal and professional desire to bring legal care into the forefront of cancer care. 

  • Immediate Past Chair
    Bolter Law, LLC

    Howard Bolter, Esq.

    Howard is an MSBA certified specialist in employment law with over 35 years of experience. He has represented numerous cancer patients and survivors seeking disability benefits, and has had personal experience with cancer survivors in his immediate and extended family. Howard has served on two other nonprofit boards. Howard brings the desire to help those with serious legal problems who may not be in a place to help themselves. He joined Cancer Legal Care’s board in 2019. 

  • Matthew Bredesen, Esq.

    Treasurer
    Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.

  • Alex Eschenroeder, Esq.

    Allina Health

  • Alex Ginsberg, Esq.

    SPS Commerce

  • Kristy Graume

    State of Minnesota, Department of Human Services

  • Jennifer Hannan

    Provider Marketing

  • University of Houston, Department of Health Systems and Population Health Science

    LaShaune Johnson, PhD

    When LaShaune Johnson was an uninsured high school senior in Oklahoma, she was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma.  After having to navigate the Medicare system as an 18 year old (with the support of her parents), she became determined to find a way to share the stories of underserved community members to facilitate change in healthcare.  She has a doctoral degree in Sociology and is trained as a Certified Listener Poet.  Using sociology and art, she has spent much of her career teaching in the health professions, where she is able to teach future providers how to listen and learn from conversations with patients and their support persons.  Since her first cancer diagnosis, she has been diagnosed twice with breast cancer and has lost many family members to cancer.  LaShaune joined the board in 2024 and is excited and honored to be a part of the work with the CLC.

  • Allina Health

    Jennifer Kuyava, MD

    Jennifer Kuyava completed her medical degree at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. She completed residency in Family Medicine and fellowship in Hospice & Palliative Medicine, both at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Her interest in medicine comes from a desire to decrease suffering and improve quality of life. She finds improving complex symptoms in people dealing with serious illness to be extremely rewarding. She is so grateful Cancer Legal Care exists and is honored to be on the board. CLC is a much needed and appreciated service in our complicated medical system.

  • London Legal Consulting, LLC

    Catherine London, JD, MPH

    Catherine London JD MPH  is a health care attorney and public health advocate. She has spent over a decade helping health care organizations and medical professionals support patients and their well-being. As a Cancer Legal Care volunteer attorney, Catherine learned first hand the profound impact CLC has on its clients' lives. As chair of the board’s Advocacy Committee, she is committed to advocating for policies that benefit CLC’s clients and their families. Catherine is honored to be part of the incredible work of this organization. 

  • Austin Miller, Esq.

    Target Corporation

  • Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare

    Paula Montgomery, Esq.

    Paula is Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, Minnesota. Prior to joining Gillette, Paula’s legal practice focused on employment law and professional negligence defense work.  She has significant experience providing pro bono legal services and is active in many healthcare and legal organizations. Having lost her father to cancer when she was 17, and knowing how challenging navigating the legal landscape can be, Paula was drawn to the work of Cancer Legal Care and joined the board in 2019.

  • Julia Miglets-Nelson, PhD

    American Brain Foundation

  • Chair
    Kutak Rock, LLP

    David Murphy, Esq.

    I am so excited to be on the Board of Directors at Cancer Legal Care and  part of an organization that provides peace of mind to people during a time when their lives have been turned upside down with a cancer diagnosis. The highly knowledgeable staff and volunteers at Cancer Legal Care are dedicated to providing non-medical assistance to their clients to enable them to focus on their health. Their expertise and dedication is matched with their compassion, and I know as a cancer survivor myself that compassion is so welcome as one starts a cancer journey.  Cancer Legal Care is a wonderful organization and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve on the Board.

  • Community Representative

    Walt Myers

    In January of 2019, my wife entered hospice care after battling breast cancer for over 22 years. A team of health care professionals was mobilized and provided her with exceptional care for the remaining 71 days of her life. A short time after her passing, I became aware that her oncologist and hospice team were considered out-of-network, an in-network doctor practicing at an out-of-network facility. Because my policy had a clause buried somewhere in the 85-page Summary of Benefits and Coverage booklet that stated there was no maximum out-of-pocket cap on out-of-network hospice care, it didn't take long to generate a hospital bill of over six figures. I happened to remember a seemingly random comment by a social worker at the cancer center we visited every three weeks for treatment telling us about Cancer Legal Care. I recall thinking at the time, "Why would I ever need help from them?" Fortunately, I remembered the conversation and called CLC for help. And help they did. Within a few weeks, we were able to contest the surprise out-of-network charges and have them reversed. Every penny. A life-changing moment for me! 

    And that is why I am thrilled to now be a part of Cancer Legal Care. To help and hopefully make a difference.

    I am a life-long resident of Minnesota, an United States Army veteran, and a ten-year prostate cancer survivor.

  • Sung Ja Shin

    Minnesota Humanities Center

  • Kevin Wehber

    Refined Science

  • Founder and Executive Director

    Lindy Yokanovich

    Lindy Yokanovich, Esq. is the founder and executive director of Cancer Legal Care, a non-profit organization providing free legal care to Minnesotans affected by cancer who also face any number of legal issues surrounding employment, insurance coverage, disability, housing, and estate planning as a result of their diagnosis and treatment. Compelled to bring Cancer Legal Care to life after witnessing first-hand the many legal questions and difficulties her own loved ones faced after being diagnosed with cancer, Lindy counts her work with Cancer Legal Care as the most profound and gratifying of her legal career.

    Lindy was awarded the 2017 Women’s Health Leadership TRUST Forum Collaboration & Partnerships Small Company Award, was a 2016 Women’s Health Leadership TRUST Health & Innovation Award Finalist, was named a 2015 Unsung Legal Hero by Minnesota Lawyer magazine, and is a past recipient of the Advocacy Award from Angel Foundation and the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award by the judges of Minnesota’s 10th Judicial District. Lindy frequently authors articles on cancer related legal topics and has presented over 100 seminars on the intersection of cancer and law to health care providers, attorneys, and cancer survivors.

    A member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota School of Law, Lindy also serves on the board of directors of GiveMN, on the Steering Committee of the Health Care Legal Partnership Learning Collaborative, as a member of the National Cancer Legal Service Network, and is a recent past two-term member of the Minnesota Cancer Alliance's Steering Committee.

    Lindy received her B.A. from the University of California, Irvine and her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

    Lindy can be reached at 651-917-9000 or Lindy@CancerLegalCare.org

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