The Louisiana Bar Foundation
Advancing Equal Justice and law-related education through Fellowship
Funding
Stories of Justice
Chez Hope
A woman went to Chez Hope for help getting a restraining order because her husband had been abusing her for some time. Her husband had their girls, ages four and five, for the weekend. When the woman went to pick them up, he shot at the car she was in, missed and ran away. Chez Hope gave her shelter and kept her family safe for three weeks until her husband was captured. Chez Hope has helped her find the strength within herself to break free and start a life free from violence.
Faith House
A woman came to Faith House very distraught. Her husband had encouraged her to visit her family in a foreign country and while she was away, he contacted her to let her know he had filed for divorce, filed for custody of their only child, who had stayed with him while she visited her family and had filed for a restraining order. He told her to stay in her country.
The woman had lived in the United States for six years, but her husband would not allow her to actively learn English, and he would not allow her to teach their child the language of her country. He also forced her to work in his business, but never paid her and did not allow her to access any household money, shop for her own clothes or anything for their child. He was verbally and physically abusive to her and their son.
When she came back to the United Stated, he would not let her in the house or see their child. He did arrange for her to stay with a neighbor for a few days. After that she had no place to go and was brought to Faith House.
Faith House advocated for and received a free attorney for the Restraining Order that was filed against her, addressed visitation so the child could visit his mother in the shelter and secured an attorney to represent her at a greatly reduced fee. Three months later, joint custody was ordered, child support, spousal support and a restraining order is in place. With the assistance of the Faith House Legal Advocate, the woman is learning to speak English, drive and is working on her GED. Soon, she will be living on her own.
IPNO
Dan was convicted of a murder and robbery that took place outside of a bar in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. His trial lawyer did little to investigation the case. It later emerged that the FBI had been in possession of the name of the real killer all along. Despite the Freedom of Information Act, requests that this information be released were declined by the government. Finally the identity of the real killer together with other evidence was presented and Dan's conviction was reversed by the Supreme court of Louisiana and he was released.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS)
Ms. G, an elderly disabled homeowner in the Hollygrove area of New Orleans, whose home was destroyed by Katrina, was ready to close on her rebuilding grant when she discovered unbeknownst to her that her home had been sold at a tax sale for unpaid taxes a few years ago. Her husband had handled the money but is now deceased. SLLS negotiated with the tax purchaser and got them to knock $20,000 from the redemption price. Ms. G. was able to get her property back and is almost finished rebuilding. SLLS was also able to help her obtain an extension for the FEMA trailer long enough to finish the heating and electrical work in her home.
A woman went to Chez Hope for help getting a restraining order because her husband had been abusing her for some time. Her husband had their girls, ages four and five, for the weekend. When the woman went to pick them up, he shot at the car she was in, missed and ran away. Chez Hope gave her shelter and kept her family safe for three weeks until her husband was captured. Chez Hope has helped her find the strength within herself to break free and start a life free from violence.
Faith House
A woman came to Faith House very distraught. Her husband had encouraged her to visit her family in a foreign country and while she was away, he contacted her to let her know he had filed for divorce, filed for custody of their only child, who had stayed with him while she visited her family and had filed for a restraining order. He told her to stay in her country.
The woman had lived in the United States for six years, but her husband would not allow her to actively learn English, and he would not allow her to teach their child the language of her country. He also forced her to work in his business, but never paid her and did not allow her to access any household money, shop for her own clothes or anything for their child. He was verbally and physically abusive to her and their son.
When she came back to the United Stated, he would not let her in the house or see their child. He did arrange for her to stay with a neighbor for a few days. After that she had no place to go and was brought to Faith House.
Faith House advocated for and received a free attorney for the Restraining Order that was filed against her, addressed visitation so the child could visit his mother in the shelter and secured an attorney to represent her at a greatly reduced fee. Three months later, joint custody was ordered, child support, spousal support and a restraining order is in place. With the assistance of the Faith House Legal Advocate, the woman is learning to speak English, drive and is working on her GED. Soon, she will be living on her own.
IPNO
Dan was convicted of a murder and robbery that took place outside of a bar in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. His trial lawyer did little to investigation the case. It later emerged that the FBI had been in possession of the name of the real killer all along. Despite the Freedom of Information Act, requests that this information be released were declined by the government. Finally the identity of the real killer together with other evidence was presented and Dan's conviction was reversed by the Supreme court of Louisiana and he was released.
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS)
Ms. G, an elderly disabled homeowner in the Hollygrove area of New Orleans, whose home was destroyed by Katrina, was ready to close on her rebuilding grant when she discovered unbeknownst to her that her home had been sold at a tax sale for unpaid taxes a few years ago. Her husband had handled the money but is now deceased. SLLS negotiated with the tax purchaser and got them to knock $20,000 from the redemption price. Ms. G. was able to get her property back and is almost finished rebuilding. SLLS was also able to help her obtain an extension for the FEMA trailer long enough to finish the heating and electrical work in her home.