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Pro Bono Reporter Volume 21 Summer 2016 9
New York Team Wins at Trial for Congolese Survivor of
Political Torture
A team of New York attorneys, led by associate
Marissa Nardi
and including
associates
Shanna Lehrman
,
Anna Lamut
, and
Jee Chung
, paralegals
Michael Chiano
and
Arielle Peters
, and partner
Aldo Badini
, obtained a trial
victory for a prominent leader of an opposition party in the Republic of Congo.
The Congo ruling party for years had targeted the client’s family as enemies of
the state, and government operatives were likely responsible for poisoning the
client’s father (also an opposition leader) and involved in the deaths of his sister
and mother. The client was repeatedly subjected to imprisonment, beatings,
and torture as a result of his opposition activities. The government initially
denied the client’s asylum application because of alleged inconsistencies in his
testimony and inability to recall details. The Winston trial team demonstrated
that these issues were the result of the client’s severe PTSD caused by his
persecution. The team also refuted the government’s argument that the
applicant was barred from asylum under the “persecutor bar,” successfully
arguing that he was forced at gunpoint to bury the dead bodies of government
enemies and make formal accusations against other activists.
HOUSING
Washington Team Secures Recovery for Wrongly Evicted Client
Washington, DC associate
Daniel McNeely
, under the supervision of partner
Andrew Sommer
, successfully resolved landlord-tenant and tort claims for an
elderly client against his former landlord. Our client suffers from various medical
conditions and is required to reside at a rehabilitation center in an effort to regain
his health. After the landlord ceased collecting the client’s rent checks, he moved
to evict and posted notice on the client’s door where he knew it would not be
received. After the client failed to appear and the lawsuit was defaulted, all of his
possessions were placed in the street by the U. S. Marshals when they carried
out the eviction. The team successfully moved to vacate the judgment because
of defective service and, ultimately, obtained several thousands of dollars more
than our client requested, concessions regarding his ability to return to his old
apartment building, and an order vacating the prior judgment.
San Francisco Team Partners with the Housing Negotiation Project
A contingent of attorneys from the San Francisco office have advocated
for low-income individuals facing eviction through the San Francisco Bar
Association Justice & Diversity Center Housing Negotiation Project. Through
this project, attorneys represent low-income individuals and families facing
eviction during their mandatory settlement conferences. Participating attorneys
include:
Robb Adkins, Corey Attaway, Joan Fife, Sean Meenan, Joe Mornin,
Kim Morris
and
Tyson Smith.
Daniel McNeely
Kim Morris
Marissa Nardi