Advocating for families: Legal support in child support and custody matters

One team of DLA Piper attorneys – Of Counsel Michael G. Lewis, Associate Emma Kramer Jones, and Associate Kassandra Pugliese (all New York) – represented a single mother who faced difficulties obtaining child support.

As part of the proceedings, the team filed an amended petition alleging violations of the existing child support order. In turn, the child’s father petitioned for a downward modification and to be excused from paying arrears.

Through diligent investigation, the DLA Piper team uncovered several inconsistencies in the father’s story.

After nearly a year and a half of litigation, including four evidentiary hearings and multiple briefings, the court denied the father’s petition and granted full relief to the team’s client. The judge issued a decision awarding a money judgment and directed the father to resume monthly child support payments until the child reaches age 21. The client has since received all arrears and continues to receive appropriate support.

In a separate matter, Partner David Horniak and Associates Olivia Houston and Kristen Roberson (all Washington, DC) represented a mother in a Washington, DC child custody and support case. After extensive discovery and a deposition of the children’s father, the team negotiated a favorable custody settlement just before trial. They also successfully defended against the father’s attempt to eliminate child support obligations, ultimately securing an increase of more than ten percent in ongoing support.

Below, watch Kristen Roberson and David Horniak discuss the case and the importance of family pro bono matters.