Robert N. Michaelson, Esq., Kimberly B. Cagle, Esq. and Leah Andrea Ramos, Esq.
K&L Gates LLP

“Laila was the first inMotion client our firm has represented. We are very proud to have played a role in helping Laila turn her life around.”

Robert, Kimberly and Leah, attorneys at K&LGates LLP, answered our urgent call to represent Laila, a young undocumented immigrant and unmarried mother involved in a complex child custody case.

Laila and her four-month-old son had been living with her ex-boyfriend, the child’s father, as a virtual prisoner in his family’s home. Laila was not allowed to leave the house with the child. The ex-boyfriend and his family tried to intimidate Laila by threatening her with violence and deportation in an attempt to force her to give up custody of her child and move out of the house.

Laila did not want to give up her son and she had no place else to go. She eventually summoned the courage to go to the police and was fortunate to have connected with an officer who urged her to call inMotion for assistance.

Robert, Kimberly and Leah moved quickly to get a temporary order of protection and put together a strategy to get Laila out of her abuser’s home. Working closely with inMotion’s social work staff, Laila and her son moved into a domestic violence shelter.

After many phone calls and meetings with Laila and support from inMotion’s legal staff, the K&L Gates legal team went to their first court appearance with Laila. Her abuser was shocked to see not just one lawyer, but a whole team of lawyers walk into court!

With input from the police officer who first assisted Laila, steady guidance from inMotion’s staff and Laila’s testimony, the K&L Gates team secured an order of protection.

Over the next nine months, inMotion’s staff attorneys helped the team strategize, provided sample documents and reviewed drafts of legal pleadings. As a result of the team’s ardent representation at multiple hearings, Laila was granted sole custody of her of her son and awarded the child support to which she is legally entitled. With the help of her lawyers, Laila also has received her work permit.

Today, Laila has her own apartment, has started a new job and is preparing to return to school.

“We are very proud to have played a role in helping Laila turn her life around,” states Robert. “We give enormous credit to inMotion for having been a resource that Laila could rely on and for giving us an opportunity to step in and help.”

Robert, Kimberly and Leah received a 2006 Commitment to Justice Award from inMotion for their compassionate work and resourceful representation of Laila.

Note: All clients' names and personal details have been changed to protect their identities.

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