November 2023
Daily Journal names FVAP as one of California’s Top Boutique Law Firms of 2023!
The Daily Journal honors California firms with a large portfolio of complex and impactful matters, and which focus at least 90% of their resources on a single specialty. FVAP was recognized for our appellate litigation expertise in family law for domestic violence survivors. We were one of only 20 firms throughout the state listed as a Top Boutique Law Firm for 2023. Read: Top Boutique Law Firms of 2023
September 20, 2021
FVAP Washington weighs in on “coercive control” addition to domestic violence statute
FVAP, Washington’s Senior Managing Attorney, Evangeline Stratton, is quoted citing the need for Washington to also expand the definition of domestic violence in Washington to include coercive control. Seattle area NPR affiliate KUOW reported on one local survivor’s story of seeking a domestic violence protection order and navigating family court with her abuser. Washington State has made recent legislative changes to improve the civil court response to domestic violence.
June 12, 2020
FVAP Article Opposing Coercive Control Bill Published in the Daily Journal
We’re excited to announce “‘Coercive control’ domestic violence bill: well-intentioned, but need to be reworked” written by FVAP’s Legal Director, Nancy K.D. Lemon, and FVAP Staff Attorney, Cory Hernandez, advocating that Senate Bill 1141 not be passed was published in the Daily Journal yesterday. Unfortunately, the Bill introduces new barriers that will make it harder for many survivors to protect themselves. Our hope is that the Bill does not become law unless it is substantially amended to address its current issues.
February 26, 2020
FVAP Article on Secretly Recorded Evidence Gets Published
The California Association of Certified Family Law Specialists just published an article written by FVAP Senior Managing Attorney, Shuray Ghorishi, and the Honorable Judge Mark Juhas in their journal! The article, California Penal Code 632: The Dilemma of Secretly Recorded Evidence in Family Law and Abuse Cases, explores the nuances of recorded communications in family court cases, including when a recording can and cannot be introduced into evidence.
December 1, 2016
FVAP Executive Director Erin Smith, along with former law clerks Cory Hernandez and Helen Wang, wrote an article for the December 2016 edition of Family Law News, published by the State Bar of California. The article, “Recent Developments in California Domestic Violence Case Law,” describes particularly notable developments in the areas of domestic violence restraining order renewals, non-physical abuse being a recognized form of abuse, and a parent’s role in protecting children from abuse. Read it here.
July 13, 2016
A July 13 San Francisco Chronicle article entitled “California court widens scope of restraining orders” highlights FVAP’s latest legal victory (de la Luz Perez v. Torres-Hernandez), which has profound implications for California domestic violence law, and will greatly help survivors throughout the state who seek the protection of restraining orders for themselves and their children. Click here to read the article.
In this case, the Court of Appeal’s opinion holds, for the first time, that evidence of child abuse is relevant when deciding whether to include the children as additional protected parties on a protective order. The concurring opinion does an excellent job of summarizing copious social science literature on the overlap between child abuse and intimate partner abuse, and affirms that an attack on the children is an attack on the non-abusive parent, too. FVAP was quickly able to get this case published, so trial attorneys throughout the state can now rely on it to help countless abusive survivors and children gain protection.
Thanks to our co-counsel on this case, Bay Area Legal Aid and Folger Levin LLP.
January 27, 2016
Today Bloomberg BNA published an article about FVAP’s international child abduction case, Noergaard v. Noergaard, which quotes FVAP Advisory Board member Sudha Shetty at length. Read the article here.
June, 2015
FVAP is proud to be featured in the Family Law News, a publication of the State Bar of California’s Family Law Section, with an article penned by our intern Olivia Porter and Legal Director Nancy Lemon, about recent developments in domestic violence case law. It’s a must-read for California attorneys and advocates. Find it here.
March 2, 2015
Watch a 9th Circuit Oral Argument in case where FVAP filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief. Find the recording here. (A.L.C. and E.R.S.C.) Mother appeals the district court’s order granting Father’s petition under the Hague Convention for the return of two children from the United States to Sweden. The issue presented in our brief is whether coerced relocation of one parent, as part of a pattern of abuse and isolation, can provide the children with a new habitual residence.
Oct. 31, 2014
The Recorder reports on FVAP’s major victory in the appellate courts (Fajota vs. Fajota). This found that the trial court twice abused its discretion by awarding joint legal custody without applying Family Code section 3044’s presumption against granting custody to a parent who has abused the other parent in the past five years. The court decision addressed applying section 3044 even where a court determines not to grant a restraining order, and also in the dissolution case that followed. FVAP’s appeal means this case will become binding legal precedent.
July 11, 2014
American Lawyer publishes an article about FVAP’s epic event, Battle of the Bands Los Angeles, which together with our San Francisco event raised $217,000 to support survivors of domestic violence and their children.
July 8, 2014
Proskauer Rose issues a press release about FVAP’s Battle of the Bands Los Angeles.
June 7, 2013
UC Berkeley Law publishes a terrific article about FVAP’s Battle of the Bands Event: Banding Together to End Domestic Violence, June 13th in San Francisco.
January 2, 2013
California Lawyer published an article on FVAP quoting Cherri Allison, Executive Director of the Alameda County Family Justice Center and FVAP Advisory Board Member. Click here to read more.
May 16, 2012
At a reception celebrating FVAP’s launch, Dean Christopher Edley of Berkeley Law says that “the niche in social advocacy that we can build upon here is huge.” Click here to read more.
April 12, 2012
FVAP’s CEO, Erin Smith, wins a habeas case for a battered woman imprisoned for more than 27 years. Click here to read more.
