Pro Bono Client Secures Civil Protection Order in Domestic Violence Case

Paul, Weiss and co-counsel secured a significant victory in the Domestic Violence Division of the D.C. Superior Court on behalf of a pro bono client, winning a two-year civil protection order in a case involving a harrowing assault with a deadly weapon.

Our client, a mother of two minor children, was assaulted with a knife in the early morning hours of November 26, 2022 while she and her children were asleep in her apartment. Our client was able to escape by spraying the respondent with mace and calling the police. In the days following the assault, the respondent continued to call our client, often dozens of times each day, threatening her with additional physical violence and even death.

On January 9, the Paul, Weiss team successfully argued a motion for alternative service that allowed the respondent—whose whereabouts were unknown and who appeared to be evading service—to be personally served via text message. The court subsequently allowed us to proceed with a default hearing on January 23 and, after listening to testimony from our client, the court found “good cause” to grant our client’s request for a two-year civil protection order. In addition to the stay away order, the protection order also enables our client to enforce the order through a criminal contempt proceeding.

The Paul, Weiss team included litigation partner Lina Dagnew, and litigation associates Luke Albi and Jennifer Corcoran. Paul, Weiss partnered with the D.C. Volunteer Lawyers Project (DCVLP) on this representation.