Attorney Dana Jo-Ann Richardson's Legal Cases

Family

Client’s child not ordered to reunify with father as both our client and her daughter desired.

Jul 05, 2015

OUTCOME: The Court saw our position as in line with the child’s best interests. Ultimately, the Court agreed and ordered that sole physical and legal custody remain with our client.

History: Our client hired us after her daughter’s father filed a Complaint for Custody in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, seeking partial custody. Father had been absent from child’s lif ... e prior to filing for custody. He also had little to no communication with our client since the birth of his daughter, and had hidden a past incarceration for sexual assault against a woman. Our client did not trust her daughter’s safety with the father, and sought to prevent any physical and legal custody orders. We successfully demonstrated to the Court that the father was not trustworthy enough to have custody.

Family

Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order Not Substantiated.

Jun 16, 2015

OUTCOME: Adult daughter’s PFA complaint against our client, her father, was unsubstantiated at the hearing and the PFA order was terminated.

History: Our client’s adult daughter filed a protection from abuse complaint against him. The temporary PFA order was determined by the Court of Common Pleas to be unsubstantiated as a result of our in ... vestigative work on behalf of our client. His daughter had a history of instability and being emotionally abusive toward her family. She had broken into our client’s home while he was away on vacation. When he returned, daughter falsely accused him of having assaulted her in order to obtain a temporary PFA order against him, and possibly to attempt minimizing charges for the break-in. We successfully prevented a permanent PFA order from being entered at the hearing, and our client and the rest of his family were able to return to the home. Daughter was relocated permanently and legally away from their home.

Criminal defense

Obtained Co-guardianship & Restored Visitation Rights.

Feb 11, 2015

OUTCOME: We had the criminal charges reduced to a summary offense, requiring no jail or probation, and the no-contact restraining order removed. We then successfully had our client appointed as co-guardian of her mother’s personal and financial affairs.

History: Our client’s mother required around-the-clock care which both our client and her brother had been providing to their mother along with health care aids. The brother saw scratches on mother one ... day, assumed his sister put them there and reported this to police. Our client was then charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct upon her arrest. We proved the marks resulted from a protection impulse grab during an abrupt stop while our client was out driving with her mom. The brother also filed a petition in Orphan’s Court to be appointed sole guardian of mother’s person and estate. We represented our client in both the criminal matter where a no-contact order was placed against her; as well as in the family matter pertaining to guardianship in Orphan’s Court.

Family

Domestic Abuse, At-risk Divorce –Successful Execution of Safety Plan.

Aug 21, 2014

OUTCOME: Helped client remove herself and her children from marital residence where they were subjected to physical and emotional abuse from husband/father. Obtained favorable divorce settlement.

History: Our client, who was married to an abusive husband with whom she had children, sought to protect herself and her children from further abuse while seeking custody and divorce. She feared phy ... sical retaliation from husband if and when she attempted to leave him. She also worried she would not have enough money to meet her children’s needs. We worked closely with her to provide a comprehensive solution that included a safe evacuation plan as well as a breakdown of financial needs and expected child and spousal support. Our total strategy for this client enabled her to leave the abusive environment without incident; and with the security of relocating to a safe place for her and her children. We also identified the child and spousal support incomes expected from her settlement so she could be confident in her ability to provide for her family. Subsequent actions for child custody, and child and spousal support were also successful and exceeded our client’s expectations in each case.

Dana Jo-Ann Richardson's Legal Cases (4)

Client’s child not ordered to reunify with father as both our client and her daughter desired.

Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order Not Substantiated.

Obtained Co-guardianship & Restored Visitation Rights.

Domestic Abuse, At-risk Divorce –Successful Execution of Safety Plan.