Patricia S. Novotny

Pat and her incredible team stepped up to help when our family lost an Adequate Cause determination due to an insufficient review of the evidence we presented showing extensive medical and educational neglect of my fiance’s kids by their mom. We had been turned down by multiple well known appeals at...torneys in the area. Apparently NO ONE wins appeals for adequate cause in family court — ESPECIALLY DADS — so no one wanted to take us on. We were running out of time, when at the last minute we were referred to Pat. I think because of her strong civil rights bent, and her work with LGBTQ clients, she had an open mind when it came to our dilemma. We had strong evidence that had been ignored. We had a suicidal, special needs kid going without treatment or support. I think her sense of fairness is what made her scratch the surface where others shied away. The mom worked at the courthouse where the case was heard and all of the commissioners and judges knew her. Several recused. But even the ones who didn’t saw her as a colleague and we never stood a chance for a fair hearing - though there was no way we were ever going to be able to prove bias. Instead, Pat approached the appeal as a thorough, logical, evidentiary walk-through which systematically picked apart the lies, inconsistencies and unsubstantiated claims made by the mom. This deconstructed her narrative and showed it for the smokescreen it was. By the time she had laid out 2+2, it was obvious the case equaled 4, and that the Skagit County court had missed it completely. It was amazing to watch her talk to the appellate panel. It was obvious they viewed her as a peer and someone who would bring very valuable arguments to be considered. Until we saw those interactions I don’t think we were really aware of WHO she was in the legal community and the tremendous respect and standing she had. But we got it at that moment and now recognize the last second miracle we were given when she took our case. 10 months after we filed the appeal, the opinion came back that the Skagit judge had abused his discretion and our case was remanded for trial. They even published the opinion. We went on to win primary custody, sole medical and educational decision making (with a minor area of exception for one child) and have been able to start getting them the help and support they needed. Pat went up against the SYSTEM that is stacked to the rafters against fathers and prevailed. She saved our kids from a lifetime of neglect and an abusive level of alienation that had been going on for many years. She saved our family. It’s that simple. We are forever grateful.