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Dad wins in court to protect daughter from dangerous household
By Laura Reichel
One of the most important responsibilities a father has is protecting his children. It’s a powerful instinct. This week’s victory involves a father who took this responsibility very seriously when he and his daughter were presented with severe adversity.
Chicago matrimonial attorney Jeffery M. Leving and attorney and Litigation Director Art Kallow of the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. will talk about this complex case on the Dads’ Rights Legal Hour, 9-10 a.m. CDT Saturday, September 28th on Power 92.3 FM. This show segment will be available for download on the Dads’ Rights Legal Hour Spotify page on dadsrights.com
Dad contacted the Leving team because he feared his 10-year-old daughter was in danger.
The mother reportedly had a drug problem. According to court documents, she was at times unable to take care of the girl when she was with her, and the little girl often was not even with her mother during her parenting times – that’s how troubling it was. Furthermore, the mother was sometimes dazed and confused, and the girl knew it. She told Dad what was going on.
Dad filed for an Emergency Order of Protection against the mother without a lawyer, and it was not granted. He lost. He then contacted the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. for help. He wanted to win. He wanted to protect his daughter. On Dad’s behalf, the Leving legal team pursued the Emergency Order of Protection and fought for him and his daughter and won.
Complicating matters, it was reported the mother was concealing her location from Dad. This was nerve-racking for him, because he didn’t know who would be caring for his daughter during the mother’s court-ordered parenting time, and the sheriff’s office couldn’t even locate the mother to serve her.
When the Leving team went to court to argue for the Emergency Order of Protection, it seemed likely that no hearing would take place, due to the failed service by the sheriff. But they advocated passionately anyway, and didn’t give up, telling the judge that this was a true emergency, and the child was at risk if the mother’s court-ordered parenting time was not temporarily ended. The Leving team won on that critical point – the judge allowed the hearing, which was an important victory to get to the next step. Next, they presented their evidence and made their argument, and the judge granted the Leving team’s request for an Order of Protection to keep Dad and daughter safe and temporarily ending the mother’s parenting time. They won again. The little girl is now with her father full-time, and away from potential harm.
This court victory, modified for broadcast, required the Leving legal team to apply all their knowledge, skills, experience, hard work and dedication to the cause of helping parents protect their children. There is no substitute for any of these. This was a complex case with a lot of hurdles and moving parts, but the Leving team knew dad and his little girl depended on them, and they could not fail them.
The safety of children is always the Leving team’s top priority. When children are in danger, nothing else matters until they can make them safe.
Attorney and Litigation Director Arthur S. Kallow
Attorney Arthur S. Kallow was honored for his valuable contribution to the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County as a court facilitator. Kallow was also selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer. Super Lawyers are considered the best in their profession, and they represent the top practicing attorneys in Illinois and the country.
Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, Ltd.
Matrimonial attorney Jeffery M. Leving is the recipient of President Biden’s Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, the Illinois House of Representatives has honored Leving “for his work in safeguarding the rights of fathers and protecting the welfare of children and families in this State,” and the Illinois Senate issued a proclamation recognizing his efforts on behalf of fathers.
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