Court Cases

These are cases litigated and supported by Legal Momentum addressing employment or housing rights for victims of domestic or sexual violence. For more on the specific legal claims that may be available to victims of domestic or sexual violence, see "Employment Protection for Domestic Violence Victims" and "Housing Rights for Domestic Violence Victims."

United States and Alvera v. C.B.M. Group, Inc. (2001)
In a win for domestic violence survivors, Legal Momentum successfully settled the first case to challenge discrimination against victims of domestic violence as sex discrimination under the Fair Housing Act.

Apessos v. Memorial Press Group (2002)
In a precedent-setting decision, a Massachusetts Superior Court recognized that a domestic violence victim can sue her employer if she is fired because of an absence from work to ensure her safety.

Blackwell v. H.A. Housing, LP (2005)
Legal Momentum obtained a groundbreaking settlement on behalf of a Colorado woman whose landlord refused her request to transfer apartments after she was brutally attacked in her home by an ex-boyfriend who evaded capture for several months.

Brooklyn Landlord v. RF (2007)
Legal Momentum saved a Brooklyn woman from eviction in one of the first cases to use new housing protections in the Violence Against Women Act to help domestic violence victims.

Greer v. Beck's Pub & Grille (2003)
A federal court in Iowa recognized that a woman represented by Legal Momentum who was fired from her job two days after she obtained a protective order against her abusive co-worker and boyfriend could bring a claim for wrongful termination in violation of public policy.

Imes v. City of Asheville (2004)
Legal Momentum filed an amicus brief in this case decided by the North Carolina Supreme Court, arguing it should be illegal to fire an individual simply because she or he is a victim of domestic violence.

Matter of C.J.R. (2001)
Legal Momentum helped a woman win unemployment insurance benefits after she was fired for missing work because of domestic violence.

Matter of T.M.P. (2006)
Legal Momentum helped T.M.P. win unemployment insurance benefits after she quit her job to move from the Bronx to Albany, NY, so that her former fiancé - who had beaten her and her children - would not know where she was.

M.W. v. California Company (2004)
In one of the first cases under California's domestic violence leave law, Legal Momentum represented an accountant who, after fourteen years as an employee, was improperly put on probation and ultimately fired for missing too much work in connection with the violence.

Pagan v. Bd. of Review, 687 A.2d 328 (N.J. App. Div.), cert. denied, 695 A.2d 667 (N.J. 1997)
Legal Momentum filed an amicus brief on behalf of a woman who was denied unemployment benefits because she "voluntarily" quit her job to protect herself after her husband continued to threaten her at work in violation of an order of protection.

Thoma v. LJ's Bad Penny Bar and Cafe (2006)
Legal Momentum represents a Wisconsin woman who was fired after she obtained a protective order against her ex-boyfriend.

Giannakos v. Kidville, NY, LLC, et al., (2007)
Legal Momentum filed this case on behalf of a victim of domestic violence who was fired from her job after she missed two days of work to seek medical attention and meet with a prosecutor after she was attacked by her boyfriend.