New Jersey

We "won", that is, we got the legal and physical custody of all the five children transferred from the Division of Youth and Family Services back to my client, their mother.

The children were removed almost 3-1/2 years ago on baseless reasons and the judge made that finding.

The foster parents wanted to adopt all the kids (and receive a sizable federal stipend from the federal government for each child adopted) and interfered every way possible to make sure the children didn't want to return to their mother. The Division didn't provide meaningful services to effect reunification, including appropriate reunification therapy even when it was court ordered.

The children were released directly to our client at court. The judge didn't allow the foster parents to say goodbye to the kids as he found he couldn't trust them with the children any further. Our client didn't have a vehicle and didn't have the money to transport herself and the children back to Virginia Beach where she lives. My colleague and I rented a Chevy Suburban and drove them home that day/night.