January 2019

“This was not a trivial deal; this was a woman who had some challenges in life and had young kids that she was trying to get on the right path. This case could have fundamentally upended her life and the lives of her kids forever. I feel a deep obligation to give back to people, particularly in these tough situations.” – Christopher Clark, Counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

“Giving back is a privilege and, I think, a professional responsibility. In terms of housing, specifically, it doesn’t really get much more important. When you think about what you need to survive, a roof over your head is one of the most crucial things.” – Isaac Saidel-Goley, Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

“Being a lawyer and having a respect for a sense of fairness, nothing seems more unfair than when case outcomes are dictated by unequal access to representation. The ability to help correct that by making sure our pro bono clients have access to our time and resources is so meaningful.” – Nigel Tamton, Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

From left: Isaac Saidel-Goley, Christopher Clark, and Nigel Tamton.

Skadden attorneys Christopher ClarkIsaac Saidel-Goley, and Nigel Tamton were first connected with Camila* in the spring of 2018 when they received an email from the Clearinghouse and Volunteer Lawyers Project regarding a challenging eviction case.

Camila had been living with her three young children in a building operated by a local housing authority and had previously been in a relationship with a man who often stayed in her unit as a guest. One evening, the police executed a warrant to search her unit for controlled substances. They found two plastic bags containing an unidentified substance belonging to Camila’s then-boyfriend and arrested him. Though Camila was not arrested and the substance was never identified, the housing authority claimed she was in violation of her lease and expedited an eviction proceeding.

Camila and her children had nowhere to go and were facing imminent homelessness–as well as potential issues stemming from the criminal case against her ex–so Chris, Isaac and Nigel had to move quickly. They immediately filed a motion to dismiss, while also filing discovery requests.

The team requested and was granted the opportunity to take depositions from the police officers who had been involved in the search and arrest. Depositions in an eviction proceeding are rare, but the judge agreed there were extenuating circumstances. The officers testified that they did not believe Camila to be culpable and didn’t want her and her children to be evicted due to the bad actions of a third party.

Following the favorable testimony from the officers and multiple mediation sessions, the housing authority ultimately agreed to drop its eviction request. Camila and her family were able to remain in their apartment, where she can continue working to build a better life for herself and her children.

*Client’s name has been changed to protect privacy.

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