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Litigation Partner Joe McLaughlin and Associates Jillian de Chavez Lau, Michael Waks and Nicole Annunziato represented Sanctuary for Families, New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), Her Justice and My Sister’s Place as amici before the New York Court of Appeals in the matter of Odunbaku v. Odunbaku. The appeal related to the Richmond County Family Court practice of mailing orders to litigants only, not to their attorneys, which resulted in Sanctuary’s client, a mother and victim of domestic violence, missing the objection deadline to the filing of a downward modification of child support which had previously been awarded to her. The amicus brief supported Sanctuary’s client’s position, and focused on access to justice issues for victims of domestic violence, low-income individuals and individuals who do not speak English. On November 17, 2016, the Court unanimously reversed the lower court’s ruling, mentioning in its decision the public policy arguments presented in the amicus brief.