Following is a sampling of the legal work performed by Michael Lesher, Esq. For reasons of confidentiality, names of cases and individuals are omitted.
A mother's four children had been summarily removed from her custody into foster care after the father's “expert” accused the mother of suffering from Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy and of “coaching” the children's sexual abuse reports against the father. Michael Lesher drafted all the legal papers defending her from the accusation and pointing out the deficiencies in the methods and conclusions of the “expert.” The expert has been largely removed from the case, and the mother expects the return of two of her children soon; the others will presumably follow.
Even after a court concluded that a divorced father had committed acts constituting child abuse, the father sought expanded visitation and custody. Michael Lesher drafted motion papers and appellate papers opposing these efforts.
A mother gave up child support in exchange for her ex-husband's agreement to give her full custody of the couple's child. She had made the agreement out of concern for the child's welfare. Michael Lesher drafted an extensive research memorandum showing that the agreement was unenforceable to bar the mother from seeking appropriate child support, since as a matter of public policy the court could not endorse the father's trade of custody for a more favorable financial “agreement.”
A father credibly accused of sexual abuse by two of his children sought a reduction in child support as a result of the ensuing litigation. The trial court granted his request. Michael Lesher wrote the appellate briefs seeking reversal of this ruling, demonstrating that the litigation could not be blamed on improper actions by the mother.
Two small children were removed from a mother's custody without appropriate evidence and based upon apparently improper actions by the child's guardian ad litem. Michael Lesher drafted a thorough research memorandum demonstrating grounds invalidating the order.
Michael Lesher prepared direct examination and cross-examination of all witnesses, and prepared written closing statements, on behalf of a mother seeking to prevent unsupervised visits between her young daughter and the girl's allegedly abusive father.
Michael Lesher prepared direct examination and cross-examination of witnesses, wrote motion papers and a letter brief, and prepared litigation strategy on behalf of a mother who was accused of interfering with visitation by an allegedly abusive father.
A mother had lost custody of her young daughter to a father she suspected of abuse. Michael Lesher wrote the successful motion papers that enabled her to regain custody of her daughter. He also wrote the appellate brief successfully defeating the father's attempt to reverse the result.
A mother's visits with her son were suspended after the father accused her of neglecting the child. Michael Lesher wrote the successful papers resulting in the lifting of the suspension.
A mother's children were summarily removed following accusations made against her. Michael Lesher wrote motion papers on the mother's behalf, and prepared an expert witness for a court hearing at which the motion was heard. As a result, the proceeding against the mother was dismissed.
A mother had lost custody of her children to their father in a proceeding in which she was penalized for having been critical of the behavior of Child Protective Services personnel. She was not even allowed visits with the children except with the father's permission. Michael Lesher wrote a complex motion for the mother, seeking a change of this arrangement; as a result, she obtained increased visits and a revision of the terms of the custody/visitation order.
A young child had accused her father of sexually abusing her. Family Court penalized the mother for her supposedly “delusional” belief that the abuse occurred; however, critical evidence confirming the abuse incident was suppressed. Michael Lesher wrote a motion brief seeking to invalidate this ruling based on a previously unused “error coram nobis” theory.
After fundamentalist Jews took possession of a 13-year-old girl against her mother's wishes, they sought to validate their actions by filing a custody petition with Family Court. Michael Lesher wrote the mother's papers opposing the petition. Ultimately the case was resolved through settlement.
Michael Lesher wrote all pleadings and motion papers in a woman's action against a large investment company, seeking damages for the company's disclosure of a client's private information to a man who had allegedly threatened her. These papers defeated the company's attempts to dismiss the action and a settlement was obtained.
Michael Lesher was consulted by a mother who was involved in a divorce from a politically-connected man who may have allowed the couple's daughter to be sexually abused. Over several months, she was able to avoid pitfalls that could have resulted in her losing custody.
A parent had filed a civil rights complaint against Child Protective Services officials after they improperly detained children in foster care. A federal magistrate recommended dismissal of the action on various complex grounds. Michael Lesher drafted the brief objecting to the recommendation and seeking reinstatement of the action against CPS.
Michael Lesher drafted all motion papers, and appellate briefs, in a federal civil rights action against state officials alleging violations of the right of free speech. (The appeal is now pending.)
Michael Lesher drafted the pleadings, and all motion papers, in a federal equal-protection action challenging the constitutionality of a law limiting the time in which a child abuse survivor could commence an action against her alleged abuser.
Michael Lesher drafted all litigation documents in a federal action seeking damages due to record tampering in a child custody proceeding.
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