Alipato Project Wins Default Judgment Against Batterer
M’s Story
The Alipato Project represented M in her civil suit against A for domestic violence and stalking. When A willfully ignored M’s civil complaint, we requested an entry of default on her behalf.
At the default judgment hearing, M recounted each incident of physical abuse she survived and described which incidents resulted in bruising to her chest, her arms, her face, and/or her throat.
M also testified to what went through her head each time A hit her… and what went through her head each time a co-worker or neighbor asked her about the bruises on her face. To M, lying to her friends was one the most humiliating parts of her experience as a domestic violence victim.
After years of resisting physical and emotional abuse, M obtained a domestic violence restraining order to protect her and her two children from A. This did not deter A from continuing to harass M. He simply wanted to keep her under his control. So, M moved to another city to start a new life.
With a limited income, the path to healing was slow and difficult. M and her children slept on the floor in an unfurnished apartment for months until M could finally save up enough money to purchase beds. Meanwhile, A lived off the sum of a large inheritance.
After testifying in court yesterday, the judge awarded M $100,000 for her pain and suffering. It’s difficult to put a price tag on noneconomic damages but when we won, M said the first thing she was going to do was take her kids out to have a memorable experience.
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