A Journey to Safety: “Maryanne”’s Story
When “Maryanne” married her husband, she never imagined he would fall into a trap of drug addiction, making him volatile and abusive. She held hope that he would change, even during emotional, verbal, and physical abuse. It wasn’t until the day her husband attempted to strangle her while she held their one-year-old child that she knew something had to change. That moment crystallized the danger her child faced in the father’s care, as she realized his actions showed complete disregard for the child’s safety and well-being.
Desperate to protect her child and herself, Maryanne reached out to Blue Ridge Legal Services. With our support, she fought for and obtained sole legal and physical custody, ensuring that her child would never again face the threat of harm. The court also ordered her husband to pay $982.57 per month in child support, plus $1,000 a month for arrearages for one year—totaling $1,982.57 each month.
Thanks to Blue Ridge Legal Services, Maryanne was able to secure a future filled with safety and stability for her child. The strength to endure the heartbreak, leave the past behind,
Jorge’s Story: A Father’s Courageous Fight for His Children and a Better Future
Jorge, a devoted father and factory worker, was living in a state of fear, married to an abusive spouse, “Susan.” Though he had tried for years to help her, her severe mental illness and drug use made the home unsafe for Jorge and their two young children.
Though embarrassed and ashamed, Jorge finally reached out for help, securing the help of a domestic violence counselor. He had been informed by social services that unless he separated from Susan, he risked losing custody of his children. Jorge’s DV counselor referred him to BRLS. With our guidance, he secured a protective order and was awarded primary custody.
Jorge had lived in the U.S. for nearly two decades but lacked legal status. Though his wife Susan, a US Citizen, could have helped him apply, she refused. BRLS helped Jorge file a VAWA Self-Petition, an immigration option for abuse survivors. It was approved, allowing Jorge to stay in the country and begin building a new life.
Thanks to his unwavering commitment and the legal support from BRLS, Jorge was finally able to protect his children and build the safe, stable future every father hopes to give his family.
Eleanor’s Fight for Dignity: How Legal Aid Helped a Widow Confront Abuse and Neglect
“Eleanor,” a widow living alone, suffered several severe falls, one leaving her unconscious. After hospitalization, she was moved to a rehab facility, where she remained for seven months before contacting BRLS. Though her family cared for her home in hopes she could return, her condition sadly did not improve, and she needed to remain in care.
From the start, the facility mishandled her admission. Staff failed to apply for Medicaid, wrongly assuming homeownership disqualified her. When pressed by BRLS, the facility falsely claimed they had applied. Due to this delay, Eleanor was billed over $100,000.
The BRLS attorney stepped in—initiating her Medicaid application and coordinating with her family, bank, and a realtor to ensure compliance with asset rules. During this process, the attorney uncovered even more misconduct: the facility had misappropriated Eleanor’s Social Security benefits. Staff had accused her granddaughter of theft, but in truth, the facility had rerouted Eleanor’s funds into a private subaccount. This triggered a Social Security fraud investigation.
Then the facility tried to discharge Eleanor for non-payment. BRLS swiftly stopped the discharge. Even after Medicaid was approved, the facility sued her for nearly $100,000—charges stemming from their own errors. BRLS referred the case to one of our trusted pro bono partners, who took it on and got the lawsuit dismissed.
Through extensive legal work, compassion, and collaboration between BRLS and our pro bono network, Eleanor’s nightmare ended. Most importantly, she kept the care she needed—and her dignity.
Ms. Hardy’s Victory Against Unjust Debt Collection
“Ms. Hardy,” a 75-year-old woman living on a modest income of less than $1,100 per month from Social Security, was struggling to manage her high blood pressure and make ends meet. Then she faced another challenge: a debt buyer, LVNV, sued her for $1,578.
Debt buyers are companies that purchase debts from other creditors, often paying pennies on the dollar for these accounts. These debts are frequently bought in bundles, and it isn’t always clear whether the debt buyer holds a valid claim. However, they often win by obtaining default judgments when people, like Ms. Hardy, don’t know how to defend themselves in court.
When LVNV sued Ms. Hardy, Blue Ridge Legal Services stepped in to represent her. We appeared in court and successfully had the case dismissed with prejudice, meaning LVNV could never sue her for this debt again.
Several months later, Ms. Hardy discovered that LVNV had filed another lawsuit against her, seeking the same amount. This time, we counterclaimed against LVNV for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, arguing that they knowingly tried to collect a debt they had no legal right to pursue. We reached a settlement, securing $750 in damages for Ms. Hardy.
Thanks to Blue Ridge Legal Services, Ms. Hardy not only had the unjust lawsuits dismissed but also received compensation for the unnecessary stress and legal battles she was forced to endure.
A Journey to Safety: “Maryanne”’s Story
When “Maryanne” married her husband, she never imagined he would fall into a trap of drug addiction, making him volatile and abusive. She held hope that he would change, even during emotional, verbal, and physical abuse. It wasn’t until the day her husband attempted to strangle her while she held their one-year-old child that she knew something had to change. That moment crystallized the danger her child faced in the father’s care, as she realized his actions showed complete disregard for the child’s safety and well-being.
Desperate to protect her child and herself, Maryanne reached out to Blue Ridge Legal Services. With our support, she fought for and obtained sole legal and physical custody, ensuring that her child would never again face the threat of harm. The court also ordered her husband to pay $982.57 per month in child support, plus $1,000 a month for arrearages for one year—totaling $1,982.57 each month.
Thanks to Blue Ridge Legal Services, Maryanne was able to secure a future filled with safety and stability for her child. The strength to endure the heartbreak, leave the past behind, and move toward healing was made possible with the support she needed every step of the way.
Angie’s Battle
A Single Mom’s Journey to Independence
“Angie,” a 34-year-old single mother, started a relationship with “Brad.” Early on, Brad talked Angie into trading in her car to purchase a new vehicle, which he had titled in his name alone. Soon after, Angie discovered a terrible truth: Brad had been sexually abusing her daughter. He was arrested and sent to prison.
Compounding the trauma of finding that her partner had been abusing her child, Angie faced another issue: because the car was titled in Brad’s name alone, she no longer had any legal claim to it. Desperate to keep the car, Angie and Brad came to an agreement: if she paid off the vehicle, he would sign the title over to her.
With financial help from her parents, Angie paid off the car loan, more than $32,000, including the value of her trade-in. However, once they had done so, Brad refused to keep his promise and sign the title over to her. Instead, he threatened to transfer ownership to his brother.
Angie reached out to Blue Ridge Legal Services for help. We took her case and filed a lawsuit against Brad for specific performance—a legal remedy that forces a party to fulfill their contractual obligations. We won the case, resulting in the transfer of the car title to Angie, permanently severing her and her family’s last remaining connection to Brad.