2015 Annual Report

BRIDGING THE

JUSTICE GAP

Dinah RuchBoard President

Ana M. StoreyExecutive Director

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Welcome to Levitt & Quinn’s 2015 annual report. Back in 2014 our board established strategic planning goals for itself and the organization. One of those goals was to release an annual report that shared the results of our work and fostered accountability to our stakeholders. We are so pleased to be able to share this accomplishment with you.

Thirty-five years ago massive federal budget cuts decimated traditional legal services programs throughout the nation, including Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA). In 1981, LAFLA transferred its Family Law Center and its entire 400 plus family law caseload to Levitt & Quinn's founders, two volunteer lawyers and one paralegal office manager. Those three women, then grandmothers, had the vision and courage to turn a dire situation into an opportunity for refuge and hope for those who would otherwise have fallen through the cracks in our justice system.

Founded by and run solely with volunteers on a shoestring budget in the early years, Levitt & Quinn has grown into a million dollar nonprofit organization run by professional staff with expertise in many areas of family and adoption law. We exist with the support of our donors to provide affordable high-quality legal representation to low-income Los Angeles County families to ensure stability in the face of legal difficulties. In this report, you will learn how our team of dedicated lawyers, legal assistants, and trained volunteers impacted thousands of lives in Los Angeles County. We helped stabilize our client households by securing orders about custody and support, returning abducted children to their custodial parent, and facilitating adoption of children in need of a loving and safe home. Clearly, Levitt & Quinn continues to provide refuge and hope for our Los Angeles County families.

In the pages that follow we share information about our program, the clients we serve, and some key accomplishments. For example, in 2015, we:

• Continued to increase the number of clients we can serve at no-cost thanks to the generoussupport of our Kids Fund, as well as reduced service costs to clients overall;

• Sustained our partnership with Los Angeles Center for Law & Justice and the LA Superior Courtvia the Sargent Shriver family law project, providing full scope legal representation to parentswhose children were at risk of harm and whose opposing party was represented by counsel;

• Collaborated with key figures within the family law community to present a groundbreaking ESIMCLE that helped over 100 family law litigators strengthen their ability to competently handle theelectronically stored information issues they face every day.

And, we are excited about the promise that 2016 holds! Working with our terrific board, advisory council members, and volunteers, we are strengthening our program, expanding our community connections, and brainstorming new approaches to service delivery that we think will further empower families to effectively and equitably navigate the family court system. Come join us!

"Ustedes no saben elgran favor y la mas

grande alegria que hanhecho por mi y mi

familia."

-Levitt & Quinn Client

WHO WE AREEach year, Levitt & Quinn impacts the lives ofthousands of children by fielding calls for help aboutadoption, child and spousal support, custody,visitation, domestic violence and paternity. In 2015:

Levitt & Quinn provides affordable legal representation in family lawmatters to low-income Los Angeles County families to ensure stabilityfor children and their families in the face of legal difficulties.

1,631 families in Los Angeles County received legalhelp from Levitt & Quinn.

Our attorneys helped nearly 100 families adopt a child.

OUR CAUSES

Adoption VeteransThe Kids Fund

Our Adoption Project is theonly one of its kind in LosAngeles County. No other lawfirm provides free and low-cost representation to familiesseeking to make a child a partof their family through privateadoption. Expert advice,counsel, and representationcan be vital to family stabilityand prevent further harm tochildren in need of apermanent, loving home.

The majority of the adoptionsestablished by this programare intrafamily adoptions inwhich a relative seeks toassist a child whose biologicalparent is unwilling or unableto care for the child.

The Kids Fund assists thefinancially neediest familieswho come to Levitt & Quinn byproviding free family lawservices in cases related to thesafety and well-being of minorchildren. Families living at orbelow 125% of poverty receiveearly legal intervention incases involving custody, childand spousal support, visitation,and domestic violence issues.

This approach facilitates aquicker resolution of disputedissues to help families trans-ition from an adversarial courtsetting to a more amicable sit-uation where these childrencan enjoy a more stable life,free to be children.

We assist low-income andhomeless veterans with theirchild support and other familylaw issues. While manygroups have mobilized in re-cent years to address anumber of the needs of U.S.veterans, family law repres-entation remains a top tenunmet need.

Clearing up family law issuescan change a veteran’s life bymaking it possible to obtainwork and provide for his orher children. Those veteranswith unsettled family lawissues accrue debt, find theirdrivers licenses suspended,and face major hurdles toemployment and housing.

We provided 40% of our clients withextensive legal services, includingrepresentation in court.

100

680Adoptions

1,631Families

Cases

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80%of Levitt & Quinn's clients are

racial or ethnic minorities.

arrive at our door because of an existingof Levitt & Quinn's clients

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

WHO WE SERVE

Our Client Communities

1,900 a month

The average grossmonthly income of a Levitt

& Quinn client family is

1/3

Levitt & Quinn's client base isas diverse as the community in

which we practice law.

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In 2015, Levitt & Quinnsaved military veteranshundreds of thousands ofdollars in child supportarrears owed to thegovernment, breakingdown the barriers keepingformer service men andwomen isolated from theircommunities.

military or former militaryof our client families are

In 2015, Levitt & Quinn provided over

Over 75% of the familieswe serve live at or below200% of poverty. That's amother and her three children

1 in 5

,,- Levitt & Quinn Client

“Without Levitt &Quinn, my son and I

would not be sharingfamily time together.

They brought joyback into my life.”

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living on less than$44,000 a year

worth of legal services at little to nocost to our clients.

$2.8 million

Sally's Story

When Sally was born over four years ago, her biological mother was incarcerated and unable tocare for her. Her biological father’s identity was a mystery. Sally’s mom struggled with untreatedmental health issues exacerbated by her drug use and transient lifestyle. Knowing she could notcare for her unborn baby, Sally’s mom reached out to her maternal aunt Sue, and asked Sue ifshe would care for her baby. Fearing Sally would end up in foster care, Sue and her husband Billtook Sally home from the hospital when she was only 3 days old. They decided to extend theirstrong commitment to each other to little Sally, and took her home and began raising her as theirown. Yet, she was not legally their daughter. They knew they needed help to make therelationship permanent, but did not have the means to hire a private attorney to help them. Sueworks at a drug treatment center and is earning her bachelor’s degree to one day work as a drugand alcohol counselor. Bill is a Vietnam veteran who is also attending college to learn computerskills. They survive on a modest income without much left over each month. With the help ofattorneys from Levitt & Quinn, Sue and Bill were able to start the process to adopt Sally.

The adoption was difficult to finalize because Sally’s mother never appeared in court. Bill and Suestruggled to contact her to give her proper notice about the court proceedings. The court washesitant to proceed without Sally’s mom, justifiably concerned about her mental health and howthat affected her ability to participate. In all, Bill and Sue went to court 7 times. Levitt & Quinnprovided the family with $26,000 worth of legal services that only cost Bill and Sue $1,100.

And then shortly after Sally’s 4th birthday, the court was able to finalize the adoption! This cute,lively, and imaginative little girl now has a legal relationship to the couple who took her in whenshe needed them the most. Without them, she would have been released from the hospital intofoster care and an uncertain future. But with Levitt & Quinn’s help, Sue and Bill now have theability to give Sally the safety and stability that she deserves.

SERVICES PROVIDED

What makes Levitt & Quinn Unique?No other family law firm for modest means people provides the scope of services that Levitt& Quinn provides. Unique among non-profit law firms, we can provide sliding scale servicesto those families and individuals who, while not poor enough to qualify for traditional legalaid, do not have the resources to pay a private attorney to settle their family law issues.Levitt & Quinn is there to serve those who would have otherwise fallen through the cracks.

We have cases incourthouses acrossLos Angeles County

and beyond.

Stanley MoskEdelman Children's Court

Central Civil West CourthousePasadenaVan Nuys

NorwalkTorrance

Santa MonicaChatsworth

ComptonLong Beach

PomonaOrange CountySan Bernadino

BurbankAntelope Valley

San Fernando

403882622201812

9887755422

TYPES OF CASES

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At the heartof 80% of

Levitt &Quinn's

cases is achild.

Juan, a US Army veteran, came to Levitt & Quinn for help with a problem he could not fix on his own. Prior to and during his military service, Juan consistently paid his court-ordered child support and had regular contact with his daughter. Then while he was deployed overseas, the court increased Juan's child support obligation without his knowledge. To make matters worse, Juan lost access to his daughter and learned that the court did not credit him for his past child support payments, including those taken directly from his military pay. As a result, Juan faced losing his relationship with his child and a wage garnishment he could not afford. He had already suffered an intercept of his tax return and garnishment of funds from his savings account. From his overseas post in Asia, Juan tried to file paperwork, but nothing he did worked. Everything he submitted came back rejected. When Juan returned from serving his country, he found himself burdened with almost $20,000 in child support arrears, possible suspension of his driver’s license, and cut off from access to his daughter.

Levitt & Quinn stood with Juan. We first tackled the child support arrears issue, helping to save his driver’s license, and successfully representing Juan at multiple hearings to erase his arrears balance and get him credit for a $5,000 over payment. Levitt & Quinn then represented Juan in a different case, and in a different courthouse, to renew his regular contact with his daughter, successfully increasing his visitation time with her. Levitt & Quinn provided over $11,000 worth of legal services at no cost to Juan. He was elated by the outcome, and grateful that Levitt & Quinn was there to help him achieve justice.

Juan'sStory

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(Including Negotiations with Settlement)

IN 2015, LEVITT & QUINN:

CASEWORK IN 2015

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In 2015, Levitt & Quinn continued to increase thenumber of clients that we can serve at no costthanks to generous support of our Kids Fund. Wewere also able to reduce fees for our modestmeans clients. By providing these families withthe legal help they need and could not otherwiseafford, they are able to leave behind the threat ofinstability, contention, or worse.

2015 ACHIEVEMENTS

Building on expansion efforts that began in2014, Levitt & Quinn welcomed its first board

member from outside the legal community. Welook forward to benefiting from the expertise,insight, and new relationships that will followfrom this targeted expansion approach. Webelieve that increased board diversity and a

wider range of perspectives will allow Levitt &Quinn to better navigate the dynamic issuesfacing nonprofits in the twenty-first century.

BOARDDIVERSITY &EXPANSION

Levitt & Quinn leverages leadership opportunitiesto raise issues that concern the low-incomelitigants we serve. Our Director of Legal Serviceschairs the California State Bar's AdoptionsCommittee. L&Q attorneys participate in the LACounty Bar Association's Daily Settlement Officer(DSO) program in the Compton courthouse. L&Qalso serves as liaison to the LACBA Family LawExecutive Committee where a member of ourboard holds an officer position.

In December, we partnered with the Associationof Certified Family Law Specialists to host an all-

day MCLE at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. Anall-star team of presenters shared their expertise

with over 100 family law professionals onElectronically Stored Information and its impact

on the practice of family law. All event proceedswent to support Levitt & Quinn’s work in bridging

the justice gap in Los Angeles County.

COMMUNITYEDUCATION

PARTNEREDTO FILL THE

JUSTICE GAP

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EXPANDINGSERVICES BYINCREASING

AFFORDABILITY

Thank you to our major supporters in 2015 for sharing Levitt & Quinn’s vision of acommunity where everyone, regardless of income, has access to legal counsel toresolve family law conflicts.

Legacy Circle, $50,000 +Bill & Dinah Ruch Family FoundationThe Leila Fund / Stacy McDaniel

Platinum Circle, $20,000 +Michael LevittJaffe and ClemensToyota Financial Services

Gold Circle, $10,000 +Hadassah HeinsGursey | Schneider LLPKolodny Law GroupHon. Jill S. Robbins (Ret.) & RobertEisfelderDon SkeochTrope and Trope LLP

Silver Circle, $5,000 +

Bronze Circle, $2,000 +

Joan AlexanderCity National BankCity News Service, Inc. & The Quinn FamilyConvergent Wealth AdvisorsFeinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein, LLPHarris - Ginsberg LLPHersh, Mannis & Bogen, LLPJacobson, Scully, Shebby LLPKlopert & Ravden, LLPLeichter Leichter-Maroko, LLPMayer Hoffman McCann, PCMeyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers, LLPMinyard | Morris, LLPMorrison & Foerster FoundationO'Melveny & Myers LLPPines Law GroupMargaret Naraghi QuattrinHon. Robert Schnider & Perryne AnkerSidney Stern Memorial TrustVenable LLPWasser Cooperman & CarterWhite, Zuckerman, Warsavsky, Luna & Hunt LLP

Champions $1,000 +

Cheryl HoeltingJohn & Hilda Arnold Foundation IncLewis Brunswick & Rebecca Matoff FoundationBill & Ziva NaumannNewman Aaronson VanamanUnion Bank FoundationValley Community Legal Foundation of the SFVBAAnonymous Board Member

Kim ArcherEmily Shappell EdelmanFileKeepersLaw Offices of Flam & FlamThe FLAMESCatherine FullerHargrave & Hargrave AACLaemmle Theatres Charitable FoundationLaurent LegalEve LopezBlake & Susan LugashSteve MindelCari M. Pines, Esq.Ramin Shamshiri & Donna LangleyJennifer & Doug Walner

Supporters $500 +Attorney's BriefCase, Inc.Barry A. Cane Insurance ServicesJudy L. BogenCalifornia Community FoundationJohn & Robbie CarmackHon. Keith M. ClemensMike FeuerFranklin R. GarfieldAmy GoodSusan GrossRoger HalfhideLinda Grey HeitzSteve & Stacy HenningJohn Lapinski & Paige SerdenAriel Leichter-MarokoFernando LunaSandra MendellMark E MinyardHon. John W. Ouderkirk (Ret.)Pacific FederalLynette Berg RobeMyer & Sandy SankaryBertram J. & Margot P. SerdenAllyn ShapiroMotti & Kelda ShulmanHon. Marjorie & Mark SteinbergAmy Quinn TteeHon. Robert WillettWomen's Lawyers Association of Los AngelesJack Zuckerman

OUR FUNDERS

Learn more at www.levittquinn.org/finances 12

Alternative Resolution Centers, LLCHon. Aviva K. Bobb (Ret.) & Ian RussThe Charitable FoundationJames DurantFrankel & Reichman LLPGetman Family Gift FundGreines, Martin, Stein & Richland LLPWendy A. Herzog

OUR FINANCESTotal Revenue Total Expenses

Over the next year, we will continue to provide free and affordable access to justice forclients across Los Angeles County and beyond.

OUR PLANS

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US

(213)-482-1800 1557 Beverly BoulevardLos Angeles, CA 90026

levittquinn.org/contact facebook.com/LevittQuinn

Thirty five years ago, three volunteers with apassion for and commitment to public servicefounded Levitt & Quinn. These pioneering womenwove the spirit of volunteerism into the fabric of theorganization, and to this day, volunteers remain animportant part of our mission to ensure stability forchildren and their families in the face of legaldifficulties. Attorneys, law students, and communitymembers all play a role. Our goal for 2016 is todevelop and expand Levitt & Quinn’s volunteerbase, and to ensure that our volunteers have apositive and fulfilling experience working on behalfof our clients. To meet this goal, we are revampingand updating our volunteer program’s internalsystems and tools, with plans to implement a morerobust recruitment structure, carry out useful andefficient orientation and training, ensure qualitysupervision, and build meaningful and lastingrelationships with our volunteers.

Widening OurReach: Volunteers

Advancing Program Quality:Advocacy Manual

One of the benefits of having a board filled withexperienced family law attorneys and retiredjudicial officers is the insightful and extensiveprogram oversight and guidance they haveprovided for decades. And in the coming year,we are taking things a step further. A key 2016program goal is for Levitt & Quinn to implementa comprehensive advocacy manual, a blueprintfor keeping current and future programseffective, mission-aligned, and ethical. Ourmanual, which we expect to implement mid-year, will combine new and existing policiesand expectations for effective and ethicalrelationships with our clients, practicestandards to ensure the provision of highquality legal services, and effective supervisionof staff and volunteers. We are certain that thisnew tool will support our staff to expand theirzealous advocacy on behalf of our clientcommunities.

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ON BEHALF OF OURCLIENTS, WE THANKYOU FOR YOURCONTINUED SUPPORT.

Staff

Ana M. StoreyExecutive Director

Sharon HulseDirector of Operations

Lucia ReyesDirector of Legal Services

Caitlyn KowalczykDevelopment Manager

Elena Correa

Elvia Cruz

Amanda Fleming

Anna Lucas

Becky Miller

Management

Staff Attorneys

Coordinating StaffJannina ArchilaLegal Assistant

Cruz GomezLegal Assistant

Board of DirectorsDinah C. Ruch, Esq.President

Hon. Aviva K. Bobb (Ret.)Vice President

Cheryl Hoelting, Esq.Secretary

Michael Levitt, Esq.Treasurer

Katherine E. Adkins, Esq.Toyota Financial Services

Hon. Keith M. Clemens (Ret.)Private Judge

Harold J. Cohn, Esq.Retired

David Deaton, Esq.O’Melveny & Myers LLP

James A. Durant, Esq.Trope and Trope LLP

Stephen J. Henning, Esq.Wood, Smith, Henning &Berman LLP

Jeffery S. Jacobson, Esq.Jacobson Scully Shebby LLP

Scott M. Klopert, Esq.Klopert & Ravden LLP

Alexandra Leichter, Esq.Leichter Leichter–Maroko LLP

Juliet A. Markowitz, Esq.Tatro Tekosky Sadwick LLP

Cari M. Pines, Esq.Pines Law Group

Hon. Robert A. Schnider (Ret.)ARC Alternative ResolutionCenters LLC

Elizabeth Potter Scully, Esq.Jacobson Scully Shebby LLP

Don SkeochChief Marketing Officer, L.A.Tourism & Convention Board

Bonnie H. Yaeger, Esq.Law & Mediation Office of Bonnie H. Yaeger

Advisory CouncilRoberta Bennett, Esq.Bennett & Erdman

Lyor Cohen300 Entertainment

Zhanna FishUnion Bank

Jo-Ann W. Grace, Esq.Metropolitan News Enterprise

Prof. Laurie L. Levenson, Esq.Loyola Law School

Forrest S. Mosten, Esq.Mediator and CollaborativeAttorney

Steven Mindel, Esq.Feinberg, Mindel, Brandt &Klein LLP

William H. Naumann

Ziva Sirkis NaumannCo-Founder

Patricia Phillips, Esq.Phillips Jessner LLP

Sorrell Trope, Esq.Trope and Trope LLP

Jack ZuckermanWhite, Zuckerman, Warsavsky,Luna & Hunt LLP