Moving forward despite a past that haunts me

My name is Sarah. I am 31, a single mother of three amazing children of whom are 10, 7, and 3 months. I am also a recovering Alcoholic. I would give the shirt off my back to anyone in need. Alcohol has not defined me as a person. It is a disease that I battle every day much like Parkinson or crones. I am an active member of my local AA group that I attend 3 times a week. I also work closely with my sponsor whom I am grateful has been there to help guide me on my journey to sobriety.I am also an active participant in an outpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. I am using the tools that I need to on a daily basis to stay sober.

I am not trying to run from my past or to get out of facing the consequences of my actions. I will admit that I have become violent while being under the influence. I have had my children removed from my custody because of my drinking. Which I am happy to report that my children are back living with me now, it was the worse summer imaginable for them and I alike. I started out giving birth to my son in May. I was homeless, alcoholic who had no where to go. I was in a pool of self pity to say the least. I felt so sorry for myself when my kids were placed in foster care that I eventually cracked. I had a relapse on Fathers Day that led to my third DWI. Since my relapse I have made astronomical strides in my life that had been long over due in my struggles with sobriety.

I now have my own place which I reside with my three children that I take care of full time. I have racked up a lot of legal fines and restitution that the three different counties my drinking episodes took place in. I am working as a waitress making 3.74 an hour and only work 15 hours a week. I simply am not able to make my court payments and I don't see any likely hood of my situation changing in the near future. My current dwi charge is what scares me the most. The prosecuting attorney is wanting to push for me to go to the Department of Corrections to go to a 120 shock treatment. If this happens I lose everything, my home, custody of my children. Everything I have worked so hard to accomplish since June will all be done in vane.

My only hope is that I can request a program called DWI court. This is a new program for alcohol related offenders in my community and the cost for treatment is all done at my expense. I have to be able to prove to the judge I can afford it first and foremost to be considered because even though I am a perfect candidate for the program it is very costly and on top of my other court costs and restitution fees, and working a job that accommodates my treatment schedule I can not afford it. The program is roughly 3000 for a year to 18 months where I will get weekly UAs go to court once a week and meet with the judge as well as my probation officer, and my substance abuse counselor and continue to strive in my efforts to live a sober life with my children. 

I admit that I have made mistakes. Most of which Alcohol was at the very center. I am for once in my life approaching sobriety with no reservations of future drinking but accepting I am always going to fight to stay sober, and thats a fight I am willing to make the rest of my life.

I am asking for a hand up not a hand out. I have always been the first to give to anyone in need and now I am asking for help not because it is an easy way out but because I absolutely have exhausted all other options. I either get my legal matters paid or I go to prison and lose everything.

I ask of you to please find it in your hearts to help me with anything you can as my grand total for all fees currently due in the other counties and for the  dwi court treatment is roughly 8500 total and that doesn't include the cost of a decent attorney, I currently have a public defender as my representation. I know if I clear up my fines and the costs associated with the DWI treatment program the judge will definitely consider me for the program thus keeping me with my children and out of prison and continuing to make improvements in my life. 

Would please share my campaign with someone who might be able to help after helping with anything that you can. Time is running short before my disposition hearing and I believe in God so your prayers are more than welcomed too. If he could pull me out of the darkness of my alcoholism I was trapped in for so many years then he too can send the right people to cross my path that can help. Thank you so much for reading my story. Thank you so much for your contributions even if it is only a prayer. I am grateful you took the time to read and reflect on my situation. Thank you and God Bless!

Funded Justice

Mothers fight & custody battle w/narcissist

My name is crystal, I've had sole custody of my kids since their births. 2014 my son is two my daughter is one 

their father has disowned them since birth claiming they aren't his. Took him a year to pay support  for my son and now longer for my daughter.  He never paid any of the 16,000 in medical. Never paid any daycare. And only used 30 days of his visits in three years. He's abusive to me and my kids emotionally and financially. Heels run me into the ground with debt of lawyers. My house is now foreclosing because he filed a TRO and took custody of them. Accused me of child abuse! That picture above was from before he took them! They are not abused! It's now been 5 months and the courts still disregard me and my requests to have my kids home. We are all Alaskan native. And even ICWA won't help me. I'm hopeless and sad. 

I never in my life thought there was a pain like this one. My heart is in pieces. 

I just want want my kids home. 

I have 6o days to come up with 6,000 for my retainer for our two day trial. Please help me live my life again 

Funded Justice

Need help... Losing everything!

This story is about 2 people being targeted by the local Sheriff's Department. My name is Jane and my boyfriend's name is Jon (names withheld because of cases) We have been trying to fight this cause on our own because we do not have the funds to hire an attorney. We both had 4 felony counts filed against us (same charges and same evidence). My charges were dismissed due to lack of probable cause. Jon was found guilty on 3 of the counts. Confusing that he was found guilty when mine were dismissed and the county attorney's office used the same evidence. Those charges are on Appeal. The past 5 years have been mentally and physically exhausting. We have had everything taken from us including our place to live, personal belongings, employment and our reputation. We have lost friends and family due to the wrongdoing by the sheriff's department. We do have concrete proof of the harassment and wrongdoing. We have tried fighting this on our own but can't get justice from the courts. It's just too hard for me to represent myself and Jon because the sheriff's department and county attorney's office continue to pile more and more on us. Most recent case where we had the evidence needed to prove the case and the Defendant didn't even bother showing up and we still lost! We have tried filing complaints with the sheriff's department regards to someone forging my name to gain a vehicle title (took 2 months for the sheriff's department to finally take complaint) but made me do the investigating to get the proof of forgery which I did and they are still not helping us. We have had multiple search warrants that have been illegal and multiple occasions where the sheriff's have searched our property without warrant or consent. They have allowed multiple people to take things from us without proof of ownership. The people just point to the item and say it's theirs and sheriff's department gives it to them. We have provided bills of sale and other kinds of proof of ownership and the items are still taken from us. The sheriff's department and county attorney's office have taken everything from us. They continuously tell people we are bad people, we lie, steal and say we have been charged and convicted multiple times. Which is a blatant lie. We have multiple cases going on trying to get some justice but the courts, sheriff's  and county attorney's office keep making new loopholes so we lose or have to file another motion which is so hard for us to keep fighting on our own. The sheriff's department refused to file an accident report when our suburban was hit by someone who was trespassing on our property. And there is so much more wrongdoing that its too much to write it all here. I do have the evidence to support everything i am saying if anyone would like to see it. We need to hire an attorney to put a stop to what is happening to us and as important to stop anything like this to happen to other people. We have about lost everything and are to a point of complete devastation.  

Please help us raise funds to hire an attorney so we can prove to the community that there is much wrongdoing by the local justice system (sheriffs, county attorney's office and courts).

Funded Justice

Raise for Raelina!

Hey everyone! My name is Genna and I have a 6 year old little girl. Her name is Raelina. She is in 1st grade, she loves animals, cheese pizza, and playing at the park. She has 3 cousins she absolutely loves to play with. She has a dog named Darcy which she considers her baby.

I am asking for help in paying for a GAL for her. She is a little girl who has visitation with her father who suffers from ptsd and anxiety. She has come home saying some pretty terrible things about what happens at her visits and she has told her GAL that she is scared her father will hurt her entire family. We have been to court about these things she has said; the judge and her GAL have given my mother a protective order against her father. She has also stated that she is scared of her father and would prefer not to have overnight visits with him. I have also been told he has been doing things no father should ever do with his child and am asking for help in ensuring that my child no longer has to go to his home and fear him. 

 

Funded Justice

Help Bryant Cook raise money for wrongful sentence

Hi my name is Ariana Cook I am 23 years old and I am starting this campaign for my dad Bryant Cook. Unfortunately my father has been a victim of our prison system injustices. He was convicted on crack/cocaine charges conspiracy to distribute in 5/1997 . My dad was given a life sentence and he was not convicted with any evidence he was also lied on in  trial.  There is no reason he should be in prison this long when rapist and murderers are going free. My dad is not a violent man even in prison his record has been impeccable.

These are words from my father 

I had a winning issue I filed in my 2255 that was a "general verdict" issue. The judge ruled in my favor and then allowed the prosecutor to file a motion to alter/amend and the judge granted the prosecutors motion agreeing with the prosecutor that I failed to object to my jury instructions. The court knew it was wrong and somehow my attorney on my 2255 failed to timely appeal the most important appeal of my life, and the Sixth Circuit would not hear my appeal. I have not filed anything since then. I filed a late 60(b) motion after I found that the district court failed to rule on my discovery motion before making a final decision on my 2255 but the judge said that I was past the time for filing that 60(b) motion. 

There has been so much corruption with this case and I am looking to get help raising money to find a lawyer that will help fight this case and expose the injustices in how our minority's are sentenced.

He has been fighting this case for 18 years by himself . We would appreciate all help .

\

Funded Justice

Build a R.A.M. base in Pittsburgh!

Firstly, the revolutionary movement must vigorously direct its activities towards slavery/prison abolition and the abolition of all forms of captivity. 

Secondly, our long-term vision must be to abolish the state itself. 

The overarching scope of our struggle must focus on building abolitionist counter-power and helping people escape the plantation. While we fight to abolish prisons and the state structure, we must unequivocally fight alongside those who are now the target of state violence, with the intent of ending the entirety of this heinous system. 

The basic focus of our struggle: 

1. Take up the immediate fight to abolish prisons, courts, and ICE detention facilities. 

2. As Abolitionists, we must fight unequivocally with Black, Latino, Native, Muslim people, and all those subjected to prison society and white supremacy. 

3. The struggle must be feminist, and predicated on queer and trans liberation. 

4. The Abolitionist struggle must fight for decentralized, commune-based political organization, and stand resolutely against capitalism and the state. 

5. The struggle must be orientated toward militant self-defense, and devise specific plans for offensive actions against reactionary forces. 

6. The Abolitionist long-term goal is to get rid of the justice system, the nation-state, and the capitalist economy. 

We must defend people from captivity as well as our political centers, we can not be on the defense indefinitely. The state is in a weaker position today than it has been in decades. The moment we act is up to us. "The secret is to really begin." 

Pittsburgh is home to a wealth of anti-authoritarian groups & projects. We hope to deepen the local scope of these groups by tying the actions to neighborhood self-governance, and a larger political project. Connecting the projects to each other by increasing resources, participants and deepening our commitments to revolutionary political solutions. 

Strengthening connections between projects helps reinforce each one and builds up pragmatic resources and defense. Revolutionary initiatives and projects form new political and social relations base on mutual aid and neighborhood self-sufficiency. 

The most essential tasks are to create the ideological underpinnings for revolt and the necessary infrastructure that can sustain action and long-term organization. 

An overarching political objective is absolutely necessary. In order to go on the offensive, groups need a foundational reason to act, to liberate individuals, to liberate new territories, or weaken the state 

We seek to tie pragmatic feminism into the larger abolitionist framework whose main pragmatic purpose is to help those fleeing oppressive situations and state repression, while forming a militant wing to help protect this political project. 

The process of undoing gender roles can be viewed as similar to the process of dismantling the carceral state. Putting self-defense at the origin of this process has the potential of both building strength and uprooting stagnant roles. 

When people have the opportunity to autonomously defend themselves, and fight for others, the nomativity of fixed identities are called into question, and the process of abolishing gender, and creating a fluid world of self-determination becomes possible. 

This opening necessitates larger political organization. With revolutionary defense tied to the origins of this project we can begin fighting for the diffusion of power, and as power is diffused, new possibilities arise with a proliferation of identities. 

Anarchists and other revolutionary groups have already began self-defense classes, queer gun-clubs, and rapid response networks for transpeople. By tying these projects to a broader revolutionary mission, multiplying their efforts by training new complementary units, placing them at the center of social organizations and creating the avenues for mutual support, we can build viable self-defense and the capacity to release others from bondage. 

It is impossible to speak about resolving social conflicts in the U.S. without addressing the agents of the State and reactionary, racist forces, and their consistent use of terror to maintain their social and political position. 

No platform, no dialogue, no inch of territory, and certainly no concern can be ceded to those who either threaten or unleash authoritarian, white supremacist violence. As the Italian anarchist Alfredo M. Bonanno has eloquently put it, "The life of someone who oppresses others and prevents them from living is not worth a cent!" 

Revolutionary change will not come as a singular event, nor an immediate exchange of power, but an ongoing struggle to free us all from the bonds of oppression and distribute power to communities of resistance. The illusion that a small group can seize state power and enact the will of the majority has dried up in the gulags, prisons, and killing fields of nation-states around the world. 

Within the scope of the Abolitionist struggle, it is essential to work towards a long term liberatory solution. The legacy of previous struggles in the U.S. demonstrates that our need for new methods of revolutionary organization must be built deliberately, completely outside the caceral apparatus of the state, and grounded in the predominant conflicts in the country. Our projects integrity depends on whether it is rooted in destroying the slave-state, revolutionary decentralization, and vigorous self- defense to prevent other political forces from subsuming or defeating us. 

Revolutionary communities must exemplify the new socio-political relationships that they seek to create in society at large. 

By laying proper political frameworks both in terms of practice and ideology, revolutionary groups today have the capacity to turn the tide of spontaneous revolt into something that can sustain itself. If successful, we will inspire others to acts of revolutionary justice and self-liberation, initiating participation in building the political foundations of the future. 

The revolution will build the revolution!

Funded Justice

Wounded Warrior needs help with defense

My name is Staff Sergeant Haley Clover. I am active duty military soon being medically retired from the USAF. I am an OIF veteran and have served 10 honorable years in service of my country. I am an Air Force Wounded Warrior Ambassador where I travel and speak out against domestic violence and suicide. Most importantly I am a Mother of a beautiful 1.5 year old daughter. 

I have been in an abusive relationship with her father for three years. I have this documented for well over a year with family advocacy and mental health. I spoke to my command 15 August 2017 and asked them via text to secure a house on base for my daughter and myself to safely move into as I was finally ready to leave the toxic relationship. This was secret and was going to be done very fast to ensure both my daughter and my well being, as the most dangerous time for the victim of an abuser is when he or she leaves. 

Somehow my child's father found out about my plan to leave him. Within an hour of finding out he called the Police Department and told them I had hit him. Prior to this taking place he was screaming and yelling at me so I went outside and sat on the lawn to let him cool down. I do not know how they were able to determine if I hit him or not however, I was arrested simply for the accusation of domestic abuse. 

This was an attempt to make me out to be the abuser in order to get custody of our daughter. When I was at work last Friday he left the state with our daughter and went to Iowa.

I have contacted 11 different law offices to get consultations and advice. I know with this serious charge I need competent legal representation. The lowest quote I received was from an attorney I do not trust very well and that was $3200.00. The attorneys are 99.9 percent sure the case will get dismissed, but the amount due up front for them to lift a finger in my defense is $5000.00. It is a flat rate, but a high one. 

I cannot express enough that this case is all out of spite on the other party's end and despite being hurt and confused I am absolutely terrified. I have no where near that amount of money. It is also not easy for me to ask for help. But I will always do whatever I can for my daughter. I hope to amicably work out custody with her father but this is a serious charge and I have no hope of being able to do that with this offense lingering over my head. 

I sincerely thank you you for taking the time to read about my story and ask if you cannot help financially to say a Prayer for my daughter and me. 

V/r,

Haley

Funded Justice

Help Jamie get custody of her children.

My name is Jamie i am a recovering herion addict. I have been clean now FOR over 3 years i Love my children to death like every mother does i Lost custody of my children when my twin boys were born. I got custody of my daughter back a year and a half ago but im still trying to get my sons home where they belong. Please help me ive tried calling legal aid and noone Will help me i feel as If im never going to be complete without all of my children home so please find it in Your heart to help me. 

Funded Justice

Help bring my babies back to papa

I am the dad of 2 beautiful kids. Their mom has left with them. I have struggled for years bettering our position, yet she would be happier on welfare surrounded by people who would not be the best influence.

Over time she has become more and more angry and disillusioned with me and where we are. She has been arrested twice for attacking me. I wanted her happy for the kids if not me, but no luck.

I had finally agreed to pursue a divorce, after counseling and many other efforts. I was having the papers drawn up and ready to move out. When I arrived home from my 12 hour shift tjis morning, she had taken my babies and was gone. The house a mess, clothes gone. I was distraught. Now I need to come up with even more money for legal fees to find them and end this as peaceably as possible.

Funded Justice

LA'VON CHISLEY-- INNOCENT

My name is Janese Scott... I want you to meet my best friend La'Von Chisley. He went to Penn State with dreams of making it in the NFL one day. He wasn't too far from getting drafted. He was a hard worker and excellent player. He had his life ahead of him. Everything was going well until his best friend passed. Langston Carraway got stabbed over 90 times in his apartment (God rest his soul). La'Von got life in prison for both 1st and 3rd degree murder. The same night that Mr. Carraway got stabbed La'Von was at a girls house. The girl refuses to testify because she did not want her best friend to know she was sleeping with him as well. La'Von was young and a football player.

"For the amount of blood at the scene from this vicious attack, there was no blood inside the car that my client was driving that night," Chisley's lawyer states. "According to the forensic pathologist, the victim had 41 defense wounds. He was fighting for his life, and yet my client had no scratches, bruises or signs of a struggle."

Please help me get a lawyer for my best friend. He is innocent and is serving life without parole for something he did not even do. No one deserves that :(.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-09-29/news/0709290344_1_chisley-penn-state-football-carraway

\

Funded Justice

Save our youth

I'm Khalia and my nearest and dearest friend Jaquel Foots is being accused of 1st degree murder. It's  a Heinous reason as to why they are saying he did this. More like ridiculous. The courts are saying he killed a man because he wouldn't share a blunt with him. A random stranger. That is the most ridiculous thing ever. I know he did not do this. His family knows we just need help proving it. I along with his girlfriend is trying our hardest to come up with the money because we've spoken to several lawyers and we found one that has real  potential. But he wants at least 20k. Now I'm positive we can make this happen because he said we can do a payment plan but he wants a down payment of about half or almost. I started with that because I want you to know what is it I need right away so that you don't waste your time reading. Everyone has a story and everyone has someone they love being accused of something. He didn't do this. When his mother was murder in 2014 right before Christmas he became lost and depressed. Now in 2017 he is still that lost and depressed boy. He took a few wrong turns but nothing this drastic. The night this murder happened he was home with his son plenty of people there to attest to this but because he hang around people who was doing wrong and he is guilty. He is the most respectful humble person I have ever met. He lost his father long before his mother and he and his siblings are on their own. They only have each other. He needs a second chance at life. He wants a second chance to do things differently. He wants a chance to raise his son who is looking up to him. He hates that his son and his younger siblings have to see him in jail. He needs a fighting chance and you all can help us help him. We just need a leg in the race because the state see a young black gang member and that's not the case. Sadly, who we know make sure us guilty in the eyes of the law but he can't help his friends became over time. He is just a young  boy who hasn't had a chance to experience life. Please help us give him this chance. 

Funded Justice

Disabled and loosing hope

I'm a 50 years old disabled mother of three. I have bipolar, extreme anxiety, PTSD. I'm on SSDI $899 a mth. No transportation. Equity in house gone because he and his girlfriend trashed it for the past 2 years. I can't partition because of $100,000+ judgment lien. I live 4 hours away from my children (adults) but still my babies. I miss them. In a 1974 trailer and rent is 60% my income. $7500 in credit card debt. No support since August 2013. The pressures from upcoming hearing are overwhelming. I have a great case but so complex. I panic in court. Procedures for evidence, exhibits, cross examination, pre trial statements, proposed order.... Contempt hearing  pending because he refuses to pay $288 a month. I just filed subpoena's which OC objected to and wants sanctions. It will expose his clients purjury. Offering $350 a month alimony, modifiable. I can't get $288. He makes $47,000 yr. Finally found a fantastic atty. Advised me to do my own discovery to lower costs. $6000 retainer. Without help to present my case I'll get nothing. I need money for medical expenses. I am unable to support myself. Medications not all covered by Medicare. Alimony not for vacations. Don't qualify for legal aid. Nowhere to turn. I need this attorney. She is actually interested in fighting for me. I'm running out of time and hope. Thank you for reading my request. I'm grateful. Traci 

Funded Justice

Everyone deserves to be heard

I'm a mother who is in need of financial help. I'm not asking for a handout. What I'm asking for is a chance to help my son receive a fair trial. This days unfortunately you are considered guilty and Must prove that your not. In our economy being able to afford a lawyer is almost impossible for anyone let alone a mother of six. Please help my son receive a fair trial with a lawyer that can make sure of that. I will not condone breaking the law but I believe my son has been wrongly accused and I need your help.

Thank you

Funded Justice

Falsely Accused Mother

I need help to hire an attorney to get my babies back. They are trying to make me relook like an unfit mother. I NEVER have EVER been abusive to my kids. We are victims of abuse by their father. He has emotionally and financially abused me and the kids since before they were born born. Then became absent,  afterwards I got away from his abuse. I decided it was time to end it. I couldn't stand one more day in that life with him hurting me and I sure didn't want him to hurt my babies. 

Now he's taken them with emergency restraining order and has alienated me from their lives. Please help me to pay an attorney to fight for them. 

They are my angels, please help us. 

Funded Justice

Help save Maliks' freedom

As a single parent while trying to be the best mother I could, I never thought I would be fighting for my son's freedom. I can not do this alone. I just work an 8-5 job while taking care of 2 other children and helping with my grandchild. I know God is on my side; my family, and friends have been helping me stay strong along the way. We can always say this would never happen to me and my family but you never can predict what the future have in store. I then tried to fight the battle long as I can, but know I am reaching out for help to pay for my sons legal fees. Of course some will say why he just don't get a court appointed lawyer, but we all know in today's society that's why the young ends up in jail for life sentences for stuff they didn't do, due to not having a great lawyer. My son Malik have been charged for a murder charge he didn't commit. So know you can see how I feel if you cant get your son an attorney, he can possibly be sent away at the age of 21 for a crime he didn't commit. He have a 10 month old child and have another one due on Christmas day. I can't say my son have had a peachy clean life but I know my son wouldn't pull the trigger to murder anyone. Pretty much anyone that knows my son can agree to that. We are needing to raise $27000 for his attorney fees, which $10000 go toward preliminary hearing and the rest toward his trail. I just want justice to be served fairly with my son and not him just going to jail because they can't find who really did it so they want to just put the blame on someone, another young black man, just to say the case have been solved. As a mother if a part of my mind, body, or soul felt that he did this crime I wouldn't be reaching out for help. So again I reach out to all people I know and people I don't know if you can continue to share this story to help get Malik freedom.

Thanks again, 

Funded Justice

Stafford's Antitrust Legal Funding Campaign

   Furquan R. Stafford is my birth name and I am a African-American medical researcher entrepreneur in the field of human blood plasma in Atlanta, Georgia.  I've been attempting to start a blood plasma collection facility for the last 23 years that would market to African-American donors in the local community. 

     American History documentation states that from their life contributions, African-American slaves have been used for medical experimentation for drugs we use today in our healthcare system.  In addition, African-Americans blood and plasma have been denied and segregated.  Moving forward, today our plasma donations at foreign plasma collection companies (Grifols, Octapharma, CSL Behring, BiotestAG, Baxalta, Kedrion) in the United States has become the fuel to a global economic machine, for these companies, which African-Americans are the "number one plasma donors" (75% to 80%) in the United States.  The community reaps no benefits; either social or economic business opportunities.  There is not "one" African-American owned plasma collection facility in the United States.

     The U.S. plasma collection industry is a multi-billion dollar industry.  And annually, it maneuvers as a constricted oligopoly.  The U.S. plasma collection industry is small, compared to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, but it provides critical, life-saving, therapeutic proteins for the treatment of chronic and acute, hereditary, and acquired conditions.  Indications for these proteins found in human plasma vary widely from their historic use in the treatment of hemophilia and other rare protein deficiencies to use in treating immunodeficiency, immunomodulation, and fluid resuscitation. 

     For the past few years, I have done research and prepared my complaint studying at The United States District Court, and Georgia State Univiersity Law libraries. The case is now pending in the 11th circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.  The money raised will go towards retaining antitrust legal representation from Alston & Bird LLP. I am seeking help with the contributing funds and/or sharing funding campaign for antitrust legal representation.

     In my humble opinion,  I would like to believe that I have become a leader in the community at large.  I have relationships with people of all colors, religious beliefs, and races.  I am a faithful husband, loving father and a man after God's heart. #MadeInAmerica #TheresLifeInTheBlood #CPPlasmaCenter #iamSTAFFORD

Funded Justice

Bring my Sunshine Home

I'm a single parent who has always done everything on my own until I became disabled and my finances lowered I was still making it but not enjoying it like we were I was in the medical field and I miss it terribly I enjoy more helping someone than asking for help I'm in dire need of a good attorney I pray all the time for some sort of miracle and I'm doing changes in my life my child is only been gone a couple years but feels like a lifetime she is with the other parent their family stalks me all over the internet and I get criticized for what I do if I ask help from anyone they be sure and third of my face I don't care anymore what they think I just want my child back and she wants to be back where she calls home she tells everyone home is where my mommy is she's been having a lot of problems lately crying and wanting me with her right then and there of course I can't but it just breaks my heart to hear her cry and tell me she wants me so bad and to be home she already started school where she's at but where I live they haven't started yet and wanting her back before they do and I don't want my daughter to shed any more tears of sadness she needs to be heard she's been hurting many ways I don't want to explain I had no control I wasn't with her at the time but it saddens me to pieces but I can't blame myself so I'm pleading begging and praying for some help even if it's only $5 you can give that's $5 more than what I have now I just asked that you pray for her to keep her strength to keep praying and not give up she's told me she would run away to me if I couldn't get her I told her she cannot do that plus she is too far away I asked her what she would do cuz walking here will not happen she said fine I'll just ask for her to take me home I kind of chuckled while shedding tears so please help my daughter and I thank you and God bless

Funded Justice

I deserve respect but no ones listening

Hi...in June of this year i lost my 2 children to the department of human services in Iowa. I suffer from mental illness. Anxiety..depression..and addiction. My court oppointed lawyer is useless. I need to hire a lawyer to help me. One that will fight for me. Ive done plenty of foot work to prove my case. No one listens or will even take me seriously. I feel discrimination. Ive made mistakes but i love my kids and they love me. We need each other. Being punished for asking for help w my issues. It only brought another issue. Dhs at my door to judge me. Im scared now to tell anyone my issues anymore. If i had a descent lawyer he could get these people to start doing their job.

Thank you

Sheri Keltner

Funded Justice

Justice for Joeffy

Grief and darkness have enveloped my family and relatives right now. I’ve learned only recently that two days after I left the Philippines for Honolulu (where I'm doing graduate studies), my younger brother Joeffy was arrested by two police officers for allegedly using and selling drugs (but his drug test results: NEGATIVE). These two police officers have used my brother as exhibit in their “accomplishment” report. My brother, now in prison in Libona Bukidnon, is wondering what he did wrong. Truth be told, he committed no crime.

This is what happened: Joeffy was on his motorcycle and on his way back home from a nearby barangay. Two police officers stopped him at a rather quiet section of the national road. They pointed a pistol at him and was told to raise his hands. He complied. Then the female police officer rummaged in his pocket and “found” 2 sachets of shabu (meth) and 500 pesos. The report says my brother was caught in a buy-bust operation. But there was obviously no buy-bust operation. Again, he was alone on his motorcycle. The officers stopped him. Where was the buy-bust? There was no transaction between him and a buyer. Ridiculous!

Unlike me who’s privileged in many ways, my younger brother is a school dropout. He got into trouble several times when he was a teenager, but several (7?) years ago, when he began to realize how hard it is to earn a living, all of us in the family saw his change of character. When I was home during the summer, Joeffy told me he wanted to learn more and if I could please teach him to improve his reading ability, and so I did. We had reading sessions for several nights. Every time I go back to the Philippines, he humbly drives me to work or whenever I need to get a haircut or want to eat balut. He patiently cooks for us at home. Despite being a school dropout, Joeffy has managed to pull his act together. He earns a living by growing chickens and pigs. He doesn’t drink or smoke, much less do drugs. He doesn’t stay out late at night and is usually already home at 5PM to cook dinner or to watch the teledrama WildFlower. Recently, he took to driving a habal-habal. Joeffy is an avid supporter of Duterte’s war on drugs. When I was home for the summer, he told me how he likes the fact that now drug users in our barangay have already stopped using drugs out of fear that they will end up getting killed. I had to remind him about human rights. Sometimes we argued because he doesn’t seem to see how the current regime attacks and dehumanizes the poor, the vulnerable. I also had to remind him that Martial Law allows the police officers to arrest anyone without warrant.

A couple of months ago, I read an article that warns people about “Tanim Shabu” (planted meth as evidence, always 2 sachets!) which has become rampant during Duterte’s regime. I even posted it on Facebook, warning friends that it could happen to anyone. But I never really imagined it happening to my brother. Now the police officers have an “accomplishment” to show to Duterte and to PNP Chief Bato that they are “doing their job”. But at whose expense? They target the poor because they know it is financially difficult for us to get good lawyers. What has happened to our country? We have public lawyers who are afraid of Duterte. We have judges who are afraid of Duterte. We have lawyers who are afraid of being targeted by vigilantes. There is no safe place for anyone anymore, not even our sleepy town in Bukidnon.

Didn’t Pres Duterte himself tell his policemen on national TV that if a drug suspect has no gun, give him a gun and kill him by making it appear that he fought back? Didn’t Duterte himself admit, again on national TV, to planting evidence while he was a fiscal lawyer? And look at the spate of killings lately. Over 10 thousand killed and counting! Many of our police officers cannot be trusted. Recently, the murder of 17-year old Kian Delos Santos and many more who got killed because they “fought back”, when witnesses, including CCTVs, say otherwise shows that this government could have started the war on drugs by doing reforms in the Philippine National Police and in our justice system. Or that maybe a war against poverty is a much better route.

My family is afraid for the safety of my brother, especially that Duterte’s rhetoric enables our country’s police officers to kill with impunity. But it's exactly the silence of the poor that allows the abuses of many police officers. My family will not be silenced. We will use the amount collected from this fundraising effort and our family's limited resources (including my small stipend as a graduate assistant) to get good lawyers who can defend Joeffy. We are poor, but we will do everything we can to resist. Please help us pray for strength as we seek justice for my brother.

***For Philippine Peso deposit, send money via Western Union to:

Eleanor E. Parba

Contact #: 09260146164

Funded Justice

Help us keep Little Lesa safe from medical abuse

Little Lesa's daddy is in the US Army, stationed in Alaska as a military
dog handler....about as far away as a father can be from his child while
still living in the US,....thousands of miles from southern Florida,
where his daughter currently lives with her mother. He has been fighting in 
the FL court system for several years now as Munchausen by Proxy is suspected and now funds to keep the attorney and the assigned social investigator have 
run out.
They need your help desperately. The courts in FL have finally begun
listening and paying attention to his concerns. A psychologist to
perform a home study has been assigned, however ....since Guy lives in
Alaska, he is required to foot this bill himself, 100%. If he cannot get the
psychologist to complete the study, including the interviewing of the doctors familiar with the suspected abuse, he does not get a fair
evaluation and all efforts will cease. Without this much needed evaluation 
taking place, Guy runs an extremely high risk of losing the only chance he has at having his daughter share in his and his families love in her house on
Alaska and most importantly, Lesa remains in an environment that is not 
conducive to a healthy development. 
Please help us build an urgent fund to keep the attorney and Florida psychologist so an appropriate evaluation can be performed properly.
Blessings to all. 

Funded Justice

Bullied By Big Business

Hi, my name is Eddie Renz and I live in Denton, Texas. In 2015 I launched a small local brand called "Denton Swag" that sells Denton, Texas themed shirts and prints. I had a number of friends tell me I needed to trademark my name and so I did. In April of 2017 I received an opposition to my trademark from a Company called SaraMax Apparel Group that owns a trademark called Dr. Denton. Dr. Denton is an ancient brand that sold prams and onesies for babies. 

At first I thought this was going to be a simple process of just responding to a few emails from a law firm called Oved & Oved out of New York, but as the process dragged on I realized quickly I was in over my head and I needed to consult an attorney. The first attorney said they needed a retainer of $25,000 and that this trademark battle could exceed $100,000 easily! Yikes. This little business of mine hasn't even made a profit yet! So I thought I would ask them if we could settle and they sent me a response that included turning my domain name over to them, why would they want to take my domain name from me? 

On Jun 26, 2017, at 4:33 PM, Aaron J. Solomon, Esq. <aaron@ovedlaw.com> wrote:

Mr. Renz:

In furtherance of our recent discussion, our client is willing to resolve this matter on the following terms:

1)You file a notice of abandonment for the trademark “Denton Swag” and or assign same to us;

2)You agree not to file any similar Trademark application containing the name Denton in connection with apparel or to challenge any Trademark or Trademark filing by our client

3) You discontinue use of the domain name dentonswag.com and assign same to us

4)You discontinue the sale of any clothing bearing the name Denton both online and in stores.

If the foregoing are agreed to our client is will to permit your continued sale of other non-garment Denton branded products such as coffee mugs, etc.

Please advise.

Very truly yours,

Aaron J. Solomon, Esq. | OVED & OVED LLP

401 Greenwich Street | New York NY 10013

V : 212.226.2376 x 229 | F : 212.226.7555

aaron@ovedlaw.com | www.ovedlaw.com

Fortunately, after doing some research I found Bricolage Law - a boutique firm that specializes in trademark law. I talked to Eve Brown who explained to me that this company had no right to oppose my trademark and that this opposition was frivolous at best - especially since Dr. Denton products are no longer being sold in stores! 

Eve's fees are much more reasonable and the max cost would be $54,000, but if we can get the whole thing dismissed it may only cost 15,000. This amount is much more reasonable and will not only help my cause, but will help grow Bricolage Law continue to help other small businesses. Their goal is to help small business owners stop big businesses from claiming that a trademark is infringing and destroying small businesses just because they have the resources to step on small business owners. 

Please help me raise the 15,000 to fight this Trademark opposition and to help other current and future small business owners in Denton. Bullying should not be allowed of our city. If businesses know that can't run over the little guys and gals then maybe they will stop the lawsuits.

Thank you for your support!

Funded Justice