Axinn attorneys Lauren S. Albert, Nicholas E.O. Gaglio and Irina C. Rodríguez along with legal assistant Rose Kenerson, have been named as recipients of inMotion’s 2013 “Commitment to Justice” Award.  The award will be presented to the team at the annual Commitment to Justice ceremony on February 7, 2013, at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.

The team received this honor in recognition of their representation of a pro bono client seeking a divorce after suffering years of emotional abuse by her husband.  The husband brought suit against his wife in September 2009 in the Supreme Court – Bronx County.  Through inMotion, the Axinn team began representing the wife in September 2010.  Following extensive fact and expert discovery, a hearing was held to determine the issues of equitable distribution and spousal maintenance.  During the morning session, the Axinn team secured a favorable settlement on equitable distribution, with the wife receiving a 50 percent share of the husband’s pension benefits and a significant share of the husband’s annuity benefits.  A trial was then held on the issue of lifetime spousal maintenance where the Axinn team successfully introduced more than 50 pieces of evidence, including a report by a vocational expert.  On January 12, 2012, the Court awarded the wife lifetime spousal maintenance.  The Axinn team achieved this victory through diligent and extensive work totaling almost one thousand hours.

inMotion provides free legal services to low-income women in New York City.  Their services are designed to address the unique needs of women who suffer from abuse—with most clients being survivors of domestic violence.  inMotion focuses on reaching women living in immigrant communities who are isolated by language and cultural barriers.