LITIGATION TRACKER
Featured Litigation
Alexandra Genova | The New York TimesStatus: Ongoing
A landmark class action against the City of New York, alleging that the City’s Administration for Children’s Services routinely uses highly coercive tactics to illegally search tens of thousands of families’ homes each year in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
Status: Won
In February 2025, FJLC won a landmark case in the Second Department ending the longstanding and illegal practice of placing survivors of domestic violence under surveillance when they have been accused of no wrongdoing.
James Estrin | The New York Times
Shawn Inglima | New York Daily NewsStatus: Ongoing
A federal civil rights lawsuit against the New York City Department of Education (DOE) alleging that the NYC DOE regularly retaliates against parents who challenge inadequate educational services for their disabled children by making false calls to ACS.
ALL CASES
Fraser v. New York City Department of Education
Filed January 2026
A federal civil rights lawsuit against the New York City Department of Education (DOE) alleging that the NYC DOE regularly retaliates against parents who challenge inadequate educational services for their disabled children by making false calls to ACS.
In the Matter of Zarae E.
Filed December 2025
Baptiste Hernandez v. Administrative Judge Leanne Michael
Filed September 2025
An appeal in the First Department to expand discovery practices in Family Court.
An appeal asking the Second Department to find that when a person commences an action against the State, and the State moots the action by providing the relief sought, that person is entitled to recover attorneys' fees under the theory that their lawsuit was the "catalyst" for the favorable State action. Here, Ms. Baptiste Hernandez "catalyzed" the State to finally issue a decision—after 18 months of delay—on her Fair Hearing regarding several indicated reports on the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.
Family Justice Law Center v. Administration for Children’s Services
Filed September 2025
A lawsuit against the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) to compel the agency to provide information and data about how the agency separates children from their families.
In the Matter of A.R.
Filed December 2024
In July 2025, FJLC won a landmark case in the First Department ending the longstanding and illegal practice of placing survivors of domestic violence under surveillance when they have been accused of no wrongdoing.
In the Matter of Liam M.
Filed August 2025
Ms. C., a survivor of domestic violence, had never been alleged or found to be an unfit parent. Nevertheless, ACS sought, and the family court granted, a dispositional order authorizing unlimited ACS supervision of Ms. C. and her home. This surveillance lasted for well over a year.
Opening Brief
Oral argument, New York Supreme Court, First Department, Appellate Division (begins at 2:22:20)
K.W. v. The City of New York
Filed April 2025
When K.A. was just six days old, ACS separated him from the custody of his father, K.W., without a court order and without allowing K.W. to say goodbye. K.W. was never alleged or found to be an unfit parent. And yet K.A. was held in non-kinship foster care for over two years.
In the Matter of Sapphire W.
Filed December 2023
In February 2025, FJLC won a landmark case in the Second Department ending the longstanding and illegal practice of placing survivors of domestic violence under surveillance when they have been accused of no wrongdoing.
FJLC Amicus: Matter of Parker J.
Filed August 2025
New York’s highest court ruled for the first time that parents' right to assigned counsel in Family Court proceedings necessarily encompasses the right to effective assistance of counsel.
Decision, State of New York Court of Appeals
Amicus Brief
The Imprint news coverage: ‘We Cannot Throw the Constitution in the Garbage:’ NY High Court Defends Parents’ Right to Effective Lawyers
FJLC Amicus: Matter of Emmanuel C.F.
Filed August 2024
In August 2024, FJLC filed an amicus brief in support of parents whose hearing had taken nearly 10 months and presented oral argument in front of the Appellate Division, First Department. The First Department ordered that family courts must conduct such hearings “expeditiously.”
Decision, New York Supreme Court, First Department, Appellate Division
Amicus Brief
Gould v. The City of New York
Filed February 2024
A landmark class action against the City of New York, alleging that the City’s Administration for Children’s Services routinely uses highly coercive tactics to illegally search tens of thousands of families’ homes each year in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
FJLC v. New York State Office of Court Administration
Filed February 2025
Matter of Lukas B.
Filed January 2025
A motion for leave to the New York Court of Appeals challenging the practice of imposing a duty upon a prospective father to control his pregnant partner’s drug use.
Motion for Leave to Appeal
The Imprint news coverage: A Former Children’s Attorney Explains Why Advocates are Urging NY’s Highest Court to Stop Penalizing Fathers Over Partners’ Drug Use
In the Interests of EF and CF
Filed March 2025
A petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court of Georgia on behalf of Rachel Fuller, a mother whose parental rights to her two children were terminated based on unreliable drug tests. Mounting evidence shows that DFCS regularly relies upon drug tests that are faulty, incomplete, or unreliable to separate families.
Petition
Atlanta News First coverage: ‘I want my children back’ | Mom says her inhaler led to failed drug tests
A lawsuit against the New York Office of Court Administration (OCA) to compel the agency to provide memos and directives from family court judges about scheduling emergency child removal hearings. These materials are critical for advocates to understand and remedy the longstanding problem of delays in emergency child removal hearings, to minimize the consequences of prolonged and unwarranted family separation.