Yet despite his winning forays into highly publicized courtroom conflicts, Mr. Leving has kept the core of his practice focused on ordinary fathers and grandparents who are fighting to rescue their children from abusive or otherwise dangerous environments. Many of his clients have come from Chicago, and to honor the struggle to provide residents of the city with positive male role models, he has founded The Fatherhood Educational Institute, which seeks to promote responsible father involvement in impoverished communities. Mr. Leving is also the governor-appointed Chair of the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood (www.ResponsibleFatherhood.Illinois.gov), which initiates public awareness campaigns on the value of involved fathers and is available to assist state agencies with resources to help fathers become involved and engaged in their children’s lives. The Council also reviews state agency practices and promotes legislation that encourages positive fatherhood involvement.

During Mr. Leving’s interview with Art Norman, he discussed the challenge of educating boys from impoverished urban backgrounds and the need to develop curricula that educates and nourishes the whole person, touching on issues of cultural pride and self-esteem as well as academics. He referenced his recent opinion column, “Rescuing our young men,” which appeared in the Culture section of the February 27^th edition of The Chicago Defender, the legendary South Side newspaper.

Starting on Friday, March 8^th, viewers can see the interview on Cozi TV at the following times:

• Friday , March 8th at 7 p.m. and 11:35 p.m. during Cozi’s Ward Room show

• Saturday, March 9^th and Sunday, March 10^th during Scene Chicago at 5 p.m. both days

Cozi TV can be found on:

Comcast:  341

RCN:  50

WOW: 130

Direct TV:  5.2

You can view the video through this link: Jeffery Leving and Art Norman

Attorney Andrey Filipowicz

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – On December 20^th, the Illinois Appellate Court issued an order upholding the decision of Judge Chickris of the 14^th Judicial Circuit to award an Alsip father residential custody of his three-year-old son.

Attorney Andrey Filipowicz of the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving successfully argued the father’s case, laying claim to another critical success in a two-year battle. Broder v. Giba has been an unusual case in Illinois family law, with the Court taking the extraordinary step of keeping part of the record impounded and from public view.

The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving also represented the father in the original trial, which the father also won.

After reviewing the legal briefs presented by Filipowicz and the mother’s attorney as well as the evidence from the trial stage, the Appellate Court affirmed the trial court’s finding that the father was the most stable and responsible of the two parents, and the most willing to foster a continuing relationship between the child and the other parent.

The Court found that the mother had deliberately skewed her presentation of certain events in order to harm the father’s right to custody.

“The Appellate Court has wisely decided that even in the case of a very young child, a loving father and caring father is on an equal footing in a custody case,” says Filipowicz, who has over twenty-five years of experience advocating for fathers and children. “This case goes a long way in dispelling the myth that custody of a young child will automatically be awarded to a mother.”

The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving is nationally renowned for its advocacy on behalf of fathers. The firm’s founder, Mr. Leving, is the author of the influential books, How to Be a Good Divorced Dad: Being the Best Parent You Can be Before, During, and After the Break-Up, Divorce Wars: A Field Guide to the Winning Tactics, Preemptive Strikes, and Top Maneuvers When Divorce Gets Ugly and Fathers’ Rights: Hard-Hitting & Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. In 2012, President Barack Obama awarded Mr. Leving the National Lifetime Call to Service Award.

Andrey Filipowicz, a leading litigator at the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, has been honored by the NationalCenter for Missing & Exploited Children “in recognition and appreciation for outstanding commitment to the protection of children and the knowledge of the Hague Convention on the civil aspects of international child abduction.” He was also invited by the White House Office of Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships as an expert resource in the First Annual White House Town Hall Meeting on Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families.

We are investigating whether employers violated the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act by deducting more than $5.00 per month from the paychecks of Illinois employees who pay child support through automatic payroll deductions. Employers who violate the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act may be required to pay current and former employees any wages that were unlawfully deducted, and other damages.

Who may have a claim

All current and former employees in Illinois who are paying or who have paid child support through automatic deductions from their paychecks may have a claim.

Further information

We welcome inquiries. If you would like more information about a potential claim please contact: 312-807-3990 or email us at info@dadsrights.com

Fathers’ Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving was honored in a House Resolution (HR0995) by the Illinois House of Representatives for his work in safeguarding the rights of fathers and protecting the welfare of children and families. The Resolution was adopted on April 26, 2012, in the Illinois House of Representatives honoring Leving for his “forward-thinking initiatives in the field of law and father’s rights” and that Leving “serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois.” Attorney Leving will be presented with the Resolution by the Illinois House of Representatives as a symbol of their esteem and respect.

VIEW PDF – HR0995

Resolution (page1)
Resolution (page 2)

– CHICAGO– Dec. 21, 2011 – Prominent custody litigator Arthur Kallow of the Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving. Ltd., obtained possession of a 14-year-old child after she was found to be living in a potentially dangerous environment.  Cook County Judge Martha A. Mills ordered a transfer of possession of the young child to her father this week.

The 14-year-old girl was identified to be living at the home of an unrelated 35-year-old La Grangeman, Anthony Valerio, who is currently being investigated on drug charges.

According to court documents, the home where the child was residing was ransacked in a home invasion by three suspects using firearms on Dec. 9, 2011.  A subsequent investigation led La Grange Police to arrest Valerio on drug charges.  That is when the child’s father Oscar Arcineigas leapt into action to immediately obtain possession of his daughter.

Judge Mills entered an order stating that the mother, “shall not expose the child to Anthony Valerio and shall not bring the child to any location in which illegal drugs are present or otherwise expose the child to illegal drugs.”  Valerio has a history of alleged illegal drug violations.

Attorney Art Kallow stressed the vital importance of the kind of environment a child should have. “Growing up, a child’s home should be a nest of protection and safety, but that is not always the case.  Generally speaking, residences that double as places of commerce for illegal drugs are simply unsafe and put the child’s interests last.”

The next court date is set for February 9, 2012, at 10:00AM in the Richard J. Daley Center in Courtroom CL12 before Judge Mills.

Jeffery Leving is the publisher of Leving’s Divorce Magazine. (http://levingsdivorcemagazine.com).

Atty Jeff Leving & Pres Obama

Chicago Divorce Lawyer Jeffery Leving and President Obama discuss the importance of the Latino vote for the next Presidential election in New York City.

Atty Jeff Leving & Pres Obama

Chicago, IL – June 23, 2011 – Attorney Jeffery M. Leving will be receiving the “Distinguished Alumnist” award from ManKind Project Chicago (MKP) on June 26, 2011.  The award will be presented at the annual Way of the Warrior (WOW) Dinner & Awards for “Mission of Service.”  MKP is a service-based group who honors men dedicated to improving the lives of others.  Mr. Leving will be receiving this award in recognition of all of his hard work and success promoting and defending the rights of fathers.

“I am thankful to everyone at ManKind Project for such an amazing honor. It goes to show all ManKind leaders in the future that if you work hard for what you believe in, you can change the world like each one of ManKind’s leaders do today,” comment Leving.

Named one of “America’s Best Lawyers” by Forbes Radio, Jeffery Leving is the author of two ground-breaking books, Fathers’ Rights and Divorce Wars.

Jeffery M. Leving received his Juris Doctor from IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law in 1979. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Leving has lectured locally and nationally on family law issues. His firm concentrates in Matrimonial and Family Law where he leads a team of highly skilled and litigators. Mr. Leving received the Recognition and Commendation Award for Meritorious Service to the Public and Legal Community from the Illinois State Bar Association and the coveted “Protection of the Family” award from the Illinois State Crime Commission. In 2006, Mayor Daley and Members of the Chicago City Council honored Jeffery Leving for his tireless campaign to defend men’s rights by enacting a city ordinance declaring the Southeast corner of Madison and LaSalle Streets near the Daley Center Courthouse in Downtown Chicago: “HONORARY JEFFERY M. LEVING WAY”.

Mr. Leving holds the governor appointed position as Chairman of the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood and is also the President Emeritus of the Fatherhood Educational Institute. In August 2009, Mr. Leving was selected by the White House Office of Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships as an expert resource to join senior White House staff and other community leaders at the first White House Community Roundtable and Town Hall Meeting on Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families in Chicago.

CHICAGO, May 3 – Markham Judge Coughlin vacated a $29,000 child support arrearage (and approx. $14K in interest) against U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Clay today. This arrearage was set January 10th, 2003, based on a default judgment of paternity. The effects of this arrearage were handcuffing Staff Sergeant Clay in his personal financial life and destroyed his credit. This also prevented career advancement in the military.

Photo by Lee Hye-young

These pitfalls should now hopefully be at an end due to the court’s decision today. The Law Offices of Jeffery M, Leving, Ltd. successfully coordinated today’s strategic litigation.

The legal team critically researched the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Civil Relief Act and then filed a motion to vacate the default judgment pursuant to that important federal statute. The court correctly vacated the 2003 default judgment.

After today’s decision, Staff Sergeant Clay was granted a DNA test for the first time to determine if he is the father of the child for whom he had been paying child support for since 2003. Clay has been battling the court system for years for this opportunity to seek justice and was given that chance today.

Jeffery M. Leving Honors Mayor Richard Daley for his Commitment to Chicago Fathers

View Letter Below from Mayor Daley