Legal Aid Keeps Families Safe
Maya Devi1 came to Bay Area Legal Aid for help just two months after giving birth to premature twins and while still recovering from a C-section. “For years, I had endured abuse from my husband and members of his family, and the violence escalated significantly during my pregnancy and even more after the babies were born. I was urgently seeking legal support to seek safety for me and my newborns, reaching out to many attorneys and legal organizations, but I couldn’t afford the help I needed…” she said.
Thankfully, BayLegal Family Law Attorney Mia Ragent was available to help her.
Since taking this case in 2022, Mia secured a 3-year restraining order for Ms. Devi, a sole custody order, and an order allowing Ms. Devi to relocate with her children out of state. In addition, she successfully defended Ms. Devi against a restraining order filed by the abuser and took on the unexpected task of defending against an appeal brought by the abuser to challenge the inclusion of their children on her restraining order.
“After [BayLegal] agreed to take my case, I finally felt supported and ready to take the steps I needed to protect myself and my children. I drew strength from my twins, and knowing I had [BayLegal] behind me made a tremendous difference,” Ms. Devi said.
It is extremely common in domestic violence cases for abusers to use litigation as a way to continue weaponizing their power over survivors. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, litigation abuse occurs when an abusive partner attempts to use the courts to maintain or re-establish power over their partner. In Ms. Devi’s case, a retaliatory restraining order from the abuser was one of the tactics he used to try and control and drain her mentally, financially, and emotionally. Access to free legal assistance for Ms. Devi meant that Mia was there to support her so that she did not have to face this retaliatory behavior alone.
“The legal process was very challenging and long physically, emotionally, and mentally—especially because of the trials and harsh backlash from my ex, his family, and even members of my community who viewed my decision as drastic and against the patriarchal social norms. But Mia… stood by me every step of the way. She understood the circumstances I was facing, and we built strong trust. I truly felt that she genuinely helped me and my kids and believed in me, and I trusted her guidance throughout the process,” she said.
On December 2, 2025 Mia argued before the state Court of Appeal, successfully defending against yet more litigation abuse in the form of an appeal filed by Ms. Devi’s abuser. This was a significant win for Ms. Devi and her two young children, who had been suffering throughout this multi-year long process. BayLegal’s Litigation Director Brenda Adams states, “This incredible result is the product of Mia’s meticulous work both at the trial court level and on appeal. Her deep knowledge of the legal issues, perseverance and commitment to her client, and willingness to take on the appeal have enabled this family to finally find safety and begin to move on with their lives. BayLegal is proud to help people like Ms. Devi.”
Bay Area Legal Aid offers access to justice for people in dire circumstances seeking safety related to housing, financial stability, and much more. “I feel so honored and privileged to have traveled on this journey with Ms. Devi, and to witness her incredible resilience and strength,” said Mia. “I am very grateful to all the BayLegal staff who have been part of that process2, as well as pro bono counsel and paralegals who helped me on this appeal3.”
“If it weren’t for [BayLegal], I don’t know where I would be today. They provided the crucial legal support I needed to leave an abusive relationship and ensure the safety of my children and myself. At a time when I had no other support…, [BayLegal] was my support. Legal representation is essential for everyone, but it is especially critical for people facing extreme circumstances and abuse, and fighting injustice and [BayLegal] made that support possible for me,” Ms. Devi said.
- Pseudonym used to protect client’s anonymity. ↩︎
- Thanks to current and former BayLegal staff Laura Van Tassel, Brenda Star Adams, Roxanne Hoegger
Alejandre, Nicole Reyes, Sarah Jacobvitz, Erin Orum, Julie Lemmer, Amber Farrell, and Kemi Mustapha (now Judge Mustapha with the Santa Clara County Superior Court). ↩︎ - Thanks to excellent pro bono counsel including Gretchen Rubel from Hersh Family Law Practice and William W. Oxley, Robert S. Shwarts, Rene Kathawala from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, and paralegals Keysha Alexander and Marti Guidoux of Fenwick & West LLP. ↩︎