Weekly Report 2-44

in the Courtroom Leads to a Run for the 280th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas

By d-mars.com News Provider

Common law and business divorce, custody battles, paternity, pre- and post-marital agreements, and other issues under the family law umbrella can be difficult to navigate, also causing emotional distress. But one doesn’t have to walk this arduous road alone. Family law attorney Dianne Curvey, founding attorney of The Banieh Law Firm, has over 16 years of proven and acclaimed experience in the courtroom, serving clients in Harris County and the surrounding areas and other cities around the State of Texas. Successfully litigating for a diverse clientele whose issues range from child support to guardianship, protective orders, and even name changes, attorney Curvey fights relentlessly, but with integrity and compassion, genuinely caring for clients like family.

“The motto of The Banieh Law Firm is ‘From the cradle to the grave,’ helping clients navigate the ups and downs of life while going through their family law case,” said attorney Curvey. “We focus more on preserving the client’s peace of mind than looking like big shots in the courtroom. While yes, our goal is to fight for the client to receive all of what they need and some of what they want in their dispute, preserving the client’s mental well-being during the process is more important to us than showing just how badly we can defeat the other side.”

Attorney Curvey leads The Banieh Law Firm with purpose, also desiring to extend her family law expertise to the bench, running for Judge of the 280th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas. With results and commitment in the family law arena, she plans to bring that same excellence as a judge, ruling with fairness, balancedness, and competence, if elected.

Attorney Curvey has handled nearly two thousand family law, probate, and criminal matters and is a member in good standing with the Texas Bar, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Bar Association - Family Law Section, and other associations. She is a highly skilled family law attorney who is personable with Southern charm, but trust that she is also tough, preparing strong cases strategically to greatly increase a client’s chance for a favorable outcome.

“Whether you have a paternity issue, child support, custody, divorce, or a probate matter, we understand what it takes to move you successfully through the family law court system. Honesty and experience are some of the foundational elements that keep The Banieh Law Firm a highly regarded family law practice. I am currently running for Judge of the 280th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas, desiring to have my legal expertise serve on the bench. If elected, I will be accountable to Harris County, ruling as a fair, balanced, and competent judge.”

—Dianne Curvey, Founding Attorney of The Banieh Law Firm

For more information about attorney Dianne Curvey, The Banieh Law Firm, and how they can support you in strategizing your victory, please visit www.baniehlawfirm.com or call (832) 623-7998.

DMARS: In addition to having expertise, knowledge, and education, what other special elements do you possess that make you a successful family law attorney?

CURVEY: The additional special qualities that I possess that make me a successful family law attorney are my ability to empathize with my clients, see things from their perspective, and be a partner who strategizes with them to help them prevail.

DMARS: Family law is an emotional area of law. How do you remain professional and compassionate, without allowing emotion to lead you in how you handle cases?

CURVEY: When I work with a client, I compartmentalize my feelings. Business and personal feelings never mix. Like a prize fighter, I must stay in control of my emotions or my opponent can use that weakness to overtake me. I always have the best chance of winning a case for my client when I remain in control of my emotions, know the applicable law, and apply the law liberally to the facts of the case.

DMARS: Talk about mediation vs. court, pros and cons of each, and how you determine which is best for a particular case.

CURVEY: Mediation is a client’s last chance to maintain control of their case. They have the power to craft creative decisions for them and their family that generally would not happen in a court of law. If mediation fails, you move on to trial where an expert in that area makes a final decision about your life and the lives of your children. Taking a case to court vs. mediation depends on the facts of the case. In my experience, I have seen that you generally get the best results when you work out problems in mediation.

DMARS: What is your main advice to clients before going to court or mediation?

CURVEY: There is no happily ever after in family law. No matter how happy one side may be, there will always be another side that will grieve the loss of a relationship, a child, or even someone’s life. I am a spiritual person and rely heavily on my religious beliefs to counsel clients through tough times. I always advise my clients that they won’t walk out of court or mediation with everything on their wish list. I generally have them write down their top 5 items they want from the resolution of the case. The other things they have on their list are just extras that they can live without. This is pretty difficult for most clients because they want everything on the list. However, helping them to focus on the most pertinent items gives them the ability to negotiate and let go of the things that don’t really matter.

DMARS: Without breaking confidentiality, can you share a client’s memorable case and positive outcome?

CURVEY: I once had a family who wanted to adopt a baby boy. During the pendency of the case, the family had taken a road trip to Austin in two separate cars. On the way home, the father’s car was struck by a pick up truck while the wife and adoptive baby watched on from the other car. From the backseat, the child began to wave and say, “Bye Daddy.” The father was killed instantly. She and I liked to imagine that the baby saw the dad’s spirit leave his body. Now, during these times, it was frowned upon for single people to adopt. The mother worried that due to her husband’s death, that would prevent her from adopting. But a provision in the code allowed the child to still be considered as the adoptive son of the father and mother, despite his death.

DMARS: Talk about your mentorship program for young attorneys and the success of the program.

CURVEY: I have so many young attorneys, or as I call them, “baby attorneys,” who call me “Auntie,” coming to me for advice. Whenever I meet a newly licensed attorney, especially one from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where I received my Doctor of Jurisprudence, I give them my information and offer to take them to lunch. We talk about their chosen area of law and how I can be of assistance to them. These young people call and text me whenever they need advice, and I always do my best to respond quickly. In addition, I take them with me to court hearings and mediations, so that they gain useful experience to successfully practice law.

DMARS: You reference Thurgood Marshall when addressing your goals as an attorney. How has his path in the legal profession been a guiding light in how you practice law?

Q&A With Family Law Attorney Dianne Curvey

DMARS: Your practice has many services, but talk specifically about your mistaken paternity cases, as we don’t hear much about these types of cases.

CURVEY: Mistaken paternity is one of my favorite areas of law. In fact, I used to have an ad that read, “If your kid is starting to look like the milkman, don’t get milked by child support! Call The Banieh Law Firm. We can help.’’ This law comes into effect after a man has claimed paternity without DNA testing and later learns the child is not his. So long as he files a Mistaken Paternity claim within 2 years of learning the child may not be his, then he can be absolved of all duties given to him through his paternity claim. The only downside is that the law does not absolve the gentleman from paying past due child support or from getting any money back for the years he paid.

CURVEY: Law school, for some, has been an unattainable goal. But thanks to the bravery of people like Heman Sweatt, the first black person to be accepted to UT Law, but segregated into a room the size of a broom closet, Thurgood Marshall School of Law was built (originally called Texas State University for Negroes). I urge people to read Sweatt v. Painter, a landmark case on separate but equal laws in education that was argued by none other than Thurgood Marshall. Having a history like this to stand on makes me proud of the people from whom I descend. When I begin a difficult case where the odds seem to be against me, I think of the resilience Sweatt showed and the intellect and legal prowess that Marshall possessed, and I know that those same characteristics dwell in me. From there, I grab my sword (my Family Law Code book) and begin to fight.

DMARS: Talk about your run for Judge of the 280th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas.

CURVEY: This is a Protective Order Court where lives are always in jeopardy. With over 16 years of actual legal experience in family law, I know that I am equipped to read, apply, and distribute the law as the Family Code deems appropriate. To me, a Protective Order is more than a piece of paper. I have a deep understanding that for most, this order is the key to a violent-free life where they can find safety in the law and avoid physical and psychological torment from their abuser. My campaign message to the voter is, “Vote Curvey for Judge because I am Fair, Balanced, and Competent.”