CUA Columbus School of Law

I'm here! After years of struggling with the aftermath of a devastating fire, Jean Payne returns to her newly renovated residence in Southeast Washington, D.C. Payne's emotional homecoming was made possible with the assistance of 3D Melody Eaton and Columbus Community Legal Services.

An Unbelievable Return to the "Miracle House"

Christmas of 2004 is not recalled by Jean Payne with a warm, nostalgic holiday glow. On Dec. 23 of that year, a fire broke out that caused severe damage to her southeast Washington, D.C. home of 40 years and sent her to the hospital for an extended stay.

Upon her discharge and still recovering from her injuries, Payne went to live with her daughter, Krystal Clark, in Maryland. She also hired a contractor to repair the substantial damage to her home. The contractor performed some of the work, but left the job incomplete, the work substandard and out of compliance with safe building codes. The Payne home was uninhabitable. Her insurance company stopped covering the dwelling because the repairs had not been completed.

Jean Payne’s story might have ended there, a depressing mix of bad luck, shady contracting practices and indifferent bureaucracy.

Except, it didn’t. Salvation came in the form of Catholic University’s Columbus Community Legal Services and an exceptionally dedicated third-year general practice clinic student, Melody Eaton.

Eaton took on Payne’s case and filed a lawsuit against the contractor. In the best CCLS tradition, she was a tireless, creative and passionate advocate for her client.

In the course of preparing for trial, Eaton did superb work, according to Clinical Assistant Professor Faith Mullen, who supervised the process. Eaton drafted pleadings, researched the law, prepared for a deposition and presented the case to the court. Her efforts were rewarded when she obtained a judgment against the contractor in the amount of $139,000 and $17,000 in attorney fees. She successfully argued that the contractor’s conduct was fraudulent, thereby making it harder for the contractor to discharge the judgment in bankruptcy.

But winning the judgment did not solve all of Payne’s troubles. Two major problems remained: Payne was entering her third year of homelessness, and the property was uninsured and therefore at risk of total loss.

So, Eaton-the-attorney moved into a second phase: Eaton-the-assistance-coordinator. Working the phones and leaving no stone unturned in the search for local community service grants and other sources of help in the quest to return Payne to her beloved home, Eaton succeeded in pulling together a coalition of volunteers and nonprofit organizations. They included Yachad, the Jewish Non-Profit for Affordable Housing and Community Development; Eichberg Construction; and the National Fair Housing Alliance.

The pieces came together as if by a miracle, leading Payne’s supporters to dub her renovated address the “Miracle House.” Through Yachad’s Hard Hats and Helping Hands Home Repair Program, the nonprofit arranged for Eichberg Construction to finish the home and make it livable again. Within two weeks, the company and its subcontractors were able to finish all the repairs.

On May 8, 2008, after more than three years without a house to call her own, Jean Payne returned to her home on the aptly named Good Hope Road. With her supporters, friends and family looking on, Payne cut a ceremonial ribbon (above left) and stepped across the threshold to behold her Miracle House for the first time.

“This is beautiful! Oh my goodness, it doesn’t look like the same place,” she marveled as she took in the sparkling new kitchen appliances, new windows, new carpets and fresh paint.

Moving in awe from room to room, Payne shed tears as she absorbed the result of all the efforts made on her behalf.

“This is a great story of resourcefulness, diligence and problem solving,” said Faith Mullen. “Throughout this case, Melody Eaton never lost sight of the client’s dearest wish—to return to her home of 40 years. Her advocacy was extraordinary.”

Clinical Assistant Professor Faith Mullen presents Melody Eaton,

holding 5-week old son Jackson, with CLEO's Outstanding Student

Award for her extraordinary work as an advocate for Jean Payne.

Eaton’s dogged pursuit of justice for Jean Payne prompted Mullen to nominate her for the Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student award, which was presented to Eaton on May 8^th.

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	I'm here! After years of struggling with the aftermath of a devastating fire, Jean Payne returns to her newly renovated residence in Southeast Washington, D.C. Payne's emotional homecoming was made possible with the assistance of 3D Melody Eaton and Columbus Community Legal Services. An Unbelievable Return to the "Miracle House" Christmas of 2004 is not recalled by Jean Payne with a warm, nostalgic holiday glow. On Dec. 23 of that year, a fire broke out that caused severe damage to her southeast Washington, D.C. home of 40 years and sent her to the hospital for an extended stay. Upon her discharge and still recovering from her injuries, Payne went to live with her daughter, Krystal Clark, in Maryland. She also hired a contractor to repair the substantial damage to her home. The contractor performed some of the work, but left the job incomplete, the work substandard and out of compliance with safe building codes. The Payne home was uninhabitable. Her insurance company stopped covering the dwelling because the repairs had not been completed. Jean Payne’s story might have ended there, a depressing mix of bad luck, shady contracting practices and indifferent bureaucracy. Except, it didn’t. Salvation came in the form of Catholic University’s Columbus Community Legal Services and an exceptionally dedicated third-year general practice clinic student, Melody Eaton. Eaton took on Payne’s case and filed a lawsuit against the contractor. In the best CCLS tradition, she was a tireless, creative and passionate advocate for her client. In the course of preparing for trial, Eaton did superb work, according to Clinical Assistant Professor Faith Mullen, who supervised the process. Eaton drafted pleadings, researched the law, prepared for a deposition and presented the case to the court. Her efforts were rewarded when she obtained a judgment against the contractor in the amount of $139,000 and $17,000 in attorney fees. She successfully argued that the contractor’s conduct was fraudulent, thereby making it harder for the contractor to discharge the judgment in bankruptcy. But winning the judgment did not solve all of Payne’s troubles. Two major problems remained: Payne was entering her third year of homelessness, and the property was uninsured and therefore at risk of total loss. So, Eaton-the-attorney moved into a second phase: Eaton-the-assistance-coordinator. Working the phones and leaving no stone unturned in the search for local community service grants and other sources of help in the quest to return Payne to her beloved home, Eaton succeeded in pulling together a coalition of volunteers and nonprofit organizations. They included Yachad, the Jewish Non-Profit for Affordable Housing and Community Development; Eichberg Construction; and the National Fair Housing Alliance. The pieces came together as if by a miracle, leading Payne’s supporters to dub her renovated address the “Miracle House.” Through Yachad’s Hard Hats and Helping Hands Home Repair Program, the nonprofit arranged for Eichberg Construction to finish the home and make it livable again. Within two weeks, the company and its subcontractors were able to finish all the repairs. On May 8, 2008, after more than three years without a house to call her own, Jean Payne returned to her home on the aptly named Good Hope Road. With her supporters, friends and family looking on, Payne cut a ceremonial ribbon (above left) and stepped across the threshold to behold her Miracle House for the first time. “This is beautiful! Oh my goodness, it doesn’t look like the same place,” she marveled as she took in the sparkling new kitchen appliances, new windows, new carpets and fresh paint. Moving in awe from room to room, Payne shed tears as she absorbed the result of all the efforts made on her behalf. “This is a great story of resourcefulness, diligence and problem solving,” said Faith Mullen. “Throughout this case, Melody Eaton never lost sight of the client’s dearest wish—to return to her home of 40 years. Her advocacy was extraordinary.” Clinical Assistant Professor Faith Mullen presents Melody Eaton, holding 5-week old son Jackson, with CLEO's Outstanding Student Award for her extraordinary work as an advocate for Jean Payne. Eaton’s dogged pursuit of justice for Jean Payne prompted Mullen to nominate her for the Clinical Legal Education Association Outstanding Student award, which was presented to Eaton on May 8^th.
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