Pro bono attorney prevents wrongful eviction of mother and daughter.

On the eve of her 21st birthday, Brittney and her mother Tina were shocked to receive a notice of noncompliance from their property manager.

According to the notice, Brittney's emotional support animal, Panga, was in violation of the community's height and weight guidelines under the pet policy. If Panga was not removed in seven days, Brittney and Tina were told they would face eviction from their home of six years.

"Our reaction was utter devastation and chaos and sadness," Tina said. "I know, physically, I was in hives over it. [Brittney] had some major manic attacks."

Brittney suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Her 40-pound Labrador-mix, Panga, provides emotional support through periods of depression and anxiety. According to Tina, Panga has been instrumental to her daughter's well-being. Since living with Panga, Brittney has not been Baker Acted, nor has she harmed herself.

Tina and Brittney had been going back and forth with their property manager prior to being issued the notice, and their therapist connected them with Pamela Fields of Legal Aid of Manasota. After they received the notice, Fields connected them with pro bono attorney Merissa Mort the very same day.

"I just can't even express how thankful and grateful I am that there are people like Merissa who will fight for those who can't fight," Tina said. "[Pro bono lawyers are] good people fighting for good people. I think there is not enough of that in the world."

Fields discussed this case with Mort because she had recently tackled a similar case through Legal Aid of Manasota and had a successful outcome.

"I asked [Fields] if I could take [Brittney and Tina's] case because I am passionate about housing rights," Mort said.

Brittney and Tina live in a federally subsidized housing complex with a 20-lb. weight restriction on dogs. However, under the Fair Housing Act, comfort animals, like Panga, are exempt from any community rules including breed, size, pet limits or no pet policy.

Mort wrote a demand letter to the property manager explaining that the notice was in violation of Brittney's rights under the Fair Housing Act. Two days later, the community's attorney responded with a...