Special
Features / April 2008
Empowering Women
Michele Rusen
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Attorney Michele Rusen is a powerful force in the legal field. She uses her knowledge and experience to empower women when faced with legal issues. Dealing with all types of family law, ranging from child custody, adoption, divorce, guardianship, and grandparent rights, Michele has seen it all.
Michele explains, “There is a real disconnect in the general public about child custody and child support. The law sees these two issues as completely separate. Most of the people who come to my office view child custody, child support and child visitation as part of the same. My job is to dispel any misconceptions about family law issues, support my client, do my very best for my client, and bring the issues to closure as soon as possible.”
Michele represents both men and women.
“When you are involved in an impending divorce or child custody dispute, it is very upsetting emotionally. The women who come to my office are normally very frightened and upset. Their entire life is in disarray – things are falling apart all around them and they are angry, numb, hurt, ashamed, guilt-ridden …. the list of emotions goes on and on,” she explained. “One of the most important things I can do for my clients is to help them put things in perspective – see reality as it is – empower them to take the necessary steps forward and to stand up for themselves. I help them have a ‘voice’. No matter what issues are involved, part of my job as an attorney is to stabilize the situation,” she added. Another important thing that Michele does for the local community is to be a member of the Domestic Violence Board. The local board includes seven counties including Wood County. Through the Domestic Violence Board, there is a Battered Women Shelter and a Kid’s First Visitation Program that are available to women and children in the area.
“When most people think about domestic violence, they picture someone (the abuser) smacking the other person (the victim) around. The abuser exercises power and control over the other person by exerting physical pain and/or control to the other. In this situation, women should always have a plan. The plan should include how to get away from the abuser, where to go, who she can trust, where she can stay, what she is going to do with her children, what she is going to tell her children. The abuser usually uses some type of threat involving the children, for example, they will say that they will take the children away or they will hurt the children. Always – there is a hotline available to call in these types of situations. The number is (304) 428-2333. As soon as the woman and her children are safe, they have access to legal advocates at the shelter. These legal advocates help women get the ‘right’ information and if nothing else, these advocates can just affirm to her that she did the right thing by getting out of the situation and can affirm that she has a right to be scared and upset.
“No one deserves to be treated in an abusive manner,” she continued. Michele also noted that although it is usually women and children who are victims, in some cases, it can be a man who is the victim. One of the disparaging things that Michele shared was that sometimes the woman goes back to the same situation over and over.
“You just have to realize that it is going to happen and it is the woman’s choice to do whatever she feels is best for her. For me as an attorney, who cares deeply about my clients, it is very hard to have gone through the entire process – divorce, custody, etc., and then find out a few weeks or months later that your client is back in the same situation again,” she sighed.
Michele also noted that domestic violence is not income related. Yes, there are a lot of incidents of domestic violence in lower income homes, but there is also domestic violence in very financially stable homes also.
“In these types of cases, shame is usually a big issue. The woman is ashamed she is in this situation. Women get used to a financial standard and they don’t want to risk losing it. There are cases where the woman makes more money than the man and she is still ashamed because she doesn’t want anyone to know she is such a situation. It all filters down to a woman’s self esteem,” she summarized.
“Unfortunately, the end result of this type of situation is what makes the front page of the newspapers and everyone seems shocked that it could have happened to ‘that’ couple,” she added.
“The best advice I can give to anyone is to get information and legal advice before doing anything. Don’t wait. Be pro-active. Protect yourself and your loved ones,” she said.
Michele also handles civil litigation cases such as sexual harassment and age discrimination. These cases, according to Michele, are very difficult also.
“Women come to my office in a daze, bewildered, frustrated, in denial, confused and either angry or depressed. These cases challenge the very identity of the person involved. It takes time for it all to sink in before the person is able to pull themselves up and take action to protect or stand up for their rights,” she explained.
Over the years, Michele has dealt with many, many issues which have provided her with a great understanding for what people face in their lives. When she opened her own private practice in l987, what she thought she would be doing and learning are far from what actually happened over the years. Michele says that she has had so many positive experiences and feels even more connected to the community she serves.
As a shining role model for all of us, Michele has her own full and growing law practice, is married to her husband of 2l years, Walt Auvil, who she works with in her law firm, and is the mother of two children, her daughter Cari age 30 and her son Kirk age 17.
And on top of ‘having it all’ and ‘holding it all together’ as a business leader, wife and mother, she is still very active in many, many community endeavors. Michele graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) and completed her undergraduate degree from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Currently, she is former president of the Wood County Bar Association. She was the prosecuting attorney for the Wood County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the litigation counsel for the National Treasury Employees Union, assistant prosecuting attorney for the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and a clerk for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
Michele’s words of wisdom are,
“Women need to reach out to each other for support. We all need it at times and we all are capable of giving it.”
Michel Rusen is a practicing attorney specializing in family law, criminal law, and civil litigation. Her practice, Rusen & Auvil, PLLC is located at 1208 Market Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101.Telephone: (304) 485-6360
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