To appeal for help; to turn over a legal case to s.o. else.
The root is always preceeded by pa- (agt. focus) or pa-/pina- caus.
If your case can't be settled here at home, appeal to the municipal office.
That captain turned the legal case of the people in his community over to the Mayor.
Because I can no longer find provisions, I've decided to appeal to my parents for help.