News Article

High Costs Of Family Court

San Diego News 10, October 29, 2009

The I-Team found one example out of Northern California in which an 11-year-old boy, Coby, was the center of a custody dispute. His mother was ordered to pay $2,200 upfront to a custody evaluator. In the ruling, the judge wrote, "If mother does not pay the fees ... primary custody shall be changed."  More

News Article

Child abuse: when family courts get it wrong

Christian Science Monitor, October 14, 2009

Even when physical or sexual abuse of children is alleged during a divorce, American family courts routinely award custody to the parent with an established record of domestic violence restraining orders, child abuse, neglect, alcoholism, addiction, dangerous mental illness, while the protective parent is labeled an alienator for bringing the abuse to the court's attention.  More

Action Alert

ACT NOW! Protective Mother Faces Legal Catch-22

September 3, 2009

ACT NOW! Hannah is the 3rd wife of an abuser; all 3 marriages involving domestic violence, child abuse, and nonpayment of child support. She was awarded full legal and physical custody of her son. The abuse escalated when the divorce was coming to an end, and Hannah fled the state in fear for her life. Now there's a warrant out for her arrest.   More

News Article

Dysfunctional Family Court System may be Doing More Harm than Good

Huffington Post, June 14, 2009

The frequency with which children are allowed to have unsupervised contact with physically or sexually abusive parents after divorce in this country is alarming and worthy of the public's attention. According to the Center for Judicial Excellence, "Not since the Catholic Church pedophile scandal has the United States seen this level of institutional collusion and corruption harming innocent children."  More

News Article

Public officials call for major changes in family law

Bay Area News, June 11, 2009

One by one, parents around the Bay Area are beginning to step forward to share heart-wrenching stories of the injustices they experienced in California's family court system. These parents have joined with thousands of others statewide to reform the family courts and protect child victims of violence and sexual abuse from judicial decisions the parents say place children in harm's way.  More

Action Alert

Protect Damon from Abuse

My youngest son, Damon has been reporting long-term sexual, physical and emotional abuse by his father and the San Diego Family Court will not even do the minimum required by law to investigate it. They won't allow him to testify and his court-appointed attorney justsays it is court policy to reunify children with abusers. On June 30th, the judge is planning to give the father custody.  More

News Article

Custodial Father kills 5 yr old son

KPHO, June 2, 2009

A Phoenix father slashed his 5 year old son's throat, killing him, and then cut his own throat as well. The father is hospitalized. Court documents show a judge awarded the father sole custody of his son last summer. Three months ago, the boy's natural mother filed to get that changed. She was asking the court to give her sole custody.  More

News Article

Mother fighting system that dismisses child sex abuse claims

Auburn Journal, May 17, 2009

Aliyah Bedwell is the focus of a home video during which she talks about instances that strongly suggest she is the victim of sexual abuse. Her mother, Connie Bedwell, says she recorded the video because it is just one of many scenarios in which her daughter has made extremely upsetting comments regarding her father. The parents are separated and a judge has given the father full custody of his daughter. Currently, Bedwell can only see her daughter during supervised visits. When asked why, Bedwell did not elaborate but said that many officials do not believe her story.   More

Opinion

Why This Mother Was Not Heard

The Washington Post, April 13, 2008

The reluctance of custody courts and evaluators to suspend paternal access to children despite specific threats to kill those children (and their mother) should be seen as nothing short of astounding. In no other world would we expect authorities to grant unfettered access to children to someone who had threatened to kill them. Yet in family court, the obvious risk becomes obscured. Courts become blinded by the parents' battles. Thus, mothers are believed to fabricate or exaggerate dangers posed by fathers. Fathers (and mothers) are assumed to say things they don't mean in the heat of a "bitter custody dispute."   More

News Article

1 divorce: 54 hearings, 5 judges, $200,000

Toronto Star, May 8, 2009

Gloria Lewis finally worked up the courage to leave her abusive husband six years ago and thought she and her two young children would be well on their way to a new life within six months. But next week she heads to court for the 54th time and will appear before the fifth judge to handle the couple's divorce proceedings, having spent more than $200,000 in legal fees and amassed four boxes of legal documents.
  More

News Article

Tragic Santa Clara County custody case

Oroville Mercury Register, May 13, 2009

Alycia and her brother, now 19 and in the military, were placed in Mesiti's care by the family court in November 2005. During the previous seven years, court records show, Mesiti had been convicted of state and federal charges, including bank fraud and drunken driving. He also was charged with domestic violence and ordered to attend anger-management classes   More

Opinion

Teen died after red flags went unheeded in Santa Clara County custody decision

Mercury News, May 23, 2009

The system failed Alycia Augusta Mesiti-Allen, 14, who police say was killed by a domestic violence perpetrator, her father. Her bones were found buried in his yard. Mark Mesiti was awarded unsupervised custody in 2005, even though he had a lengthy criminal history including a domestic violence conviction. He violated his probation and was sent to prison. All the red flags were there.  More

News Article

Families' futures decided with little oversight

August 7, 2007

In the field of family law, a little-examined group of professionals has enough influence to separate fathers from children and relegate mothers to weekends-only status, based on little more than an opinion. So-called parent evaluators need no particular credentials or training. They may use any method they wish, charge what they please and remain virtually free of oversight. Yet their word can upend families in a single stroke.  More

News Article

Family Battles Questionable Custody Decision

WSMV -TV News, May 18, 2007

A middle Tennessee family said they have proof that a local judge granted the custody of a child to his sexually abusive father. (this story includes a video of the news broadcast)  More