A self-censored chronicle of family court dramas, lived by parents who lost all or some visitation with or custody of a child or children based on perjury and/or other false courtroom evidence
Thousands of divorced fathers are eliminated from their children’s lives because of the ‘implacable hostility’ of mothers with custody, writes Neil Lyndon
‘The normal prejudiced assumption is that a mother will give children kindly care while a feckless father swaggers off over the horizon’ Photo: Alamy
Men’s and fathers’ groups saw the case in a different light, however. To them, it reflected a phenomenon that they see all too frequently – the elimination of fathers from their children’s lives by unmitigated, unscrupulous demands on the children’s loyalty on the part of the mother with custody, along with the unremitting denigration and belittling of the father.
“Custody” and “placement” (sometimes called “visitation”) are often confused by the uninitiated. “Custody” has to do with decision-making on the child(ren)’s behalf on matters of health, education, and financial management. “Visitation” has to do with where the children live and when they, in accordance with the judge’s order, are and are not scheduled to be there.
The judge decides who will be primarily in charge of the child(ren)’s health, education and finances, and with whom the children will primarily live. The decision is made after the judge hears from professionals and various other observers and acquaintances who are familiar with both parents and the child(ren), as well as the dynamics of the respective family household. First among the professionals, as determined by state law, is the guardian ad litem (who may be a lawyer) or the custody evaluator (who may be a psychologist). Depending upon the state, one or another of these professionals is appointed by the court to look into the specific situation presented by each case and make a recommendation to the judge as to the “best interests of the child(ren)” in that case.
United Auto Courts Reports ~ Valerie Manno-Schurr has made a habit of being reversed in her first term as Miami-Dade circuit judge. The latest instance was on Feb. 29, when the Third District Court of Appeal determined that she erred in a dispute over a homeowner’s insurance claim. Judge Manno-Schurr has been reversed many times on cases taken to appeal. As of late 2011,…Read More
Judge Manno-Schurr is my 8 year-old Paternity - Family Court Case presiding Judge. The 5th Judge to preside over my simple case; an unwed…Read More
Judges are allowed to make numerous errors that litigants pay tens of thousands of dollars to correct through the appellate process or either live with illegal orders. Judges make intentionally erroneous orders with the knowledge litigants don’t have the resources to correct. If a cashier, nurse or any other profession made as many errors as judges they would be terminated. It is time judges are judge by the same standards the litigants standing before them are judges.
Presiding Judge of my ""8"" YEAR-OLD "simple" Paternity - Family Court Case from 2008!
The 5th Judge to preside over my simple case; an unwed biological father seeking to maintain contact with his daughter Zoraya (Google#StandupforZoraya to read about this case) and Judge Manno-Schurr is enabling Child Abuse via Parental Alienation.
On March 25th, 2015, in a special set hearing at the Family Courthouse, Judge Manno-Schurr interrupted my testimony while on the witness stand to notate the court reporter's record as follows; "the father (me) is turning red in the face, yelling at me, and pointing his finger at me". My attorney, Stuart Abramson, objected noting the record as follows; "the father has been diagnosed with PTSD your honor". Then Judge Manno-Schurr (this is why you should rethink this article) said; "Mr. Inguanzo were you in the military?"
My response: "NO! Your Honor ... 'YOU' AND THIS CASE HAS CAUSED THE PTSD ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS"
How about that for a Registered Nurse!!!
(Google #StandupforZoraya to read about this case) and Judge Manno-Schurr is enabling Child Abuse via Parental Alienation.
When someone hurts us and/or our children, our first reaction is to protect ourselves or to call the police. We think that as victims that the authorities should be there to help us; that as innocent victims the police, and court system should there for the best interest of the innocent. In fact, in many cases the exact opposite is true. Over the years a growing amount of judges and authorities are siding with the abusers and only blaming and re-victimizing the victims.
Our divorce started in 1991, and finally ended in 2009. During that time I filed complaints against lawyers and judges for violating numerous laws and civil rights. The fraudulent acts, perjury and abuses within the divorce system were rampant. After going through the divorce, I could understand how all people can be skeptical about the entire legal system. Rather than talk about issues within the system that you must know are broken, let me list some ways that you can use to improve the system.
Allow complaints against lawyers while an action is ongoing. Now, the rules of the bar ethics committees usually will not pursue complaints while an action is ongoing and this only encourages lawyers to continue to violate RPC. When there are children and child support, actions go on for years and the abuses by lawyers continue.
Take the review of lawyers conduct away from members of the legal profession who do not police themselves adequately. I understand that there may be non-lawyers on the evaluation committee, but not a majority (use lawyers as advisors only.)
The same type of reviews and standards should be allowed against judges. Now, judges have almost absolute immunity. In those actions where judges can be sued, the actions are usually dismissed by other judges. I have observed judges act improperly and wagered with several other law students (at the time) that if I sat within a judges hearings for two weeks, I would find at least one violation of rules, cannons, law or behavior. I made that offer to one student whose father was a judge, and he refused to take up the wager.
Pass a law that will eliminate judicial immunity for other than executive, administrative, and legislative functions. The precursor of the civil rights laws (42 USC § 1983) allowed laws to be applied against judges (See the U.S. Supreme Court case Ex Parte Virginia – where a judge was jailed for excluding blacks from a jury.). Rotate judges out of specific courts with some exceptions. When judges and lawyers become familiar and friendly, abuses occur.
I have not mentioned any particular judges but have observed several who have knowingly violated rules and law. Open all family court rooms to the public. I know that several renovations have limited seating in courtrooms so actions could not be reviewed or observed.
Electronically capture all court documents and make them available and searchable on the internet. (If necessary, redacting of critical information will protect privacy.). Limit the sealing of documents by judges who do this to protect themselves after knowingly making incorrect determinations. When lawyers violate rules against Pro Se opponents, suspend them, incrementally.
I have been in jurisdictions that elect or appoint judges (New Jersey appoints and after seven years they have life jobs). Both systems have flaws. I would eliminate life tenure for judges because it tends to encourage lax behavior and makes it impossible to remove bad judges.
What every Parent should know about Children without Fathers
Children NEED and deserve to have BOTH parents in their lives, the balance needs to be equal. Fathers should not be punished and branded and made to feel inadequate because a relationship with their former partner has deteriorated.
We are honest fathers, not drunks, drug users, nor 'deadbeat'. All we want is to share in the upbringing of our children, be part of their lives, and have it enforced when our children are held against us as if for ransom.
- ALL of these are the results of an unbalancedfamily law system.
Petition and Legal Pleading to the: "Florida Family Court of Miami-Dade, Florida DEMANDING they STOP Denial of Reasonable Parent/Child Contact - Stand Up For Zoraya"
Used by most family courts to determine a wide range of issues relating to the well-being of children. The most important of these issues concern questions that arise upon the divorce or separation of the children's parents. Here are some examples:
With whom will the children live?
How much contact (previously termed "access" or, in some jurisdictions, "visitation") will the parents, legal guardian, or other parties be allowed (or required) to have?
To whom and by whom will child support be paid and in what amount?
The use of the best interests doctrine represented a 20th century shift in public policy. The best interests doctrine is an aspect of parens patriae, and in the United States it has replaced the Tender Years Doctrine, which rested on the basis that children are not resilient, and almost any change in a child's living situation would be detrimental to their well-being.
Posted: Aug 18, 2015 8:47 AM EDT --- Updated: Aug 18, 2015 9:34 AM EDT
The Alabama Family Rights Association continues efforts to spread its message on family law reform. ALFRA will discuss a number of topics related to this Tuesday, August 18, in West Tuscumbia.
ALFRA representatives will talk about how they want to see the Alabama child custody law changed "to guarantee that no child is put at risk.. All children have a fundamental right to each fit parent regardless of the parents' marital status." They hope to pursue these changes in the 2016 legislative session.
The ALFRA presentation is from 6-7 PM in the conference room at the Coldwater Inn, located at 712 Highway 72 in West Tuscumbia. By Ebony Hall