Frank Parlato
The following is a true story. I changed the names to protect the innocent from retaliation. And created images that approximately represent the characters in this true life story.
By Ethan Wallace
I’m a professional in the health industry. I live a clean lifestyle and have never had any problems with the law, drugs, or anything else. After 18 years of marriage and three children, my wife and I entered the family court for divorce and custody resolution.
My ex-wife had substantially more money than me. Her attorneys donated thousands to the reelection campaigns of both judges who handled our case.
Lawyers donate to judges’ campaigns; that’s a matter of public record.
None of my children ever accused me of abuse or said they didn’t like spending time with me.
When I started showing up to family court, there was a guy who stood in front of the courthouse with a sign that read “Family Court Corruption.”
When I passed him, he looked at me funny. I thought he was crazy.
The court-appointed custody evaluator was Dr. Samuel Cohen.
During my sessions with Dr. Cohen. He brought up numerous unsubstantiated claims my wife had made. The worst was when he claimed she accused me of raping her. He kept bringing it up and asked me, ‘What is your response?’
We’d been married 18 years and have three children. It was like she kept upping the ante. It was insane.
When Dr. Cohen finished his preliminary custody evaluation, he determined my ex-wife should have temporary legal and physical custody, and I should see them with a supervisor present. He reasoned that one of my young daughters had a nightmare that I broke into the house and killed their mom. A nightmare?!?! That’s made me unfit to be their father?
Judge Nathan Feldman held a pretrial hearing on Cohen’s recommendation. My wife’s lead attorney, Maria Ricciardi, made a big show about how important it was to ensure the children’s safety by having a paid supervisor attend every visit I had with my children.
I challenged her dishonest motives.
I raised my kids as much as my wife, maybe more. No one needed to supervise me with my children.
Judge Feldman looked at my wife’s attorneys, then at me.
“Mr. Wallace,” he said, “I know Maria Ricciardi. And I know Thomas Brookside. I don’t know you from Adam. I don’t question their integrity.”
Then he ordered I could not see my children without a court-approved supervisor in attendance – at $100 per hour.
My lawyer tried to convince me to do supervised visits. I told him that if I did that, I would acknowledge that I had done something wrong. I would not justify that by going along, and I never did.
Soon after, my son, who was 16 at the time, came to live with me.
My wife’s attorneys filed two contempt motions to force him to return. He didn’t want to leave.
Finally, the judge called my son into chambers and had a private meeting, threatening him that if he didn’t return to his mother, he would arrest me.
The madness continued. The custody evaluator, Dr. Cohen, billing with all his might., did a further evaluation of our family.
He wrote, “Mr. Wallace is domineering. He’s narcissistic. He’s not willing to co-parent with his ex-spouse. However, he has a normal, well-developed, and loving relationship with his children, and should not be on supervised visits. Still, I recommend the mother have full custody of the kids, and he can have unsupervised visits.”
By the time the trial began, I’d spent around $90,000. I was out of money and could no longer afford a lawyer.
I wanted to see the custody report, especially the part where she claimed I raped her. That’s a serious allegation, and it would show she made a false claims against me.
The judge said I could only look at the custody report at the courthouse with an officer present, without any electronics.
On the other hand, my wife’s lawyers had a complete copy of the custody report and my wife could see it at their office any time she wanted.
In the courthouse, I spent about four hours reading the report. I could not find any mention of rape.
Judge Rhona MacDonald was the new trial judge. She had received donations from both of my wife’s attorneys, just like Judge Feldman.
I cross-examined the custody evaluator: “Why aren’t the rape allegations in the report?”
He replied because she didn’t say it — which contradicted what he’d said to me.
When I cross-examined my wife, she slipped up on the witness stand and admitted saying it and it was untrue.
On the witness stand, my wife’s lawyer asked me, “If we gave you the opportunity to go out to dinner with your kids tonight, would you go?”
I knew I was supposed to be on supervised visits. I thought it was a setup. I refused to answer.
The judge said, “If you don’t answer, I’m arresting you.”
She had four officers approach me.
I didn’t answer. Nothing happened. The judge told the stenographer to note my refusal to answer, and moved on.
At the end of the trial, even though my wife agreed our son should live with me and the custody evaluator said I did not need supervised visits, Judge MacDonald gave my wife full legal and physical custody of all three children and put me on supervised visits.
The judge washed the face of the attorneys and gave my wife full control. I became legally a non-parent – a nothing parent compared to my wife in the eyes of the law — and it had nothing to do with the children’s preferences.
My ex-wife never enforced supervised visits. My oldest lives with me now, and I see my other children all the time. Compared to other cases, this was a luxury, but it wasn’t without heartaches.
Family Court judges can do anything, and there’s no accountability. I realized judges and lawyers know each other and negotiate behind closed doors, and don’t try to hide it.
Now that I have lived through the experience, I often think about the guy holding the sign saying “Family Court Corruption.” I thought he was crazy as I passed him with his bizarre one-man protest, standing in the sun alone with a sign.
As I strode by him, he looked at me and shook his head.
Now I shake my head. I know why he looked at me the way he did. By his own bitter experience, no doubt, he knew I was the crazy one for ever entering the doors of family court.
Frank Parlato is an investigative journalist, media strategist, publisher, and legal consultant.
Please leave a comment: Your opinion is important to us!
I need so much help I never thought that the family court system would fight against the best interest of children I never thought I’ll be a railroad if I’m being in the lives of my children for almost 10 years this does not make sense to me all because of a woman with a meant to his daughter that have connections with the court it’s shocking and unbelievable
Common sense must start to matter to more than just a few representatives.
“… I’m just not willing to take a gamble with my four kids living in this city and my constituents’ children living in this city without some type of concrete consensus. I don’t understand why our country can’t get our act together on this issue. It’s not like we don’t have the intellect and the scientific capability to do this, but every time you throw money into the issue, all of a sudden, health takes a backseat,” Rep. Sean Boeger, D-15, said.
Former Chief Safety Officer for Samsung Electronics America: “But the fact is that if we’re going to try to fight the federal government on this, be prepared taxpayers. Because, boy, it’s going to cost you.”
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/stamford-5g-at-t-verizon-agreement-18477750.php?src=startribbon
Time for all parents screwed by family judges to file a class action lawsuit.
I have in court testimony available, identifying GAL meetings with a judge not even assigned to the case!
Unfortunately, once a judge makes a decision it will not be easy to find another to contradict them! Gross man starts the trail of terror!
It’s actually the meetings Grossman has with former Jane Emons as well as some out the loop Union members(come the hell on team!)
I heard she favors the few she vacations with! Yes, the gossip is she does vacation with her besties or what do the kids say bff’s!!! The media will not address it they are cowards! Thats why we have some sites like frank report.
Maybe if the judges would prosecute more criminals that would take up more of their time instead of overseeing divorce cases. I cannot think of a more boring day than to listen to this drama. So unproductive.
Why are you reading the frank report? Perhaps you are a professional flamer? Please sidewind back under the rock you came from. The best interest of children is important business. Maybe you are Allan? Trying not to have the secret practice of biasing cases in the family courts?
Unfortunately, You miss interpreted my statement! FC and in CT is not for the weak! Its a tool for manipulation! I meant the nonsense drama they create in the court to make $$$ at the expense of families! IT SHOULD BE THAT THE CHILDREN COME FIRST! However, they seem to screw that up! And often!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12707877/Eleanor-Hunton-Hoppe-plea-deal-child-porn-sting-Virginia.html
Women can be horrible
Both genders must be punished for destroying a child’s entire life, not only the crime.
Sorry, but refusing the supervised visitation is a huge red flag that the parent is a narcissist.
People feel that agreeing to supervised visitation is an omission of guilt. So that’s why they refuse. Just Ike the psychologist these GALs can tant the opinions of supervisor. They can ignore them all together. Paint a different picture to the judge. It’s the GALs running the show and guiding the case in what ever direction they wish. People are rebelling . There is enough stories and people are connecting and getting information. If your case is rigged and you are being extorted by the legal industry. Drained of all your financial resources at some point you are going to say enough is enough. Unless you have been forced through the courts process and witnessed it for your self. You will not be able to understand. The family court system is a trap and you are not ever lead out of it. Rat maze. It’s one paid service after another. No end of resolution in sight.
A parent while married is OK to be alone with their child. However, once the divorce starts the lawyers start motions! I have a real good friend in another state seeing this first hand as the narc wife let her previous lawyer go and now hired $700 hour attorney. That attorney has minions behind the scenes pumping out motions. After his 2nd weekend of unsupervised visits he takes his 5 year old daughter to judo, playground. Mom discovered a small bruise and now claiming child abuse and called DCF to get involved. 5 year old daughter went through a 1 hour physical exam without a parent in the room and had a “thorough” exam! stripped naked and on a cold table. Yes, people its SAD! Stop the BS!
Malicious conduct of attorneys. Happening in every court house in the country. Legal tactic to financially subdue the other party.
https://www.davisvanguard.org/2023/11/records-reveal-suspicious-timing-surrounding-divorce-attorney-death/
Sara Russell Quinnipac University. A professor. Counsel to federal grievance committee. Another cancerous tumor in the family law industry. Quinnipac University hosting Adelman a bottom of the barrel judge barely making it back on the bench. Biden wants to appoint her. Why? Economic development of the court. Saving on incarceration costs to the state of Connecticut. Keep this women off the bench for the safety of the people in the country!
Here is a Connecticut Judge who tried to release convicted rapists and pedophiles from prison.
The Connecticut Judicial System IS “Rape Culture”.
https://youtu.be/bf9r-3RidAQ?feature=shared
Ducking for cover in the state of Connecticut. Saving on the cost of incarceration. Discusting excuse of representing the public safety and well-being. The state of Connecticut is a dangerous place. The biggest danger is the people we have elected to run it.
It’s especially dangerous for children. With pedophiles running the government, nothing is off limits.
Professor Russell commenting on Facebook add for top family law Attorneys. She expresses lawyers should be deciding who are top attorneys. The public opinions of Connecticut are worth nothing to these people. The breeding of attorneys in Connecticut is a big problem in the state. Adjusting state laws to obtain political agenda.
After forty years of public requests for official investigations into the Cash for Kids extortion and racketeering crisis in family courts across the nation;
All subsequent requests for family court investigations and reform Thereafter, which show the Most frustration shall be known, Henceforth, as:
“Anti-Government, Anti-Authority Extremism”
https://www.gao.gov/blog/rising-threat-domestic-terrorism-u.s.-and-federal-efforts-combat-it
A similar thing happened to me in NJ. My ex wife is a looney bin but she knows manipulation and the parenting coordinator was also in “coaching” circles too. My ex knows how to manipulate judges and situations and knows how to spin things.
… New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine … what groups of which individuals in New England — and beyond — designed family courts to be purposely adversarial and for profit?
What better way is there to destroy children and families than today’s “family courts”?
CT Family Court is a Child Trafficking operation.
Your close…it’s nearest to a breeding program of state dependent people.
They thrive with mentally ill people that repeat everything told to them from inside or outside advisors, even steangers in the streets speaking in the form of an aside.
They will take every fund then refer you to their less clever counterparts that earn state funds at the maximum allowed amount. Befriend the children and identify them to become breeders or criminals.
They have state unnamed informant programs monitoring youth phones on drugs(and supply the drugs) who engage in distribution and target youths transitioning to adults.
This is a nationwide program intended for public safety but has been taken over by criminal organizations/middle management politicians seeking profits on top of the every day Favoriten and bribes.
All 18 year olds need to get the hell out of CT asap. DO NOT ATTEND COLLEGE IN CT AND THINK YOU WILL SURVIVE THE PARTY SCENE WITHOUT BEING AN INFORMANT OR RETAINING CRIMINAL LAWYERS AFTER ARREST(or before if you are aware).
They are the leeches of society pathetic excuses of human beings, if you even want to call them them that.
Thank you for telling your story-
Grateful your wife ceased in her assassination of your character and came to her senses.
The courts fuel the conflict, most love being indulged as the victim/hero– which is what the court portray the monied parent to be.
Thankful your kids have both of you unsupervised.
It’s a racket.
Parents don’t parent for 15 years and suddenly need supervised visits.
With no evidence the judge said I had assaulted my spouse.
I had affairs during my marriage.
Evidence was not required. No witnesses. nothing. And it stands– and you can’t sue a judge which is insane and adds to the corruption. No accountability. Only larceny for these criminals.
Family court is not “best interest of the children.” It is “hand me the money.”
“the elite developing from warriors to kings”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxons
Thank you for sharing this. My sympathies to the father who went into court expecting the process to be fair – as most citizens would. What a shakedown. So sorry for this family. It’s appalling.
Ezactly! A shakedown! Sad but true!
… to protect the innocent from retaliation. …
It’s true. Ask anyone who’s witnessed it.
They will tell you: Those who speak up about family court corruption suffer consequences for speaking up about family court corruption.
What kind of government punishes parents and children for speaking up about “family court” abuse and corruption?
Finally Frank changes the names to protect the innocent..
Sometimes the innocent want to be known– because no one is protecting them. And without exposing the criminals of family court-by name–the public cannot be warned.
Agreed
Too bad it doesn’t change the outcome for the actual INNOCENT..