How Judge Tindill turned CT Family Court Into Debtor’s Prison Jailing Mother When a Simple Court Order Would Have Settled the Finances

August 26, 2024
Judge Erika Tindill does her best to destroy the best interest of the children to provide for the best interest of the lawyers who milk their clients in family court.

The Jailing of a Mother

On August 14, in the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk, at the courthouse for the Regional Family Trial Docket in Middletown, Connecticut, Superior Court Judge Erika Tindill decided to jail a mother for not reimbursing her ex-husband’s attorney’s fees.

On March 6, Judge Tindill ordered Naidoo to pay the father’s attorney Gary I. Cohen of Stamford, Connecticut, $37,512.50, by July 26, 2024. She had not paid.

The father is Vipul Kumar of Bedford, New York. He didn’t want his ex-wife incarcerated.

Representing the mother, Nishani Naidoo, was Karen Zak of Glastonbury, Connecticut. Naidoo lives with their two children, 11 and 14, in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. The divorce and custody case was resolved earlier this year.

The hearing was on August 14, 2024 and began at 11:30 AM.

 

Excerpts from the transcripts:

THE COURT: … Okay. Ms. Naidoo, how would you like to proceed?…

THE DEFENDANT: … Mr. Cohen’s already been paid $83,539 and an additional 54,000… Your Honor, you simply awarded him $35,000 (more) in legal fees. There was no finding that (her ex husband Kumar) could not pay his fees or that I had caused the additional legal fees.

THE COURT: Those arguments sound like what you would be putting in your brief and arguing to the Appellate Court.

THE DEFENDANT: …I am not able to pay those fees, your Honor…

THE COURT: The Court… made a determination that you could, in fact, pay that amount…. This is where you explain to the Court why… I should stay the proceedings (to consider Naidoo’s arrest).

THE DEFENDANT: Your Honor, because I’m not in contempt of your order.

THE COURT:… Not only did I find you in contempt, I ordered you to make a payment that you failed to pay.

THE DEFENDANT:… It is not that I do not want to pay… I offered to pay (Attorney Cohen a partial payment of) $2,500 on my credit card, which is the maximum I could charge.

THE COURT: And did you do that?


THE DEFENDANT: …he said no, you must appear in court to answer to the judge.

THE COURT: So, what stopped you from paying?

THE DEFENDANT: Because he said that he wasn’t going to accept it. He said that he wanted the full payment, he wanted the lump sum payment….

THE COURT: Is there anything else you want to tell me about why I should stay the proceedings?

THE DEFENDANT:  I’m. I’m, I’m unable to make the payment and I’ve been working really hard to get the money.

THE COURT: Tell me about those efforts.

THE DEFENDANT:… I cannot liquidate any of the retirement accounts, they’re all 401(k)s, and you need a court order… I cannot do that. The only other asset that I have… is the apartment (real estate she obtained in the divorce settlement)…

THE COURT:… What are the other efforts that you have made to comply with the court order…?

THE DEFENDANT: …to sell that apartment as soon as possible….

THE COURT: Is it on the market?

THE DEFENDANT:…- we put it on the market. Within two weeks, we got an offer. I accepted (the offer).

THE COURT: So, you don’t have a closing date?

THE DEFENDANT:…everything is signed…

THE COURT: Other than trying to sell the property, what other efforts have you made to comply with my order?

THE DEFENDANT: I don’t know how else to get money, Your Honor.

THE COURT: Have you asked friends or family to borrow money?

THE DEFENDANT: I have.

THE COURT: Who have you asked?

THE DEFENDANT: I’ve asked my sister, and she’s already lent me a lot of money.

THE COURT: So, she said no?

THE DEFENDANT: She said no.

THE COURT: Who else did you ask?

THE DEFENDANT: I’ve asked several of my friends and…

THE COURT: They all said no?

THE DEFENDANT: Right. Because everyone said that if your apartment’s going to be sold in four weeks, why do we have to lend you the money?

THE COURT: Because the judge told you to pay by a certain date and you don’t have four weeks, that would be the answer.

THE DEFENDANT: So, I don’t have the money, Your Honor.

THE COURT: Anything else you want to tell me?

THE DEFENDANT: That I’m trying my best to raise the money and that’s what I asked in my motion for continuance. I said, please give me the time.

THE COURT: And I denied that, yeah

THE DEFENDANT: I know, Your Honor, but I asked you, I begged you.

THE COURT: Yes, and… after you begged me…I denied it. What you don’t seem to understand is that this is a court of law. This is not negotiations…

THE DEFENDANT: I don’t know how to raise $37,000 in a short time frame, Your Honor.

THE COURT (turning to the father’s attorney): Okay. Attorney Cohen, is there anything that you would like to tell the Court…

ATTY. COHEN:… – I believe the defendant’s claim that she cannot access her own 401(k) in the absence of a court order is simply not correct as a matter of law.

THE COURT: I’m aware. …

THE COURT: All right. I presume, Attorney Cohen… that you’re opposing any stay (to slow down the incarceration of the mother).

ATTY. COHEN: Yes, ma’am.

Stamford, CT Attorney Gary I. Cohen
Stamford CT Attorney Gary I Cohen

Stamford, CT Attorney Gary I. Cohen…

THE COURT: Did you receive the money from your husband’s retirement accounts that I ordered? …

THE DEFENDANT: I received them, Your Honor. They can only be transferred with a court order. …

THE COURT: Is there anything else you want to tell me regarding the stay?  …

THE DEFENDANT: I did everything I could, Your Honor, to get .. the apartment ready for sale as soon as possible, to put it on the market as soon as possible, to get the contract as soon as possible, so that I could get the money as soon as possible to pay (attorney Cohen).

THE COURT:…The Court finds… the defendant has failed… to even make a partial payment, and continues to ask the Court (for) an extension of time which the Court has repeatedly denied… (addressing Naidoo’s attorney) Now, Attorney Zak… why it is that your client should not be incarcerated today for failure to abide by my orders?

Karen Zak thanked the judge profusely and repeatedly for her good offices

Naidoo was sworn by the clerk:

ATTY. ZAK: Ms. Naidoo, what is your current work situation?

A: I am unemployed.

Q: Up until this week where were you employed?

A: At Stuart B. Ratner, P.C.

 Q: And you have an email between yourself and Attorney Cohen, correct?

 A: I… I sent him an email in May… where I told him that I would pay him as soon as the apartment (is sold). … And rather than responding to that, he filed a motion for contempt…. And then (I) offered to pay him $2,500, which is the maximum I could charge on my credit card and (pay) the rest as soon as the apartment sale closed.

ATTY. ZAK: … what else have you done to try to raise funds or make payments to Attorney Cohen or to the plaintiff?

A: I’ve asked friends and family… And I’ve done everything I could to sell the apartment as soon as possible. I’ve done everything in my power to list it as soon as possible. I accepted whatever the first offer was. And I’ve done everything in my power to get the money so that I can pay this …  I have $46 in my bank account and I have lost my job….

 THE COURT: Attorney Zak, any other questions? I heard her the first five times she told me that.

ATTY. ZAK: – I just have one, maybe two more questions, Your Honor.

ATTY. ZAK: And so your understanding is that this condo, this apartment, is under contract?

A: Yes.

Q: Okay. And does it have any sort of anticipated closing date on the contract?

A: They want to close after Labor Day. (Three weeks from the court date)

ATTY. ZAK: I don’t have anything further, Your Honor. …

THE COURT: Attorney Cohen, do you have any questions for Ms. Naidoo?

ATTY. COHEN (he had no questions just a desire for her incarceration) … The time for compliance is over…. The defendant has retirement accounts upon which under federal law she may borrow up to $50,000. And since COVID rules were enacted, I believe she has up to five years to repay it.

THE COURT (agreeing): Under the CARES Act.

ATTY. COHEN: She can pay it (back) when she sells the apartment… She can tap into her retirement accounts right now for up to $50,000 which would give her immediate liquidity to cure her defaults owed to the plaintiff.

THE COURT: Well, she hasn’t said this, but I presume for reasons unknown to me that Ms. Naidoo has chosen not to do that. …

ATTY. ZAK asking Naidoo:

Q: In regards to taking a loan against the 401(k), have you attempted to do that?

A: Yes. They said I couldn’t. …

ATTY. COHEN (not interested in having anything on the record that might slow down the incarceration): Objection, Your Honor, that’s obvious hearsay.

THE WITNESS: Well, I did try to, but I was not allowed to. I did not –

THE COURT (uninterested in any delay): Okay. Ms. Naidoo, anything else you want to tell me?

THE DEFENDANT: I am trying to pay.

THE COURT: Anything different you want to tell me?

THE DEFENDANT: I am doing everything I can to pay, Your Honor.

THE COURT: That’s not different, ma’am. That’s not different. I heard you the first six times you told me that. Is there anything different that you haven’t told me already that you want to tell me about why I should not incarcerate you for failing to obey my order?

THE DEFENDANT: Because I have tried everything I can, Your Honor. And if there is something you think that I haven’t tried I am happy to try it.

THE COURT (ignoring that Attorney Cohen refused to take her partial payment) :… the defendant has failed to pay even a partial payment.  She continues to have the ability to pay… (ordering her arrest) So I commit you, Ms. Naidoo, to the Commissioner of Correction. You will have a cash purge… of $15,000.

(A cash purge in CT Family Court is an amount of money that a person must pay to be released from jail after being held in contempt of court for failing to pay child support. It was somewhat novel to use it for pay for an attorney’s legal fees.)

The COURT: We need to set down a purge review date …. Attorney Zak, your — and Attorney Cohen, your availability…

ATTY. COHEN (concerned about the $125 his client had to pay for an Uber to get to court and desirous of making sure Naidoo paid it): Your Honor, may I also ask if Your Honor would consider an order that the plaintiff, who as you know, is not permitted to drive… may be made whole (by Naidoo) for the cost of his having to get to court in connection with the defendant’s default…

As the Marshal stood by waiting to handcuff, and shackle Naidoo, Judge Tindill turned her attention to Kumar’s Uber costs, which after dues deliberations were determined to be $125 round trip.

Naidoo’s attorney interrupted:

ATTY. ZAK: Your Honor … is the Court inclined to stay incarceration for one week for Ms. Naidoo to bring in…

THE COURT: Nope.

ATTY. ZAK: Thank you.

THE COURT: I am not. She has had plenty of time.

ATTY. ZAK: Thank you…

THE COURT (adding to Naidoo’s purge the $125 it cost Kumar to Uber, the judge added) Mr. Kumar would not have incurred that expense had Ms. Naidoo complied. So, that will be (included in) the cash purge amount. …

ATTY. COHEN (lathering up the record and buttering up the judge): And, Your Honor, my client… aware that this is the mother of his two children (is) concerned about her incarceration, but I’ve explained to him that Your Honor is protecting the dignity of your office and the dignity of your orders, this is not personal with him.

Judge Tindill

 

THE COURT (seemingly reveling):…Mr. Kumar, we have gone through this process. You have paid an attorney… I’ve spent time looking at evidence and I issued a ruling. … Court orders will be followed. So, this is…not something the Court revels in doing, this is something that has to be done for the integrity of the system. You understand, Mr. Kumar?

THE PLAINTIFF: Yes, I, I understand.

ATTY. COHEN: Will Your Honor permit Mr. Kumar to address you?

THE COURT: Sure….

THE PLAINTIFF (concerned about the caretaking of his children) …, I completely respect the integrity of the Court… Are there other options (other than jailing the mother) like just issuing a court order directly to have the money transferred (from the retirement account) or something to that effect?

THE COURT (declining to issue an order to permit the retirement account funds to pay an opposing party’s legal fees). Sir, I’ve issued an order (for Naidoo to pay)…. and the deadline was months ago, and there were lots of options for Ms. Naidoo to comply. Ms. Naidoo wants to do what she wants to do, she’s going to comply with the order when she feels like it, that’s not how this works. … This whole system is set up for a reason…

ATTY. ZAK: Your Honor, my client… does not have (a) care (taker) for her children. Mr. Kumar is not able to drive, so she’s –

THE COURT: He’s able to get a driver.

ATTY. ZAK… Your Honor,…  she’s concerned about the care for her children…

THE COURT (to Naidoo):… Now you’re concerned about your children. If that were… truly the case, you would have done what you were ordered to do. You’ve had plenty of time and the money to do it.

THE DEFENDANT: I don’t have cash, Your Honor.

THE COURT: We are done.  Anything else?

THE DEFENDANT: I don’t have cash.

ATTY. ZAK:… We just need a date. Can we do two weeks for purge review?… How about the 29th in the morning?

THE COURT: The 29th.

THE COURT: Mr. Kumar, I’m going to excuse your presence… because you’re not able to drive yourself. …

THE DEFENDANT: May I please ask something?

THE COURT: Of course.

NAIDOO (begging for the judge to simply utter the words in court as an order so she could access her retirement funds to pay the attorney and avoid jail): If you issue an order for me to transfer the retirement assets back to him (so she could get it out of her retirement account), I can do that, so I can transfer whatever is owed… But I can’t do it without a court order.

THE COURT: — I have issued the orders that I’m going to issue.

THE DEFENDANT: I can’t transfer the assets back to him without an order, Your Honor.

THE COURT: Marshal….  So, August 29th, 2:00 p.m.

ATTY. ZAK: And they can facilitate a phone call downstairs for Ms. Naidoo as well?

THE COURT: Yes, absolutely.

ATTY. ZAK: Thank you.

THE COURT: If she pulls it together. I mean, I don’t know what time the truck (to take Naidoo to the county jail) leaves…

THE MARSHAL: It’ll be a while, Your Honor.

ATTY. COHEN (concerned with his not having to appear in person on the 29th): May I appear remotely… Your Honor?

THE MARSHAL (to the judge): She’s granted a phone call?

THE COURT: Yes, absolutely. Or two or three. I’m sorry, Attorney Cohen.

ATTY. ZAK: Thank you, Your Honor.

ATTY. COHEN: Your Honor, may I appear remotely at two o’clock (on Aug 29)?

THE COURT: Sure.

ATTY. COHEN: Thank you.

THE COURT: Mr. Kumar, any questions, sir?

THE PLAINTIFF: So, she — I just want to make sure, so the — is she going to —

THE COURT: She’s going to be allowed to make whatever phone calls she needs to make to do what she should have done before May 1st. She can — if she makes those arrangements and gets that purge done, (pay $37, 512 plus $15,000 the judge just added as purge), she’ll walk out of here today. She’s motivated now. If not, we have a date for her to … be brought back (from jail)…. but she’s going to be allowed to make phone calls today and do what she needs to do. Okay.

ATTY. ZAK: So, she’ll be held at York Correctional pending the payment.

THE COURT: All right. We are adjourned, Marshal…

It was noon. It took just 30 minutes to uphold the kind of justice regularly found in Family Court.  The marshal approached, handcuffed and shackled Naidoo, and led her out of the courtroom. Though she could make phone calls, she was unable to raise the more than $50,000 she needed to get out of jail before the truck that took prisoners to York Correctional came and drove the mother to jail to protect the dignity of the court.

At the end of the day, as she sat on the bench weighing incarcerating a mother versus issuing a few simple words in a court order that the mother said she needed to get money from her retirement funds, Judge Tindill chose the road to punishment and harm.

Even if an order was not required, what harm would have been done if Judge Tindill had exercised mercy?
She could have issued the order to release the retirement funds, and then if Naidoo still did not pay, she could still place the mother in jail.
The father, who was the ultimate beneficiary of the money, wasn’t calling for the mother’s arrest and custody. He was willing to wait for the closing in three weeks. He also asked the judge to order the release of the money.

The old conniver Gary Cohen did nothing to prevent the jailing, but acted all righteous in upholding the dignity of the court.
Cohen, like the good judge, reminds me of the electrician in Stanley Ellins’ story, The Question.  He is in charge of the electric chair and his son asks him if he did not enjoy pulling the switch and having the power over and life and death, watching men squirm.
He said, “My God, how could anybody not enjoy it?”

Naidoo did get out of prison after four days, following a story that went viral on Frank Report and her friends’ hurried arrangements to protect the abandoned children and pay the $15,000 purge.

As of press time, Naidoo has still not paid the $35,000, and the 29th is on Thursday.

To be continued….

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Frank Parlato
Frank Parlato is an investigative journalist, media strategist, publisher, and legal consultant.
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Anonymous
Anonymous
1 month ago

I’ve been in her courtroom. Tindill is an obtuse self-righteous disgrace. She misses the facts and what is in the best interest of the people and families before her and instead functions around respect for her power. She’s a shame to the profession. Ned Lamont needs to correct this mistake.

Anonymous
Anonymous
3 months ago

She is at it again. My friend, a great loving father, is about to go to jail because he is not allowed to tap into his 401k due to the admin not allowing it. He is trying to pay, but has no means since the system has already drained him of all available funds. 2/3 kids won’t even speak to their mother any longer because of this. The family as a whole has blown all of their saving they put away over the last 22 yrs. If he goes to jail, he will lose his job and still not be able to pay. The same public defender, Zak, is on this case because he can’t afford to pay his previous lawyer. She is clearly complicit. We sent the ex wife $10k (group of friends) to keep him from jail while they were in court and the judge still sent him, but we got the extra cash they demanded at the last second while he was in shackles. They literally pulled him out of line to the bus. This judge and the system she operates in along with the plaintiff’s lawyer, Melissa Needle, ruin lives. He is desperate to find help if anyone has any recommendations. He has until mid October 2025

Anonymous
Anonymous
3 months ago
Reply to  Anonymous

This judge needs to show some compassion. I wish someone could examine the courts books as well as the attorneys the judge is in cahoots with. Any way to alert the DOJ?

Anonymous
Anonymous
3 months ago
Reply to  Anonymous

He’s trying all angles. He filed a grievance against the lawyer. The board seemed to be interested and then suddenly dropped it. Piles of documents showing lies and pre-planned contempt filings. Group of people trying to find a solution, but it feels pretty helpless. Very frustrating. Not sure the DOJ is going to do anything in family court, especially on such short notice and considering the outcome of the grievance. They lawyers are taking advantage of the wife. She is not mentally stable. It’s all a crime. Only hope is that he can prove that he is trying to pay, but can’t. He has proof that he is not allowed to tap into his retirement account as opposed to the woman in the story, but not sure that will be enough for this judge. She repeatedly calls him a liar with nothing to back that up other than the word of the plaintiff’s lawyers.

Anonymous
Anonymous
6 months ago

What a disgusting human being this judge is. She should be disbarred for her heartless rulings. These family court judges are probably getting kickbacks from attorneys like Cohen. The good old boy network at its best. Judge Tindall is a disgrace to her profession.

Anonymous
Anonymous
6 months ago

The same heartless, sadistic and power hungry judge separated loving mother from her young child some years ago in a custody case. Is it all about $$$?
I feel sorry for Ms. Naidoo and believe that it is high time something is done about this so called Family Court in Stamford, CT.

Another horrible Tindill case …
Another horrible Tindill case …
1 year ago

… The lawsuit, filed under a state law holding municipalities liable for negligent acts of employees, itemizes 36 different ways it says Knablin and the police department should have done more while failing to arrest or detain Dewitt prior to the homicide.

It says police failed to “properly monitor and observe” Dewitt, did not act quickly enough on Minogue’s complaints, did not perform a “lethality assessment” screen customary in domestic violence cases, and “affirmatively engaged in conduct that increased the danger” to Minogue by telling Dewitt she was seeking his arrest.

The lawsuit also says police “provided false and misleading assurances” to Minogue “that she would not be harmed by the defendant, Dewitt, and that they were protecting her.” …

https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/julie-minogue-milford-ct-lawsuit-19503301.php

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Does The Office Of The Chief State’s Attorney blame the police instead of blaming the inept — and sometimes criminal — state “family court” system?
Which authorities are investigating that case to discover who should have protected that family from that horrible — and totally avoidable — harm ?

Located in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney is responsible for the statewide administrative functions of the Division of Criminal Justice. In addition to budget, personnel and other administrative functions, the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney includes specialized units for the investigation and prosecution of certain criminal matters and for representing the state in appellate and other legal matters.

https://portal.ct.gov/dcj/about-us/about-us/office-of-the-chief-states-attorney?language=en_US

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

There’s an opening for CT Supreme Court Justice. Let’s hope Lamont has the decency not to choose this sociopathic animal.

Connecticut politicians
Connecticut politicians
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Hey Ned Lemont, what happened in the Bridgeport case? They granted visitation to a father who left his child for dead in a bath tub in a hotel. After you placed a father’s rights judge in charge of the judicial system. You will be exposed to the public. It’s not Malicious. It’s in good faith to inform the public. William Tong your role in the state family court system will be told to the public. Freedom of speech, telling the truth is not malicious. Protecting the public is not malicious. People have the right to know what politicians are doing and vote accordingly. Ask for the federal government to get involved. You can try to cover up incompetence and other things going on in family court . The entire state has a right to know where their tax dollars are going and what is happening as a result.

Do your homework
Do your homework
1 year ago

Do your homework. This has nothing to do with women insisting on all women having custody. These are 20 percent of cases where the insistence is made that women/ mothers are lying. Criminal justice reform has effected the legal process for domestic abuse. Sexual assaults and other violent crimes are inconvenient for the state of Connecticut.There are both mothers and fathers who should not have custody. Yet, the state of Connecticut has focused on the priority of fatherhood and used the MOU for its financial stability. Best interest is a joke. Connecticut is ground zero for the welfare reform and fatherhood legislation. There are several reasons to ERA was never archived. Religious organizations feel it would take away from old fashion family values. The government is not pushing the divorce industry they want people to stay married. They are mysognist views that the father’s are heads of the family. Connecticut has been a malicious place of punishment for women going to court with reports of abuse. After much spot light on Connecticut family court, hundreds of women complaining. The perminant commission on women was erased and replaced with the commission on women children and seniors with small print equality and inclusion. This organization has intentionally ignored and failed to step up for the hundreds of women complaining. Because it’s funding relys on support of the MOU. Children have been assaulted in DCF care and they remain silent. Thanks you to the politicians for setting it up this way. This is a gender issue not because fathers should not have access and custody of children. It’s the insistence that abusive ones have the Red carpet rolled out for the financial economic growth and development of the state of Connecticut. At the expense of it’s citizens. Our interm supreme Court justice is a fatherhood project judge. Cause Connecticut wants to reduce the cost of incarceration/prosecution and the federal funding to HHS programs in CT.

Safe space needed?
Safe space needed?
1 year ago

Another delusional sociopath trying to get her 5 min of fame. fathers get screwed the most hands down…follow the money. Crime is down but DV is up ? get a clue incentivized false allegations lead to this mess. Gives these A-hjoles and in to rape the family financially. give custody to the demented parent…cause know the sane stable parent will do whatever it takes so they can run the meter some more…. get a clue. The judges dont give a sh*t their paycheck is on the line. The attorneys complain about them they shipped off to a far far away court as punishment. So they must behave to the narrative the attorneys have scripted.to line thee pockets.

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Gary cohen should be appointed to that position!

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

Gary Cohen is white. He won’t make it to be supreme Court justice. Just like Andrew McDonald. He’s going to protect the projects bringing money into the state. The nomination has less to do with qualification for the job. He’s going to choose a less experienced judicial nomination with bias. Instead of an experienced the doesn’t have bias and invested in equality in the state court system. The application of best interest standards to take a back seat to the financial best interest of the state.

Lamont lawn jockey.
Lamont lawn jockey.
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Democratic political pick. They blocked a openly gay judge from Chief Justice, but we can appointed an openly bias black judge to the bench?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Andrew McDonald is more qualified for the job. The Republicans are blocking him solely on the basis of his sexuality.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Many an article have written including in legal industry to push Connecticut’s governor to appoint people of color, not based on qualifications. It goes beyond equity and inclusion. These people are the line of defense for criminal justice reform and fatherhood funding. Two programs running in Connecticut bringing in money to the state as well as cost savings. Any of these people of color not going along with the protection of these money generating and cost savings projects is quickly fired. William Tong appears to be using law firms who have received a small fortune in PPP loans.

Now comes the eviction ...
Now comes the eviction ...
1 year ago

Naidoo posted on social medial that Tindall is now evicting her and her children from their home. Naidoo’s exclusive use and possession of the marital residence ends on September 2nd. Naidoo asked Tindall for an extension as she lost her job, had been jailed, and got into debt to pay Gary Cohen. Tindall scheduled a hearing for the afternoon of August 29th, and in a few short sentences, Tindall circumvented all Naidoo’s due process rights. She not only said no to extending her request to extend her exclusive use and occupancy, she terminated her right to occupy the home at all and said that Naidoo and her children need to be out of the home by midnight on September 2nd. Wonder if Tindall will jail the children as well if they are still there on September 3rd.

DCF
DCF
1 year ago

Does anyone know if DCF has been notified? Those children must be traumatized. First their mother disappears and they find out she is in jail; now they are being thrown out of their home. Assuming the father is the owner of the home. Is he going along with the eviction of his own minor children??

Welfare reform/healthy marriage/ responsible fathe
Welfare reform/healthy marriage/ responsible fathe
1 year ago
Reply to  DCF

Great job Tindell swindler toss the Mom and kids out on a holiday weekend. Don’t call DCF they are alined with the judicial branch. Tindell is mad she landed on the frank report. Suburban mothers you are being tossed in jail, have your financial resources taken and tossed out on your ass with your children in toe. Our new interm supreme Court justice is running the family court circus. In the name of equity the heavily involved in federal funding is showing women in Connecticut how things are going to play out. You file for divorce the judges will ramble on about parental alienation despite the father not wanting them, you will be forced to pay a ridiculously priced attorney your spouse picked. You will be tossed in jail for not coming up with the money fast enough. Then you will be tossed out on a holiday weekend. Project 2025 is in full swing in the state of Connecticut. Punished for divorce and single Parenthood. The economic growth and development of the state of Connecticut. Equity, devalued weak constitutional rights. Thank your elected officials for the circus in Connecticut family court. Vote no to Lamont/ Susan Bysiewicz. Vote no to William Tong. Vote no to the majority of public officials running the state of Connecticut. Curruption at it’s finest.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  DCF

Dcf will not get involved.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Shouldn’t this be an issue for housing court?

Due Process
Due Process
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Seems like Tindall just expanded her judicial powers. You can’t evict someone – even a squatter! – without terminating their right to use and occupancy of the premises. The owner – assuming it is the father – would have to service the mother a Notice to Quit. And then bring this before a housing court judge. That’s how due process works Judge Tindall. How did this woman even become a judge? What is her background / qualifications to hold this office?

Anonymous
Anonymous
6 months ago

She’s an evil judge….i had her years ago in New Haven

Truth
Truth
1 year ago

Rabbi Traffickerstein makes it rain and Aunt Jemima shakes her badonkadonk right on queue.

Reality is not black and white.
Reality is not black and white.
1 year ago
Reply to  Truth

Swindle Tindell. If there is cold hard Cash to be distributed around the family court industry your color and religion is no matter. It’s raining in every Connecticut court room. The court house is really an place where you pay to reclaim your children. This Mom just had to pay an extra $37,000 to the real gatekeepers in the state of Connecticut. The family court Mafia.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Truth

Aunt Tindall’s court room

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Governor Lamont puts Mullians to interm supreme Court justice. Protecting the criminal justice reform and family court system funding.

Shut down the gravy train.
Shut down the gravy train.
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Connecticut’s minority project shield. The funds for greater Hartford. Connecticut Counsel for Philanthropy. Related content. Collaborative presents symposium on family and community engagement. FATHERHOOD FUNDING. MOU FOR FATHERHOOD. Raheem Mullins a young less seasoned judge is an interesting pick 46 years old and protecting Connecticut’s fatherhood funding. Ned Lomont has a history of appointing minority leaders in positions and firing them when things hit a skid. The department of health, the chief public defender’s office and nominated the black prosecutor who got blocked from the bench. Shipman and Goodwin were hired by William Tong to investigate the public defender’s office situation. The firm received millions in PPP loans during covid. Blumenthal and Murphy were in charge of the investigation of millions of dollars of PPP loans flagged in the state of Connecticut. Complain about projects effecting the entire state such as the fatherhood initiative and criminal justice reform and you are labeled a racist. If you are well educated and black and disagree or notice problems, you are using the race card. Maybe these people are noticing that the only ones truly benefiting from these projects are state paid employees? TNAF block grant funding to fill in the gaps. Welfare reform/responsible fatherhood. The rich white men charged with domestic violence, and they don’t want to pay child support. Who is benefiting from the projects? Ultimately, it’s the state of Connecticut budgets. Raises, pension and Retirment. Child support arrearage and the wonder bread committee, AFCC/ alienation industry/ CT bar association profiting off the entire mess. Exploitation of minority projects.

NiceGuy
NiceGuy
1 year ago

RE Mother’s 401K;

The mother was given more than enough time to liquidate her 401K.
It’s not that hard. She has an attorney.
Her argument is absolutely ridiculous and has No credibility whatsoever

The mother’s attorney should have advised her differently!!!! Maybe the attorney did and the mother would not listen.

The judge of reacted somewhat, BUT THE MOTHER HAD PLENTY OF TIME!

Lesson:
Don’t piss off a judge in your life will be a lot smoother.

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago
Reply to  NiceGuy

Also, don’t piss off Gary Cohen and make him travel to Middletown!

Anon
Anon
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

Cohen was the one who asked for this case to be moved to Middletown

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago
Reply to  Anon

Yes, however if Nishani followed Her Honor, Judge Tindall’s order and paid on time, this specific trip to Middletown would not have been necessary.

Gary Cohen has better things to do than travel in his Bentley to Middletown.

Tindall is a Bully
Tindall is a Bully
1 year ago
Reply to  NiceGuy

Why was the award to Cohen for legal fees not reduced to a money judgment, which Cohen could then enforce like any judgment creditor? If Tindall believed Naidoo could access her 401k, why did she not issue an order for Naidoo to cash out her 401k? Because such an order would be unenforceable. Under ERISA, a judgment creditor is not able to seize funds from pensions and employer-sponsored retirement accounts. If Naidoo’s 401k is not available to a judgment creditor – and Tindall could not issue an order for Naidoo to cash out her 401k – why should Naidoo cash out her 401k to pay Cohen? Was Tindall trying to bully Naidoo into “voluntarily” doing what federal law would forbid Tindall from ordering Naidoo to do?

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago

Gary Cohen is a legend. He deserves to be paid per the orders of the judge. Anything less would be an insult to the court and impune its integrity.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  NiceGuy

Why should she have to liquidate her retirement instead of paying the attorney when she sells her property? Don’t you think this is judicial overreach when judges make arbitrary deadlines so their attorney buddies get paid?
It’s outrageous.
Parents enter for a simple divorce and the judges takes all their power and autonomy. Since when are attorney fees and payment deadlines taken over by judges?

Anon
Anon
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Agreed. And Tindall used the child support enforcement order to imprison the mother who is the sole provider of the children because she could not pay the ex-husband’s attorney on time!

The Deadline
The Deadline
1 year ago

What baffles me the most about this is why the hard deadline for the full payment? Why wouldn’t Cohen accept partial payment? Why couldn’t he wait a few more weeks? The mother said she would pay him and she told him she was closing in a few weeks. Why did the money have to be paid by August 14th or she goes to jail? Cohen isn’t short of money. And any other attorney would simply have gotten a money judgment and would have to seek enforcement on his own. Why was Tindall so determined that Cohen get $37,512.50 by August 14th? I don’t think the answer is she was maintaining the dignity of the court. What Tindall did was a disgrace to the legal system and all sense of decency. I think the answer to the question is key to unraveling why this mother went to jail. Who needed to be paid so badly by August 14th???

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago
Reply to  The Deadline

How dare you write that Her Honor, Judge Tindall’s, ruling was a disgrace to the legal system! As Gary Cohen, the greatest matrimonial attorney of all time pointed out, the integrity of the system needed to be upheld and respected. This is precisely what Judge Tindall did with the assistance of none other than Gary Cohen.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  The Deadline

Power and punishment. This is family court.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

good

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Was Tindall on this case the whole time?
Did she come in at a later stage of the case?
If she did, she may have been strong, armed to make this decision to throw the mother under the bus due to prior arrangements and agreements between the powers at be

Don’t be surprised with my questions. This sort of thing happens on a regular basis judges won’t steer or shift the case in a different direction that it’s already heading because it overrides their colleague who may have some influence or incentivizing factors.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

From what I gather, Tindil came to the case after Adelman left the case.

Given what you wrote, I have to wonder if Nishani was represented by a high powered attorney when Tindil came into the case, maybe that would have neutralized Gary Cohen and the outcome would be more fair?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Adelman controlled that case at some point? 😳

Answers
Answers
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

The case had been in Stamford until July 2023, mainly before McLoughlin and then Vizcarrando. Gary Cohen wanted it moved to Middletown. The mother objected because it was too far and she was the sole provider and caregiver for the children. Middletown meant time off from work and arranging childcare as well. Moukawsher granted Cohen’s request to move the case to Middletown. Adelman heard the pre-trial motions. There was a remote hearing on August 17th and Adelman issued nine orders that same day. (He only mailed them to the mother on Saturday though – you can see that in the mother’s motion to the Appellate Court where she asks for an extension of time to file the appeal and shows the date stamp on the envelope.). The mother appealed 6 of his orders. The trial was set to commence on November 28, 2023. The parties received a call that morning while they were en route that Adelman was unavailable. The trial was scheduled for the following day as well, and when the parties appeared the following day, Tindall was assigned. From the trial transcript, Tindall already knew a lot about the mother even before the trial started. The trial transcript – the evidence presented – and Tindall’s final decision are very much at odds.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Answers

Find all gave full legal and physician custody to Nishani. She also ordered child support, which I believe, was based on state guidelines.

so, despite the horrible treatment, Nishani won the most important aspect of this case; full custody.

This case was, by far, not a win for Gary Cohen.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Answers

I believe it was Judge Heller who granted Cohen’s motion to transfer the case to the regional docket in Middletown.

In order for any family case to be transferred to the regional docket in Middletown both Stamford and Middletown need to accept it.

Answers
Answers
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

If you read the decision dissolving the marriage (03/06/24), Tindall is scathing towards the mother. This is at odds with the trial transcript where Tindall would not even allow the mother’s friends to testify on her behalf. These friends had driven all the way up to Middletown and were on the mother’s witness list. The mother said these witnesses had known the children their entire lives and could testify as to their upbringing and character and the mother’s character as well. Tindall refused to allow these witnesses to testify as she said she already knew she was a good mother and she didn’t need to hear it again. (Tindall did allow David Israel to testify, though, even though he had only spoken to each of the children once for 20 minutes over zoom.).
Gary Cohen had asked for the children to be taken away from the mother and to be put in foster care.
Tindall’s decision (03/06/24) is scathing against the mother (and fails to mention that the father cut the kids off starting December 2021 and had not paid child support since that time). Despite being scathing against the mother, Tindall then gave the mother sole legal and physical custody. But she also gave Gary Cohen $35,000 in legal fees and $2,512.50 in sanctions.
There was no explanation for either award – it was just put in the decision. The father is the monied spouse and his net worth was almost 20x the mother’s.
If what you are saying is correct, Tindall steered the case in a different direction when she gave custody of the children to the mother. But the price tag for that was $37,512.50. This may explain why the mother never appealed this and simply did all she could to pay it. The mother just couldn’t come up with the money fast enough.

Some Connecticut hat tricks.
Some Connecticut hat tricks.
1 year ago
Reply to  Answers

God forbid anyone’s testimony gets on the record. The GALs don’t contact the people you provide. My attorney was not going to call critical witnesses. I got demands for more money right before trial. Made sure I emailed all the evidence prior. ” I need to get ready for trial”. Bills for reading all of it. Pretty damaging stuff texted and emailed by witnesses. Then the hammer comes down for payment. Forcing an agreement.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

In a substantial portion of cases, the GAL is nothing more than a leech onto the case and a hindrance to its just resolution. They care not for the best interests of the children, but for their own best financial interests.

Citizens against curruption
Citizens against curruption
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

We have a picture of one of the gals meeting a parent in the parking lot exchanging envelopes. There was never a GaL assigned in the case. The GaL according to court records has no involvement in the case. It was stumbled upon by accident. The notorious GaL was recognized by one of the fix family court members. How often is this happening? According to the court record this happened during the tail end of a high conflict case. Save the money you would pay an attorney. Pay a private investigator.

Answers
Answers
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

The contempt motion was scheduled for a status conference in Stamford on July 25, 2024. Gary Cohen asked Evan Knowlton, the clerk at Middletown, to schedule the motion before Judge Tindall. Evan Knowlton scheduled a hearing before Tindall on July 18, 2024 and Tindall issued her decision on July 22, 2024, so the status commence in Stamford was marked off. So it was Cohen who is we responsible for his client’s exorbitant Uber fare. Who knows what his bill was for all this, but I am sure he managed to get that palmed off to the mother … who will have to pay or go to jail!

Critical Race Theory
Critical Race Theory
1 year ago

I wonder how the critical race theorists would analyze this case.

Here we have an African American woman, who is the judge in this case—showing no mercy and jailing another woman of color (Nishani), who has roots in South Africa, over money ordered to be remitted to an elderly white Jewish man.

Notice how friendly the judge was towards Cohen and how deferential she was towards him, whereas she relished throwing into Nishani’s face the fact she begged the judge for leniency and denied reasonable leniency/accomodation nevertheless.

This is a case of a black woman, who wields power, essentially bowing down to an old white man, who is there seeking something from her.

Is this a case of corruption? Or, perhaps, do the vestiges of American racism have something to do with this exchange?

Uber outrageous prices
Uber outrageous prices
1 year ago

Money is green. It just goes to show there is no mercy at the court house. There is an equal opportunity for the family court Mafia to extort money. Why should she have to pay for an unreasonably priced attorney? At $950 an hour he could have given his client a ride home.

Race Matters
Race Matters
1 year ago

This is brilliant! My $0.02 is Tindall’s race is a camouflage. The public perception is we have made “progress” but the reality is she is there to do what her corrupt handlers want her to do. It’s a ruse.

Remove Tindall from the Bench
Remove Tindall from the Bench
1 year ago

To maintain the integrity of the judicial system, and protect the dignity of our courts, Erika Tindall must be removed from the bench IMMEDIATELY.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

If they did not remove Vizcarrondo for his outburst featured here on the FR, they are never going to remove Tindall.

For change to happen regarding corruption on family courts in CT, we need tens of thousands of people marching on the state capital demanding reform.

Until that occurs, everyone will just need to electronically pontificate on the FR and accept the fact that nothing will change.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Many have suggested protests and Marches. It has been shut down by leaders of the movement. You don’t March and protest the Mafia wins.

Tindall is a Liability Now
Tindall is a Liability Now
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Good point. But Tindall is a liability now. She was supposed to get the job done, and get it done quietly. Make it all look “fair and just.” But she now has five articles in FR. And people are sharing on social media and with friends so it is getting a lot of attention. And Gary Cohen is being discussed in detail by everyone and more stories are coming out. Until now King Cohen has managed to keep clean off the media and maintain the aura and mystique of being the greatest matrimonial lawyer the State of Connecticut has ever seen. Tindall screwed that up. The Powers are not Pleased.

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago

Gary Cohen, was, is, and will forever remain the greatest matrimonial attorney in the state of Connecticut.

It is a pity that he did not franchise and go both national and international.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

I highly doubt Tindall is considered to be a liability. It is business as usual in CT family court. Unless and until the citizens of the state protest and demand accountability from the judicial branch by putting political pressure on the legislature and governor, nothing will change.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

I believe you only have to file to represent someone just minutes before a hearing. The father was buying more time in the child support case. The entire family court system problems starts with child support. They are going to push the age to 21. What does this mean for family court battles? Syzmonick isn’t going to be happy with this one.

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago

Judge Tindall is a highly intelligent, respected, and reputable judge. She is an asset to the judicial branch and residents of Connecticut. How dare you call for her removal because you did not like her decision to uphold the dignity of the court!

Fan of keeping my cash and assets
Fan of keeping my cash and assets
1 year ago

If you have been through family court system, you realize that the judges are focused on the attorneys and appointees getting paid. Why did she have to pay for opposing counsel fees to begin with? Everyone has their hands out. There needs to be a cap on legal fees. Is Gary Cohen that big of a legal genius or old school gangster/ mob boss in the family court Mafia? AFCC hat tricks? Any insider info?

Nailed It!
Nailed It!
1 year ago

Cohen is an THE old school gangster/ mob boss in the family court Mafia. And that is why this mother went to jail. She exposed his corruption at every turn and even filed several appeals. Cohen called this “litigation misconduct” and simply asked Tindall to make her pay him $35,000 for it. There was no evidence at the trial of litigation misconduct. And the ex-husband’s net worth was 20x hers. But you don’t mess with The G! (His friends can just call him “Gary”.). This mother is being punished because she exposed Cohen for the old school gangsta that he was.

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago
Reply to  Nailed It!

There is no family court mafia and Gary Cohen is NOT a mobster. He is simply the best matrimonial attorney in CT who drives a Bentley.

Nailed It!
Nailed It!
1 year ago

I am pasting a comment from a prior article so you see his what a mob boss Cohen is:
STMatty the issue with Gary Cohen is not that he is such a “good lawyer”. The issue is that he is ABOVE THE LAW. His clients get the impression that they are invincible, that they can do whatever they want, that they can get away with murder.
This was, indeed, the case of Fotis Dulos who killed his wife Jennifer Dulos and would have gotten away with it, but for one minor misstep (from Dulos’ point of view) by Gary Cohen’s law firm. If you read the filings in this case, there is no doubt that Gary Cohen and Jacob Pyetrankar (Cohen’s partner at the time) knew something was afoot. Just now much they knew, nobody will know except for Fotis Dulos (who is now dead) and Gary Cohen and Jacob Pyetrankar. (Pyetrankar started his plans to move away from Cohen in December 2018, about 5-6 months before Jennifer Dulos was killed.)
Pyetrankar was still working with Cohen though at the time of Jennifer’s murder. In fact, it was Pyetranker who accompanied Fotis Dulos to the police station on May 25, 2019. And it was Pyetranker who committed the “misstep” that led to Fotis Dulos’ ultimate arrest. Read page 5, no. 8 of the arrest warrant. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/read-the-fotis-dulos-arrest-warrant/2206792/

Fotis Dulos had committed the perfect crime. He had an alibi as to his whereabouts. However, the police were able to show that he was actually at different locations – and obtain surveillance video from those locations – because they were able to get location data from his phone.
On May 25, 2019, though, when Pyetranker accompanied Fotis Dulos to the police station, the police did not have a search warrant for the phone. Dulos had given his phone to his attorney Pyetranker when he went into the police station. When Pyetranker came into the police station, he said that they would not be cooperating with the police and they would be leaving. But then, oddly, he gave Dulos his phone, which Dulos then gave to the police. Dulos then gave the police his access code, allowing the police to put his phone in airplane mode to prevent the erasure of the data on the phone. The phone was kept in the possession of the police until a search warrant could be obtained later that evening. It is strange behavior to give the police your phone (and the access code) when you just told them you were not cooperating with them!
Another version of what could have happened that day – which could not be written in the arrest warrant as all data seized from the phone would then be inadmissible – is that Pyetranker, realizing what Dulos had done, knew that Dulos would get away with the crime unless the police had access to his location data. And Pyetrankar, not wanting to be an accessory after the fact, gave the police Dulos’ phone and access code. This would also mean that Pyetrankar would have known that the location data on the phone would be key to unraveling the mystery of Jennifer Dulos’ death. Which also begs the question: How much did Gary Cohen and Jacob Pyetrankar know and when did they know it? And could they have prevented this tragic death? Oddly, despite the high profile nature of this case, nobody mentions the fact that Gary Cohen and Jacob Pyetrankar were Fotis Dulos’ lawyer during the divorce trial.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Nailed It!

It is known that Pyetranker was just one in a series of lawyers Dulos had in the case, which beforehand included Rich Rochlin, a prominent west Hartford attorney.

Pyetranker is known to be a protege of both Wayne Effron and Gary Cohen. He drives to court in a grayish colored late model Ferrari and wears the same sort of custom tailored suits that Gary Cohen wears.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

People it’s the entire state. There is something to do with timing and settling cases. The collection of Data. The well educated Harvard grad required the big gun divorce attorneys (Mafia) . Just like the Dulos.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Cohen is a most thoughtful attorney. He actually got his client his Uber money reimbursed.

How many lawyers would think of that ?

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

You are exactly correct, Gary Cohen leaves no stone unturned in pursuit of defending his clients and getting them the outcomes and money they deserve; all within the bounds of the law.

He is doing all of this by simply being the best.

This is why he is by far the most successful and well respected matrimonial attorney in the state.

From the foothills of the Berkshire mountains, to the river valley, and onto the Gold Coast, CT citizens from all corners of the state seek this legal genius when they find themselves starting into the hallways of family court!

Uber Law
Uber Law
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

And Cohen even got the Uber fair added to the purge bond. So the ex-wife not only owed him for the fair, but she was also in contempt for not paying it! And Cohen got all of this done in a matter of minutes!

Gary Cohen Fan 2
Gary Cohen Fan 2
1 year ago
Reply to  Uber Law

Yes, isn’t he brilliant!!!!!

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago

Stop trolling me!

Skip the Uber
Skip the Uber
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

For $950 an hour I would expect a masseuse/massuesur and a glass of wine in the hallway waiting getting called into the court room.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Skip the Uber

Why couldn’t Cohen drive his client to Court in his Bentley?

NiceGuy
NiceGuy
1 year ago

RE The judges Ruling:

The judge went a little far, but the woman was in contempt , and she could have easily cashed out her 401K and chose not to.

It doesn’t take 5 months to cash out a 401k.

The defendant did not take the judge’s ruling seriously.
She either didn’t listen to or was ill -advised by her attorney.

Tindall is a Bully
Tindall is a Bully
1 year ago
Reply to  NiceGuy

Why was the award to Cohen for legal fees not reduced to a money judgment, which Cohen could then enforce like any judgment creditor? If Tindall believed Naidoo could access her 401k, why did she not issue an order for Naidoo to cash out her 401k? Because such an order would be unenforceable. Under ERISA, a judgment creditor is not able to seize funds from pensions and employer-sponsored retirement accounts. If Naidoo’s 401k is not available to a judgment creditor – and Tindall could not issue an order for Naidoo to cash out her 401k – why should Naidoo cash out her 401k to pay Cohen? Was Tindall trying to bully Naidoo into “voluntarily” doing what federal law would forbid Tindall from ordering Naidoo to do?

Tindall is a Bully
Tindall is a Bully
1 year ago
Reply to  NiceGuy

If this indeed what Tindall was trying to do – bully Naidoo into doing what federal law would forbid Tindall from ordering – then how many times has Tindall done this before? The legislator needs to conduct hearings on this.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

This was not bullying. This was mafia style tactics.

Perhaps Nishani has a constitutional claim here.

Shakedown
Shakedown
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

It was nothing short of a shakedown! If you read the filings, Naidoo was telling Tindall she was selling the property and needed time to do so. Tindall insisted on hauling Naidoo up to Middletown (1.5 hours away) on short notice. Naidoo could not arrange childcare on such short notice or rearrange her work schedule. Tindall did not care! She insisted that Naidoo appear before her regardless of what it did to her work or her children. This was nothing short of a shakedown … using the power of the courts to do so. It is an absolute disgrace and I hope Naidoo sues the state for the violation of her constitutional rights and for being wrongfully imprisoned. Nothing less can right this wrong. And, yes, Tindall make be removed from her office immediately. She is disgusting.

NiceGuy
NiceGuy
1 year ago

Yindal is a Bully:

A 401K is considered a marital asset.

You are sighting rules that are not applicable to this case. A spouse and a creditor are two different entities.
Look up case law in any state it’s all the same!

***

The Frank Report legal experts:
Le Gal or Claviger would agee with me.

Tindall is a Bully
Tindall is a Bully
1 year ago
Reply to  NiceGuy

Tindall is a monster who believes that she does not need to follow the law because SHE IS THE LAW. Tindall must be removed from the bench immediately. She is not a only a disgrace to the legal system, but a danger to innocent men, women, and children. She is not there to protect the best interests of the children, but to line the pocketbooks of her cronies. Tindall must be removed immediately!

Uber express promotion
Uber express promotion
1 year ago

She will be in line for administrative judge. Rewards for getting a quick and timely payment.

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago

She will be promoted to the state supreme court and perhaps, even, the federal circuit court for upholding the dignity of the court and the legal process!

STMatty
STMatty
1 year ago

I’m interested to know whether Nishani would be interested in speaking with me about this situation?

If that is the case, can someone on her behalf reply to this posting? I am assuming the phone number she listed in her filings is still operational.

Anon
Anon
1 year ago
Reply to  STMatty

She will speak to you. The number listed on her filings is still operational as is the email.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

why would any man or woman want marriage today! destroy the families that exist to import new ones! baby producing state dependents! in CT people think its 50/50 until they go through the courts. where it usually ends up being 80/20 and the 80 goes to the one, usually the plaintiff, that racks up lawyer fees with motion after motion. judges enjoy that as it lines the pockets of their friends. i bet this judge has a 8 tier law school diploma. and prenups can be destroyed in court if the judge wants to do it! dont be fooled. they can manipulate payments and terms and allocation of assets.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

This is exactly why there is such a population decline occurring in America that necessitates bringing immigrants into the country to prevent a demographic cliff from occurring.

Young people today, particularly millenials and younger shy away from marriage and kids for the reasons highlighted in the cases we read on the FR.

Let them eat cake
Let them eat cake
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Absolutely marriage has become a thing of the past. Having children is becoming less popular. Children are watching the horrific divorce court their parents are going through. As well as the government taking control over children’s lives. Not in a good way. Society has a whole is little morales. Especially the people who are in control. All this is teaching children is the court system is not to be trusted. The very system that is supposed to uphold civilization is rewarding criminals and punishing good people. This is what is being breed in the United States of America.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

If marriage has become a thing of the past then the family court dockets will soon be empty!

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

You still have custody cases.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Family court is indeed a forum where perjury is not punished, and actually rewarded.

Read The Transcript
Read The Transcript
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

A few times during the divorce trial, Tindall remarked to the mother … so you went to Harvard. At one point Tindall said something nasty to the mother, and then said … but I didn’t go to Harvard. I just pictured her sneering at the mother when she said this (but you can’t tell from the transcript of course). There has to be some way Tindall is removed from hearing further motions on this case. She is clearly biased.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

It is a know fact that lawyers who went to lower tier law schools, as most family law attorneys and judges in CT, are jealous of those who went to top schools like Nishani did.

Harvard v Quinnipaic. LOL

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Family law attorneys are filthy swines

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

You’re way too kind.

Reform the System
Reform the System
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

There needs to be a serious reform of the family court system. It is infested with “professionals” (lawyers, GALs, attorneys for the minor child, therapists, parenting coordinators(?)) who do way more harm than good for the children and the families. They actually end up causing even more conflict and trauma, since they benefit from it!

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

They do all of this not for the best interests of the children, but for the best interests of their pocketbooks.

High conflict monied cases are feeding frenzies for these bottom feeders.

Mom in Court
Mom in Court
1 year ago

Follow the $$$$$. All about referrals, collusion, increasing billable hours and winning cases to keep winning cases. Gary Cohen was concerned about the $125 uber fee to the Middletown RFTD court ….when he asked and moved the case there with Judge Moukawsher? He moved it there and it is 3 hours round trip and he can bill $800 x 3 hours for transportation. It is all a game. $2400 to drive RT to court but he is worried about his client paying $125 for an uber there????

Court Insider
Court Insider
1 year ago
Reply to  Mom in Court

Naidoo did not want the case moved to Middletown since she works and is the sole provider and caregiver of the children. Middletown meant taking a lot of time off from work and arranging childcare for her children. Moukauwsher transferred the case there anyway … because that is what Gary Cohen wanted. Btw, Gary Cohen now charges $950 an hour. So the round trip to Middletown is almost $2,850.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Court Insider

wait! the husband has no $$$ but hired Cohen at $950! sick! what garbage law school did he attend!!!!! Same as Jerry Nadler!

Court Insider
Court Insider
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

The husband has plenty of $$$ – he is the monied spouse. He already paid Gary Cohen $140,000. Why Naidoo had to pay Gary Cohen another $35,000 is the mystery only Tindall can answer.

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Gary Cohen attended law school at the University of Virginia, which is a top 10 law school. Cohen received numerous accolades and awards spanning his 50+ years practicing law. Gary Cohen is simply the best and worth every dollar he is paid!

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

What did Gary Cohen do before he started bribing the judges in CT family court, and how successful of a lawyer was he in his past incarnations as a lawyer??

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Your questions are not pertinent. The reality is that Gary Cohen is the best matrimonial law attorney in the State of Connecticut. This is evidenced by the numerous awards and distinctions he received throughout his career.

Divorce clients seeking representation literally swarm to him and are more than willing to pay what is likely the highest hourly rate of any matrimonial attorney in CT.

I am rather surprised and disappointed that he did not franchise nationally and internationally.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

Tough business in this accomomy. People are wising up. The case president and arguments are the same. He wins because of his connections. Must have one hell of a holiday party. Bonus for the industry members who have helped his career over the years

STMatty
STMatty
1 year ago
Reply to  Court Insider

I recall seeing in the file that Attorney Cohen filed a motion to refer this case to the regional docket in Middletown, which was granted by Judge Heller a few months later.

Nishani should have filed an objection to Cohens motion. I don’t recall if she did that.

Court Insider
Court Insider
1 year ago
Reply to  STMatty

Naidoo did file an objection Dkt. # 242 – Omnibus Opposition to #231, #232, #239, #240 & #241 where she objects to and details the Cohen’s frivolous litigation conduct

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Court Insider

Thank you.

STMatty
STMatty
1 year ago
Reply to  Court Insider

Actually the regional docket in Middletown was set up for the express purpose of expediting high conflict cases involving custody, financial, and other issues utilizing judges who have specialized training and experience dealing with these sorts of cases and issues.

Whether the regional docket has lived up to its original intent is another issue…

RFTD is corrupt
RFTD is corrupt
1 year ago
Reply to  STMatty

Ask anyone who has appeared in the RFTD. It is corrupt and “captured” by special interests like Gary Cohen, et. al. The entire system needs to be reformed

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Mom in Court

According to the filings made by Cohen in the Naidoo case, Gary Cohen now charges $950 per hour. His associate, Vicki Law (yes, that is her actual last name) bills at only $425 per hour. What a bargain!

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Yes, and he is worth every penny his clients pay him.

Cohen is simply the best!

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

The best at what?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

“THE COURT: Yes, and… after you begged me…I denied it. What you don’t seem to understand is that this is a court of law. This is not negotiations…”

”Family court” is a court of law?

Why do so many say “family court” is a court of equity, not a court of law?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

It is scary that the judge does not seem to know family court is a court of equity.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

If “family court” is a court of equity rather than a court of law, might that explain why “family court” lawyers destroy children and families?

Mo $$$$$
Mo $$$$$
1 year ago

Gary Cohen tells court Naidoo has paid all except any amount the judge is “considering to order as additional counsel fees.”
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jb6qaNVRxVgV0GdJsCiMfcClacYO264Q/view?usp=drivesdk

Cohen is a pig ...
Cohen is a pig ...
1 year ago
Reply to  Mo $$$$$

This man has absolutely no shame whatsoever. Lock him up and throw away the key!

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago

Don’t you dare say such awful things about Gary Cohen! I command you to apologize, IMMEDIATELY.

Cohen is a pig ...
Cohen is a pig ...
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

Or what … you’ll banish me to the dungeon beneath Tindall’s chamber.

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago

I guarantee if you were ever standing opposing Gary Cohen in family court you would become immediately incontinent.

… 🤔 …
… 🤔 …
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

How does fear and incontinence help Connecticut’s children and families?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Ericka you lying cow – how dare you suggest your chamber is a court of law!!!

Priceless:
THE COURT: Yes, and… after you begged me…I denied it. What you don’t seem to understand is that this is a court of law. This is not negotiations…

A court of law that refuses hearing upon which the court makes orders, and fails to cite any law that allows you to jail innocent citizens when they cannot afford to pay!

Court of law that refuses to sign her name to an order to draw money from retirement because she wants her buddy cohen to get it all immediately. Can’t wait four weeks why exactly? What arbitrary deadline not based on any law required such a deadline?

Where is the warning sign that money due to attorneys comes under the purview of the family court judge to arbitrate? Why are we in family court for business contracts that shoe be dealt with through arbitration or civil court??

Family court all about larceny and plunder. And the abuse of children and punishment for anyone who dares to speak out on decades old vast corruption and the destruction of families and rights of parents and children.

Thank you Frank Report for exposing the animals and sociopaths of family court.

Shakedown
Shakedown
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Agree 💯. However also note that there was no business contract between Naidoo and Cohen. Cohen was hired by Naidoo’s ex-husband. Tindall just arbitrarily ordered Naidoo to pay a portion of her ex-husband’s attorneys fees even though the ex-husband is the monied spouse and could afford to pay his own fees.

Shakedownt
Shakedownt
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Tindall imposed the obligation on Naidoo. Then decided Naidoo was in violation of the obligation she imposed. Then imprisoned Naidoo for not getting the $$$ on time like she ordered her to get.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Brilliant Atty Zak. Good thing she showed up to gather more billable hours. Thanks for confirming she’ll be at the only women’s facility in the state of CT. 🤣

“So she’ll be at York?”

As opposed to the dungeon under Tindall’s chamber?

Or stuffed in one of the courts tunnels used to traffic children?

Zak the Quack
Zak the Quack
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Zak was appointed by Tindall to be the public defender at this hearing.

Wake up Connecticut
Wake up Connecticut
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Criminal justice reform. We wheel and deal people committing crimes. They are out in a flash back on the streets. Plea bargaing and dropping charges. Hartford police officer parking and sleeping on the shift. It’s a waste of time to arrest these people. The state has them get their own insurance. Ranked 5th for the most deaths for drunk driving fatalities. Not a single officer was in the area when Dolus was dumping in the dangerous neighborhoods? We must send this woman to jail because Gary Cohen is not paid fast enough. There is no intergrety in Connecticut period. It is the state of Connecticut making money the CT bar association . Cost savings. Move out if you are able.

Useless Zak
Useless Zak
1 year ago

Attorney Zak is laughable. Utterly useless and in on it with Tindall and Cohen. Files nothing. Raises no law. Gets nothing on the record. Thanks the judge.

And lastly, confirms
ATTY. ZAK: “So, she’ll be held at York?”

There’s only one women’s prison in CT. Useless vulture draining family bank.

She’s the executioner and proud of it.
She’s the executioner and proud of it.
1 year ago

Any My God, Tindall certainly does enjoy it. She’s abusive as they come. Sadistic POS

Tindall refuses to make illegal order
Tindall refuses to make illegal order
1 year ago

Tindall won’t put out an order to take money from her retirement to pay Cohen because she knows it’ll be appealed and overturned. Instead she’ll ignore all requests and move forward with the outcome she’s already promised to Cohen.

One hand washes the other.

Shakedown
Shakedown
1 year ago

She knows she cannot order the mother to liquidate her retirement accounts … but she can threaten and coerce her into doing so. I wonder how many other mothers and fathers she has forced to go into debt or liquidate their retirement savings to pay her cronies.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

This needs to go viral. This transcript shows the bullying, disrespect and disregard for CT citizens and taxpayers who then enter family court only to be criminalized, belittled, mocked and thrown into prison.

Tindall is a stain on the state of CT.

Legislators pay attention!!!
Legislators pay attention!!!
1 year ago

Now we’re required to borrow money from family and friends?

We’re supposed to strain our relationships and extend our hardships to family and friends and if we don’t then we’re punished???

And if we choose to ask family and friends and we have wealthy family and friends who loan us money then we are free but if we don’t then it’s the slammer?

Get thee to the gallows!
Get thee to the gallows!
1 year ago

This judge is straight from the Medieval era. This is the law. You give my attorney friend the money. Or go to jail. I don’t care about your children. Off with your head!

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Disgrace. The entire state of Connecticut family court system is a disgrace and embarrassment.

STMatty
STMatty
1 year ago

This is just awful…..

Gary Cohen fan
Gary Cohen fan
1 year ago

We must commend attorney Cohen for his concern regarding the dignity of the court and the legal process.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

We must put and end to the curruption in the state of Connecticut. People are absolutely sick of it.

Judge Roy Bean
Judge Roy Bean
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

Cohen hes a real good lawyer. A shit for a man. not one word to urge leniency. At least the father tried to speak in the mother’s defense. Shows a bit of class or maybe he just didn’t want to take care of the kids.

But smelling through this is the bully Tindill. You can just see how much fun she is having. Attorney Zak is afraid of her always saying thank you, thank you to the judge while she hammers her client.

No one had the guts to say, this isn’t right!

Uber Justice
Uber Justice
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

And for making sure that his client got reimbursed for his Uber fair!

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Cohen fan

That’s “dignity”?

That’s “the legal process”?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Some people just don’t understand sarcasm when they see it.

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