Home » custody litigation

Tag: custody litigation
3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Support / Child Support / Child Trafficking / Child Welfare / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Government / Maryland Watch / The Reichert Files

Nobody Asked Grant

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Grant Reichert’s communication has been restricted by his mother, Sarah Hornbeck, and John Michel, resulting in a protective order against him without his consent. Supervised visitation has become difficult, raising concerns about his well-being. Witness testimonies suggest he desires contact with his father. Ongoing litigation raises questions about manipulation and parental control dynamics.

Nobody Asked Grant Read More
2 - Analysis / Culture / Culture & Institutions / Dead Reckoning / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Family Values / Mental Health / Opinion / Parental Rights / parental rights / Politics / Voice

THE MONTHS NOBODY MENTIONS

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

June highlights important issues like National Men’s Health Month and National PTSD Awareness Month, yet conversations around men’s health and the impact of family courts remain largely ignored. Men face significant mental health challenges, particularly related to trauma from family court experiences, but lack adequate cultural acknowledgment and support.

THE MONTHS NOBODY MENTIONS Read More
4 - Cases / Anne Arundel County / Maryland / Maryland Watch / The Reichert Files / The Shadow Docket of Reichert v. Hornbeck / Uncategorized

When Parental Alienation Becomes Child Abuse, and No One Can Cite It

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The Appellate Court of Maryland issued an unreported opinion in Reichert v. Hornbeck, determining critical family law questions about mental abuse and custody. Despite extensive findings against Jeff Reichert’s parenting, the opinion’s unreported status limits its legal precedent, affecting future family law cases significantly regarding parental conduct and child custody evaluations.

When Parental Alienation Becomes Child Abuse, and No One Can Cite It Read More
3 - Investigations / California / California Watch / California's Broken Public Defense System / Child Custody / Child Custody / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Government / Institutions & Accountability / Mental Health / The Reyna Files

The Therapist the Court Ordered

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Dr. Rebecca Bailey, a family therapist, has faced numerous complaints regarding her controversial practice, Transitioning Families, which reunites families amid troubled custody disputes, often in abusive contexts. Critics claim her methods prioritize affluent parents, sidelining protective ones, while courts continue to endorse her, perpetuating a flawed system linked to a broader problematic industry.

The Therapist the Court Ordered Read More
3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / California / California Watch / California's Broken Public Defense System / Criminal / Family Court / Family Court Reform / The Reyna Files

The Criminalist and the Coerced Plea

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Former criminalist Rhonda Reyna once testified for prosecutors in homicide cases. Years later, she says the same justice system ignored exculpatory evidence, pushed her into a no contest plea, and helped separate her from her daughter. Part one of Riptide’s investigation into California’s broken public defense system.

The Criminalist and the Coerced Plea Read More
3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / Ada Accommodations / Beyond Barriers and Disability Rights / Brenna Gano Case / California / California Watch / Child Custody / Child Custody / Disability / Disability Rights / Disability Rights / Family Court / Family Court Reform / The California Custody Cartel

The Judge Who Wasn’t Ready

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Judge Vivian Wang, recently appointed with no family law experience, denied motions in a complex custody case involving alleged fraud and disability accommodations. Critics argue her procedural ruling lacked thorough legal analysis, particularly regarding limitations and equitable tolling. The upcoming trial may test her judicial capabilities and the fairness of the process.

The Judge Who Wasn’t Ready Read More
4 - Cases / Ada Accommodations / Beyond Barriers and Disability Rights / Court Corruption / Disability / Disability Rights / Disability Rights / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Federal Court / Institutions / Legal Reform / Maryland / Maryland Watch / The Reichert Files

Two Courts, Two Answers: How a Federal Accommodation Order Exposed the Anne Arundel Circuit Court’s ADA Defiance

- by Michael Phillips - 1 Comment

In January 2026, a federal magistrate granted Jeffrey Reichert remote ADA accommodations for pretrial hearings, while the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court repeatedly denied his requests, even barring him from future filings. This stark contrast raises questions about court compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and retaliation against disabled litigants.

Two Courts, Two Answers: How a Federal Accommodation Order Exposed the Anne Arundel Circuit Court’s ADA Defiance Read More
3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / Brenna Gano Case / California / California Watch / Family Court / Family Court Reform / The California Custody Cartel

Court Denies Brenna Gano’s Motions — But Sets the Stage for Trial

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

A San Mateo judge rejected attempts by Brenna Gano to overturn a 2022 settlement, citing statute of limitations concerns. Gano argued she was coerced into the agreement without proper accommodations for her disabilities. While the denials were procedural, a full-day trial is set for December 28, 2026, where core issues will be examined.

Court Denies Brenna Gano’s Motions — But Sets the Stage for Trial Read More
2 - Analysis / 3 - Investigations / Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Welfare / Domestic Policy / Domestic Violence / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Government / Institutions / Institutions & Accountability / Justice & Governance

The Same Tools

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The article examines how tactics for controlling partners in marriage are mirrored in family court environments, highlighting systemic failures to recognize and address coercive control. Through multiple cases, it illustrates how these controlling behaviors persist in legal proceedings, resulting in devastating outcomes for parents and children, often exacerbated by institutional biases and inadequate judicial training.

The Same Tools Read More
3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / Brenna Gano Case / California / California Watch / Child Custody / Child Custody / Family Court / Government / RICO/Racketeering / The California Custody Cartel

The San Mateo Syndicate

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

A document-driven investigation reveals how a tightly connected network of lawyers, therapists, and a private judge operated inside a single custody case—coordinating decisions, shaping evidence, and extracting more than $350,000 while independent advocacy became nearly impossible.

The San Mateo Syndicate Read More