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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.

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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.

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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.

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Accountability / Ada Accommodations / Beyond Barriers and Disability Rights / California / California Watch / Disability / Disability Rights / Disability Rights / Domestic Violence / Due Process Denied / Family Court / San Marcos Abduction Attempt / The Smiel Series / transparency

“We Aren’t Having One of Those Today”

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

During a federal shutdown, a Los Angeles courtroom silenced advocates and observers during a hearing for domestic violence survivor Giselle Smiel, violating her ADA rights. Despite a provided Teams link for remote access, court staff denied participation, raising concerns over public oversight and institutional failure in providing justice and transparency for vulnerable individuals.

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Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Welfare / Crime & Violence / Domestic Violence / Family Court / Government / Gun Violence / Michigan

A Custody Dispute Turns Deadly in Detroit: What This Tragedy Says About Family Breakdown

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

A custody handoff on a Detroit street ended with one man dead and another wounded. Beyond the crime scene tape lies a deeper crisis: family courts that fuel conflict, custody disputes left unsupervised, and a culture that treats family as disposable. Unless reforms take root, this tragedy will not be the last.

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Child Custody / Crime & Violence / Domestic Violence / Family Court / Government / Public Safety

Iryna Zorutska’s Murder: The Deadly Cost of Soft-on-Crime Justice

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The murder of Iryna Zorutska is not just a senseless act of violence—it is the latest example of what happens when violent offenders are cycled through a justice system more concerned with ideology than safety. From bail reform to diversion programs, soft-on-crime policies leave women and families exposed, while abusers and repeat offenders learn to game the system. Until public safety comes first, tragedies like Zorutska’s will keep repeating.

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Celebrities / Child Custody / Civil Rights / Constitutional Law / Constitutional Rights / Crime & Violence / Domestic Violence / Family Court / Father's Rights / Football / NFL / parental rights / Rights and Freedoms

NFL Justice vs. Family Court Reality: How Money and Fame Can Erase Domestic Violence Allegations—But Everyday Fathers Get Crushed

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The post by Michael Phillips contrasts the experiences of NFL players accused of domestic violence, who benefit from legal resources and public support, with regular fathers facing similar allegations. For everyday fathers, accusations can lead to immediate loss of custody, damaged reputations, and financial ruin, highlighting systemic inequalities in the justice system.

NFL Justice vs. Family Court Reality: How Money and Fame Can Erase Domestic Violence Allegations—But Everyday Fathers Get Crushed Read More
Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Support / Child Support / Corruption / Court Corruption / Crime & Violence / Crime Violence / Criminal / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Florida / Florida / Law Enforcement / The Corruption Series

She Knew the Court Order—But Tried to Flee Anyway: The Miami Custody Case That Exposes a Dangerous Double Standard

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

A Florida mother defied a court order and tried to flee the state with her children—but this wasn’t a misunderstanding, it was abduction. The law is clear, yet enforcement remains dangerously unequal. When fathers follow the rules, the system must protect them.

She Knew the Court Order—But Tried to Flee Anyway: The Miami Custody Case That Exposes a Dangerous Double Standard Read More
Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Support / Child Support / Crime & Violence / Crime Violence / Criminal / Due Process Denied / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Florida / Florida / Mental Health / Public Safety

The Tragedy of Aria Talathi: A Chilling Reminder of Family Court Failures and the Forgotten Fathers

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

In the tragic case of 4-year-old Aria Talathi’s death, the evidence points to something far more sinister than an accidental drowning—raising urgent questions about how family courts handle high-conflict custody battles. Dr. Neha Gupta, Aria’s mother and a recently terminated pediatrician, now faces first-degree murder charges. As details emerge of a bitter custody dispute, court failures, and mental health red flags, this case serves as a chilling reminder: when the system ignores warning signs, children pay the ultimate price.

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Court Corruption / Judges / Judicial Disability / The Corruption Series / Thunder's Wall of Shame / Virginia / Virginia Watch

Behind the Gavel: Scrutinizing Judge Penney Azcarate Beyond the Headlines

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Judge Penney Azcarate gained fame during the Depp-Heard trial but faces criticism for her family court practices in Virginia. Critics claim her decisions may hinder victims seeking justice, citing concerns over judicial conduct that balance her praised veterans’ advocacy against allegations of courtroom mismanagement and bias. Ongoing scrutiny suggests a complex legacy.

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