Legal Precedent Archives

Baltimore’s $62 Million Ghost Gun Verdict: Accountability or Scapegoating?

August 29, 2025August 29, 2025 - by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

On August 26, 2025, a Baltimore jury awarded $62 million against Hanover Armory for its role in the city’s ghost gun crisis. Critics argue this verdict shifts focus from systemic issues like poverty and failed policies to scapegoating a legally operating business, potentially harming lawful industries and failing to address the root causes of crime.

Anne Arundel County / bias / Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Support / Child Support / Corruption / Court Corruption / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Father's Rights / Maryland / Maryland Watch / Misconduct / parental rights / The Corruption Series / The Reichert Files / transparency

Maryland’s Parent-Erasure Pattern: Dangerous Crossroads in Custody Law

August 11, 2025August 11, 2025 - by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The Reichert v. Hornbeck ruling in Anne Arundel County exemplifies a troubling trend in Maryland law, where de facto parentage may undermine fit biological parents’ rights. Judge Morris granted standing to John H. Michel without justification, risking judicial overreach. The General Assembly must intervene to protect fundamental parental rights and clarify legal standards.

Maryland’s New Family Law Loophole: Erasing Parents Without Evidence

August 11, 2025August 10, 2025 - by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

In Reichert v. Hornbeck, the Circuit Court has created a dangerous legal precedent by granting John H. Michel parental standing without any legal justification or consideration of the child’s wishes. This ruling threatens the rights of fit biological parents in Maryland, allowing judges to grant parental status to unrelated third parties arbitrarily.

Judicial Notice and Due Process: Why South Carolina Must Apply Turner v. Rogers in the William Sewell Case

June 2, 2025 - by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

William Sewell, a South Carolina father, faces potential incarceration over unpaid child support and a hefty guardian ad litem fee. His case raises due process concerns, particularly regarding the right to legal counsel as outlined in Turner v. Rogers. This situation highlights systemic injustices towards indigent parents in family courts across the U.S.

California / Cps / Family Court

Miroth v. Trinity County: A Landmark Win for Families Fighting CPS Injustice

May 11, 2025 - by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

On May 8, 2025, a California court ruled in favor of Trish Miroth against Trinity County Child Protective Services, challenging unlawful child removal. The court rejected the County’s motion to dismiss based on the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, affirming federal jurisdiction in civil rights cases. This landmark decision empowers families against CPS overreach.