Stop Disability Discrimination and Abuse in family court

1. A 13-Year Marriage of Abuse

I met my ex-husband in 2002. Throughout our marriage:

• He abused alcohol.
• He was arrested in 2005/2006 for domestic violence.
• He was arrested again in May 2017 (around Mother’s Day).
• He threatened to take our children to India if I pressed charges.
• His family told me not to call the police and enabled the abuse.
• He refused to let me work or get Regional Center help for my disability.

I stayed home full-time, raising our children alone, while he built his career and income as an architect.


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2. My ONE Mental-Health Crisis Was Used to Destroy My Family

In April 2017, after 13 years of abuse, I had one mental-health crisis.
Child Welfare became voluntarily involved. I complied with everything they asked.

The caseworker told me I could regain custody if the records were subpoenaed.

The court never looked at those records.


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3. The Ex Parte Hearing I Was Never Notified About

On September 6, 2017, without warning:

• My ex and his attorney, Stephen Kaufman, filed an ex parte TRO and divorce.
• I was never notified.
• No attorney of mine was notified.
• Child Welfare—who was already involved—was not notified.

Only three people knew:
Srinivas Vatte, his attorney (Kaufman), and Judge Daphne Sykes.

This denied me due process.


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4. I Was Served in Front of My Children and Threatened With Arrest

Later that day:

• My two older children had just come home from school.
• I was sitting on the couch nursing my youngest.
• My ex brought all the children to the door.
• A process server handed me the TRO and divorce papers.
• The server threatened me:
“If you stop him from taking the children, you will be thrown in jail.”

My children watched this happen.

That moment broke our family.


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5. Disability Discrimination in Family Court

In filings and in open court, my disability and my upbringing were used against me.
I was told I was unfit because:

• I had been in foster care as a child
• I had a disability since birth
• I didn’t drive
• I was a stay-at-home mother

The court failed to apply the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The court failed to consider my evidence.
The court failed to investigate the truth.


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6. False Allegations Without Evidence

Attorney Stephen Kaufman:

• Presented allegations with no witnesses
• Submitted declarations without proof
• Dismissed my police reports as “he said, she said”
• Ignored Child Welfare involvement
• Allowed my ex to weaponize the system against me

I was denied a continuance.
I faced court alone.
The judge granted my ex everything he asked for.


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7. I Became Homeless Because of These Actions

• I lost access to our home.
• The lease ended in February 2018.
• I had only $1,200 in alimony.
• I could not enter shelters due to the TRO he filed.
• I had no attorney willing to help a disabled, low-income domestic-violence victim.

I never turned to drugs or alcohol.
I rebuilt my life from nothing.


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8. I Now Have Housing and a Job — But I Still Face Injustice

• I now have Section 8 housing.
• I am employed full-time at Walmart.
• I have worked hard to regain stability.
• I still never received a holiday schedule with my child.
• My ex continues to violate orders and use the system against me.
• I am seeking sole custody and ADA protections.


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WHAT I AM ASKING FOR

1. State Oversight & Investigation

A full investigation into: • Judge Daphne Sykes
• Attorney Stephen Kaufman
• Attorney Annette Goudy
• Any official who allowed an ex parte hearing without notice
• Disability discrimination in my case
• The failure to contact Child Welfare

2. Review of Custody Orders

I request: • Restoration of my parental rights
• Sole custody of my minor child
• ADA accommodations in all proceedings

3. Accountability for Misuse of the Court System

No attorney or judge should be allowed to: • Hide ex parte hearings
• Submit allegations without evidence
• Ignore Child Welfare involvement
• Violate due-process rights

4. Damages & Compensation

The court’s mishandling caused: • Trauma
• Homelessness
• Severe damage to my relationship with my children
• Long-term emotional harm

Someone must be held accountable.

5. Change for All Families

I am calling for: • Mandatory verification of emergency allegations
• Required Child Welfare contact in active cases
• ADA training for family-law judges and attorneys
• Protections for victims with disabilities
• Limits on abusive ex parte filings


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WHY THIS MATTERS

No mother should lose her children because she is disabled.
No domestic-violence survivor should be punished for speaking the truth.
No child should witness their parent threatened by a process server.
No family should be destroyed because someone misused the court system.

I survived abuse.
I survived homelessness.
I survived the system.

I refuse to stay silent.




CALL TO ACTION

Please sign this petition to demand:

• Oversight
• Accountability
• Family-court reform
• Protection for disabled parents
• Justice in Case No. 17D007339

Your signature can help prevent other families from suffering like mine.

Thank you for standing with me.

— Sally Vatte