Advocate for child victims fights court corruption (Nyack, New York)

Do you ever wonder about the behind the scenes stuff that allows abusive fathers to still have unsupervised visitation--or even custody--of their kids? This article explains some of it for you--the negligence, fraud, corruption, etc., especially in New Jersey.

One of the cases mentioned is an UNNAMED DAD whose 12-year-old son committed suicide after being ordered into the abusive dad's care.

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-13-2009/0005058628&EDATE=

Whistle-blower Jill Jones-Soderman Files Lawsuit Against Her Former Attorney

NYACK, N.Y., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Jill Jones-Soderman, a New York-based social worker and the executive director of The Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts, has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against her former attorney in federal court for alleged negligence, fraud, deception, malpractice and infliction of emotional distress.

According to Jones-Soderman, she paid Richard Mazaway thousands of dollars over the period he was "representing her." During this time he never filed a motion or legal order on her behalf despite the fact that he had personally uncovered evidence and had access to all pertinent information to prove that she was the victim of malicious judicial fraud and misconduct.

He even found "smoking gun" evidence during discovery from the New Jersey Attorney General's office which showed why the state's licensing board was so aggressively pursuing the revocation of her license - to the point where they were fabricating charges - Jones-Soderman said. On top of that, she was told she could not know the nature of the complaint against her. Yet Mazaway did nothing. The information he obtained proved that Judge Mary Margaret McVeigh had filed fraudulent charges against Jones-Soderman, stating that a report had been written to influence the court. But according to Jones-Soderman, no such report was ever written.

The problems started when Jones-Soderman was fraudulently removed from a case on which she was serving as a forensic consultant, she explained. After discovering and attempting to expose the alleged fraud occurring in the family court, she was ordered off the case. Meanwhile the New Jersey licensing board attempted to end her career based on what Jones-Soderman insists are fabricated charges. So she hired Mazaway, who promised to put up a vigorous defense and work on some of her cases.

Jones-Soderman claims that through his inaction on the various cases, he allowed the fraud going on in the family court to continue. Some of the clients using his legal services had their children returned into the hands of the abusers, she said. According to Jones-Soderman, Mazaway's performance regarding one scheme going on in the court ultimately contributed to the suicide death of a 12-year-old child who was ordered returned to his abusive father.

"The theatrics are for the client in the privacy of the office," explained Jones-Soderman regarding Mazaway's promises. "What happens in court is that the client gets screwed and loses everything." According to Jones-Soderman, Mazaway had also discovered evidence of lies and fraud perpetrated by New Jersey state officials. He outlined a defense and even proposed filing a federal civil rights action against the state and its agents, having determined that Jones-Soderman fit the definition of a whistle-blower. But he did nothing - or worse, "aided and abetted" the licensing board, as Jones-Soderman claims.

"Lawyers like Mazaway count on the client's fear of changing attorneys," Jones-Soderman said, adding that paying a new retainer and telling the whole painful story again motivates many clients to keep their attorney despite glaring problems. She eventually fired him and has now filed a law suit in the U.S. District Court for Southern New York.

Mazaway contributed to irreparable harm to Jones-Soderman's career and reputation, she said, noting that the primary allegiance of lawyers is to the courts and not their clients. "I want this to serve as a warning to all the lawyers who think they can destroy their clients," she added, also noting that at least three other clients have complained about Mazaway's services and neglect. "We can and will fight back. He is being sued because he chose to betray his client rather than to expose the corruption of the system."

For more information about the work of Jill Jones-Soderman and her organization, please visit http://www.notinvain.org/, http://www.lawisnotjustice.com/, jill.jones-soderman.com or call (786) 266-0390. Jones-Soderman's private practice focuses on mediation and navigation of court litigation for clients in high-conflict situations. Please refer to http://www.thefamilyresolutioncenter.com/. She also serves as a therapist and program developer for the Thorpe Family residence, a long-term housing shelter for traumatized women and children supported by the Sparkill Order of Nuns.

SOURCE: The Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts