Transparency Note:
This petition was drafted with the assistance of an AI writing tool (ChatGPT) to help organize language, improve clarity, and ensure respectful, advocacy-focused wording. All statements reflect my personal experiences and views. This tool did not provide legal advice or direct litigation strategy.

“This petition is intended as public advocacy and a call for systemic reform. It is not intended to interfere with or influence pending court proceedings, and I continue to comply with all court orders and act in my child’s best interests.”

Society  need stop Discriminate  victim of domestic violence and Abuse  in family court  and hold the abuser accountable protected  children and the victims from the perpetrator missed  used of the family court system 

Stop Family Courts from Rewarding Abusive Parents
Victims of domestic violence should not lose their children to a physically and emotionally abusive alcoholic parent because that parent has more money, a job, or a better address.
In this case, the abusive parent misused the family court system before separation, filing false allegations, abusing ex parte hearings, and seeking domestic-violence TROs as litigation tools to gain custody—not for safety. This strategy was facilitated by a family-law attorney who misused professional power to restrict the victim’s access to the children and secure full custody for the client.
Child welfare was already involved, yet the judge granted an ex parte hearing without contacting the caseworker and without notifying the victim at all. Decisions affecting the children were made without notice or an opportunity to be heard, relying on attorney representations instead of independent due diligence. This is not in the best interest of the children.
The judge focused on the abusive parent’s reputation, job, and housing, treating those factors as proof he was the “better parent.” Meanwhile, the victim—a full-time stay-at-home mother who provided daily care—had her stability destroyed by abuse and coercive litigation, and that harm was then used against her.
The abuse included threats made in front of the children, including threatening to use the oldest child against the victim if she returned to court. The children are now being taught this is a “normal divorce,” that less time with their mother is enough, and that the abusive parent has the right to control visits and contact. This is coercive control and parental alienation.
The abusive parent also had an affair with a coworker and attempted to replace the children’s mother while restricting the victim’s access. He now demands the victim “move on” and “forget the past”—a form of gaslighting that erases accountability.
Disability, trauma history, or a difficult upbringing never justify abuse or discrimination. A parent’s job, income, address, or reputation should never outweigh safety, caregiving history, and a child’s bond with a loving parent.
We Demand Change
End the misuse of TROs and ex parte hearings to gain custody
Require notice and the right to be heard before custody-impacting orders
Mandate child-welfare consultation when an agency is involved
Hold courts and attorneys accountable for abuse of process
Reject economic, disability, and reputation bias in custody decisions
Victims should not lose their children in secret hearings.
Children should not be raised to believe abuse and control are normal.
Sign to demand accountability, reform, and justice for victims and their children.

 

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.

My name is Sally Vatte, and I am asking for justice, accountability, and reform in the handling of my family-court case (Case No. 17D007339) at the Orange County Lamoreaux Justice Center. For 13 years I survived domestic violence, alcohol-related abuse, and coercive control. When I finally experienced one mental-health crisis after years of trauma, the court used it against me—ignoring evidence, ignoring Child Welfare, and ignoring my rights under the ADA.

This petition is not only for me. It is for every parent with disabilities, every domestic-violence survivor, and every child whose voice is silenced when courts fail to investigate the truth 

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME

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.

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.

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:
My ex-husband, his attorney (Kaufman), and Judge Daphne Sykes.

This denied me due process.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

“Specific accountability requests and evidentiary materials are being pursued through appropriate legal and civil-rights oversight channels.”

 

Thank you for standing with me. And stand with your family and neighbors and friends who are going through this nightmare it's not the best interest of our children hold accountable  those attorneys and judges who missed used their powers not the best interest of the children or the victim of domestic violence 

— Sally Vatte