NOTE: This piece first appeared on TheFamilyCourtCircus.com.
By Richard Luthmann
Portland, Oregon’s embattled family court system blinked—for once—in the face of science.
Thanks to cutting-edge brain imaging and the Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts (FCVFC) advocacy, protective mother Martina Flanigan won a critical round in court. Her children, long at risk of being forced back into the custody of their allegedly abusive father, were not returned to him.
The turning point was a detailed SPECT scan from the Amen Clinic interpreted by nationally renowned neurologist Dr. S. Gregory Hipskind, MD, PhD.
BRAIN SCANS SAVE THE DAY: SCIENCE STOPS THE COVER-UP
Dr. Hipskind’s scan revealed undeniable evidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), consistent with strangulation and physical abuse.
The report described “very abnormal” brain activity, with patterns matching what the literature associates with “diffuse traumatic axonal injury and an anoxic process.”
On The Unknown Podcast, FCVFC Director Jill Jones Soderman revealed the gravity of what was almost allowed to happen.
“DCF wanted these kids back with a man they’ve accused of physical and sexual abuse,” Soderman said. “They were claiming the mother was delusional—until the science shut them down.”
She said the scan gave indisputable biological proof that backed up years of verbal, written, and video-recorded disclosures from the children.
BRAIN SCANS SAVE THE DAY: A COURT THAT IGNORED FACTS
For months, Portland social worker Steven Jackson pushed for reunification with the father. Jackson’s reports ignored the children’s consistent claims of abuse and instead portrayed Flanigan as the problem.
FC filed formal complaints accusing Jackson of suppressing evidence, intimidating witnesses, and spreading defamatory lies. Jackson allegedly stalked Flanigan’s family, leaked confidential case details, and lied under oath.
Soderman said his conduct fits a larger pattern of power abuse and potential misuse of Title IV-D and IV-E funding.
“Jackson acts like a bounty hunter,” said co-host Richard Luthmann on the podcast. “His motive? Money. If both parents are declared unfit, and the kids are placed in state custody, the money flows.”
Title IV-E provides states federal cash for each child in foster care. Title IV-D incentivizes aggressive child support enforcement. Critics say these laws have turned children into commodities.
“These programs were designed to protect kids,” Luthmann said. “Now they’re used to pad state budgets.”
BRAIN SCANS SAVE THE DAY: CAN DOGE AND DATA BLOW THIS OPEN?
Journalist Michael Volpe previously called on the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to investigate.
“Family court fraud is one of the biggest unexamined drains on federal funding,” Volpe said.
Luthmann agreed. “It’s not hard. A decent software engineer could find the worst offending counties in an afternoon. We need DOGE to follow the money.”
Luthmann outlined a framework.
“Start with the ones getting the most Title IV-D and IV-E money per capita,” he said. “You’ll find social workers like Jackson making corrupt calls and judges rubber-stamping removals without proper review.”
Amen Clinics and the work of Dr. Hipskind offer a potential game-changer.
“Family courts have operated in a fact-free zone for decades,” Soderman said. “Now we’re bringing hard science to the table.”
STILL IN FOSTER CARE
Despite the court’s decision not to return the children to the father, they remain in state custody—away from their mother.
Martina Flanigan’s visitation remains tightly restricted. State workers supervise weekly one-hour sessions that do not allow open discussion of the case.
FCVFC has documented this policy as a tool of coercion.
“We proved abuse,” Soderman said. “We proved brain damage. We proved this woman protected her children. What more do they want?”
She said the next phase is getting the children out of foster care and back with their mother.
“This court knows the truth,” Soderman said. “Now it has to act on it.”
The case continues.
But the court is on notice for the first time: The science is watching.
So is the public.
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