Explosive Allegations in High-Stakes Family Court Drama
Connecticut's Jennifer's Law at Center of Shocking Claims
By Richard Luthmann
NOTE: This is a summary of an article first published in the Frank Report’s continuing coverage of Family Court corruption and abuse.
In a jaw-dropping legal battle, Chris Ambrose, known for his litigious past, is reportedly wielding Connecticut's Jennifer's Law as a weapon to obliterate his ex-wife, Karen Riordan, and potentially send her to jail.
Jennifer’s law expands the definition of domestic violence to include "coerceive control." Ambrose’s claim is that Riordan, the mother of their three children, has engaged in an abusive pattern of coercive control amounting to domestic violence.
Read Frank Report’s Coverage
Sensational claims have also emerged that local attorneys are seizing upon the CT Family Court process to advance their own agendas, raising concerns of ethical violations and even a federal racketeering conspiracy. Allegations suggest that the dark underbelly of high-conflict family court divorce and custody fights in Connecticut may be characterized by criminal activity.
Ambrose, himself a suspended attorney with a tarnished reputation due to allegations of plagiarism that ruined his Hollywood career, is battling for the arrest of his ex-wife. Dubbed a potential psychopath by a noted psychiatrist, Dr. Bandi Lee, M.D., Ambrose also faces accusations of child molestation, supported by disturbing records from the CT Department of Children and Families.
A recent hearing involving Jennifer's Law saw Ambrose bring in the big guns, hiring attorney Alexander J. Cuda. Shockingly, sealed documents from an attorney misconduct hearing were presented to the court by Cuda, even though the accused attorney had not yet responded to the allegations.
These documents were meant to demonstrate a pattern of abuse by Riordan, Ambrose's ex-wife, who was not a party to the confidential attorney grievance proceedings. Riordan's lawyer, Edward Nusbaum, has been locked in a bitter fee dispute with her.
Judge Thomas J. O'Neill questioned the origin of these documents, and Cuda responded with a single name: Nusbaum. Nusbaum allegedly provided Cuda with documents intended to harm Riordan, potentially violating Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys, particularly those concerning client confidentiality.
The situation has raised eyebrows about the credibility of the court's proceedings and the ethics of those involved. If the documents were obtained improperly, it could cast doubt on the entire case. Nusbaum and possibly Cuda may face consequences for their actions.
The sanctity of attorney-client privilege, a fundamental principle of law, appears to have been breached. The exception to this privilege lies in its defensive, not offensive, use against claims of wrongdoing. Nusbaum's alleged actions could lead to disbarment, while scrutiny will also fall on Cuda, given his influential role within the CT bar association.
Amidst these explosive developments, the focus remains on the three children at the center of the case. Ambrose's accusations of their mother's abuse have disrupted their lives, raising questions about the true intentions behind Jennifer's Law and its potential misuse in high-stakes family court battles.
The court proceedings continue to unravel, with a storm of controversy swirling around the individuals involved. The sinister allegations of misuse, ethical breaches, and an alleged criminal conspiracy make for a gripping courtroom drama that could shake the foundations of the CT family court system.
Read Frank Report’s Coverage
Richard Luthmann is a writer, commentator, satirist, and investigative journalist with degrees from Columbia University and the University of Miami. Once a fixture in New York City and State politics, Luthmann is a recovering attorney who lives in Southwest Florida and a proud member of the National Writers Union.
“I am a journalist who writes about justice, the courts, government officials, prisons, and reform. You find some questionable players in all these places and often outright crooks. Exposing these bottom feeders from the outside is sometimes the only way to make them pay the price for their injustice and misdeeds.”
“I use satire and opinion to make my point. I have already been told to ‘stop writing about the Government’ by the U.S. Government, so I must be doing something right.”
“If you’re a victim of the system, maybe the press is the right forum for you. If you have experienced injustice and are tired of dropping tens of thousands of dollars without results, maybe it’s time to try the digital pen.”
Contact Richard Luthmann at 239-631-5957 or richard.luthmann@protonmail.com.
"Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.” (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, more obscure than public opinion, and more deceptive than the whole political system.)
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero
The news media is a critical check on the powerful, serving as a watchdog to hold elected officials and other public figures accountable for their actions. The media was first called the fourth estate in 1821 by Edmund Burke, who wanted to point out the power of the press. The press plays a crucial role in providing citizens with access to information about what is happening in government and by shining a light on corruption, abuse of power, and other forms of wrongdoing.