Family Court Watchdog Fights Back
Foundation for the Child Victims of Family Court Rejects NJ DCF's Cease and Desist, Exposes Corruption
By Richard Luthmann
Litigants describe Family Courts as systemically biased and corrupt. Protective parents often face accusations of mental instability when they report abuse. Lawyers, instead of defending their clients, sometimes suppress critical evidence.
One watchdog group counters the Family Court-Industrial Complex by providing robust education and support and ensuring clients can present their cases effectively.
“We do not retreat from the abuses and insults hurled by those who seek to silence the voices that expose crimes against children and families,” Dr. Jill Jones Soderman, Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for the Child Victims of Family Courts (FCVFC), said. “Our structure and aggressive litigation practices protect evidence and address laws that advance justice.”
FCVFC's response to a recent cease-and-desist letter from the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (NJ DCF) underscores the importance of advocacy organizations in holding public agencies accountable. The conflict highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and respect for constitutional rights in handling child welfare cases. It also illustrates how FCVFC remains steadfast in its mission to protect child victims and their families, advocating for justice and systemic change in Family Court practices.
Ria Aichour Case Sparks Conflict
FCVFC is embroiled in a heated dispute with the NJ DCF over a cease-and-desist letter. This conflict arose from the case of New Jersey mother Ria Aichour, who released a series of videos detailing her claims about an alleged child sex trafficking ring involving her ex-husband, Jimmy Cerveaux, and the subsequent abuse of their four-year-old child, M.C.
Aichour’s videos paint a detailed picture of systemic abuse and corruption. She asserts that her ex-husband and others in the trafficking ring have repeatedly abused their child.
Aichour's allegations are severe. In her videos, she promised to "name names and detail the inner workings" of a trafficking and abuse ring involving Cerveaux. She claimed her daughter had been violated by multiple individuals, starting with Cerveaux. She detailed how her life was at risk due to the powerful trafficking ring exerting control over the New Jersey Courts, NJ DCF, and Child Protective Services (CPS).
NJ Family Court’s Ruling Endangers 4-Year-Old: Judge Sides with Executive Dad Despite Abuse Claims
M.C. detailed abuse, which Aichour reported to authorities. Despite these reports and evidence of serious abuse, Hudson County, New Jersey, Family Court Judge Michael A. Jimenez awarded custody to Cerveaux, a high-earning executive.
Despite several professionals and mandated reporters corroborating her allegations, the Hudson County Family Court awarded custody of M.C. to Cerveaux, an executive with significant financial resources.
Renowned forensic psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee wrote to the court, stating, "M.C. is in danger of being murdered by her father, Jimmy Cerveaux," and cited a pattern of physical and emotional abuse supported by medical documentation and consistent reports from the child.
In response to Aichour’s videos and the exposure they brought, the NJ DCF issued a cease-and-desist letter to FCVFC on July 15, 2024. The letter, signed by Meredith Pindar, Director of the Office of Legal Affairs, demanded that FCVFC halt all communications regarding Department cases.
NJ DCF cited confidentiality laws, stating, "As you are neither a party to, nor a legal representative of any party to, any case involving the Department, this correspondence shall serve as a formal notice to cease and desist all communications regarding any Department cases.”
The NJ DCF's letter aims to dissuade Aichour from naming individuals she claimed were involved in the trafficking ring and to suppress further dissemination of her allegations.
“NJ DCF blatantly attempts to isolate Ria Aichour from all of her support systems and corruptly protect bad actors. It’s criminal,” Dr. Jill Jones Soderman said.
FCVFC’s involvement in advocating for Aichour and highlighting her case as part of their broader mission to expose systemic failures and protect child victims of family court decisions triggered this aggressive response from NJ DCF.
FCVFC's Scathing Rejection
In a detailed response dated July 22, 2024, FCVFC, led by Executive Director Dr. Jill Jones Soderman, rejected the cease-and-desist order. She called it "a legal nullity with no basis in fact or law" and demanded an immediate retraction and apology from NJ DCF. She emphasized the organization’s mission to protect child victims and their families from systemic failures.
"We unequivocally reject your letter as a legal nullity with no basis in fact or law," FCVFC’s letter states. "We demand an immediate retraction of the cease-and-desist letter and an apology from DCF, asserting our rights with confidence and determination.
Dr. Jill Jones Soderman detailed a tragic case highlighting NJ DCF's alleged arrogance, ignorance, and collusion with Family Court officials. A seven-year-old child, subjected to severe abuse, was separated from a protective parent due to court decisions. Despite warnings from healthcare professionals at St. Claire's Hospital, the child was placed with the abusive parent. The boy’s repeated pleas for help were ignored, leading to his eventual suicide.
"Please note, that as a direct result of the engagement of NJ DCF and a family court judge, a child of the age of approximately 7 years old and his siblings were placed in the isolation and custody of a parent who was known to be an international terrorist and criminal, documented as a brutal abuser of his children and his wife," the letter states.
"St. Claire's Hospital wrote to DCF stating that this child should never be allowed in the custody of this parent. Instead, DCF, in its arrogance and ignorance, transferred the child to the isolation of the abuser. The child, after years of torment and well-articulated threats to his own life and his clear attempts to commit suicide, did take his own life in a very clear and determined way,” the FCVFC letter declares.
"The suffering experienced by the devoted brothers whose lives have been deeply tarnished and wounded by the years of suffering and what they went through should lie heavily on the consciences of all involved in the heinous acts of atrocities associated with the custody transfer in that historic case," the letter adds.
FCVFC has also reported this matter to the Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially triggering an investigation of NJ DCF’s federal funding.
“Because of the concerns raised under 42 U.S.C. § 5106a and other applicable laws tied to federal funding, a copy of this correspondence is copied to the Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
FCVFC’s Mission and Advocacy
Founded in 2008 by Dr. Jill Jones Soderman, FCVFC employs a multidisciplinary team of legal, forensic, financial, and psychiatric experts to advocate for families caught in the Family Court Industrial Complex.
The organization provides a 24-hour helpline, litigation support, forensic analysis, and financial auditing, offering a beacon of hope for those navigating the corrupt Family Court system.
Dr. Jill Jones Soderman highlighted FCVFC's role as a watchdog group committed to exposing systemic corruption.
"We are committed to our role as a watchdog group, ensuring that meritorious and troubling claims of child abuse are brought to light and addressed," she stated. "Our structure and aggressive litigation practices protect evidence and address laws that advance justice.”
FCVFC’s Demands and NJ DCF’s Legal Violations
FCVFC's response to NJ DCF's cease-and-desist letter highlighted several demands, warning of potential legal claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against DCF personnel acting under the color of law. The organization demanded the following actions:
Immediate Retraction of Cease and Desist Letter: Officially retract the cease-and-desist letter dated July 15, 2024.
Formal Apology: Issue a formal apology to FCVFC for the unconstitutional demand and any resulting harm.
Procedural Guidelines: Outline the preferred process for submitting and receiving feedback on information detailing meritorious and troubling claims of child abuse occurring in New Jersey.
Investigation Protocols: Confirm DCF's protocols for documenting, investigating, and reporting child abuse allegations under applicable law.
Training on Constitutional Rights: Implement and confirm training for DCF personnel on the First Amendment, due process rights, and the limits of qualified immunity.
Assurance of Non-Retaliation: Provide written guarantee that there will be no retaliation against FCVFC, its staff, or its affiliates for engaging in protected activities.
Review of Confidentiality Provisions: Review and clarify how confidentiality provisions apply to watchdog groups and the press, ensuring they do not override constitutional protections.
Public Interest Commitment: Reaffirm DCF's commitment to transparency and accountability in child welfare matters.
"We seek to resolve this issue," Dr. Jill Jones Soderman wrote. "However, if the public interest is frustrated, FCVFC may have little choice but to petition for redress in federal court and all other forums available to us.”
Personal Liability and Qualified Immunity
The letter also addressed the personal liability of NJ DCF's Meredith Pindar and other involved personnel for violating established statutory or constitutional rights. FCVFC cited the doctrine of qualified immunity, emphasizing that it does not protect public officials who violate clearly established rights.
"Your cease-and-desist letter, which attempts to restrict and chill FCVFC’s First Amendment rights, clearly disregards these constitutional protections," the letter states. “The right to free speech and press are fundamental rights that have been long established and recognized by courts across the nation. Your failure to acknowledge and respect these rights in your official capacity as an attorney for DCF exposes you and other involved DCF personnel to personal liability.”
Moving Forward with FCVFC’s Comprehensive Approach
FCVFC offers a multidisciplinary approach, utilizing a powerhouse of legal, forensic, financial, and psychiatric experts to prepare cases thoroughly and present solid evidence in court. This team approach and comprehensive plan for results often come at costs significantly lower than the endless fees charged by attorneys, GALs, and the court system.
By providing a unified front, FCVFC addresses the complex and multifaceted nature of family court corruption. Soderman explains, “Attorneys should be protectors of the vulnerable, not silencers of the truth. We expose those who betray their clients for personal or systemic gain.”
Exposing Systemic Corruption
The Foundation’s work highlights systemic issues within family courts. Institutional bias, racial and economic discrimination, and disenfranchisement are common. FCVFC's experts work tirelessly to address these injustices, often facing significant backlash from entrenched interests.
Success stories demonstrate FCVFC’s impact. Clients, initially told their cases were hopeless, find justice through the Foundation’s relentless advocacy. Despite the challenges, FCVFC continues to expose corruption and fight for vulnerable families.
If You Need Help
FCVFC’s conflict with NJ DCF underscores the importance of advocacy organizations in ensuring transparency, accountability, and respect for constitutional rights in handling child welfare cases. The organization remains dedicated to protecting child victims and their families, advocating for justice, and pushing for systemic change in family court practices.
If you or someone you know is a victim of the Family Courts and needs assistance, contact FCVFC at (866) 553-6931.
https://www.silive.com/crime-safety/2021/08/trial-by-combat-lawyer-richard-luthmann-released-from-federal-custody.html