 Dear Mr. Zucker, The Women’s Coalition is submitting this complaint regarding a recent episode of “This Is Life” entitled “Divorce and Child Custody: Men Cry Foul”. In this segment, Lisa Ling supports the false assertion that men are being discriminated against in Family Court, not women. She disseminates other fathers’ rights propaganda and promotes their agenda. Ms. Ling justifies her one-sided portrayal by saying in the beginning of the piece that it is about fathers’ problems in Family Court. But it is not just a human interest story; it is a political piece, serving to disseminate fathers’ rights propaganda and promote their agenda of mandatory equal parenting. As such, Ms. Ling was ethically obligated to ensure the public was given information that is accurate, fair and thorough, but she did not. She is supposed to act independently, but instead did fathers’ rights activists’ bidding. She is supposed to seek the truth, but disregarded valid research supporting that it is women who are being discriminated against, not men. She is supposed to minimize harm, but she has done great damage to women and children with her negligent, biased and inaccurate journalism. We are disappointed in CNN for broadcasting this segment and are requesting you compensate for airing this harmful episode by providing The Women’s Coalition with funding for a short film documentary, which will get the truth to the public. With this documentary, you will not only be helping CNN’s reputation for good journalism, you will become a hero to millions of women and children around the world. Thank you, Cindy Dumas, M.A. Executive Director Damon Dumas Communications Director WomensCoalitionInternational.org WomensCoalitionIntl@gmail.com To sign onto this complaint, send your name to: WomensCoalitionIntl@gmail.com.
39 Comments
Veronica Hatton
12/5/2018 03:57:27 pm
The custody story that Ms. Ling published on CNN does not accurately nor completely describe the general family court crisis. The research indicates that most of the time, 2 non abusive parents settle custody disputes out of court. Many of the cases that make it to court are high conflict cases involving abuse and/or domestic violence. Abusers are estimated to be awarded custody 70-85% of the time. Many women and victims of abuse are losing custody of their children. The crisis is so bad that the U.S. Senate has passed H Con resolution 72 which makes child safety the first priority in custody cases. It is ethical and equal to televise women who have lost custody, especially cases involving abuse. Thank you for your time.
Annika
12/15/2018 08:50:45 pm
My children were victimized and still suffer from the long term effects of what happen. My family had evidence of everything yet still forced through family court to be court order to suffer abuse from their abuser. There are no words to say how broken are system is when it comes to rights of the children. Some fathers don’t deserve to see their children when all they do is abuse them!!!!
Leanne
1/4/2019 01:43:31 am
Horrendous abuse of power. Women & children are being failed.
Laura Dyer
12/5/2018 04:09:32 pm
This is irresponsible, unresearched journalism that increases the danger children are currently in via "self-regulated" judicial court order in family courts across the country. 12/5/2018 08:50:47 pm
12/5/2018 03:57:27 pm
Maria
2/15/2019 05:25:14 pm
Re. Dennis Saienni- true, some women abuse men; however the statistics are very low and evidence many more men who abuse women and children (from both local state- see Atty: Diane Post in AZ and national statistics- see US Justice Dept). It sounds like classic astro turfing, mainly involving a shell non-profit dark money group, the afcc- a special interest group that is believed to traffic children and families through Family Court. See "The Worst Interests of the Child" by Keith Harmon Snow. In the US, the divorce industry is a $50billion dollar a year "industry".
Name
12/5/2018 04:20:06 pm
Lisa Ling failed misearably. She got blinded by the American BAR child trafficking cartel, and threw millions of innocent children and their heart-broken mommies into the flame. Fathers Rights is a well-funded pedophile cartel on top, leading unsuspecting fathers down below into the throws of hatred and misogyny. Hope you fix it while you can!
Monica Slone
12/5/2018 04:32:06 pm
The ignorant biased alleged expose puts children in harm’s way. Lisa Ling has caused damage to mothers and children
ricky
12/5/2018 04:32:46 pm
start practicing true investigative journalism, we have an epidemic of motherless children by court order. educate the misinformed public
NAME
2/15/2019 08:02:00 pm
True, like Keith Harmon Snow's book: "The Worst Interest of the Child.", Anne Stevenson did some investigating as well. The US Dept of Justice has statistics on the number of children returned to abusive parents in US Family Court, and attorney Dianne Post from Arizona, and her "Battered Woman's Project" Statistics. Leadership Council has statistics. See ACE study. At any rate, this appears to be an epidemic, a crisis in family courts. More people may consider becoming a steward to prevent child sexual abuse, from Darkness to light, in their state.
Towanda
12/5/2018 04:45:12 pm
Domestic violence perpetrators get rewarded custody with the help of the DV industry. Responsible Fatherhood Intiatetives www.fatherhood.gov where is the motherhood.gov???????????
Usha Abramovitz
12/5/2018 05:41:57 pm
"The custody story that Ms. Ling published on CNN does not accurately nor completely describe the general family court crisis. The research indicates that most of the time, 2 non abusive parents settle custody disputes out of court. Many of the cases that make it to court are high conflict cases involving abuse and/or domestic violence. Abusers are estimated to be awarded custody 70-85% of the time. Many women and victims of abuse are losing custody of their children. The crisis is so bad that the U.S. Senate has passed H Con resolution 72 which makes child safety the first priority in custody cases. It is ethical and equal to televise women who have lost custody, especially cases involving abuse. Thank you for your time." VERONICA HATTON
MaryJo Roggenbuck
12/5/2018 05:47:55 pm
I have so much to say and not enough space. 9 years of fighting a man that has been arrested several times for raping little girls YET is still trying to get parenting time and the judge is trying very hard to make it happen. $300,000 and she is only 11. His own daughter began disclosing at 2 and a half. CPS failed her, family court failed her. I began researching family court once I realized something was seriously wrong with my case. I found out it was not an unfortunate situation but actually quite the norm. Protective moms can not report abust that their children disclose as they can and most times do lose custody. This report is an injustice to protective moms and to abused children. Please report the truth!
Renee
1/7/2019 04:16:05 pm
I too found out about the corruption in family courts while going through my own case. I had no idea that children are being failed by law enforcement, courts, corrupt attorneys and DFACS. It seems as if the more unfit the father is, the judges are siding with them. I would not be surprised if our children are being set up for failure on purpose.
Rachel Schwartz
12/5/2018 06:24:40 pm
Horrible journalism that has domestic violence abusers and sexual-abuser-fathers cheering around the world because this one-sided inaccurate piece has emboldened them and empowered them to continue abusing their ex wives and children through the family court system. What a dangerous narrative to push - completely false and full of victim blaming in this day and age especially... you should be ashamed of the damage you've caused. Loving good mothers all over the world are losing their young children to abusers at alarming rates. Those are the facts. Your piece was full of lies and father's rights propaganda. Get your facts straight.
Susan McMannis
12/5/2018 06:35:34 pm
This one-sided storytelling is creating more damage than you could possibly imagine. I'm imploring you to delve into the root cause of the issue and try to abstain from the sensationalist surface topics. The issue is so, so much larger than what you chose to highlight in this segment.
Erin Ferrand
12/5/2018 06:47:42 pm
This piece was full hate propaganda. She served the fathers rights without regard to the effect this would have on children. The children are the priority here, not mothers or fathers. It should have been a child centered broadcast. With research supporting what’s best for children.
jackie basinger
12/5/2018 07:08:32 pm
I lost custody to a man the horrifically abused me at one point he knocked me out. He spent 9 nights in a mental hospital 5150 hold taken by police car. He sold our business for 75k and did not disclose to me or the bankruptcy court.. he left me homeless and a home was purchased in his parent's bsme FRAUD.. He hired a lawyer that used a social worker to make false aligations that I accused his gf's son of molesting, my home was a mess and I shower and sleep with my daughter. Hired Dr. Michael Kerner to do a court ordered psych evaluation that left out my abuse in his report and stated I had mental health problems.. stated he was not concerned about my ex being committed to a hospital and unemployed!! Judge was corrupt, ordered marital property guns to ex husband's father because he can not have guns with mental 5150.. then allowed my daughter to be moved out of state denied Evidentiary Hearing!
Desiree
1/1/2019 07:59:07 pm
I have a very similar corrupt story 12/5/2018 07:46:38 pm
I have never been as disappointed with a journalist as I am with Lisa Ling. I used to greatly admire her FAIR reporting and sticking to facts even when covering some very distasteful subjects. Her piece on Family Courts with Fathers crying Foul was a one sided propaganda piece of garbage. CNN needs to rectify this damage by presenting the true picture... and go all the way down to the “trickle down abuse” of unpaid child support. Arrears in this country top $117 Billion dollars with childhood poverty skyrocketing. Family Courts in America have been bought and paid for by FRG’s and our children are paying the price.
Carol Lynne Morgan
12/5/2018 08:54:11 pm
The damage you have done to innocent mothers and children is unconscionable...you need to do the real flip side of this iniquity you have contrived...i am a mother who lost custody just 2 weeks after the father was issued a 5 year civil protection order against him for child abuse and stalking me...then he left horrible human bite marks on my children....i have the photos..police reports...and hospital records...i havent seen my children since...he paid his way to the most corrupt family court where his own attorney through nefarious actions wrote the court order that gave her client custody..the magistrate signed it into order...a couple of days later retired...exspouses attorney took his seat 2 weeks later....now that is the true story...Carol Lynne Morgan...330-557-0411
Mel Christian
12/5/2018 10:38:52 pm
This is absolutely biased. They could have at the very least got both sides of the story and checked the facts. Children come first!
El Leonard
12/5/2018 11:52:45 pm
This journalist had been inundated with so many horror stories of innocent Woman/ Protective Mothers, losing their children to fathers rights,"YET' she blatantly ignored these stories and plea's for help.
Charles Pragnell
12/6/2018 12:19:34 am
Obviously Ms Ling has been grossly misled. Cases of fathers being denied contact by Family Courts are extremely rare - she should have researched the Case Judgements for some to support her assertions.
Charles Pragnell
12/15/2018 06:27:31 pm
Rejected and Vengeful fathers who slaughter their own children and former partners. (Sadly such numbers are increasing).
Laney Wyble
12/6/2018 04:33:06 am
Dig a little deeper and see where this takes you!!
Stefanie Rodrigues
12/6/2018 05:38:11 am
I was abused while pregnant and family courts did not hold my perpetrator responsible, instead granted him almost half of the time. Now my children are now the new victims thanks to family courts. My son had anxiety, suffered from IBS and chest pains at 9 years old. My daughter is diagnosed with hypotension in which she faints from going back and forth with the abuser because the courts Do Not have the children’s best interest. If there is a perpetrator or DV in a case, you do not “reward” a perpetrator. This is why divorce rate is so high because No one is held accountable. If we are teaching 4 year olds accountability in pre school why is no one teaching accountability to full grown adults that are destroying their families and children and gettting away with it! I spent 500k fighting for my children’s rights of being human and not objects to their abusive father that was handed rights to control my children and they can’t live a normal life or childhood because of him, his control, his emotional abuse and family courts treating them as objects. They now suffer and will continue to suffer because they were Not protected by family courts 12/6/2018 06:22:31 am
Lisa Ling did not investigate and set good loving moms trying to protect their abused/sexually abused children back decades. I have been an activist, author, national speaker on this for 30 years. CNN Intl Investigative Reporting did a real investigative program on my case covering PAS and they did their research and great investigative reporting. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1683507800
Susan Skipp
12/6/2018 01:20:13 pm
Lisa Ling’s journalism in this was not researched nor fact checked. My children were trafficked over state lines, no one stops it since 2011.
Geerte Frenken
12/6/2018 03:51:51 pm
Dear Lisa Ling: you knew better than this when you reported "'I have to text my rapist': Victims forced to parent with attackers" on November 18, 2016. https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/17/health/rape-parental-rights/index.html
Lori Jean
12/9/2018 07:38:31 pm
I am one of so many Mothers who has lost full custody of my children after reporting sexual abuse. The Family Courts gave my girls to their abuser and he has now completely alienated me from their lives. I pay child support based on an imputed income, he got the house, the pets, the household contents and I was charged all of his legal fees. This is what is actually happening in Family Court and the truth needs to be reported. I could not even watch most of Lisa Ling's documentary due to how wrong it was from the very start. The truth needs to be put out there.
jennifer n young
12/10/2018 09:43:18 pm
I'm a licensed substitute teacher in my state, but am not allowed to see my own children. My ex, in contrast, has faced several criminal charges including DV stalking and, more ominously, child molestation of my adult daughter. Because her story came out in the midst of an ugly divorce, I was penalized by complete loss of access to my younger children. I haven't been able to see them or speak to them for nearly 2 years. Their older sister also isn't allowed near them. This is what the backlash against the women's movement has brought us to. Men's divorce lawyers have a playbook, and it's generally the same. Only abusive men (or women) would damage children by removing access to healthy parents, and only a corrupt court system would facilitate this pattern.
V. Wilson
12/11/2018 03:11:49 am
Family courts are a corrupt industry - making somewhere between 50 -100 billion a year (depending on the source). They profit from prolonged litigation, often by giving an abusive father custody.
Anna
1/4/2019 10:52:00 am
Lisa Lang has forgotten the basics of family courts. Most family court matters are about children's custody which are under the Children's Act so the primary and only focus of everyone involved should be the welfare of "CHILD". But it seems Cafcass, Judges, Social Workers everyone's focus is only on Father's Rights. I think it is time to rename Family Court as Father's Court.
Jessica Thomas
1/10/2019 07:28:28 am
I feel as if women were misrepresented and Lisa Ling's documentary. The facts are that 80% of men do not contest custody of children living with their mother. It is a 20% that can test that usually win custody. Not to mention that these men are mostly violent and have a history of domestic violence or child abuse. And when a woman discloses abuse is to her and her children, she is shunned and isolated from her child. Not able to protect your child is insufferable! Could there please be a follow-up episode that spotlights mothers who have lost custody of their children to abusers? That would be more like reality than this show
Lin Edwards
1/13/2019 11:45:14 pm
When are the media going to expose Family Courts for the kidnapping and murder of our innocent children? Controlling narcissistic fathers continually get away with victimizing and abusing the mother of their children once the relationship ends. And they do this through the legal kidnapping of the children. ALL of these cases end in systematic abuse and many times murder of the mother and children. Why force women to co-parent with abusive exes or take custody away from protective mothers. What kind of society do you think we're creating by destroying the love between a mother and her children?
Lauren Sportman
3/9/2023 03:56:40 pm
this is disgusting. the men abuse the women and children and get custody. if the court officials think you have money, they will absolutely contribute to a lengthy litigation and misrepresent for the money. it’s all about money. women are being deprived of a relationship with their children because of accusations, not evidence or fact. a documentary for women in crisis at family court absolutely needs to be done. it is necessary and unconstitutional not to. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorCindy Dumas, M.A. has been researching, writing, and raising awareness about the Custody Crisis since 2003, when she was unable to protect her children from their abusive father. She fled into hiding when Family Court failed her and was tricked into returning home, when her children were given to their abusive father. Archives
January 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed