$500M Family Court Discrimination Class-Action Lawsuit
Mothers Seeking Relief Join Together in Complaint
The Women’s Coalition will be filing a $500M class-action lawsuit claiming systemic discrimination against women in California Family Court. Although this lawsuit will be filed on behalf of California mothers, there are plans to file later in other states and countries [see below to participate.
Plaintiffs joined in the Class Action consist of Class Members and Class Representatives.
The Class is defined as mothers who have reported abuse by the father of themselves and/or their children, and subsequently lost custody or visitation. If you fit this definition, please fill out the relevant Class Member form linked below.
Class Representatives are a select group of Class Members who agree to provide basic information about their case and minimal documentation, and to possibly give a deposition or testimony. Class representatives usually get a larger portion of the proceeds because of this.
If you are interested in being a Class Representative in California, please fill out this form. Class Reps only apply to active lawsuits, so this form is only for California cases right now.
All names are kept confidential and real names will not be used in the lawsuit. However, TWC needs real names to verify cases.
NOTE: The Statute of Limitations for all causes of action has not yet been confirmed. We are documenting all cases to support the discrimination claim in the lawsuit, so even if your case is from a long time ago, please fill out the Case Member form.
RELIEF REQUESTED
The relief requested in the lawsuit is: monetary, injunctive and declaratory.
Montetary relief in the amount of $500M is requested.
Injunctive relief requested is the right to a de novo (newly begun) case with an impartial judge and the right to a jury trial—for mothers with a current case.
Declaratory relief requested is a statement confirming that women are being discriminated against and subjected to torturous and degrading treatment in Family Court.
CAUSES OF ACTION
There are 5 Causes of Action, including violations of state, federal, and international law.
There are various defendants that will be identified at a later date.
NOTE: We are not releasing any more details about the lawsuit at this time. Updates will be posted at Women’s Coalition News and Views and on Facebook and Twitter.
We are not asking for special treatment in Court. We are simply demanding an end to the discrimination.
Mothers around the world
FORMS
If you are interested in joining in a lawsuit, please fill out one of these forms. Names are kept confidential unless express permission given to use.
CALIFORNIA
Class members: If you fit the definition of a class member described above, please fill out this brief form. It asks just for your name, email address and location of case.
Class representatives: If you are interested in being a class representative as described above, please fill out this longer form. It asks for basic information about your case. [Note: if you fill this one out, don’t fill out the Class Member form.]
OTHER U.S. STATES
If you have a Family Court case in another state in the U.S. and are interested in participating, please fill out this brief form. It asks just for your name, email address and location of case.
OTHER COUNTRIES
If you have a Family Court case in another country and are interested in participating, please fill out this brief form. It asks just for your name, email address and location of case.
CORRESPONDENCE
Media, class members and class representatives may contact TWC regarding the lawsuit at: classaction@womenscoalitioninternational.org
CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED!
Help is needed for attorney costs so please consider contributing!
The lawsuit is helping to raise awareness about the discrimination women face in family courts around the world—so it benefits all mothers living the nightmare.
Snail mail: The Women’s Coalition, PO Box 501956, San Diego, CA 92150
Or contact The Women’s Coalition for other payment methods.
My email is nsharrow@gmail.com. I wrote the post below. I think the UCLA PTSD children’s trauma screener could be used in court to argue against separating mothers from children. Separating children from a parent is on the same screener as being in a war torn country or a Victim of sex trafficking
God bless you!! As a survivor of DV I lost my daughter in Family Court because I reported the criminal history of abuse for both me and my daughter. Despite his documented criminal history against me and daughter Family Court did not care. This is an outrage for mothers who seek refuge for their families yet are punished for using their voice to protect themselves and their families. Thank you!!