Ottawa County, Michigan
Since the beginning of our marriage, my husband had deep anger issues. When my father passed away, my husband’s anger escalated to physical abuse, emotional abuse, and suicide threats. We cycled through domestic violence counseling, four PPO’s, separations, and police involvement. Until finally, I realized I needed to end the marriage.
When we got into family court, Judge Hulsing ordered weekly counseling for our three minor children with their father to repair the broken relationships. The counseling began and ended three times over the next three years. Their father complained to the court that counseling had been a disaster, but proceeded to file a third petition for parenting time.
When the adolescents refused to see their father, Judge Hulsing threatened to jail me for ten days. The adolescents agreed to go to parenting time, but told their father they would drive their own vehicle. They were concerned because their father recently had texted them from two separate accident scenes when he had just totaled his vehicles. Their father continued to insist they ride with him.
My ex-husband took me back to court because our adolescents said no to riding with their father who they considered unsafe. Immediately, and without listening to the adolescents’ testimonies, Judge Hulsing ordered me to a medium security jail for ten days. I was handcuffed and led away. The judge’s action left my minor children alone in the courtroom – and without adult supervision or finances for the next ten days.
In this process, I was denied my rights to seven days notice of trial, to present my case, to legal representation, to post bond, to appear before another judge within 48 hours, and to use a phone. I was sent to a medium security facility, and locked in solitary confinement for 20 of every 24 hours.
After I was released from jail, their father’s parenting time ended. Six months later, I won total custody of our last minor child after he admitted to abuse and suicide threats. Judge Hulsing dropped my case.
My new judge, Judge Engle, refused to order child support payments. This ruling deprived my children and me over $150,000 owed in child support. In addition, I have paid attorneys tens of thousands to force my ex to pay his child support and the children’s medical expenses over the past eight years.