Another Day in Court...

Today was another day in court for Jerry Mastrangelo. Today was unique in that a tree or two has been cut down and the forest is becoming a little clearer. 

A(nother) definitive order from the court to once again begin the process of reunification therapy has been ordered. This isn’t the first time it’s been ordered, but this time there is hope. Dr. Robin Deutsch, a therapist in Boston who specializes in alienation, visitation resistance and estrangement has been chosen to begin the process. Hopefully, there will now be an unbiased, honest and educated therapist to begin to reunify Jerry with his three children. As he has already proven, he will go to any length to accomplish his goal and while Boston might require a bit of travel, the family is lucky she isn’t in California.

As I sat in court this morning, I couldn’t help but remember when the court first ordered joint custody and visitation three years ago. A simple “order” that was never carried out, yet several (lost) years later and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, it is back to square one.  Having defied the initial court order, this travesty of justice has enabled Trudiann Formica to make a mockery out of the judicial system. What has gone wrong? The courts are certainly bogged down with more pressing and sometimes life-threatening cases to contend with. Jerry has never been abusive in any way, shape or form nor is he a substance abuser of any kind. He is simply a loving, caring father who only wants to regain his basic parental right as a dad but his efforts have been thwarted by so many roadblocks along the way. He just wants to see his children.

One might think Ms. Formica’s husband, Dr. Richard Formica, clearly a key figure in the household, would at least be present to support his wife if he believed she was doing the right thing but he has never appeared in the courtroom during any of the proceedings. What influence, if any, does he have over this situation? If not any, then who has assumed the paternal role in the lives of the children in Jerry’s absence? Are they learning to be responsible, caring and loving young adults or have they been allowed to do as they please, calling their own shots? Are they doing well in school or is that of little importance in their lives? Are they respectful to those in authority or are they insulting and rude to adults as they are to their own father?

Jerry is an amazing man. Every single night, since he has been without his children, he calls and texts them, to say ‘good night’. His calls are never answered and his texts are ignored. One can only wonder if the children are ever reminded of those special times spent with their dad or have they been purposely blocked from their memories?

A wonderful presentation was put together by Jerry’s girlfriend, Jennifer, showcasing many of the wonderful moments Jerry has spent with his children over the years. Parties, holidays, celebrations with the extended family, sporting events, ‘arts & crafts’, days, playing  games with the children and so much more. There is no mistaking the looks on the faces of the children for anything but the love they had for their father. Surely, there is a hole in their lives and hearts that they secretly long to be filled. Only when their mother sees the damage she has caused these children will they begin to heal and understand what they have missed for so long. Hopefully then she will be able to begin the process of healing herself.