Judge Rappaport’s Decision
This whole situation seems a sort of indictment of Judge Rappaport’s decisions in our divorce proceedings. That order’s failings cleared the way for a storm. It set the stage for a message to be made clear.
There needs to be more awareness about emotional, narcissistic abuse and the dangers of it; its insidious nature. Everyone needs to be on alert.
Joe Shymanski cut me off completely 5 minutes after walking out of court where he testified that I had full access to our marital funds; gave me a $20 bill for “ice cream money” and sent me on my way with the children. A Best Interest Attorney was then appointed by Judge Rappaport because of this incident; an attorney specifically appointed to represent the children. The Best Interest Attorney saw what was going on. She caught on. She knew. She advocated for the children.
The Judge ignored her findings. He then created a monstrosity of a court order that caused strife and further allowed for Joe’s abuse.
Let’s be clear, if I knew what I know now, I would have had better testimony about what was going on; I didn’t yet have the words. I was still learning. But still…there were signs for that Judge to see and he ignored them. Making drop off and pick ups as confusing as possible without providing clarity. There is a prior case where this Judge created a mess of a divorce order for a family, similar in set up. Do the research.
Joe Shymanski was harassing me verbally in the court room while the Judge was speaking to counsel. He was acting out. He was caught in lies.
I had to drive 6 hours round trip every time I wanted to see my children…that’s what Joe Shymanski was pushing for. Refused to meet halfway. He threw tantrum after tantrum through filing contempt orders, creating hardship. The court order was not clear. But what was clear is that I was to drive on Mother’s Day, every Holiday and deliver my children to my abuser. Go to his home. Fear for safety. Watch as my children were about to be persuaded by a madman, as he attempted to keep them from me. As he verbally harassed me whenever he could. Slandered me. I was trying to survive.
The Judge messed up the financial calculations on two separate occasions. Further leaving me without any support. Further enraging Joe Shymanski. Is this Judge qualified to make decisions and work on cases like this? It doesn’t seem so.
I had clear plans with my lawyer about our next strategy for dealing with Joe Shymanski legally at the time of his death. I had a plan. His death hit like a freight train.
Would it have been different if the Judge would have listened?
I don’t know. It may have been worse. Joe would not have changed, he could have starting acting even crazier. There may have been no safe way.
Boys club?
My lawyer had told me that Calvert County is known as “boys club” and damn. This judgement sure screams that way to me. The Judge did not listen to me, an abuse victim and a woman. He did not listen to my lawyer, a woman. He did not follow the advice of the Best Interest Attorney who he had appointed himself… a woman. He knew better?
