Mothers’ Stories

C.S.’s son has been missing since September 2016. During an ex parte (emergency) hearing, Judge Unger gave father sole custody of the son. Mother (C.S.) was not notified of the hearing. Prior to the unnoticed hearing, C.S. (mother) had primary custody of the minor child. Even though the minor said father was beating him, Judge Unger would not restore custody to mother. The son grew tired of the abuse and ultimately ran away, He hasn’t been seen in over a year. C.S. currently has no custodial rights to her missing, minor son.

A.N. (mother) was kidnapped at knife point and brutally beaten by her ex. Both mother and child were tortured by the ex. He had a history of child abuse, battery, felonies, and assault on police officers. Although he was a convicted criminal with a documented history of abusive behavior, Judge Unger disregarded the history and referred to it as “old news”.

Judge Unger was often unhinged in court. She used the courtroom to yell, belittle, and humiliate A.N. Leaders of the mother’s large church were present at the hearing and couldn’t believe a judge was allowed to blatantly disrespect and mistreatment a litigant, especially a survivor of extreme domestic violence.

Judge Cynda Riggins-Unger was extremely biased against Mother and had a predilection for Father. She even commented in open court that she would love to vacation in father’s home country.

After only three (3) supervised visits, Judge Unger gave father 50/50 custody of the child. Father promptly started abusing the child. He neglected the child’s medical needs and the child had to be taken to the emergency room.

L.I. (Mother) was beaten by her ex. He was convicted of domestic violence and assault. He was sentenced to one (1) year in county jail and received a prison sentence as well. Father had six (6) arrests for various crimes. An entire SWAT team appeared at the home for one of the arrests. During another arrest, when Father fled on foot he was under the influence of crack when the police caught him. He had left the baby alone in the car, strapped in a car seat when he ran. In addition to the police finding the child in the car, they found illegal drugs as well.

Even though there was a substantiated CPS report of abuse or neglect, illegal drug use, a violent criminal history, and restraining orders in place, Unger granted father 50/50 custody of the one (1) year old child.

Judge Unger admonished mother for attempting to protect the baby. No matter what father did, Judge Unger refused to suspend visitation. She also would not issue a restraining order beyond 30 days. Ultimately mother had to go to criminal court for a protective order to protect the baby. Father going to jail was the only way visitation was ultimately suspended.

Mother, E.L., brought an emergency (Ex Parte) motion to enforce her existing court order regarding custody. The father had kidnapped their 9-year old child and mother was frantic. E.L. sought Judge Cynda Riggins-Unger’s help to enforce the current custody order.

The father had a history of domestic violence, assault, and child abuse. Mother had a prior domestic violence restraining order against father. His violent tirades had forced E.L. and the child into a shelter for protection against his domestic violence.

Judge Unger did not read mother’s declaration detailing the abuse and kidnapping. She did not listen to mother’s petition to the court to keep the child safe. This judge also disregarded a police officer who was willing to testify as an expert witness in the case. Although the father was in contempt for violating the current court order, Judge Unger punished the mother for attempting to enforce the court order. In a stunning move, Judge Unger removed the son from mother’s care and transferred all custody to the abusive father. To date, Judge Unger has never offered a legal basis for the dramatic change of custody.

Judge Unger asserted Mother (D.I.), was a prostitute living with her pimp. Unprovoked, Judge Unger, slammed her fists and caused a loud boom in the courtroom. Mother was in Judge Unger’s court on multiple occasions to protect her 9-year old daughter from her ex’s uncle.

The uncle had been accused of being sexually inappropriate towards the female child and showing her “soft porn” and other magazines/videos containing nudity. Mother was seeking to have a stay-away order against the uncle as father would leave the child alone with the uncle. Judge Unger actively defended the uncle and threatened Mother.

On one occasion, the young girl became frightened and ran away at 3 am. She was returned to Mother by law enforcement who urged her to get a restraining order. Mother got the restraining order in Alameda County where she lives. When Mother returned to court in Solano County, Judge Unger promptly canceled the restraining order, gave father shared custody and threated Mother with a loss of all custody.

At a subsequent hearing, Judge Unger disparaged the Mother and vigorously defended the Uncle. The uncle continued to abuse the little girl and two months later, the Uncle was arrested for abuse to the child, was found guilty and remains in jail to this day.

Mother had primary custody of the child her entire life. Father was abusive and had protective orders against him granted by a different judge. Judge Unger assumed the case, disregarded all domestic violence and father received joint custody.

Judge Unger ordered Mother to get Father an unlimited pass to the military base or lose custody of their child. Since Mother had no ability to issue military base passes, Unger punished her with a loss of custody. Father was on the D.O.D child abuse data system, had a D.U.I. and was arrested while child was present. Judge Unger did not care

Mother raised child alone primarily for over 8 years. Father abandoned child early and was later sent to prison for over 3 years. Upon Father’s release from prison, Judge Unger was immediately hostile towards mother and ignored the facts of the case. Judge Unger ignored the court mediator’s recommendation to allow child to live with Mother, and gave an ex-convict 50/50 custody. He was never required to take anger management classes, parenting classes or anything to gain custody. He came out of prison, requested custody, and it was granted immediately by judge Unger.

Mother became aware that Father was not present with child during portions of his custodial time. She also had knowledge that Father had a long history of drug abuse. During Father’s custodial time, the child was placed in unsafe situations. Mother requested the child be with her when Father was unavailable during his visitation versus the child be left with random people or alone. Mother begged Judge Unger to put some protections in place for the child. Mother put forth a reasonable co-parenting plan that was in the child’s best interest. Judge Unger refused to read Mother’s declaration, yelled at Mother, and did not put any safety measures in place. The child was then assaulted on Father’s parenting time.

When the matter was brought back up to Judge Unger, she insulted the Mother calling her an alcoholic and refused to listen to her side. Because Judge Unger refused to act in the best interest of the child, Father neglected the child for years and the child was exposed to Father’s drug abuse.

Mother raised the child alone most of his life. Father had a history of violence and abuse to the child. Judge Unger openly admitted to not liking the mother and would not allow Mother’s side to be heard. Based on her dislike of the mother, this judge awarded full custody to the father with no legal basis for her ruling. The father had sole discretion as to when or if Mother would see the child. Mother was assigned to Judge Unger over a separate matter. She requested Judge Unger be removed under a 170.6. Judge Unger stated. ” I will not get off your case. You can keep filing, I won’t leave. ”

For 8 months, Father would not allow Mother to speak to her son. The police and CPS were contacted about the physical altercations between the father and child, the child failing in school and the bruising on the child. When Mother went back to court regarding these issues, Judge Unger threatened Mother and told her not to come back to court. Although the child continues to be abused, Mother is afraid to go back to court.

Wife was married to husband for over 10 years. They shared a business together and beautiful home. She was in charge of managing the business operations. Husband began having an affair and subsequently started abusing the wife. Husband was arrested for domestic violence and wife had to go to the hospital over the injuries. Based on the domestic violence, wife received a restraining order against the husband. Husband routinely violated the restraining order. He destroyed her valuable property, put rat feces on her belongings, ripped out the power cords, leaving her no power to the home in the cold winter among other things. Before one particular hearing, husband spent community funds on a lavish vacation to Hawaii with mistress. When the husband appeared at the hearing with an attorney, wife requested a continuance so she could get a lawyer as well. Judge Unger denied her request. Although the hearing was supposed to be about the restraining order, Judge Unger made rulings on the community property. She refused to listen to the wife’s requests, kicked her out of the family home and restrained her from the family business. While these matters should have been addressed at a trial, the judge made these rulings at a hearing where wife was unrepresented by counsel.

Mother was ultimately able to get Judge Unger recused because Judge Unger’s husband had previously done work for her husband. Judge Unger’s bias, hostility and disregard for due process left wife without access to her life’s work and homeless.

Mother was the child’s primary caregiver. Father abandoned the child when Mother filed child support. Mother later moved to a nice community in Irvine where the child was thriving. Midway through the school year, Judge Unger ripped the child out of school and changed custody to the absent father. The child moved from a beautiful, stable home to a one-bedroom apartment that was shared by six people. The young girl was forced to share a bed with her father and his girlfriend. The child is frightened of the father and has become very ill since the change of custody. When Mother brings these issue to the court’s attention, Judge Unger berates and insults Mother often not letting her speak at all.

I am a great mother. I lost custody of my son in Judge Unger’s court this year for no valid reason. I have always been the primary parent. Since living with his father, our son had 60 missing assignments and of course is now failing in school. Father pulled him out of school and sent him alone out of state (without my consent). Father does not follow the judge’s court orders, but he has always been favored by this Judge.

The Judge took away my first right of refusal and Constitutional rights to be a parent. I’ve had cancer 3 times, 5 diagnoses, am currently in remission and on disability. Time with my child cannot be replaced.

I was married a second time and this BIASED Judge handled both my cases. My second husband was arrested twice in 2015 and is being charged in criminal court with felony stalking and gun charges.

The second husband was in default throughout the divorce. He never submitted a response, never showed up to court, never exposed his financials, and was successful in getting out of paying spousal support by using these tactics in Judge Unger’s courtroom. Now, 4 years after he moved to WA State, Judge Unger is allowing him to harass me financially. Although he earns up to $150,000 per year and I’m on disability, he is coming after equity in my home, demanding 1/2 of my disability back pay, demanding I pay half of his income tax debt, half of his credit card debt and is making false claims over property that I have proved belonged to me before marriage. Judge Unger denied me spousal support, allowed him to reopen the case, and set aside the default judgement. I face the possibility of losing my home if I cannot pay him what she orders me to pay.

This judge has 3- petitions against her in Solano County: 2014, 2015 and 2016. She and her husband have been accused of racketeering. She routinely takes children away from good mothers and places them in abusive, violent homes.