The transcript is from a court hearing regarding a request for a clarification about a restraining order and visitation rights of a child. Mr. Ralph, the father, complied with the conditions set in the order, including attending anger management. He requested permission to take personal photos of his son during visitations, but the mother disagreed. The judge sought to clarify whether the provision prohibiting posting photos online also covers allowing a third party to post them. Mr. Ralph agreed not to share the photos digitally or allow a third party to post them. The discussion centered on whether Mr. Ralph could take photos of his son during visitation and the conditions under which he could share them.
Faith has concerns about Ralph's past behavior and is hesitant to allow him to take pictures of their son. The judge suggests a compromise where Ralph is allowed to take a limited number of pictures during supervised visits, which Faith accepts. There is also a discussion about Ralph's mailing address, as he is living in Mexico and Faith is not comfortable without a way to send legal documents. Finally, the judge suggests that Ralph's attorney can accept service on his behalf. Ralph tries to interject and defend himself but is repeatedly told to be quiet by his attorney.
There was also a disagreement about the child's clothing, with the father objecting to the mother dressing the child in clothing with anti-him messages. The judge clarified that the child should not be dressed in any clothing with a particular statement on it during visitation, and all parties agreed to this. The next court hearing date is scheduled for March 17th at 9 AM for a case with multiple witnesses. Ethan Ralph is out of the country and will be allowed to appear via Zoom. The visitation schedule for the defendant is also discussed and will resume. Amanda Ralph who is also residing in Mexico will also be allowed to appear via Zoom. The hearing ends with the defendant apologizing for being loud during the hearing.
Judge: Faith Vickers, is she on Zoom.
Granger: Yes, both Mr. Ralph and Ms. Vickers are appearing on Zoom
Judge: Okay, and this is FL21-016680. Ms. Vickers, can you hear me? Will you respond?
Faith: Yes, your Honor, I can hear you.
Judge: Thank you. And Mr. Ralph, can you hear me?
Ralph: Uh, I can, your honor, can you hear me?
Judge: Yes, I just want to make sure that…
Ralph: yes, of course, I do this for a living I know ‘cause yeah you can hear me
thank you go ahead.
Judge: Alright, and this is docket FL21-016680. There appears to be an issue, they are asking
about a clarification. So let me just pull up my file. Give me one second.
Ralph: Sure.
Judge: And is that on the restraining order. Is that what we’re looking at today?
Granger: Your Honor, it’s uh, I…I filed a Request for Order to allow…regarding the visitation.
So…
Judge: Okay, so Mr. Ralph has an order for supervised visitation…
Granger: And I wanted a clarification for that.
Judge: So let me just……so…so I’m looking at the restraining order
from March 2nd, 2022 according to my notes and there is also a stipulation…
Granger: Yes…
Judge: An agreement filed, uhm, September 12th, 2022.
Granger: Yes.
Judge: Perfect. And I see that…okay, I have that before me. So which provision is it we’re
looking at?
Granger: Well, there was no…there was no, uh, there was no provision regarding that…so Mr.
Ralph has complied with all the conditions or the order regarding the visitation, so he’s
attended the anger management and uh, he’s…you know…etcetera etcetera…you know
um…paragraph 16, both parties shall refrain…oh wait, excuse me…oh, yes, 16. At the last
sentence, father is to refrain from posting pictures of the child online, or, hold on…so it’s page 2
of the stip.
Judge: Okay
Granger: Yes, so Father agrees to refrain from posting pictures of the child online, but he wants
to take photos of his son during the visitations just for his personal viewing. Um, that was not
banned in the stipulation, but mother does not agree, but father wanted to come back to court
to ask the court to make that an order that he be allowed to take photos of his son Xander but
he agrees to not post them online.
Judge: And my question is, does this cover more than him? That he physically would not cause
to happen but that he would not allow an agent of his, somebody…in other words, I don’t want
him to be prohibited from posting but then tell you to go ahead and post them.
Granger: I think father would have to agree to that…
Ralph: I would agree. No offense, I didn’t want to interrupt, I would readily
agree to no agent of mine or anyone on my behalf or anybody besides me even having the
pictures you know I just want to show them to my uncle show my few family that are left most
of my family unfortunately passed away and so uh it’s kind of nice to have a picture of my son
and also just to remember him by I live across the globe and I fly in and see him whenever I can
you know every other month or whatever it is, uh and so yea it kinda you know that’s that’s my
reasoning behind it but yeah I would readily agree to no third agent, uhm, posting it as well.
Judge: And…
Ralph: And they’ll be taken at the center
Granger: The problem is that you have to agree not to share
them, because if you share them then you don’t necessarily have control…
Ralph: Well, if I have to absolutely agree not to share the photos if that’s
what the stipulation is, I’m fine with that. When I meant share them I didn’t mean like send
them to my uncle or whatever, I meant like I’m in the house and I say here’s my son
an invisible phone in his hand to the camera to demonstrate> you know, of him not like send
him the file documents but yeah I understand what’s been said but really it’s mostly I don’t get
to see my son that much. I didn’t get to see him for well over a year after his birth and uhhhh,
just now getting to know him basically uh and yea I, I would really think that…
Granger: Well, I think it’s…if we had an agreement that you weren’t…you didn’t share the file
digitally online, that would solve the problem.
Judge: Yeah, he could show them, but not allow people to photograph them or otherwise…
Ralph: Right.
Judge: …keep a copy of the photo. But, he may visually allow people to enjoy it. But not copy it.
Or disseminate it.
Judge: Yes?
Faith: Sorry, I just want to speak here.
Judge: Yes.
Faith: Um, the reason why photos are an issue right now is because the visitation itself, Parent
Time, in uh, um, Loomis has a rule that both parties uh, or both parents have to consent to
photos being taken. I do not wish to consent to this for a number of reasons that I can share
with you if you’d like. Um, but that is my reasoning why I didn’t’ want to consent to photos
being taken. I understand…
Judge: Why don’t you share your reasons.
Faith:
Granger: to clarify, I make if there was a court order the facility would, the issue is there wasn’t
a court order so the facility wanted the parties to come to a mutual agreement, which Ms.
Vickers for the reasons that she’s just going to state wouldn’t do. I just wanted to make that
prior clarification.
Judge: Yes.
Faith: Um, so, there is a history between me and Mr. Ralph where he has a past of uploading
private material whether it be through other parties or even without any intention of his own,
sharing with other people that has been made public, um, he’s convicted of dissemination of
images or more commonly known as Revenge Porn against me, and there have been previous
issues of my son being uploaded online by Mr. Ralph himself and third parties…
Ralph: That’s not true.
Faith: …that does not make me feel comfortable…
Ralph: That’s not true.
Faith: …consenting to…
Judge: Hold on. do not argue with one another. I’m just hearing her statement.
Ralph: Can I have a statement afterwards to respond to this? Because:
Granger: Mr. Ralph! Hold on. You have an attorney, so just please be quiet until asked
to speak, okay?
Faith: I’m sorry, your honor, but those are my reasons and I do have a line of questioning for
Mr. Ralph if I can ask those when you’re ready, as I did subpoena him through his attorney.
Judge: This is not the date for the hearing. If you need a hearing on this, that’s fine. If we’re just
going to do it listening to the moving papers and arguments, then I would do that today.
Faith: Okay.
Judge: And I’m just going to throw out one settlement thing and that is um, that Mr. Ralph
would periodically be allowed to take photos at parenting time. You would have an opportunity
to review those before he was allowed to keep them. I’m not sure how practically that would
happen, but you might have someone take a picture of him holding his son or playing with his
son at Parenting Time. We could limit the pictures to like, three and have them reviewed for
appropriateness by someone at Parenting Time and by you, and you would be allowed to
maintain those. But he is not to disseminate them and he is not to publish them uh to other
people to disseminate.
Faith: Okay, that does seem like a fair compromise to me.
Judge: It would need some wording, but are you both sorta okay with that?
Ralph: Okay but I would still like to respond to some of what was said…
Granger: NO!
Ralph: I’m gonna resist. I’m gonna resist. In the interest of just like let’s keeping it, you know,
let’s keep it above board because I feel like a lot of stuff was misrepresented, uh, in that last
paragraph.
Granger: Ok, Mr. Ralph, we’re really just here about visiting your son. Okay, so…
Ralph: I understand, I understand, I’m just saying it’s, it’s tough to hear that and
then not get to say anything okay but I agree and I take that as that’s all I wanted was a chance
to have some pictures with my son to you know remember him by so I feel like that’s a win for
me so I don’t have any problem with that at all.
Judge: And, okay, and by “appropriateness” I’m going to let the parties work on defining that.
That would be the son being fully clothes being engaged in appropriate childhood play…
Ralph: Like yeah, just playing around.
Judge: No bathroom pictures.
Ralph: No. No. No.
Judge: The photos are to be taken during supervised visitation.
Ralph: By the way, there’s reports on the supervised visitation and they both say they went well
and even, you know, Faith here, admits that in her court filings that those supervised visitations
went well for both parties. She said that in her court filings so…
Judge: So Mr. Ralph is visiting how often right now?
Granger: Mr. Ralph hasn’t been visiting since…
Faith: October
Granger: October
Ralph: Since we had this dispute…yeah.
Granger: The order is for, up to, two times a month.
Judge: Right
Ralph: Yeah, it’s two times, two days, per month and I was
gonna combine a three-day visit in November but then we got into this dispute and I just
decided that it would be better to settle it in the court early on because it is kinda important to
me honestly that I don’t get to see him as much as she does…you know…
Granger: Mr. Raph! Mr. Ralph! That’s enough, okay? Be quiet. Another issue was that he had
agreed that he would provide her with his mailing address. But he’s now not living in the United
States. He’s moving around. Since it’s supervised visitation only we would ask that that
particular term be deleted.
Faith: Um, sorry, um I would not feel comfortable with that just because considering again, Mr.
Ralph’s past in avoiding service and things like that. I don’t feel comfortable not having a way to
send legal documents and things like that. The last address he gave me he did not have
permission to use apparently, as I have come to learn, so I don’t feel comfortable with that.
Ralph: Wait, what? Sorry, I didn’t hear the last part of what she said if someone else wants to
repeat it. But yeah, I live in Mexico…
Granger: Mr. Ralph. Mr. Ralph. Could you please just be quiet. That’s kinda the problem with
Zoom. Okay. But you need to please be quiet at the moment.
Judge: So, Ms. Granger, as long as you are retained to represent him would you accept service
on his behalf in lieu of a mailing address provided by him?
Granger: As long as I’m retained to represent him, yes.
Judge: And Mr. Ralph, if for some reason Ms. Granger substitutes out and you are without
council as part of that substitution you would have to provide a mailing address for service
purposes as well as your physical location by city and country.
Ralph: Uh, I don’t feel comfortable giving her and her father my physical address especially
because they’ve given it away online before and caused me swattings and had people attack
me at my house and had all kinds of things happen to me and they’ve drummed up a hate mob
against me online and that’s why I don’t feel comfortable with them having my address it’s not
me trying to you know give flack to the court right like this is a real issues that’s actually
happened to me right but…
Granger: Mr. Ralph would you agree to provide an address?
Faith: Your honor there is not evidence to justify anything that Mr. Ralph has said. I have
personally never posted any of his private information and I will agree on paper to never share
private information regarding addresses.
Granger: Ok. I think the problem would be solved if you could provide an address where you
could be served.
Ralph: I can provide a PO Box.
Faith: From what I understand a PO Box cannot be proper service.
Faith: I’m not entirely sure myself.
Ralph: *inaudible* not even trying to hide from service.
Judge: Hold on. One at a time.
Faith: Sorry, your honor. Again, that’s just my understanding, I’m not entirely sure. Um, but yes,
if it’s just an address for service, I’m okay with that. Again, it just needs to be a mailing address.
Judge: There would be a stipulation that he provide an address for service?
Faith: Yes.
Ralph: Mailing address.
Granger: Are you okay with that, Mr. Ralph?
Ralph: Mailing address, yes.
Granger: Okay.
Judge: And Ms. Vickers, generally when council is retained you would be providing council with
any of that whatever you were serving and you would see if they would accept service at that
time.
Granger: And we have been in communication about that and she has, we have figured that
out.
Faith: Yeah.
Judge: Okay, so I believe we’ve done that.
Granger: Okay, so we have an agreement there, and I’ll prepare the findings and order after
hearing regarding the photos during the visit and the address for service.
Judge: Okay, and I would like to, just to reiterate, to define for whatever supervised visitation
center it is, to take up to 3 photographs that the facility may review those for appropriateness,
um, that the child is fully clothed and engaged in play or interacting with father does not
contain anything where the child is changing diapers, going to the bathroom uh, running
around nude or anything else that little kids might do. So, it would be something that would be
later embarrassing to the child.
Faith: Can I have a bit more…
Ralph: I want to ask something your honor. She has actually dressed my
child…our child…in memes meant to insult me, uh, corn memes she sent him dressed like that
to the uh…
Judge: She what?
Ralph: yeah I know it’s hard to explain, but she’s used internet memes in order to try and troll
me by dressing my son in basically anti-me regalia. And I would ask that that be disallowed by
the court and that she be admonished quite frankly.
Faith: Uh, your honor, the outfit that he is referring to is a onesie is a corn graphic that says
“Awe Shucks.”
Ralph: And you know good and well there’s a whole corn *inaudible* on Kiwifarms that you
stoked, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Judge: I’m not sure going on…
Ralph: I would ask that she be…
Granger: Mr. Ralph. Mr. Ralph. We’re kinda getting out in the weeds a little bit. We’re not here
today for that purpose.
Faith: But, before, I was going to ask for clarification with the photos.
*Lots of background noise from other parties. Judge stops everyone to sort it out*
Judge: Go ahead mother, again, Ms. Vickers.
Faith: Sorry, that I was just asking for clarification when it came to the photos, just that I was
able to review them um, after they were taken, um, that’s the only thing I was asking
clarification for.
Judge: I think that’s...I think what…I think that gets kinda cumbersome.
Faith: Okay.
Judge: I’d like to just define it enough that and you can give Ms. Granger your input to provide
any other strictures, okay?
Faith: Okay. Thank you.
Ralph: Well, your honor…
Granger: Wait! Wait!
Granger: I think we…I think I…
Ralph: it says I have to get the photos like, what if she just says…
Granger: Ethan! Ethan! Please, be quiet right now. I think the facility was going to approve for
appropriateness.
Ralph: Okay. Okay.
Judge: He’s going to take them and before he leaves if there’s one they feel is inappropriate,
that might embarrass the child down the line that he would delete it in front of them before he
left, so it’s instant.
Ralph: Okay, okay. I agree.
Faith: Okay, thank you for that clarification.
Granger: Okay. I’m confident that none of the photos will be inappropriate but we’ll have this
language in there…
Ralph: Yes, I agree, I think it makes sense. Yeah…you’re right.
Judge: There should be one more that no one should dress the child during visitation or any
visitation that has any particular statement on his clothing.
Ralph: Thank you for that.
Judge: Just something like blue jeans and a red tee shirt and I think we’re okay.
Ralph: I think we’re okay, thank you for that, your honor.
Judge: And that would mean mother doesn’t bring him in anything, father doesn’t add or
subtract anything or change anything.
Faith: Okay, I was just asking because that might be a little confusing because I’m not quite sure
what he’s referencing when it comes to…
Ralph: *mumbles incoherently*
Faith: I’m just confused to what images aren’t allowed so it can be clarified in the stipulation
and the reasoning for it so that way I have just a guideline what I can and can’t…
Judge: No tee shirt that has sayings on it.
Faith: Okay, so no graphic designs.
Judge: Right.
Faith: Okay. Thank you.
Judge: And that’s either way.
Ralph: So just a regular tee shirt, a solid colored tee shirt, just solid
colored clothes, yes. Thank you for that, your honor.
Faith: Okay. Thank you.
Judge: I’m not going to pick the color, okay.
Ralph: Right, yeah that’s too much.
Judge: Sounds like jail. Okay?
Granger: Okay.
Judge: I think we got all of those for the clarification. There’s also an order to show cause for
contempt, I believe.
Granger: Yes. That’s Ms. Vickers’
Judge: Ms. Vickers has brought that and I believe this is the date and time that is set for the
arraignment for that.
Faith: Yes.
Judge: And, did you receive a copy of that?
Granger: I did, and I filed a response.
Judge: Okay, and is time waived for the hearing?
Granger: Yes.
Judge: Okay, so give me a time estimate for the hearing.
Granger: Uhm, I would say, how many witnesses do you have, Ms. Vickers?
Faith: So far I have two witnesses I need to question and two declarations I’ve filed from
witnesses.
Granger: Okay, well the witnesses are going to have to testify, you can’t just rely on the
declaration.
Faith: Sorry, I meant I have two to question, yes.
Granger: So you have 4 witnesses or 2 witnesses?
Faith: Two witnesses.
Faith: Oh, I’m sorry. Four. Four witnesses.
Ralph: I don’t believe I’m supposed to testify in this hearing…I’m not sure, is that on record…?
Granger: Mr. Ralph, we can talk about this later.
Ralph: Okay. Okay. Okay.
Granger: So, we have a couple of witnesses, so I’d say, 3 hours.
Judge: Okay, so would you like it sometime in March?
Granger: Uhm, that will be fine.
Judge: It looks like March 11th is available. March 17th is available.
Granger: March 17th, in the morning?
Judge: It would be in the morning, yes.
Granger: Okay, if we can have that date, please.
Judge: Okay. Ms. Vickers, will that work for you?
Faith: Uh, yes. That will work for me.
Judge: Okay, so March 17, at 9AM. I’m going to give it a half day setting.
Granger: And I’m sorry, Mr. Ralph, are you available March 17th?
Ralph: Uuuuhhhhmmm, lemme look and make sure, I should, you know I should be, I kinda set
my own schedule, that’s a Friday yeah I’m available I’m…let’s just do it.
Granger: And then, will he be allowed to appear by Zoom?
Judge: I have no objection to that. I understand that he’s out of the country.
Ralph: I’m a resident of, of Mexico. And actual resident of the country of Mexico so…
Judge: So would you note that? That I’ve given him specific permission to do that. He
does need to appear visually, not by phone.
Ralph: Sure. Right. Now in the interim we can go ahead and restart visits and stuff right.
Granger: Your visitation hasn’t changed.
Ralph: Right, I mean, we can, you know…
Granger: Yes. Yes. Resume the visitation.
Ralph: Okay, good. That’s great news.
Granger: And then we have another one, your Honor, Amanda Morris, who is also residing in
Mexico. Can she appear by Zoom, too.
Judge: Yes, as long as it’s visual communication.
Ralph: Yeah. Okay. She had a declaration y’know.
Judge: Okay. Thank you. And Ms. Granger if you would prepare the *inaudible* for today.
Granger: I will.
Faith: Thank you, your honor.
Ralph: Thank you your honor, also I just want to apologize for any uh I know I’m loud I’m used
to a studio setup you know the Zoom kinda projects in loud to the courtroom so I’m sorry if I
was overpowering sometimes with my voice.
Judge: That’s alright.
Ralph: yea so I apologize anyway so…thank you. Have a good one.
Judge: Thank you.
Ralph: alright, bye bye.
