SAN FRANCISCO – A California man recently filed a notice of removal in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California regarding a lawsuit against the state of California over alleged deprivations of fundamental rights in a dispute involving child custody.
Rudy Meza, a California resident, originally filed the case in Superior Court of Sonoma County against California, Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services, Maria L. Rodriguez, also known as Maria L. Chavez, and Zilda S. McCausland.
Meza filed the notice of removal June 15 citing the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act and the False Claims Act, as well as violations of the U.S. Constitution as reasons to remove the case to federal court.
In the notice, Meza alleged that there were several "willful, systemic deprivations of fundamental rights" that were violated by the defendants.
Rodriguez, who is a Mexico citizen, attempted to take a minor child belonging to her and Meza to Mexico in 2012, which would have harmed the relationship between Meza and the child, court filings said. Later, Rodriguez and Meza were awarded shared custody, and, within a year, Meza was awarded sole custody.
The filings allege Rodriguez and McCausland began a false smear campaign against Meza and attempted to remove the child custody arrangement.
Meza also alleges in the filing that the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act is being violated by ordering amounts of child support against parents in excess of statutory limits. Meza also claims the child support lien against him was falsely registered and that it was done in direct violation of the law.
In his notice, Meza claims the state family court system has become a "fully wanton criminal enterprise" and that those involved with the system have used intimidation tactics and threats, which is against the law.
Meza claims he was harassed by court officials and his due process rights were violated.
Meza is seeking to have the case retained in federal court and is seeking civil damages and fees and costs associated with the filing. He is representing himself.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, Case number: 4:18-cv-03593