Magistrate George Shamon of Cayuga County Family Court is clearly biased towards women, and while I have had several experiences with this, I intend to only relay my most recent experience. I am a dad who actually had custody of his daughter for the last 11 years. She wanted to try living with her mom, and I agreed. Naturally we come to child support. During the course of the 11 years I had custody, I had to pull teeth to get any child support at all, and when I did, it was far less than the standard amount, nor was I ever reimbursed for 1/2 of her medical expenses, insurance, etc. This was all at the decision of the support magistrate. Now, due to the economy, I have a fairly menial job where I only average approximately $130 weekly (gross). My ex continues to remain unemployed. (She had stated to the support magistrate that she "didn't feel like working" and apparantly this is acceptable....) I also have long since remarried, and have 2 children (6, and newborn) with my wife. My ex has 3 other children, and I have been told several times (again by the magistrate) that this is why she couldn't pay the 17% in child support she was supposed to in the past. The magistrate issued an order for $80.00 weekly in child support, which not only is far more than the alloted 17%, but leaves me with very little for myself or my family. My last check after child support was $9.87. Additionally, my last years' gross salary was only approx $14000. According to the personal reserve information I have read, because it is less than 15000, the amount of support should not be more than $50.00 A MONTH. I presented all of this information to the court just this morning. The support magistrate said, and I quote, "Oh well, we are not lowering your support." He wanted to ADD to the support I was already paying!!! I told him I have two other children to support, and cannot possibly do that on $10 a week. He said "ok, I'm still not lowering it." I cannot believe that this is even legal, let alone acceptable. (I feel I should add here the previously we had gone before Fandrich, a family court judge, and he had made the order at $30.00 weekly due to my income, so Shamon had to actually change that to the $80.00 weekly to create this whole situation in the first place). Do not misunderstand; I have never had any issues with paying child support for my daughter, and certainly if I had the money, would not balk at paying it. I am absolutely astonished that the excuses that worked for my ex (I don't feel like working, its hard for me, I have other children) were acceptable for her, and he lowered her support without a second thought. However, he will not even consider lowering my support (which is more than what she had to pay, BTW) even though it is far greater than the legal maximum and is leaving us with absolutely nothing...I can't even put food on the table as a result of this man's bias. This it totally unacceptable. Shamon needs to be removed from that bench if he cannot follow basic principles.
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