By Michael R. Phillips | Father & Co. | REBUILT
Published initially on Father & Co. Substack.
⚠️ Content Warning:
This article discusses allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, parental alienation, and court-involved trauma. Reader discretion is advised, especially for survivors of abuse or those navigating family court cases.
A few weeks ago, I published on my Substack page, “Burned by the System: When Justice Becomes the Weapon”, spotlighting the emotional footage of Farzin Yazdani—described as a U.S. Navy veteran—having his infant removed by CPS. I wrote about it as a father, as someone who has experienced court corruption firsthand, and as someone who believed he saw injustice playing out again.
But new information has come to light—some of it serious, some of it disturbing, and all of it worthy of reflection.
Because truth matters. Even when it’s complicated. Especially when it’s complicated.
Behind the Curtain: The Other Side of the Story
Since my original article, I received a detailed message from someone with close knowledge of Farzin Yazdani’s case. The allegations in that message go far beyond what the public has seen or heard:
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Farzin’s own children have testified to enduring years of physical, emotional, and verbal abuse, including being choked [1].
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His current wife has allegedly contacted law enforcement multiple times for domestic violence, including an incident in which she reported that Farzin stomped on her back while five months pregnant [2].
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A 2020 welfare check led police to remove children from his care, independent of any report by his ex-wife [3].
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Farzin has allegedly refused four separate court-ordered psychological evaluations, and declined supervised visitation opportunities, ultimately resulting in a court order barring him from seeing his children or even appearing at their schools [4].
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His former attorney allegedly withdrew mid-trial, citing concerns that he was committing perjury and implicating her during his testimony [5].
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Court records reportedly show that Farzin owes nearly a decade of unpaid medical reimbursements and child support arrears in the six-figure range [6].
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His six-month Navy service did not make him eligible for VA benefits, and he allegedly misused a VA home loan, which was later rescinded due to ineligibility [7].
These are not small oversights or technicalities. If even a portion of these claims are true, they radically change the picture I painted in the original piece—and that many of us may have internalized as a story of state overreach.
Emotional Outrage, Meet Due Diligence
It’s easy—too easy—to get swept up in viral injustice. A baby being taken from a home is heartbreaking. A man crying on camera, pleading that he’s done nothing wrong, taps into something primal in anyone who’s ever felt unseen by the system.
But stories like these demand discipline. As storytellers, advocates, or simply concerned citizens, we must balance our empathy with inquiry. Otherwise, we risk misrepresenting facts and becoming part of the problem.
I’ve spent years writing about how the family court system fails parents—especially good, involved fathers. But that doesn’t mean every father is good. And that doesn’t mean every CPS action is abuse of power.
Sometimes, it’s protection.
The System Is Still Broken. But This Isn’t the Example to Fix It With.
Let me be clear: I still believe the family court system is deeply flawed. I still believe CPS operates with dangerous levels of secrecy and often without oversight. I still believe many parents are falsely accused or systematically erased from their children’s lives.
But none of that means we get to ignore evidence when it challenges the narrative we want to believe.
Yazdani’s situation—as messy and emotional as it looks—appears to be a case where the courts, CPS, and multiple parties have raised consistent red flags for years. In that light, amplifying his voice without doing the work to understand the broader context was a mistake.
And I own that mistake.
Accountability Isn’t a One-Way Street
To anyone who read my earlier piece and felt betrayed or misled—I hear you. I appreciate those who sent me messages, shared context, or raised questions. This isn’t about protecting reputations. This is about protecting kids, protecting truth, and protecting the integrity of our fight for justice reform.
I am leaving the original article up for transparency, with a prominent editorial note linking here. Because I believe in telling the full story—even when the full story is messy, uncomfortable, or changes our minds.
Final Word: The Fight for Justice Demands Humility
If we want reform, we have to do better. That means staying open to correction. It means checking our own bias—even when that bias is born of trauma. It means vetting stories, especially ones that emotionally resonate with our own.
And it means knowing the difference between a broken system and a broken individual.
This is not the end of my fight for family court reform, fathers’ rights, or due process. But it is a recalibration. A reminder. And a renewal of my commitment to get the facts right—even when the truth is inconvenient.
We owe that to each other. We owe it to the children.
And we owe it to the cause we’re trying to serve.
Michael R. Phillips
Founder of Father & Co. and REBUILT
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📬 Tips or corrections? Message me directly (mikethunderphillips@gmail.com). I want to get it right.
References
[1] Allegations based on witness messages shared with the author and statements reportedly made in open court.
[2] Police reports and domestic incident logs referenced by individuals familiar with the case.
[3] Law enforcement involvement confirmed by parties connected to the welfare check in 2020.
[4] Summary of court rulings on custody and visitation provided to the author via direct message.
[5] Testimony described by legal observers and persons close to the case.
[6] Claims of child support arrears based on court filings and legal correspondence seen by third-party sources.
[7] VA mortgage status and military service duration based on public records and direct statement by sources close to the case.
