Chappaqua Poison

Judge Schauer

5 chapters

All chapters tagged with Judge Schauer

Act VII

Chapter 35 ●

Equal Threats

The case passes to a fourth judge. At a twenty-three-minute video appearance Schauer vacates the Horowitz default on consent and issues mirroring stay-away orders — one against each party — rather than address the California restraining order against Tara. The poisoner and the poisoned are treated as symmetrical threats, and neither petition is heard. Steve tells the court a permanent temporary order does not give him a chance to face his accuser. The court tells him he is muddying the record.

May 19, 2021
Chapter 37 ●

Erase, Deactivate, and Delete

Jennifer Jackman resigns as Attorney for the Child without explanation. Her replacement files a motion to suppress all blog content. A visitation conference is converted into a gag order hearing. Steve is declared in default. Judge Schauer orders the blog removed — every post, every photograph, every grandmother's letter. The words are precise. Erase. Deactivate. Delete.

November 5, 2021
Chapter 38 ●

Bora Bora

His attorney was in the courtroom. He was not. The phone rang after. The voice on the other end sounded beaten. 'Well, that didn't go well.' The orders were final.

January 5, 2022

Act VIII

Chapter 43 ●

The Remnant

The Second Department rejects the default characterization of the February 2022 order and replaces its blanket deletion command with a narrower directive. The order is affirmed insofar as appealed from. The custody award is not vacated.

March 22, 2023

Act IX

Chapter 47 ●

The Record Is Open

The archive carries the story beyond the verdict and appeals. The 2025–2026 motions, the support-hearing account and the filed Article 78 petition preserve the question Steve asks someone to examine: what should change when the record and the continuing custody arrangement diverge?

2023–2026