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Catherine Kassenoff’s Story: A Heartbreaking Case for Family Court Reform
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Catherine Kassenoff’s Story: A Heartbreaking Case for Family Court Reform

Jan 29, 2025

Three backpacks lined in a row along with a “Love” sign on a desk in Catherine Kassenoff’s new house—because she manifested her three daughters would finally step into her new home.

Who knew this day would never come.

My heart still trembles just thinking about it, “I still feel immense sadness,” said Wayne Baker. Who’s the executor of Kassenoff’s estate, later found her loving preparations for the girls’ arrival when he entered the 3BHK house after the heartbreaking news.   

“She was one of my closest friends. I had tremendous respect and regard for her as an individual and as a legal advisor. Her intelligence, sense of humor, and her willingness to help others.”   

Baker was the one who found Kassenoff’s ashes, after the Larchmont mother took the big step of ending her life in Switzerland by assisting suicide on 27th May 2023. 

If you didn’t know her story or missed the breaking news, then I’m here to give complete head-to-toe details of the incident.

Catherine Kassenoff had lost the custody of her three daughters in her divorce matter, where her behavior was marked as “harmful” and insane. 

The legal advisor publicly protested against what she called corrupt New York family court, blaming the system of permitting her lawyer husband Allan kassenoff to give custody of his children, kick her out from their home, and destroy her in every manner be it physically, emotionally, and financially.

At last, she was relieved… All the worries were kept aside when she knew what she was doing, “said Baker, telling that Catherine thought the best she could do to end this conflict for her children. 

“The bottom line was, she can’t survive without her children, and the court said she can’t live with her children. So, she lost the reason to live and that was it.! 

The case of Kassenoff’s estate is still in process and Baker stated that Allan Kassenoff has not facilitated visits in the middle. 

The decision of divorce was taken after one of their daughters reported in school that Allan Kassenoff reportedly kicked her sister, and her mother was told to file for an order of protection or she was threatened to lose her kids. 

Allan retaliated by filing divorce, filed an “ex parte” motion for custody, and got full use of their home saying that his wife had influenced their kids.

The investigating detective found the allegation of kicking reliable, but as per Baker, Child Protective Services blamed Catherine for not protecting the children. 

After years of trying to win the battle against her husband’s courtroom narrative that she was separating the children from him, Catherine believed she would finally have unmonitored visits with her daughters.

For which she bought a new apartment in Westchester County, N.Y. in expectation of this. But, it wasn’t a happy ending! 

New custody was insourced which, in Baker’s head rubber-stamped an old false report, which flipped the final straw for Catherine. “She asked me to give a commitment that I will bring the truth in front of the girls.

I had always admired her as a loving mother,” told Katherine Klein, the Kassenoffs’ nanny who was the last person Catherine came in contact with.

“She said she loved me. I tried my best to convince her to stop the IV, but she said, “I can’t stop it.” It has already started. I can easily feel the pain in her voice. I think it was too much for her to handle.”     

On April 28, 2023, Klein met Kassenoff at a dinner, where she said Catherine looked “sick” (which was probably because she was struggling from cancer which she revealed in her goodbye letter, for which she blamed the court system for her condition.) 

The story of Kassenoff’s suicide last year on the Memorial Day weekend spread like wildfire, also on social media. 

Also read :The 10 Most Massive Things on Earth You Have to Experience

The wave of outrage was encouraged by news coverage and Tik Tok videos of Allan Kassenoff which resulted in his resignation from the Greenberg Trauring law firm.

 He later charged legal actions against a Tik Tok influencer for defaming him in an ongoing suit.  

Ms. approached Allan Kassenoff for this event, where he responded via email: “Attached in the complaint I filed against Robert Harvey for defaming me, among other things. Everything I wrote is true and verifiable.” If you want to hear the complete details, it’s mentioned here. 

Many in the family court redress campaign thought the dramatic death of a sharp legal mind lady like Catherine—who still didn’t get justice in our backward system, would finally mark a landmark for reforms.

Especially since, as per the legal experts, her case highlighted a violation of women’s constitutional rights to be listened to. Also, after a year people are still asking what has changed?   

“Nothing,” said Sarah, a protective mother who is even worried about using her real name. “Nothing has changed for a lot of us, I just lost custody of my children as my husband was on revenge mode and the court system encouraged him.

If you see, so many Catherines are there, who are heartbroken and on the verge to give up.”

The police manager, Mr Danielle Pollack at The National Family Violence Law Center at George Washington Law and a leading figure pushing for change, showed signs of hope.

As for Catherine’s beloved friend Wayne Baker, he is practicing law in New Mexico and said that he’s “ disgusted” by this damaged legal system.

He said, “Family court is the worst system in the world”. “I have experience in the criminal justice system too and it’s much fairer and you undoubtedly get more rights than a parent has on their child.

If there was ever a constitutional right to anything, then it’s the right to have your children.” That was exactly what Catherine Kassenoff’s point was.

On the unhappy day of the anniversary, we remember her “never-ending” spirit and honor her last wish; “I ask that you please keep telling my story so that the truth is known far and wide.”

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