Fighting Contempt with the Truth: My Latest Filing in State Court
- Ryan Alvar
- Oct 6
- 4 min read
🧾 Background
On October 6, 2025, I filed a full legal response in Minnesota State Family Court (St. Louis County) opposing yet another contempt motion brought by Amy Schmidt and her attorney, Shawn Reinke of Reinke Taylor PLLC.
Their motion claims I should be jailed and fined for not paying $3,240 in attorney’s fees—fees that stem directly from an unlawful order tied to the confidentiality of the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) report.
But as my filings show, that very issue—the legality of that confidentiality order—is already under federal review in my ongoing civil-rights case in the U.S. District Court for Minnesota (Case No. 25-cv-2792).
⚖️ What I Filed
1️⃣ Affidavit of Ryan W. Alvar
📄 View the document :
In my affidavit, I lay out how:
The contempt motion misrepresents my words and motives.
The State of Minnesota itself petitioned the federal court to answer questions about the GAL report, which means jurisdiction now lies there—not in state court.
Filing a state appeal would have caused a Younger v. Harris conflict, forcing federal courts to abstain.
Reinke publicly filed the same GAL report on June 26, 2025, yet still demands fees tied to its “confidentiality.”
Most importantly, Amy Schmidt has refused to follow our November 6, 2024 parenting-time agreement—later reduced to a court order—denying me and our children contact for 9 months.
“For Respondent and her attorney to pretend to act nobly by pursuing contempt against me while obstructing this fundamental order is the height of hypocrisy.” — from my Affidavit
2️⃣ Memorandum of Law
📄 Read the full memo:
The legal argument centers on five key points:
Judicial Estoppel — The State can’t petition federal court, then pretend jurisdiction still lies only in state court.
Younger Abstention — I deliberately avoided a state appeal to prevent jurisdictional conflict after the State triggered federal review.
Federal Review Pending — A Temporary Restraining Order is already before the federal court concerning the same order.
Bad Faith Conduct — Reinke himself made the GAL report public.
Selective Enforcement — Amy Schmidt ignores a valid parenting-time order while seeking to punish me for protecting my constitutional rights.
“To pursue contempt over a disputed fee order while ignoring a binding parenting-time order is hypocrisy that undermines the judicial process.” — Memorandum of Law
3️⃣ Proposed Order
📄 View the proposed order:
I submitted a proposed order asking Judge Nicole Hopps to:
Deny the contempt motion in full.
Recognize that enforcement would conflict with federal jurisdiction.
Note that the State itself petitioned the federal court, invoking that jurisdiction.
Acknowledge Reinke’s June 26 public filing of the GAL report.
Award reimbursement for the costs I’ve had to spend defending myself against bad-faith filings.
Reaffirm that Amy Schmidt’s ongoing violation of the November 6, 2024 parenting-time order further supports denial.
💬 Why It Matters
This filing isn’t just about one motion—it’s about accountability.
When government actors, attorneys, and courts knowingly enforce unlawful orders, parents and children suffer.
Parents lose contact.
Children lose stability.
The system loses credibility.
If the State of Minnesota can silence a parent for exposing misconduct—while an opposing attorney publicly files the same report—it proves exactly why federal oversight is necessary.
🧩 Next Steps
This contempt motion will now move through the state court process. If the judge follows the law, the motion should be denied outright. Regardless, every filing builds the record—and strengthens the federal case already before the U.S. District Court.
✊ Closing Message
Every page I file is not just a legal defense—it’s a record for history.
A parent shouldn’t need to fight this hard just to protect his children and speak the truth.
The more they push, the clearer the story becomes:
The system is protecting itself, not families.
🔁 Join the Fight for Reform
I have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging systemic misconduct by judges, attorneys, and state agencies that has stripped parents of their rights and traumatized countless children.
With 27 defendants, including the State of Minnesota, this case seeks accountability — and reform.
Join me in taking this mission national.
✅ How You Can Help
✅ Subscribe: Stay updated — Contact
✅ Visit: www.ryanalvar.com
✅ Support the Fight: GoFundMe – Help Cover Legal Costs & Reform Efforts
✅ Follow & Share: Real Dad Initiative
✅ Contact Your Legislators: Demand oversight for Judges, GALs and transparency in family court.
📬 Not sure who represents you? Find out here → 🔗 https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/
I’ve already heard from parents across the country who’ve lost everything —some haven’t seen their children in years.
This is what happens when a system meant to protect families becomes the weapon that tears them apart.
We must fix this broken family court system.
Until that day, I’ll keep fighting —for our children, for truth, and for justice.
—
Ryan William Alvar
Parent and Plaintiff
"461 days since my children were kidnapped. This isn't over."
Ryan William Alvar, Parent and Plaintiff
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