Baltimore County, Maryland — December 2025 — A civil lawsuit was filed on December 2, 2025, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland, because a Maryland father has been separated from his son for nearly four years as a result of illegal protective orders, systemic court failures, and third-party interference, despite the absence of any valid order permanently barring contact.

The action, Reichert v. Hornbeck et al., Case No. C-03-CV-25-005682, was filed by Jeff Reichert, a disabled U.S. Army veteran and former custodial parent. The lawsuit names Sarah Hornbeck, the State of Maryland, the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County, Baltimore County District Court commissioners, and judicial officers sued in their official capacities.

Reichert has not had meaningful contact with his son, Grant, since February 2, 2022, when the child was 12 years old. Reichert states in the complaint that a temporary 90-day no-contact order entered in early 2022 was never meaningfully lifted and instead became the functional starting point of a permanent separation, without sustained judicial review or a valid, enforceable order.

Since that time, Reichert has passed multiple birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holidays with no contact or communication with his son.

Prior Custody Order and 2019 Settlement History

The lawsuit emphasizes that in 2019, the Baltimore County Circuit Court entered a Final Consent Order awarding Reichert primary custody. A contemporaneous mediation email marked “For Settlement Purposes Only” described the child as thriving academically and socially and contemplated continued shared parenting. That communication also stated that “when Grant turns 12 years old, his opinion will dictate the terms of any agreement.”

Instead of a lawful transition or review, Reichert’s relationship with his son was effectively severed shortly after that age, through the use of temporary and defective protective-order processes that circumvented the existing custody order.

Allegations of Court and Third-Party Misconduct

The complaint further alleges that:

• Illegal or unserved protective orders were repeatedly issued or enforced;
• Schools and other third parties acted on void or unserved orders, restricting or blocking father-child communication;
• Reichert, as a disabled veteran with documented PTSD and traumatic brain injury, was denied reasonable accommodations and meaningful access to court proceedings;
• These actions collectively resulted in the complete loss of the parent-child relationship without a final adjudication.

Service Status and Procedural Posture

Reichert states that all defendants have now been served except Hornbeck, who avoided service for approximately five weeks. After requesting that her attorneys accept service, Reichert proceeded with private process servers and sheriff service.

Counsel for the State of Maryland has advised Reichert that the case is expected to be removed to federal court before January 16, 2026.

Relief Sought

The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, including:

• A declaration that the protective orders at issue are void or unenforceable;
• An injunction prohibiting enforcement of unserved or illegal orders;
• Relief preventing further third-party interference with lawful parental rights.

While the complaint primarily seeks prospective relief, Reichert has indicated that monetary damages may also be pursued as the litigation proceeds.

Broader Implications

Beyond the individual case, the lawsuit raises broader concerns about how temporary protective orders, procedural shortcuts, and institutional enforcement can be used to permanently sever a child’s relationship with a parent — without criminal findings, sustained judicial review, or due-process protections.

Additional filings are expected as the case moves forward. parent without sustained judicial review.

Additional filings are expected as the case proceeds.