Appeal for Taran: A Mother's Struggle

Created by: Ward Cline, Father of Taran

USE OF FUNDS: TOTAL LIKELY TO BE IN EXCESS OF $125K FOR *JUST* FAMILY COURT MATTERS: $35,000 - APPEAL (RETAINER ONLY - COST MAY EXCEED $75K); TAR'S LAWYER - $10-15K ADD'L PREP/COURT DATES / 30K (Approx.) MINOR'S COUNSEL / $5K+ EST. FOR APPELLATE TRANSCRIPTS

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Please Help My Daughter Appeal a Discriminatory and Unwarranted Family Court Ruling

My name is Ward Cline, and I’m raising funds for my daughter, Taran Nolan — a kind, beautiful, and loving mother of my 4 grandchildren, 1 in heaven. I have worked my entire life and still do. If I had this money to give my daughter myself, I would do so. I humbly ask you to please help her. I do not know how much money we will be able to raise for her, but we started at a goal of $37,500 to cover the appeal and fees and amazingly exceeded the original goal within hours. We have increased the goal to help cover the costs of the multiple lawyers mentioned above. Sadly, this tragedy continues, with no end in sight or fairness for my daughter. She is just devastated, with no hope left. We are showing her together that there is still a chance for justice.

She lives every day with a high-level spinal cord injury (quadriplegic) and a traumatic brain injury (TBI). She was paralyzed in the tragic car accident in 2020 that took the life of my 3-year-old granddaughter and the other driver, also a beautiful mother. She is currently the victim of a heartbreaking and unjust decision by the Orange County Superior Court in California. Throughout the years, Taran was the most wonderful mother you could ever imagine. Everyone you speak to about her will reinforce this, from school teachers, to doctors, to therapists, to friends. Despite many challenges and a lack of proper support and care in place, she continued to try to do her best as a parent. As her situation and condition continued to decline at home, it resulted in a mental health crisis. She decided to leave her home environment to seek the right support and care, and I truly believe that decision, however disorganized and erratic at the time, truly saved her life. While she will always live with the challenges of her quadriplegia and brain injury (particularly when she is placed in stressful situations), she is enrolled in a program for brain injuries at Coastline College, and will soon be starting cognitive therapy at St. Joe’s. She has a multi-disciplinary medical team now, and caregivers who meet many needs. All things she did not have in place until the Fall of 2022, when her environment finally began to stabilize after a very rocky start. Sadly, the damage was done during that few-month period of instability and uncertainty when, instead of providing support and care, others took advantage of the situation. The ongoing legal abuse of the last 3 years has taken its toll both financially and mentally. She has incurred over $250,000 in legal fees thus far, and climbing.

After her initial departure from her marital home that resulted in some chaos and high conflict, TEMPORARY restraining orders were put in place for both parties and extended THIRTEEN times without a single trial taking place, over an almost 3-year period. it's not "normal" to keep continuing a temporary restraining order (TPO) indefinitely. While TPOs can be extended for a short period, typically 15-21 days, to allow for a hearing, they are not meant to be perpetually renewed. But they were. And it resulted in her not seeing her children (my grandchildren) in nearly 3 years. That would affect *anyone’s* mental health – whether they have a TBI, or not.

The FIRST trial setting hearings on the matter finally took place in 2025, continued multiple times. Some witnesses (important ones) were not allowed to testify, and some of her evidence was denied entry into the record. She is also not allowed to *personally* talk publicly about the case, the evidence, or the ruling. The order was issued without, in my opinion, meaningful consideration of an overwhelming amount of evidence about the neglect and abuse she suffered. The Court removed any protections that she had in place, despite an ongoing campaign of harassment spanning a several-year period (well documented via police reports, and complaints via IC3 forms to the FBI for the continued online harassment and hate pages created about her. The order states that supervised visits will be ordered, ONLY when the children’s therapists say it is appropriate. The children have been under the sole influence of the other party for 3 years.

As a result of this unjust ruling, the other party has been granted the right to move away. Taran agreed to this to avoid dragging a hearing out for days, knowing it was a predetermined outcome - since the other party now has sole legal and physical custody. Not only that, but this Court has taken away all safety protections for her. She now has to live in fear, knowing that she has no legal protection from the other party. The worst part? Taran's life expectancy is reduced. Data shows 10-15 years from the date of the accident for someone of her age and level of injury. By the time this has expired, she will have lost a total of 8 years and the ability to have a meaningful relationship with with her children. For 3 years she dealt with continuances, procedural maneuvers, and false allegations that were subsequently dismissed in criminal court, where she was fully absolved of guilt. For those 3 years – nothing but trauma upon trauma.

We are raising these funds to pay for a very experienced appellate attorney who has already been retained to fight this injustice in the California Court of Appeals. He will work to restore Taran’s right to live freely, without the constraints of an unjust order, to restore her dignity, and her freedom of speech. The notice of appeal has been filed (to meet the time constraints) and paid for. The cost to prepare the brief is $35,000, the filing fee was $875, there are GoFundMe processing fees, and we expect the transcript fees to run into several thousands of dollars. She has been ordered to pay minor counsel fees which we estimate will be in the region of $30,000. Taran does have a Special Needs Trust; however, I have to think about her long-term care needs and budget for those to try to make that money last as long as possible - to make sure she can continue to pay her rent, have care, and therapy for as long as possible. The other party has to pay half as well. He has the ability to work. Taran does not, but she was attributed to paying the same amount. Please read on below about why this appeal matters so deeply.

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Why This Appeal Matters So Deeply

• Taran is a quadriplegic mother with a traumatic brain injury, with no convictions of violence or abuse — ever.

• Any investigation triggered by false allegations was quickly dismissed by Child Protective Services.

• Orange County Criminal Court found no merit to any of the false allegations made by the other party in this case.

• The court-imposed protective order is based on distortions, ADA violations, and in my opinion, and that of others we have sought advice from, legal errors.

• The order has denied her full and meaningful access to her children — an unthinkable punishment for someone in her position.

• The ruling imposes conditions that are mentally and physically challenging for her to meet.

• This case is a tragic example of how the legal system can fail disabled women and mothers, especially when there is no one experienced enough to advocate on their behalf.

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How Your Donation Will Help

Every dollar raised will go directly toward:

• Hiring an appellate attorney with decades of experience in challenging such rulings.

• Preparation and filing of the appellate brief.

• Court transcripts, filing fees, and legal documentation.

• Support from disability justice and legal experts.

• Any necessary accommodations or support to allow Taran to participate in the legal process.

• Minors counsel fees as ordered by the court for Taran to pay.

• Ongoing legal expenses for this appeal.

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This Isn’t Just About One Case — It’s About What’s Right

This DVRO doesn’t just wrongfully punish Taran — it endangers her well-being, and sets a dangerous precedent for how courts treat people with serious disabilities.

We cannot allow the legal system to silence, shame, and isolate people who need protection and advocacy the most.

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You Can Help Taran Restore a Meaningful Relationship with Her Children and Her Life Back

• Donate to help us reach the goal for her appeal and ongoing legal expenses.

• Share this campaign widely — every voice matters.

• Advocate for legal accountability and disability justice.

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Thank You for Standing With Taran

Taran’s life has already been marked by immense medical hardship — but she has never stopped being a devoted mother, a fighter, and a deeply compassionate soul. Now, with your help, she can fight to be reunited with her children, to clear her name, and to bring real accountability to a system that wronged her.

Please donate, share, and stand for justice.

#ItEndsWithTar

#LetTarSpeak

@JusticeForTar

#AppealForTar

#DisabilityJustice

#OrangeCountyFamilyCourt

#DVROReform

#TBIAdvocacy