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In 2016, Katie Maksim, and her family, went through a divorce. American Psychological Association statistics show that 40% to 50% of all American marriages end in divorce.
Maksim is a devout Christian who lives in the Longs area of South Carolina. So, after her daughter began having ongoing nightmares, Maksim chose to hire a therapist who works in family counseling.
Her daughter opened up about experiencing sexual abuse. The shock and nightmare for Maksim was just beginning, however. Maksim learned firsthand that the divorce industry in America is a $50 billion annual business concern.
A new study written by professor of clinical law, Joan S. Meier, shows that mothers who report abuse — particularly child abuse — are losing child custody at staggering rates. The study reveals that in custody litigation, when mothers reported abuse — including child abuse and domestic violence — the mothers lost custody 28 percent of the time.
Maksim ultimately lost custody of her children for an approximate 30 day period.
The real nightmare, however, was being under the jurisdiction of controversial S.C. Judge Bromell Holmes and the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS).
MyrtleBeachSC News has documented (on camera) three local residents who have come forward speaking on judicial abuse and unfairness from Judge Holmes.
The costs for Maksim were staggering. Selling assets, as well as, support from her family were necessary to help her navigate this curious system.
Katie Maksim explains the nightmare of working with DSS and Family Court. Thanks supporters
As for Judge Holmes, she is no stranger to ongoing court case controversies. We published those reports here, here, and during the high profile S.C. Senate race last June here.
After the false campaign narrative promoted by Luke Rankin in that S.C. Senate race, Judge Bromell Holmes was later removed from the Gallman family court case for cause. It was Rankin, himself, and the Judicial Merit Selection Commission (JMSC) who appointed Holmes to the bench.
Rankin praised Holmes in 2018, despite other members of the JMSC pointing out that she had 5 ballot box complaints against her. Viewers can see the back and forth beginning on page 77 in the complaint transcripts on Bomell Holms taken November 28, 2018. Those can be found at the bottom of this article via SCRIBD.
SCDSS NIGHTMARES
In researching this article, MyrtleBeachSC News was pointed back to an article we published last September 2020. Top Horry County DSS Attorney Kelly Ann Galley was arrested by Horry County Police for Criminal Domestic Violence after stabbing her boyfriend in her home.
The name of her boyfriend, however, was blacked out from the arrest warrant as can be seen here.
Several Horry County residents reached out to us this week stating the victim died sometime later. They stated his body was found in the woods along the N.C. line.
We phoned and emailed Michael Leach, the State Director for the South Carolina Department of Social Services, and his assistant requesting information on this new development. As of this publication, no one from D.S.S. has chosen to respond.
We also tried the D.S.S. local phone maze at (843) 366-1600. Each extension we tried looped us into a request to dial yet another 1-800 number. We were unable to reach Galley directly even though we are told she still holds her post. There simply was no direct line to her office publicly posted.
We Also Reached Out To Senators Luke Rankin, Todd Rutherford, and Representative Murrell Smith
All of the above serve on the JMSC. Not one chose to respond.
Bromell Holmes Complaints begin on page 77
Complaint Transcripts Bromell Holms 11.28.18 by MyrtleBeachSC news on Scribd