New Document Shows Case Fixing in Rucki Divorce

(Minnesota First Judicial District Judge David Knutson)

A newly unearthed document from the divorce of David Rucki and Sandra Grazzini-Rucki (SGR) shows David Rucki knew ahead of time the outcome of his divorce trial. 

In a document David Rucki sent to a school affiliated with the Hosanna Church in Minnesota, Rucki claimed that he had sole custody of his children and his ex-wife, SGR, only had supervised visits. 

G168-1201-0314 (1) by mikekvolpe on Scribd

On page seven of the document above, it states, "father will have full custody, mother will have no contact unless supervised."

That date of that entry is September 5, 2013.

The problem is that the custody trial was not held until September 11-12th of 2013.

If the trial hadn't been held, how could David Rucki be telling people he had full custody.

In fact, the judge who heard the trial, David Knutson, did not render his decision until November 2013. That decision is below.

G168-1201-0371 by mikekvolpe on Scribd

Indeed, just as David Rucki predicted in September, the November 2013, custody order does grant him sole custody while his ex-wife, SGR, was limited to supervised visits and even those required so much therapy and other pre-requisites that she never actually saw her any of her five kids from that moment forward.

However, that order wouldn't come until November 2013 and if David Rucki knew about it in September 2013 that would suggest there was not only ex-parte communication between him and the judge but also collusion.

The custody trial featured a period on the second day when SGR's attorney, Michelle MacDonald, was forced to conduct part of it handcuffed to a wheelchair. See video below, starting at an hour and ten minutes in.

 More on that incident can be found here.

This is also not the first time that it appears that ex-parte communications were occurring in the Rucki case.

For instance, here is part of therapist's notes from Jim Gilbertson, who was court ordered by Knutson to give the kids therapy.

Gilbertson Notes Rucki case by mikekvolpe on Scribd

On page four, Gilbertson states in an entry from September 5, 2012, "I received a call from Ms. Fredderick (sic), guardian ad litem to a family matter in which five children are separated from both parents by court order."

The problem is that the court order he referred to did not come until September 7, 2012. That is below.

G168-1201-0006 by mikekvolpe on Scribd

On September 5, 2012, an unusual, non-hearing, but rather telephonic conference, was held. That is below.

G168-1201-0669 by mikekvolpe on Scribd

On September 5, as his entry, indicates, no decision had technically been made. Indeed, in his September 7, 2012, order, David Knutson ordered SGR out of her home and ordered David Rucki's sister, Tammy Love, to live in the home and take care of the five kids, temporarily at least.

David Rucki was already living in one of the other three homes the couple owned.

So, how did Julie Friedrich know this would be the order, only through an illegal ex-parte communication.

Later on in Gilbertson's notes, there is another unintentional disclosure of ex-parte communication.

Jim Gilbertson notes Rucki ... by mikekvolpe on Scribd

"The court order authorizing the Rucki children to be at the Overland Place came out late Friday.

"I immediately received a call from Ms. Olson stating that she wanted the transfer to occur as soon as possible because of the fear the children will learn of this through some unknown means and will run."

That entry is from April 9, 2013.

Those who know the story well know that the oldest girls were then taken to a police station in Lakeville, Minnesota, on April 19, 2013- ten days after this entry- and then forced to go live with their paternal aunt in their home on Ireland Place in Lakeville. About a half hour after they arrived at their home that day, the two oldest daughters- Samantha and Gianna- ran.

But Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was not made aware of this order on April 9, 2013. Ms. Olson is Nancy Olson, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki's sister; even she was told, but the children's mother was not.

In fact, according to Gilbertson's notes,  everyone was aware what would happen except SGR.

So, again, there is communication between the court and some but not all parties in this case.

Gilbertson, some may know. was accused by Samantha in an audio recording of rubbing her shoulder and back and getting sexually aroused during a break in a court hearing. Audio below and that portion starts at 3:10.

So, that is at least three times when the court illegally communicated with certain parties about upcoming orders but not with others.

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki is a six time felon because after her two oldest daughters ran they called her and she, violating this court order, hid them for approximately two and a half years and thus her ex-husband did not get his scheduled custody time.

All of the illegality in this article has gone unpunished.

I sent an email to Lisa Elliott, David Rucki's attorney, and received no response.

I also sent an email to Knutson who did not respond. Finally, I sent an email to the four Minnesota Judiciary spokespeople- Alyssa Siems-Roberson, Kyle Christopherson, Lissa Finne, and Beau Berentson- but they also did not respond.