For the Child’s Bests Interests
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 06/21/2026 12:01 PM NYSCEF DOC. NO. 3 INDEX NO. 152397/2026
RECEIVED NYSCEF: 06/21/2026
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NEW YORK
X Index No.: 152397/2026
Linda Gottlieb and Turning Points for Families v. ProPublica, Inc., Hannah Dreyfus, and Michael Squires
Linda Gottlieb, LMFT, LCSW-R, and her treatment intervention, Turning Points for Families, P.C. (TPFF), have filed a Verified Complaint against ProPublica, Inc., reporter Hannah Dreyfus, and editor Michael Squires. The complaint asserts causes of action for fraudulent inducement, fraud, fraudulent concealment and continuing fraud, tortious interference with existing and prospective business relations, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
What the Complaint Alleges
The complaint arises from a series of five articles published by ProPublica between February 26, 2023, and April 8, 2024. As set forth in the filed complaint, Plaintiffs allege:
- In January 2023, Ms. Dreyfus represented to Ms. Gottlieb that she was seeking background information about Ms. Gottlieb’s interest in and knowledge about parental alienation with intensions–at some point in the distant future–to write a balanced, accurate reporting about parental alienation–including its scientific underpinnings.
- Dreyfus further stated that she had no plans to write anything soon about alienation–even in general–and was certainly not working on any specific story about alienation.
- On that basis, Dreyfus induced Ms. Gottlieb to participate in a February 1, 2023 Zoom conversation described as an “introductory conference” not for publication, only to get to know Ms. Gottlieb and her interest in alienation.
- Ms. Gottlieb discussed alienation in general and never any specific case of alienation.
- Dreyfus’ immediately published her February 26, 2023 article on a specific publicized case, attributed statements to Ms. Gottlieb that she never made concerning a Utah custody matter — a case in which neither Ms. Gottlieb nor TPFF had any involvement or knowledge.
- Dreyfus’ articles negatively mischaracterized the TPFF program–even though she had been provided a peer-reviewed research study finding for safety and effectiveness of the TPFF program–falsely describing it as a “camp,” asserting that children are taken to undisclosed locations, and attributing to the program authority over custody and contact decisions that rests solely with the courts.
- Despite repeated requests by Ms. Gottlieb and her counsel, Defendants declined to produce the recording of the February 1, 2023 interview for independent forensic voice examination as Ms. Gottlieb never made the statements Dreyfus had attributed to her from that recording.
- ProPublica’s editor and lawyer both declined Ms. Gottlieb’s and her lawyer’s multiple requests to produce copies of Ms. Gottlieb’s actual Zoom interview and the recording of the statements falsely attributed to her for forensic voice analysis.
- Instead of providing the recording alleged to be of Ms. Gottlieb for forensic voice analysis, ProPublica’s editor, Michael Squires, and ProPublica’s, lawyer, Sarah Mathews, instead cited approximately 800 additonal words from a recording discussing the Utah case–a recording that Dreyfus had attributed to Ms. Gottlieb but which Ms. Gottlieb did not make.
- Defendants continued to publish and republish the disputed statements over a fourteen-month period despite notice of the claimed inaccuracies and demands for correction, retraction, submission of the recording falsely attributed to Ms. Gottlieb for forensic voice analysis.
The complaint further alleges that the publications caused substantial harm, including lost referrals and court appointments, the use of the articles by opposing counsel to challenge Ms. Gottlieb’s expert testimony, and threats and harassment that required security measures.
Relief Sought
Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages, costs, and such other relief as the Court deems proper.
Important Note
The statements above summarize allegations in a filed court pleading. Defendants have not yet answered, and all allegations remain to be proven in court. The complaint is a public record available through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing system (NYSCEF) under Index No. 152397/2026.
