That story is one that sadly happens all too often. It's even worse for the poor, who are not engineers as in parent's story, you will get thrown into a jail or a prison if you are unable to pay because your sources of income are too small or to irregular: https://qz.com/397579/the-divorce-divide-how-the-us-legal-sy...

Do you honestly believe none of these people had not tried to appeal the judgement? And if the appeal court rules that the initial judgment stays then what?