There should be a response system users can use if they feel they have been wrongfully penalised. the current system takes the assumption that moderators are infallible (what's that old saying, "who watches the watchers"?).

I am now left afraid to respond to posts as a moderator made a post while I was formulating my reply (therefore I could not see their post) and I was given an Infraction for ignoring them.

I would not consider this as "report abuse" but see no other method for pointing out a moderators mistake (report abuse via slander maybe?).