Accused Abusers Arrested

Five women were arrested and fired from an Allegheny County-run nursing home, accused of assaulting and verbally harassing a 94-year-old Alzheimer’s patient.

County police said the investigation began in November, based on reports from co-workers at Kane Glen Hazelon Rivermont Drive in Pittsburgh’s Glen Hazel neighborhood.

County Executive Dan Onorato: “If they are found guilty, we don’t want to see them working anywhere in this field. We want to send a clear message and an example with these five individuals that this type of activity won’t be tolerated.”

Full Article and Source:
Pittsburgh Care Home Workers Accused Of Elderly Assault

>Costly Court Battle

>

In 2003, Christine Wolfe gave birth to Cody after she and Kenneth Barnett had divorced. She already had another child and considered allowing a Dearborn couple to adopt him.

The couple got custody and guardianship of Cody, but Barnett never gave up his parental rights and fought any anticipated adoption. Wolfe also withdrew her consent and the couple went to court, fighting to keep him as his parents’ legal bills soared.

Barnett: “We’re close to $225,000… This has basically impoverished us.”

The child bounced between the parents and the guardians who wanted to adopt him. Wolfe received full custody of Cody, but the other couple tried to get the decision reversed. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in the parents favor.

The costly court battle lasted more than five years and drained the parents’ resources.

Cody’s parents argue these disputes should never last this long. “He spent three years of his life with two homes, two names, two schools, two religions, two families and nobody could stop and say wait a minute, let’s put an end to this.”

Source:
Appeals Court Ends Adoption Battle

Video:
Bill Gallagher Reports: Contested Adoption

Costly Court Battle

In 2003, Christine Wolfe gave birth to Cody after she and Kenneth Barnett had divorced. She already had another child and considered allowing a Dearborn couple to adopt him.

The couple got custody and guardianship of Cody, but Barnett never gave up his parental rights and fought any anticipated adoption. Wolfe also withdrew her consent and the couple went to court, fighting to keep him as his parents’ legal bills soared.

Barnett: “We’re close to $225,000… This has basically impoverished us.”

The child bounced between the parents and the guardians who wanted to adopt him. Wolfe received full custody of Cody, but the other couple tried to get the decision reversed. The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in the parents favor.

The costly court battle lasted more than five years and drained the parents’ resources.

Cody’s parents argue these disputes should never last this long. “He spent three years of his life with two homes, two names, two schools, two religions, two families and nobody could stop and say wait a minute, let’s put an end to this.”

Source:
Appeals Court Ends Adoption Battle

Video:
Bill Gallagher Reports: Contested Adoption

>Conservator Pay Raise

>

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved over $1.5 million in payouts to those who have assisted Britney Spears, who has been under a conservatorship overseen by her father, Jamie Spears and attorney Adam Wallet, since earlier this year.

The judge approved a pay raise for Jamie due to Britney’s hectic schedule, allowing him to now receive $16,125 a month. He was also approved to receive $37,556 from previous business.

The judge also approved $1,200 per month for Jamie to rent an office, where he will be working on the conservatorship.

Britney’s older brother, Bryan Spears, who is a trustee of a trust established in Britney’s name, was also approved for a payment of $200,000 for his services prior to the establishment of the conservatorship.

Sam Ingham, who serves as Britney’s attorney, was approved to receive $143,643, while $81,849 was approved for co-conservator Wallet.

Luce Forward’s law firm, which represents Jamie Spears, was approved for the largest sum of money — $509,080 – for their work.

Michael Flanagan, who was Britney’s lawyer during her driver’s license case earlier this fall, was ordered to be paid $11,811.

A payment of $15,275 was approved for Laura Wasser, the counselor who serves as Britney’s family law attorney.

Source:
Britney’s Dad Gets A Raise!

Court-Ordered Raise for Britney’s Dad

See also:

Prisoner People

Permanent Conservatorship

Big Money Conservatorship

No Right To Counsel

Bad News For Britney

Conservator Pay Raise

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved over $1.5 million in payouts to those who have assisted Britney Spears, who has been under a conservatorship overseen by her father, Jamie Spears and attorney Adam Wallet, since earlier this year.

The judge approved a pay raise for Jamie due to Britney’s hectic schedule, allowing him to now receive $16,125 a month. He was also approved to receive $37,556 from previous business.

The judge also approved $1,200 per month for Jamie to rent an office, where he will be working on the conservatorship.

Britney’s older brother, Bryan Spears, who is a trustee of a trust established in Britney’s name, was also approved for a payment of $200,000 for his services prior to the establishment of the conservatorship.

Sam Ingham, who serves as Britney’s attorney, was approved to receive $143,643, while $81,849 was approved for co-conservator Wallet.

Luce Forward’s law firm, which represents Jamie Spears, was approved for the largest sum of money — $509,080 – for their work.

Michael Flanagan, who was Britney’s lawyer during her driver’s license case earlier this fall, was ordered to be paid $11,811.

A payment of $15,275 was approved for Laura Wasser, the counselor who serves as Britney’s family law attorney.

Source:
Britney’s Dad Gets A Raise!

Court-Ordered Raise for Britney’s Dad

See also:

Prisoner People

Permanent Conservatorship

Big Money Conservatorship

No Right To Counsel

Bad News For Britney

Equal Justice For All

Commentary by June Maxam

Equal justice for all. What a wonderful concept. Unfortunately, it’s only in principle and theory, not in practice.

Equal justice means that ideally, all Americans have equal rights and freedoms, no matter if rich or poor, no matter if they exercise their freedom of speech or just go along to get along. No concept of law should be more important to Americans.

The fundamental legal principle is most often discussed in the context of legal counsel. Defendants should be afforded competent legal counsel, regardless of their income level but all too often, the indigent are denied effective legal assistance and are denied their day in court because they can’t afford to hire an attorney.

Too frequently the equal justice principle is violated when the defendant is a outspoken critic of government, someone who dares to challenge the legal system, to take issue with the fact that there is NOT equal justice for all. The system retaliates against those who don’t go along to get along and who try to effect the much needed changes—especially those in the news media and attorneys.

Full Article and Source:
Equal Justice—Just A Principle, Not A Practice

>High Court To Rule

>

Thirty-seven foster children in Southwest Florida have no prospects for permanent, loving families.

Should gay and lesbian parents be allowed to adopt them?

Under current law, gay people are not allowed to adopt children, but a recent court ruling making its way to the state’s Supreme Court may change that. Florida upholds the only outright ban in the nation.

A Miami-Dade judge declared that Florida’s 1977 law violated equal protection rights. The state has filed a notice to appeal.

Lawyers for the man seeking to adopt two foster children he has raised since 2004 asked the case to be shipped directly to the state’s Supreme Court.

Full Article and Source:
Florida high court to rule on same-sex adoption ban

See also:
Adoption Ban Ruled Unconstitutional

High Court To Rule

Thirty-seven foster children in Southwest Florida have no prospects for permanent, loving families.

Should gay and lesbian parents be allowed to adopt them?

Under current law, gay people are not allowed to adopt children, but a recent court ruling making its way to the state’s Supreme Court may change that. Florida upholds the only outright ban in the nation.

A Miami-Dade judge declared that Florida’s 1977 law violated equal protection rights. The state has filed a notice to appeal.

Lawyers for the man seeking to adopt two foster children he has raised since 2004 asked the case to be shipped directly to the state’s Supreme Court.

Full Article and Source:
Florida high court to rule on same-sex adoption ban

See also:
Adoption Ban Ruled Unconstitutional

>DCF Lack of Clarity

>

State child workers blew their chances to help two sisters who came from a troubled home and died in a horrific arson fire in April, according to a report.

The newly created Office of the Child Advocate launched a probe in to the state Department of Children and Families’ involvement with Acia, 14, and Sophia Reisopoulos-Johnson, 3, after they died in a blaze at their mother’s home that was allegedly set by her ex-lover.

The probe found that state workers “missed opportunities to recognize the dangers to Acia and Sophia and to intervene.” The report said there was a failure to “connect the dots” on the part of DCF workers and a “lack of recognition of the depth of the family dysfunction over time.” The probe also found a “lack of clarity” regarding guardianship responsibilities.

Full Article and Source:
Probe finds Department of Children and Families failed sisters killed in fire

See also:
Report: State missed chances to help girls killed in fire

Report: Mass. Could Have Prevented Sisters’ Arson Deaths

DCF Lack of Clarity

State child workers blew their chances to help two sisters who came from a troubled home and died in a horrific arson fire in April, according to a report.

The newly created Office of the Child Advocate launched a probe in to the state Department of Children and Families’ involvement with Acia, 14, and Sophia Reisopoulos-Johnson, 3, after they died in a blaze at their mother’s home that was allegedly set by her ex-lover.

The probe found that state workers “missed opportunities to recognize the dangers to Acia and Sophia and to intervene.” The report said there was a failure to “connect the dots” on the part of DCF workers and a “lack of recognition of the depth of the family dysfunction over time.” The probe also found a “lack of clarity” regarding guardianship responsibilities.

Full Article and Source:
Probe finds Department of Children and Families failed sisters killed in fire

See also:
Report: State missed chances to help girls killed in fire

Report: Mass. Could Have Prevented Sisters’ Arson Deaths