Friday, July 12, 2013
Investigation into Judge and Guardian ad litem about huge bills in one case
Yesterday we posted about Judges and Guardians as litem that felt putting children back with their abusers was in the child's best interest. One Judge was quoted as saying the mother was subconsciously "re-victimizing" her child. It begs the question - since when do Judges and Guardians ad litem also practice medicine as part of their role in the court system? They do not have the training to do so. Yet our court system on a regular basis over rides or makes medical decisions. This is done with immunity.
While thinking about the ethics involved with the "re-victimizing" of the child comment you have to ask yourself - how is it that $133,000.89 can be charged for a case. This would mean the Guardian ad litem was charging $2600 a week for the 'work' being done. Can the Guardian ad litem really believe that this cost is in the best interest of the child?
Please read the continuing saga:
Investigation: Custody experts avoid questions about huge bills in one case
FULTON COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Attorney James Holmes turned around and walked to the back of his mechanic's garage as CBS Atlanta News reporter Jeff Chirico tried to ask him questions about a $133,000 bill he charged to a family in the middle of a bitter custody dispute.
As a guardian ad litem in the case, Holmes is responsible for advocating for the best interest of a 10-year-old girl whose identity CBS Atlanta News is withholding.
Last month, Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger ordered the girl live with her father despite allegations that he had sexually abused her. Holmes and a court-appointed custody evaluator, Howard Drutman, recommended that the girl's father receive primary custody of his daughter.
According to a document filed in the custody case, Drutman and Holmes made that recommendation because they said the mother was subconsciously "re-victimizing" her daughter by not letting her progress past the abuse
Full story: CBS Atlanta
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Related stories and information:
Judge John J. Goger
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I would hope that this is going to continue to be investigated. This guardian began reunifying the child with her father BEFORE he did his due diligence to investigate this case.
ReplyDeleteThis story seems to be mixing two different, yet important issues. First you have the issue regarding their recommendation on custody which we do not know all the details on. The second issue is that of their ridiculous and outrageous fees. I have see this happen over and over in custody cases. It is amazing how often it happens when there are indications that one or both parents have real money to spend! GALs and custody evaluators are not regulated nearly enough regarding the process, their fees and the length of time they are allowed to take while other charges continue to run up!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment - yes you are right in that there is no control over the costs of the "investigation" that a GAL conducts. There is no incentive to control the time spent and yet every incentive to continue billing out the clients. In the end the child will reap the benefit of those excessive charges - missed school opportunities because there is no money. Missed opportunities for personal growth - because there is no money and so on. In the end is this really in the childs best interest?
ReplyDeleteGALs should be abolished from the court system. They are not qualified to determine best interests. Only parents are qualified to state a case before a judge.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment - unfortunately they are a part of the Judicial system. It has been 40 years since GALs were mandated to be a voice for children in the courts. It will be 40 years of educating the system on their effectiveness.
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