Tracie Palmer left this message on our page for attorney requests. I felt it was too long for that page but is important enough that everyone here should see it. Please note that at the end she states she is looking for an attorney for her child.

This is an excellent In Pro Per Complaint against the county and social workers. All of you who are facing injustice from county agencies may want to start writing something similar. - ljm

Tracie Palmer
In Pro Per
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA
IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SHASTA
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TRACIE PALMER, an individual, and
LUCIA D. PALMIERI, a minor, by and through her Guardian ad Litem, TRACIE PALMER,
Plaintiffs,
vs.

SHASTA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION,
MICHAEL SCHWEITZER, individually, and as an employee of Children and Family Services,
HOLLY HETZEL, individually, and as an employee of Children and Family Services,
GAYLE MITCHELL, individually, and as an employee of Children and Family Services,
DEBRA ANDERSON, individually, and as an employee of Children and Family Services,
TINA MARTINEZ, individually and as an employee of Children and Family Services,
RANDEE MAEDA, individually, and as an employee of Children and Family Services,
and DOES 1-25, inclusive,
Defendants. )
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Case No.: 166491

SECOND AMENDED
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES

Plaintiffs Tracie Palmer (herein after referred to as “Plaintiff Palmer”) and Lucia D. Palmieri (herein after referred to as “Plaintiff Palmieri”) allege as follows:
1. This is a civil action seeking damages against Defendants for the commission of acts, under color of state law, that deprived Plaintiff Palmer and Plaintiff Palmieri of rights secured to them by law and the Constitutions of the United States and the State of California. Damages are also sought against Defendants for the commission of tortious acts in breach of California State law.
2. Plaintiffs are mother (Palmer) and daughter (Plaintiff Palmieri) and at all relevant times resided in Shasta County, California.
3. Defendant Shasta County Department of Social Services, Children and Family Services Division (CFS) is a governmental agency within and part of Shasta County, California.
4. Defendant Michael Schweitzer was at all relevant times, including September 15, 2006, an employee of CFS. He is sued by Plaintiffs in both his individual and official capacities.
5. Defendant Holly Hetzel was at all relevant times, including September 15, 2006, an employee of CFS. She is sued by Plaintiffs in both her individual and official capacities.
6. Defendant Gayle Mitchell was at all relevant times, including September 15, 2006, an employee of CFS. She is sued by Plaintiffs in both her individual and official capacities.
7. Defendant Debra Anderson was at all relevant times, including September 15, 2006, an employee of CFS. She is sued by Plaintiffs in both her individual and official capacities.
8. Defendant Tina Martinez was at all relevant times, including September 15, 2006, an employee of CFS. She is sued by Plaintiffs in both her individual and official capacities.
9. Defendant Randee Maeda was at all relevant times, including September 15, 2006, an employee of CFS. She is sued by Plaintiffs in both her individual and official capacities.
10. Plaintiffs do not know the true names and capacities, whether individual, corporate, associate, or otherwise, of defendants sued as Does 1 through 25, inclusive, and therefore sues these defendants by such fictitious names pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 474. Plaintiffs will seek leave to amend this complaint to allege the true names and capacities of these defendants when ascertained, together with additional charging allegations as necessary. Plaintiffs are informed and believe that each of the fictitiously named defendants is legally responsible in some manner for the occurrences or actions relevant to those occurrences alleged and for Plaintiffs’ resulting damages.
11. At all times pertinent hereto, each of the defendants was the agent or employee of each of the remaining defendants and has ratified and/or approved the acts of the remaining defendants.
12. At all times material to this complaint, each defendant acted or purported to act under color of the law, customs, and usages of Shasta County and California.

FACTS COMMON TO ALL CAUSES OF ACTION
13. Plaintiffs lived in the home at 6044 Emerald Lane in Redding, California from October 2000 until May 2002 and then again from August 2003 until September 15, 2006. Plaintiff Palmer made her living as a freelance PC technician out of the garage/shop and paid a share of rent and other household bills in those months.
14. The home was owned by Marcella Shatnawi (herein after referred to as “Shatnawi”), Plaintiffs’ sister/aunt, and the three lived there with their mother/grandmother, Earleen Smith.
15. On September 7, 2006, Earleen Smith died in the home. It was then-five-year-old Plaintiff Palmieri who discovered her grandmother in her room.
16. A neighbor took Plaintiff Palmieri in for the week to minimize any further upheaval to her while Plaintiff Palmer and Shatnawi were handling the necessary plans and arrangements.
17. On September 15, 2006 at or about 7:00 a.m. Redding Police Officers Harry Bishop, Luke Blehm, and Officer Bryan arrived at the home, stating they had received an “anonymous report” of noxious odors consistent with methamphetamine manufacturing coming from the home.
18. Plaintiff Palmieri was not at home at the time, or even in residence. When police arrived at the residence, the child was at school.
19. Upon making entry to the home, the officers claimed discovery of Ziploc baggies and paraphernalia, “with drug residue”.
20. Police also claimed to discover, among thousands of computer parts and electronic components in the shop/garage and the dozens they checked out, a used computer allegedly stolen from the Shasta County Sheriff’s office.
21. The officers then contacted Defendant Holly Hetzel and suggested an assessment and investigation by CFS at the residence.
22. Police confiscated all items that they found objectionable as evidence. The officers concluded that Shatnawi was not involved in or responsible for the seized property. Neither department reported concerns regarding the home itself.
23. Shatnawi (Plaintiff Palmieri’s ostensible non-offending caretaker) was also willing, able, and requesting immediate care of Plaintiff Palmieri at that time.
24. The child was instead summarily and simultaneously detained by CFS social workers - seized from elementary school during her school day. It is possible that some of the specific identities of social workers on the scene are as yet unknown to Plaintiffs, but they would be named herein or included in Does 1-25.
25. No one at the scene gave Plaintiff Palmer any information – or access to information – regarding rights or procedures in the juvenile court.
26. Defendant social workers and Does 1-25 made no contact whatsoever with Plaintiff Palmer from September 15, until Wednesday, September 20, 2006 nor was she given any direction, information, or access to information regarding the matter from anyone.
27. Notice of the Detention Hearing and a copy of the petition were served on Plaintiff Palmer by Defendant Mitchell on September 20, 2006.
28. The Detention Hearing commenced moments later and the only evidence heard was offered by Defendant social workers, County Counsel, and Does 1-25. The court ordered Plaintiff Palmieri further detained in the custody of the court.
29. Plaintiffs’ first visit was on October 5, 2006 and they began regular, monitored visitation at the LINCS offices, which housed most of CFS’ social workers (and did at all relevant times).
30. Plaintiff Palmer authorized all county agencies to share case information, gave CFS all family history information, received the initial case plan, and in mid-December 2006, Plaintiff Palmer submitted a change of address to CFS - duly filed with the courts.
INTRODUCTORY ALLEGATIONS
31. Defendants summarily seized Plaintiff Palmieri from her school, home, and family without a warrant, just or probable cause and in the absence of exigent circumstances (in violation of WIC §300.2, §306(a)(2)) - not because they had to, but because they could.
32. The child was not properly and lawfully released from custody when initial dependency petition was not timely filed (pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) §313), or when the Detention Hearing was not timely held (pursuant to WIC §315).
33. Defendants Mitchell, Maeda, CFS, and Does 1-25 barred all entitled contact between Plaintiffs (pursuant to WIC §308(a)), with no claim of detriment to the child, thereby denying Plaintiff Palmer’s fundamental liberty interest in soothing and reassuring her child and depriving the five year old of her mother’s essential, elemental, recuperative comfort.
34. Defendants CFS, social workers, and Does 1-25 put Plaintiff Palmieri at untenable, unnecessary risk when and as they detained her in the foster care of strangers. This was in no way mitigated by the eight placements the child was subjected to in just twelve months.
35. The initial petition and Detention Report, filed by Defendant workers and Does 1-25, and co-signed by Defendant Maeda, were made up almost entirely of conclusory statements having no basis in fact and wholly fabricated charges and allegations.
36. These fabrications included, but were not limited to, allegations and assertions that:
a. On September 15, 2006, Plaintiff Palmer was being “arrested for Child Endangerment”,
b. Plaintiff Palmer “was unable to make an appropriate plan for the care of the child prior to her incarceration”,
c. Plaintiff Palmer had left her daughter “with no provision for support”,
d. “The home contained drugs” and that objectionable and illegal items were “found in the home”,
e. On September 15, 2006, Plaintiff Palmer had “substance abuse” and “anger control problem” that “put the child at risk of harm”,
f. Plaintiff Palmer had a CFS “history of…physical abuse [of the child] and [posed] substantial risk [to the child] ”,
g. CFS provided “reasonable services”, albeit in the distant past, but Plaintiff Palmer had failed to benefit from them, and,
h. On September 15, 2006, “there were no services that could have prevented” Plaintiff Palmieri’s immediate seizure.
Each and every one of these statements was false, and known to be false, at the time they were made and/or verified by Defendants.
37. Defendants and each of them intentionally withheld and/or concealed exculpatory evidence from the Juvenile Court that would not support their actions or claims, and would likely confirm the viability of Plaintiff Palmieri’s immediate release to a responsible family member. These included, but were not limited to, the following:
a. Neither RPD nor CFS expressed concern about the residence and it was searched and cleared by several agents of both departments,
b. At the time of her removal, Plaintiff Palmieri’s physical condition and emotional health were hearty and robust; Defendants concurred, seeing no need for medical consultation,
c. In spite of Defendants’ claims of risks and dangers that Plaintiff Palmer posed to the child, there was never a specific instance of abuse or neglect claimed by CFS anywhere at any time,
d. Plaintiff Palmieri told Defendants that she had suffered no physical or emotional abuse or neglect prior to her removal, nor was Plaintiff Palmer accused of any specific abuse.
e. The initial interview of Plaintiff Palmieri by CFS workers (pursuant to WIC §328) was exculpatory yet suppressed,
f. By virtue of the September 15 ‘inspections’ by RPD and CFS, Shatnawi (and her home) had already been all but qualified as a responsible relative placement, an ostensibly nonoffending caretaker who was willing, able, and requesting interim custody of Plaintiff Palmieri,
g. There were several additional alternatives available for the child’s interim care,
h. Defendant Mitchell did not relay Plaintiff Palmer’s voluntary pledge to the court (made before the Detention Hearing commenced) that she would vacate the residence so that the child could remain.
Each and every one of these mitigating, exculpatory facts was material, and known to be material, when and as they were concealed and withheld from the court by Defendants.
38. Defendants failed to proceed in accordance with the Welfare and Institutions Code by:
a. Refusing to conduct any real investigation into the situation on September 15, 2006,
b. Negating possible scenarios that could facilitate maintaining Plaintiff Palmieri safely in her own home (pursuant to §306(b), §309(a) and §309(d)(1)),
c. Refusing to engage reasonable efforts and services to maintain Plaintiff Palmieri in her home (pursuant to §306(b), §309(a) and §309(d)(1)),
d. Failing to inform Plaintiff Palmer of anything related to the case, including the child’s status or how she was faring, their rights, or the impending court hearings and procedures (pursuant to WIC §307.4(a) & §307.4(a)(1)),
39. Defendants blocked any and all meaningful access by Plaintiffs to the juvenile court, with and through the above and the following, but not limited to:
a. Summarily seizing the child, unlawfully limiting the time Plaintiff Palmer had to discover her options before the initial hearing,
b. Verifying the above referenced falsehoods on the initial petition and submitting them as fact in their pre-detention report to the court,
c. Withholding information vital and entitled to Plaintiff Palmer and the Juvenile Court,
d. Not timely filing petition (pursuant to §311(a)), giving Plaintiff Palmer almost no time or information to educate herself regarding dependency proceedings,
e. Not timely serving notice of the Detention Hearing with the required copy of the petition (pursuant to WIC §290.2,),
f. Not timely holding Detention Hearing (pursuant to WIC §315),
g. Preventing Plaintiff Palmer being heard in any meaningful way at the Detention Hearing by not disclosing and otherwise denying Plaintiff Palmer’s right to subpoena, confront and cross-examine all relevant witnesses.
h. Plaintiff Palmer was not made aware of her rights, or that she had any (pursuant to WIC §307.4(a), §311(b), §319(a), §341).
40. Each of these actions – taken individually – was unlawful, unconstitutional, and unnecessarily punitive on their own.
41. However, their actions – taken as a series of steps in an overall plan - demonstrated a considered punitive strategy toward Plaintiffs - that proved more damaging in anthology than the sum of Defendants’ cumulative acts. Defendants and each of them executed this conduct in diametric opposition to their own mission statement, the Legislative intent of the WIC, and the well established constitutional rights and liberty interests of Plaintiffs.
42. Collectively, the facts corroborate Plaintiffs’ claim of intentional, planned, and routine objectives to debase Plaintiff Palmer, maintain Plaintiffs’ separation, and prolong the dependency of the child. Further, considered in total, reconciling Defendants’ handling of this family with Plaintiff Palmieri’s health, welfare or best interests cannot be done within reason or non-fiction.
43. Defendants’ complex deceptions and heavy-handed, malevolent manipulations made CFS social workers the only contributors of evidence and argument at the Detention Hearing. Thus, Defendants and each of them were completely unopposed by the unprepared, uninformed, and vulnerable parent of their own deliberate design.
44. Defendants and each of them enjoyed and relied on a presumptive integrity conferred by the very court on which they perpetrated this fraud. Predictably, Defendants Mitchell, Maeda, and Does 1-25 succeeded in securing a court order for the child’s continued detention on September 20, 2006. Plaintiffs claim the court order was the intended result of CFS’ well-orchestrated, deftly choreographed, and oft-rehearsed tactical steps.
45. In late December 2006, Plaintiff Palmer discussed filing a request for change of court order with Defendant Mitchell and that she would be relieving her counsel to do so.
46. On or about January 3, 2007, the probation officer assigned to assess Plaintiff Palmer (for work release in lieu of jail) phoned Mitchell for Plaintiff’s contact information. Defendant Mitchell responded that she had “no idea where” to find her.
47. This fabrication resulted - directly - in the probation officer’s misguided recommendation that Plaintiff Palmer’s sentencing be continued and her “custody status be reviewed”. It was - directly causing her unjust and unnecessary remand on January 24, 2007. Plaintiff Palmer was then forced to appear on her petition, in juvenile court on February 20, 2007, wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles, in custody.
48. Defendant Anderson and Does 1-25 arbitrarily “invalidated” credible drug treatment and mental health assessments conducted by providers of CFS’ choosing, forcing Plaintiff Palmer’s submission to both arduous processes a second time. Moreover, Defendant Anderson insisted on specific individual assessors for these repeated “assessments” in an attempt to manipulate, influence, and control their results - rendering the sessions “treatment intakes”.
49. The required mental health assessment was then “upgraded” to a full psychiatric evaluation, even where no “red flags” or warnings were raised by the original and qualified assessor.
50. In the case of the drug treatment assessment, Defendant’s chosen counselor was actually located in, and working out of, the CFS office.
51. In the case of the mental health assessment, Defendant’s chosen counselor was unduly influenced by the enhanced and highly prejudicial “referral” crafted by Defendant Anderson and Does 1-25.
52. Defendant Anderson and Does 1-25 stalled these and other provider referrals and services to insinuate Plaintiff Palmer’s inaction and limited progress toward family reunification. Defendant Anderson took full advantage of this engineered advantage in her subsequent review reports to the court. This also delayed and arrested any development of professional, respected advocates for Plaintiffs, keeping the only opinions and evidence offered in and to the court that of CFS workers.
53. Using these and other tactics and misrepresentations, Defendant Anderson and Does 1-25 persuaded the court, at several junctures, to retain Plaintiff Palmieri as a dependent out-of-home, separated from her mother and denying Plaintiffs any contact that Defendant Anderson could not regulate or monitor directly for an additional 8 months (through September, 2007).
54. Defendant Anderson and Does 1-25 “interviewed” Plaintiff Palmieri (just back in Shatnawi’s custody). In it, she asked the child if she ever “considered going to church without your Aunt [Shatnawi]”.
55. Defendant Anderson and Does 1-25 reported to the court - in part - that the 6-year-old’s face was “observed to be without emotion” and she “had a moment of confusion or fear”. Plaintiff Palmieri was acutely traumatized by Defendant’s self-serving, insensitive, monstrous mode of inquiry as she tried to contemplate being alone again – and almost immediately after her return.
56. Defendant then reports that Plaintiffs could not be granted an extra weekly visit at another church since Plaintiff Palmieri had “chosen” her “religious preference”, Plaintiff Palmer had no right to “change” it , and Defendant could not in good conscience “force” her to go with her mother.
57. As a direct result of Defendants’ punitive, disparaging, unlawful, and unrelenting campaign against them, Plaintiffs were needlessly and maliciously separated for approximately 14 months.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
(For Violation of Plaintiffs’ Federal Civil Rights against All Defendants)
(42 U.S.C. § 1983)
58. Plaintiffs re-allege and incorporate by this reference each and every allegation of paragraphs 1 through 12, 13-30 of Facts Common to All Causes of Action, and 31-57 of Introductory Allegations as if fully set forth herein.
59. At all relevant times herein, Defendants purported their unfettered prerogative - conferred on them by the court - to remove Plaintiff Palmieri from her school, home and family and that it was entirely within the Department’s discretion to proceed at will. Plaintiff Palmer was told to comply with each and every demand made of her or her parental rights would be in great peril in the coming months.
60. Defendants and each of them violated the federal constitutional rights of the Plaintiffs by:
a. Summarily seizing the child from her home, parent, and family care without a warrant, just or probable cause, and absent exigent circumstances, in violation of several sections of the California Welfare & Institutions Code,
b. Crafting a counterfeit allegation presented to the court on the initial verified petition (WIC 300(g)) in a successful and concerted effort to obtain a tainted judicial order separating mother from daughter,
c. Denying Plaintiffs any physical or conversational contact, where there was no claim of Plaintiff Palmer’s detriment to the child (pursuant to WIC §309(a)),
d. Withholding exculpatory evidence that may well have changed not only the Detention Hearing findings, orders, and outcomes, but those of every subsequent hearing (pursuant to WIC §315), and confirmed the suitability of leaving Plaintiff Palmieri in her home and immediately reuniting mother and daughter,
e. Not timely releasing the child or filing the initial petition (pursuant to WIC §313),
f. Not timely serving Plaintiffs notice of the initial hearing (pursuant to WIC §290.2),
g. Not timely releasing the child or holding the Detention Hearing (pursuant to WIC §315),
h. Blocking all meaningful access of Plaintiffs to the Juvenile Court by withholding mandatory disclosures from Plaintiff Palmer (pursuant to WIC §307.4 and regarding §300, et seq.),
i. Refusing any investigation whatsoever into Plaintiff Palmer’s claims or proof of innocence, even when presented the opportunity to do so at very nominal cost to the County, and
j. Conducting a defective and one-sided investigation into the facts concerning the suitability of Plaintiff Palmieri’s home or immediately reuniting mother and daughter, and ignoring clear and obvious indications that this was appropriate and necessary for Plaintiff Palmieri’s health and well being.
61. These official policies, customs, practices and/or directives of Defendant CFS are causally and affirmatively linked to the deprivation of Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights and were used, relied upon, and carried out by defendant social workers who in turn targeted Plaintiffs through their iniquitous and malevolent conduct without fear of sanction or reprisal.
62. These policies, customs, practices and/or directives of Defendant CFS are causally and affirmatively linked to the deprivation of Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights and yet remain standard and routinely relied upon by Defendants even where they are not formally or publically enacted.
63. This conduct was a major cause of the lengthy separation of mother and daughter, causing physical, emotional and economic injuries to Plaintiffs, in amounts to be proven at trial, in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution of the United States and 42 U.S.C. §1983.
64. Throughout, Defendants’ conduct was malicious and oppressive and was intended to cause injury if not carried out with deliberate indifference to and callous disregard of Plaintiffs’ rights and well-being, justifying an award of punitive damages as to individual defendants.

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
(For Violation of Plaintiffs’ State Civil Rights against All Defendants)
(Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1)
65. Plaintiffs re-allege and incorporate by this reference each and every allegation of paragraphs 1 through 12, 13-30 of Facts Common to All Causes of Action, 31-57 of Introductory Allegations, and 59-64 of First Cause of Action as if fully set forth herein.
66. These specific acts by Defendants violated Article I, Section 13 of the Constitution of the State of California and Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1.
67. Plaintiffs were harmed by the conduct of Defendants, as enumerated above, and that conduct was a major factor in causing physical, emotional and economic injuries to Plaintiffs, in amounts to be proved at trial and justifying punitive damages as to individual defendants.
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
(Brought By Both Plaintiffs for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
(Against All Defendants)
68. Plaintiffs re-allege and incorporate by this reference each and every allegation of paragraphs 1 through 12, 13-30 of Facts Common to All Causes of Action, 31-57 of Introductory Allegations, and 59-64 of First Cause of Action as if fully set forth herein.
69. Defendants used their positions of authority to damage the interests of Plaintiffs. Defendants’ actions in removing and detaining Plaintiff Palmieri were outrageous by any standard of decency, yet they acted even in the knowledge that their conduct would likely result in serious damage to one or both Plaintiffs, and with reckless disregard for Plaintiffs’ well-being. The foreseeable susceptibility of a small child and a single mother forcibly separated without reason had no effect and Defendants did not relent in their sustained campaign of attack on Plaintiffs, even when they knew it to be unwarranted.
70. Mother and child suffered shock, fear, indignity, terror and apprehension due directly to actions taken by Defendants. Plaintiffs were left elementally vulnerable and further frightened, humiliated, and terrorized by their ongoing conduct.
71. Defendant CFS breached a duty of due care owed to Plaintiffs by failing to provide adequate guidance, oversight, supervision and training to their social workers.
72. Defendant CFS breached a duty of due care owed to Plaintiffs by failing to implement or enforce any policy that would preclude and prevent the unlawful removal of children from their homes by social workers in their employ.
73. The actions of the Defendants described above were intentional and carried out with deliberate indifference to and callous disregard of Plaintiffs’ rights, well being, and best interests.
74. The acts and/or omissions of each Defendant promoted the protracted separation of mother and child and constituted a major factor in causing Plaintiffs’ physical, emotional and economic injuries. The emotionally charged environment rendered Plaintiffs especially susceptible to damages caused by Defendants’ targeted attacks. By ambushing Plaintiffs, brandishing their positions, and exploiting the induced vulnerabilities of Plaintiffs, Defendants maximized that damage, justifying punitive damages against individual defendants, in amounts to be proved at trial.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(Brought By Both Plaintiffs for Negligence)
(Against All Defendants)
75. Plaintiffs re-allege and incorporate by this reference each and every allegation of paragraphs 1 through 12, 13-30 of Facts Common to All Causes of Action, 31-57 of Introductory Allegations, 59-64 of First Cause of Action, and 71-72 of Third Cause of Action as if fully set forth herein.
76. Defendants CFS, Martinez, Schweitzer, Hetzel, Mitchell, Maeda and their supervisors and Does 1-25 breached a duty of due care owed to plaintiffs by failing to provide adequate guidance, oversight and supervision to Defendant social workers. Defendant social workers’ actions harmed plaintiffs by summarily removing Plaintiff Palmieri from her home, parent and family without a warrant and absent exigent circumstances, in violation of California Welfare and Institutes Codes §300, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309 et. seq.
77. Defendants and each of them were aware of the foreseeable perils their willful misconduct subjected Plaintiffs to and the injuries to Plaintiffs as they accumulated. However, Defendants did nothing to mitigate either the risks or the resulting injuries to Plaintiffs.
78. Every action by Defendants and each of them has compounded and accumulated, developing an overall punitive philosophy and approach in their dealings with Plaintiffs.
79. To the extent that the actions of Defendants and each of them described above were not deliberate or intentional, they were done with gross negligence and deliberate indifference to and callous disregard for Plaintiffs’ rights and well being.
80. Defendant Anderson failed and refused to retrieve Plaintiff Palmieri’s belongings from the foster homes that housed Plaintiff Palmieri, where Plaintiff Palmer could not request or compel their production, upon Plaintiff Palmieri’s return to her mother.
81. The acts and/or omissions of each Defendant constituted a major factor in causing Plaintiffs’ physical, emotional and economic injuries, including justified punitive damages against individual defendants, in amounts to be proved at trial.

FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(For False Imprisonment of Plaintiff Palmieri)
(Against Defendants CFS, Mitchell, Maeda, Schweitzer, Hetzel, and Does 1-25)
82. Plaintiffs re-allege and incorporate by this reference each and every allegation of paragraphs 1 through 12, 13-30 of Facts Common to All Causes of Action, 31-57 of Introductory Allegations, 59-64 of First Cause of Action, as if fully set forth herein.
83. Defendants CFS, Michael Schweitzer, Holly Hetzel, Gayle Mitchell, Tina Martinez, Randee Maeda, and Does 1-25 intentionally removed or sanctioned the imminent confinement and removal of Plaintiff Palmieri from her home and family, without warrant and absent exigency, in violation of California Welfare and Institutes Codes §300, 305, 306, 307,308, 309 et. seq., Further, Defendants improperly investigated, detained and maintained Plaintiff Palmieri outside her home.
84. In the absence of a timely filed petition, or a timely held hearing, Plaintiff Palmieri’s detention was not lawfully authorized at the time of the seizure, nor was it consensual.
85. The moment the mandated timeframe to release Plaintiff Palmieri or file the initial petition had expired, Defendants and each of them effectively seized her again and again without lawful authorization.
86. The moment the mandated timeframe to release Plaintiff Palmieri or hold the initial hearing had expired, Defendants and each of them effectively seized her yet again and again without lawful authorization.
87. These acts were authorized, condoned, directed, and/or ratified by Defendant CFS and Does 1-25.
88. Plaintiffs suffered significant physical and emotional damages as a result.
89. The acts and/or omissions of each Defendant constituted a major factor in causing Plaintiffs physical, emotional and economic injuries, including punitive damages against individual defendants, in amounts to be proved at trial.

SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(For False Imprisonment of Plaintiff Palmer)
(Against Defendants CFS, Mitchell, Maeda, and Does 1-25)
90. Plaintiffs re-allege and incorporate by this reference each and every allegation of paragraphs 1 through 12, 13-30 of Facts Common to All Causes of Action, 31-57 of Introductory Allegations, 59-64 of First Cause of Action, as if fully set forth herein.
91. Defendant Mitchell and Does 1-25 were contacted by a Shasta County probation officer assigned to assess Plaintiff Palmer for probation and report back to the court. Mitchell responded by telling probation she had “no idea” where to find Plaintiff Palmer - in the full knowledge that the officer would then recommend continuing the sentencing hearing until Plaintiff Palmer could be assessed, and remanding her in the interim.
92. Defendant Mitchell and Does 1-25 directly and intentionally caused Plaintiff Palmer’s unjust and unnecessary remand on January 24, 2007. This was outside the scope of Defendant Mitchell’s employment, was not a quasi-judicial or quasi-prosecutorial or discretionary function, and did nothing to advance the dependency case.
93. It is believed by Plaintiffs that this action may have been sanctioned and/or ratified by Defendants Maeda and/or Does 1-25.
94. Plaintiffs suffered significant physical and emotional damages as a result.
95. The acts and omissions of the Defendants constituted a major factor in causing Plaintiffs physical, emotional and economic injuries, including punitive damages against individual defendants, in amounts to be proved at trial.

SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(For Fraud and Deceit of Plaintiff Palmer)
(Against Defendants CFS, Mitchell, Maeda, Schweitzer, and Does 1-25)
96. Plaintiffs re-allege and incorporate by this reference each and every allegation of paragraphs 1 through 12, 13-30 of Facts Common to All Causes of Action, 31-57 of Introductory Allegations, 59-64 of First Cause of Action, as if fully set forth herein.
97. Defendants and each of them concealed the following material facts from Plaintiff Palmer, although it was their duty to disclose same, to wit:
a. Plaintiff Palmer had the right to see to Plaintiff Palmieri’s alternate care prior to her incarceration,
b. Information advising Plaintiff Palmer of her rights and court procedures (pursuant to WIC §307.4),
c. Plaintiffs’ right to contact within 5 hours of their separation, where there was no claim of detriment to the child (pursuant to WIC §308(a)),
d. The actual petition, until just moments before the Detention Hearing, where it was required to be provided with timely notice of hearing 24 hours before said hearing’s commencement (pursuant to WIC §290.2).
e. All rights conferred by the WIC to parents at the Detention Hearing, including, but not limited to, the right to subpoena, confront, and cross examine all relevant witnesses.
98. These material facts were intentionally withheld to ensure that Plaintiff Palmer would not assert or exercise any of her rights at or before the Detention Hearing. Thus, Defendants and each of them defrauded the Plaintiff and the court, securing a tainted court order unopposed in any way by Plaintiff Palmer.
99. Plaintiff Palmer was unaware of any of these rights, that she in fact had any, or how to exercise them at the Detention Hearing. Based on her actions throughout the dependency, it can be said that Plaintiff Palmer would certainly have acted and reacted much differently, had she been aware of all the material facts concealed by Defendants and the impact dependency would likely have on Plaintiffs.
100. But for the concealment of these facts, and Plaintiff Palmer’s ignorant inaction, the outcome of the Detention Hearing would likely have been much different, even sparing Plaintiffs the protracted, needless separation altogether, had she been allowed to exercise the relevant rights guaranteed by law.
101. As a result, Plaintiff Palmer was prejudiced in legal and public forums, forced to overcome erroneous credibility issues in the eyes of the court and the community. This fraud and deceit directly caused irreparable pain and suffering to both Plaintiffs and laid the very foundation for Plaintiffs’ separation under false pretense.
102. Plaintiffs were unwittingly and unwillingly drawn into a contractual relationship with Defendants the moment Plaintiff Palmieri was detained by social workers.
103. Defendants and each of them were subsequently granted broad discretion and control over Plaintiffs’ very lives. The Case Plan, upon its delivery to Plaintiff Palmer, was characterized as the “only way to get [Plaintiff Palmieri] home”. The alternative to Plaintiff Palmer’s satisfying all terms and conditions, approved and ratified by Defendants and each of them, was permanent loss of her parental rights and, in fact, her child.
104. Plaintiffs believe that the Petition, Case Plan and Welfare & Institutions Code constitute an implied contract (conceived, implemented and filed at the will of the Department) between Plaintiffs and Defendants. Offered no real alternatives, Plaintiff Palmer was compelled to comply with an illegal contract, given the gravity of consequences had she not done so.
105. With the court’s binding findings and orders, all parties were then bound by this implied contract, each with rights, rewards, and responsibilities laid out in the Case Plan and the WIC.
106. Plaintiff Palmer’s ‘reward’ for subjectively satisfying these same terms and conditions was the promised return of her daughter and Defendants’ relenting in the pursuit to terminate her parental rights.
107. Had Plaintiff Palmer not performed all conditions to the subjective satisfaction of Defendants and each of them, Plaintiff Palmieri would not have been returned to her and Plaintiff Palmer’s parental rights might well have been terminated by the court at Defendants’ recommendation.
108. Defendants and each of them imposed an illegal contract on Plaintiffs by violating the Welfare and Institutions Code, §§290.2, 300.2, 306(a)(2), 306(b)(3), 307.4, 308(a), 309(a), 309(d)(1), 313(a), 315, 328, 332, 360, 361(a), 361( c), 361( c)(5), 361.1, et seq. when and as they took custody of Plaintiff Palmieri.
109. Because Plaintiffs were forced into this contract as a result of fraud and false pretense, Plaintiffs believe that said contract is null and void from its inception and but for the deceit and bad faith shown by Defendants, Plaintiffs would not have been subjected to the extensive burdens of the contract.
110. The acts and omissions of the Defendants and each of them constituted a major factor in causing Plaintiffs physical, emotional and economic injuries, in amounts, including emotional distress and punitive damages against individual defendants, to be proved at trial.

EIGHTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(By Plaintiffs For Abuse of Process – Against all Defendants)
111. Plaintiffs re-allege and incorporate by this reference each and every allegation of paragraphs 1 through 12, 13-30 of Facts Common to All Causes of Action, 31-57 of Introductory Allegations, 59-64 of First Cause of Action, as if fully set forth herein.
112. The stated Legislative intent of the Welfare and Institutions Code is to “to preserve and strengthen a child’s family ties whenever possible, removing the child from the custody of his or her parents only when necessary for his or her welfare”. (§16000) “The Legislature hereby declares its intent to encourage the continuity of the family unit” (§16500) and “to use the strengths of families and communities to serve the needs of children who are alleged to be abused or neglected, as described in Section 300, to reduce the necessity for removing these children from their home, [and] to encourage speedy reunification of families when it can be safely accomplished.” (§16500.1)
113. Dependency proceedings are to be initiated only if required to secure the safety and well-being of the child and are strictly for “the protection of the child, not the punishment of the parent”.
114. Defendants misused the court process with the following non-communicative acts:
a. Filing a Dependency Petition in Juvenile Court, in the name of Plaintiff Palmieri, that Defendants knew was false, misleading, and unnecessary;
b. Not advising Plaintiff Palmer of any of her rights or relevant court procedures. Instead, used and maintained her ignorance to ensure that no objections would be raised, no rights would be asserted, and no statement would be demanded of those who removed Plaintiff Palmieri from her home prior to the court authorizing the detention;
c. Withholding exculpatory evidence from the court as enumerated above,
d. Disallowing contact between Plaintiffs as mandated (WIC §308(a));
e. Refusing to assist or allow Plaintiff Palmer to prove her claims of non-culpability, stalling long enough that the proof was lost forever;
f. Not advising Plaintiff Palmer of her rights pertaining to the proceedings;
g. Not timely serving notice of Detention Hearing;
h. Not timely filing the petition;
i. Not timely holding the initial hearing.
115. The Defendants and each of them intended to induce a tainted court order further detaining Plaintiff Palmieri in foster care, and they misused the court’s authority and process to accomplish that objective.
116. In requiring a “suitable home” and “legal” and “steady” income on the Case Plan, Defendants and each of them violated the letter and spirit of the WIC and abused the dependency process.
117. Further, Defendants and each of them promoted and fostered the very circumstances the WIC charges them with helping to ameliorate. The letter and spirit of the WIC mandates that Defendants and each of them actively assist Plaintiffs in overcoming obstacles to family maintenance and reunification – including poverty and homelessness “wherever possible”.
118. In diametric opposition to the Legislature’s intent and the WIC’s mandate, Defendants and each of them promoted, amplified, and influenced circumstances that could then be portrayed to the court as “non-compliance” and unacceptably “minimal progress” toward Case Plan fulfillment.
119. Given the vast purview of social workers, their supervisors, and CFS, the following would be general knowledge throughout the system:
a. By keeping the child detained, the mother is rendered ineligible to receive emergency cash aid from the state (where income was a requirement of the Case Plan),
b. By effectively blocking the only possible emergency income to Plaintiffs, Defendants extended the duration of Plaintiff Palmer’s new homelessness (where getting and keeping a “suitable” home was required by the Case Plan),
c. By fostering and relying on Plaintiff Palmer’s homelessness, Defendants could justify keeping the child detained (where mother posed no actual danger or detriment to her child) due to unfulfilled requirements of the Case Plan.
d. Defendants propagated this cycle of barriers again and again, for as long as they could.
120. All along there were viable options and far less inherently traumatic alternatives to detention and foster care available to CFS. Those options, however, were not then made available to Plaintiffs – nor would Defendants and each of them even disclose their existence.
121. Defendants and each of them did not attempt to preserve and strengthen Plaintiffs’ family ties or encourage Plaintiffs as a family unit at any time during Plaintiff Palmieri’s dependency. From the instant they summarily seized Plaintiff Palmieri, Defendants and each of them implemented a strategy to keep Plaintiff Palmer ignorant of any and all knowledge as to the rights of her family and the relevant court procedures. Ergo, Defendants and each of them used the process for purposes other than those intended and to propagate the unjust separation of mother and daughter.
122. At all times mentioned herein, Defendants and each of them acted willfully with the wrongful intention of injuring Plaintiffs and for an improper and immoral motive amounting to malice in that the afore-referenced tortuous and criminal conduct was intentionally committed by Defendants and was knowingly oppressive, malicious and wanton with the intended purpose to cause harm to Plaintiffs herein.
123. The acts and omissions of the Defendants and each of them constituted a major factor in causing Plaintiffs physical, emotional and economic injuries, in amounts to be proved at trial, including punitive damages against individual defendants.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully pray for judgment against each and all of the Defendants for the following:
1. Special and general damages according to proof;
2. Punitive damages according to proof;
3. Declaratory relief as appropriate and according to proof;
4. Attorneys’ or other professional fees incurred during suit;
5. Costs of suit;
6. An order voiding the Petition from its inception;
7. An apology from Defendants; and
8. Such other and further relief as the court may deem appropriate.

_________________________________________
Tracie Palmer, for herself and as
Guardian ad Litem for Lucia D. Palmieri

**Now I just need an attorney to rep my daughter - they can dismiss because of lack of counsel - HELP!

On May 22, 2009 a Corpus Christi TX judge sentenced Grizelda Lopez-Hess, 38, to 90 days in jail. I wonder if she’s out yet. She plead guilty to making a false report of abuse.

According to reporter Mary Ann Cavazos, Grizelda Lopez-Hess phoned the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on October 9 to make a false report of “indecency with a child”. She accused Ricardo Jimenez of molesting his girlfriend’s daughter, claiming she learned about the abusive situation from her daughter, a friend of the supposed child victim.

But Grizelda Lopez-Hess doesn’t even have a daughter! She made the whole thing up! And she was an investigator forensic interviewer for the Children’s Advocacy Center - a former CPS caseworker, child-taker, and supervisor! What a manipulator!

The victim of this lie, Ricardo Jimenez, is called upon to testify as an expert witness, and this false allegation has already been brought up in criminal cases wherein he’s been asked to testify as an expert. But this was not Grizelda Lopez-Hess’ motivation for making such a sick and dreadful false accusation of child abuse.

Grizelda Lopez-Hess said she made the false accusation in retaliation against Ricardo Jimenez’ girlfriend, Misty Guajardo. Grizelda Lopez-Hess blamed Misty Guajardo for a job transfer forced on Lopez-Hess’ husband. But county officials said that the job transfer (a demotion?) was done because Grizelda Lopez-Hess and her husband did yet another dirty deed: they tipped off a suspect in a criminal case. The suspect and his family members testified that indeed they had been tipped off by Grizelda Lopez-Hess and her husband.

Grizelda Lopez-Hess plea bargained. She was to get a two year prison sentence, but that was changed to three years probation and the 90 days in jail. Plus she has to pay a fine and complete 100 hours of community service and attend anger management classes.

Hess’ husband tried to get her off easy. He testified that Grizelda Lopez-Hess would be in danger because while she was in a holding cell two fellow prisoners recognized her as a child-taking CPS agent! But she went to jail anyway and was to be isolated from the other prisoners. Solitary confinement for 90 days? I hope she’s still serving the entire 90 day sentence and that she’s had plenty of time to think about what it means to LIE and falsely accuse people of child abuse.

So there you have it, folks… the truth coming out about a really bad character that the county used against American families. They put Grizelda Lopez-Hess in a position of power and she used it to knowingly harm and harass decent people.

This is the tip of the iceberg! There are THOUSANDS of false accusations happening in this country… and it is time for all these lying idiots to get investigated, prosecuted, and IMPRISONED. Forget jail! One year isn’t enough to pay for the massive amounts of grief they’ve caused!

Every child taken away from a parent due to a false accusation of child abuse is a child that is being abused by the government child protective services agency and its agents.

So now you have my opinion. What’s yours? What would be the proper sentence for a child protective services social worker who knowingly makes a false accusation of child abuse or neglect?

Source: Former CPS Supervisor to Spend 90 Days in Jail by Mary Ann Cavazos, published on June 1, 2009 at Caller.com.

You can look for this at The Library of Congress Website for more information. It was passed by the House on March 30 and now is being considered by the Senate.

Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)

HR 20 EH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

AN ACT

To provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom’s Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act’ or the `Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act’.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act–

(1) the term `postpartum condition’ means postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis; and

(2) the term `Secretary’ means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

TITLE I–RESEARCH ON POSTPARTUM CONDITIONS

SEC. 101. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES.

(a) Continuation of Activities- The Secretary is encouraged to continue activities on postpartum conditions.

(b) Programs for Postpartum Conditions- In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary is encouraged to continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and treatments for, postpartum conditions. Activities under such subsection shall include conducting and supporting the following:

(1) Basic research concerning the etiology and causes of the conditions.

(2) Epidemiological studies to address the frequency and natural history of the conditions and the differences among racial and ethnic groups with respect to the conditions.

(3) The development of improved screening and diagnostic techniques.

(4) Clinical research for the development and evaluation of new treatments.

(5) Information and education programs for health care professionals and the public, which may include a coordinated national campaign to increase the awareness and knowledge of postpartum conditions. Activities under such a national campaign may–

(A) include public service announcements through television, radio, and other means; and

(B) focus on–

(i) raising awareness about screening;

(ii) educating new mothers and their families about postpartum conditions to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment; and

(iii) ensuring that such education includes complete information concerning postpartum conditions, including its symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources.

SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF RELATIVE MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR WOMEN OF RESOLVING A PREGNANCY.

(a) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health may conduct a nationally representative longitudinal study (during the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2018) of the relative mental health consequences for women of resolving a pregnancy (intended and unintended) in various ways, including carrying the pregnancy to term and parenting the child, carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the child for adoption, miscarriage, and having an abortion. This study may assess the incidence, timing, magnitude, and duration of the immediate and long-term mental health consequences (positive or negative) of these pregnancy outcomes.

(b) Report- Beginning not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter for the duration of the study, such Director may prepare and submit to the Congress reports on the findings of the study.

TITLE II–DELIVERY OF SERVICES REGARDING POSTPARTUM CONDITIONS

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.

Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 330G the following:

`SEC. 330G-1. SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH A POSTPARTUM CONDITION AND THEIR FAMILIES.

`(a) In General- The Secretary may make grants to eligible entities for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with a postpartum condition and their families.

`(b) Certain Activities- To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary shall ensure that projects funded under subsection (a) provide education and services with respect to the diagnosis and management of postpartum conditions. The Secretary may allow such projects to include the following:

`(1) Delivering or enhancing outpatient and home-based health and support services, including case management and comprehensive treatment services for individuals with or at risk for postpartum conditions, and delivering or enhancing support services for their families.

`(2) Delivering or enhancing inpatient care management services that ensure the well-being of the mother and family and the future development of the infant.

`(3) Improving the quality, availability, and organization of health care and support services (including transportation services, attendant care, homemaker services, day or respite care, and providing counseling on financial assistance and insurance) for individuals with a postpartum condition and support services for their families.

`(4) Providing education to new mothers and, as appropriate, their families about postpartum conditions to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment. Such education may include–

`(A) providing complete information on postpartum conditions, symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources; and

`(B) in the case of a grantee that is a State, hospital, or birthing facility–

`(i) providing education to new mothers and fathers, and other family members as appropriate, concerning postpartum conditions before new mothers leave the health facility; and

`(ii) ensuring that training programs regarding such education are carried out at the health facility.

`(c) Integration With Other Programs- To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary may integrate the grant program under this section with other grant programs carried out by the Secretary, including the program under section 330.

`(d) Certain Requirements- A grant may be made under this section only if the applicant involved makes the following agreements:

`(1) Not more than 5 percent of the grant will be used for administration, accounting, reporting, and program oversight functions.

`(2) The grant will be used to supplement and not supplant funds from other sources related to the treatment of postpartum conditions.

`(3) The applicant will abide by any limitations deemed appropriate by the Secretary on any charges to individuals receiving services pursuant to the grant. As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, such limitations on charges may vary based on the financial circumstances of the individual receiving services.

`(4) The grant will not be expended to make payment for services authorized under subsection (a) to the extent that payment has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made, with respect to such services–

`(A) under any State compensation program, under an insurance policy, or under any Federal or State health benefits program; or

`(B) by an entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis.

`(5) The applicant will, at each site at which the applicant provides services funded under subsection (a), post a conspicuous notice informing individuals who receive the services of any Federal policies that apply to the applicant with respect to the imposition of charges on such individuals.

`(6) For each grant period, the applicant will submit to the Secretary a report that describes how grant funds were used during such period.

`(e) Technical Assistance- The Secretary may provide technical assistance to entities seeking a grant under this section in order to assist such entities in complying with the requirements of this section.

`(f) Definitions- In this section:

`(1) The term `eligible entity’ means a public or nonprofit private entity, which may include a State or local government; a public or nonprofit private recipient of a grant under section 330H (relating to the Healthy Start Initiative), public-private partnership, hospital, community-based organization, hospice, ambulatory care facility, community health center, migrant health center, public housing primary care center, or homeless health center; or any other appropriate public or nonprofit private entity.

`(2) The term `postpartum condition’ means postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis.’.

TITLE III–GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

To carry out this Act and the amendment made by section 201, there are authorized to be appropriated, in addition to such other sums as may be available for such purpose–

(1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and

(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2011 and 2012.

SEC. 302. REPORT BY THE SECRETARY.

(a) Study- The Secretary shall conduct a study on the benefits of screening for postpartum conditions.

(b) Report- Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the study required by subsection (a) and submit a report to the Congress on the results of such study.

SEC. 303. LIMITATION.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or the amendment made by section 201, the Secretary may not utilize amounts made available under this Act or such amendment to carry out activities or programs that are duplicative of activities or programs that are already being carried out through the Department of Health and Human Services.

Passed the House of Representatives March 30, 2009.

If your CPS social workers are lying, violating court orders, or just being unreasonable, you might get some relief from their tyranny by contacting your state legislator. I’ve done this many times when dealing with unscrupulous agencies, and each time had a pleasant resolution to my situation.

Let’s go back to how I discovered how effective this could be. Back in the 80’s I was a welfare eligibility worker for the Department of Social Services. Occasionally unhappy clients would contact their legislators, and whenever that happened we’d see the supervisor scrambling to get the case file to take it into the program manager’s office. We knew that these people hated to have anyone call their legislators because then the head of the entire Department of Social Services would get a call from Sacramento where our State Department of Social Services is. In other words, a lot of pressure was applied from the top management because they didn’t like getting these calls! What was even more frustrating to the supervisor was that every time there was a call to a legislator, the client got what she wanted.

A few years back a local Department of Social Services caseworker was harassing me after learning about this site. He came out here four or five times with totally facetious or trivial complaints, such as the accusation that I was homeschooling - something that is legal in all fifty states. After the last time, I decided to take action before he got the bright idea of detaining my children on the basis of the number of complaints he’d either manufactured or followed up on. What I did was to write a letter to this caseworker detailing each of his visits to my family, telling what his reasons were each time and what my response was. I sent him a copy of the letter, and sent a copy to his Program Manager, my county supervisor, a few legislators, and a few newspapers. Maybe a few other people, but I honestly don’t remember who at this point. There was a list of these people at the bottom of the letter, so he knew who was getting it. The state legislator wrote to me telling me he had contacted the head of the Department of Social Services for California. Talk about applying pressure from the top! Then the pressure no doubt reached the local office and I didn’t hear from the guy again for years.

I’ve done similar things regarding other agencies. My experiences with writing to state legislators for help have all been good, and so I’m telling you about it in case anyone wants to try it. If you do, here’s some pointers.

1) Write the legislator a formal letter. Handwriting is OK - it looks authentic. Second best is a typed letter. Worst, and probably useless, is email. I’ve heard that legislators in Washington DC have to delete a lot of email unread because they have no way of processing it. I don’t know if a state legislator would do that, but I wouldn’t trust email. In this case, paper is better.

2) Be sure you use proper spelling and grammar. I know that’s a problem for many people who use this site, but if you know you have a problem then you can ask the local high school English teacher or some other expert for help making the letter look good.

3) Tell the legislator in the first line that you are his constituent. And by the way, you should be sure you’re writing only to legislators that preside over your section of the state. As a constituent you are a person who can vote or not vote for him next time he runs for office.

4) Keep it short! One page is sufficient. Three paragraphs, better. When I wrote the letter I mentioned above, I sent the entire three page letter I’d sent to the social worker, but the cover letter to the legislator was only three very short paragraphs. The letter will probably be read by a staff member who doesn’t have a lot of time to wade through many pages of case information. They want to know your specific complaint and needs, and will be able to process it and act on it quickly. It wouldn’t hurt to attach any evidence you may have on hand.

You will probably get a letter back from the legislator’s office telling you whether or not they took action on your complaint. They are there to watch out for their constituents, so in most cases they’ll try to do something to help. They need to know when the laws they make aren’t being followed properly. They can’t change a court order, but if a CPS social worker is violating a court order or in any way breaking social service regulations, they can probably do something to create change. After getting your letter, you might want to write back and thank them for helping.

I found this press release online today and decided to share it with you. I live in a town dominated by and divided by a tribe. I’ve had people who had to deal with the tribal child welfare agents complain to me about the way they were treated. It used to be that we believed the Indian Child Welfare Act could help some families, but now it seems to be just another way for tribes to make money. I can tell you, the tribe here has been applying for grant money for years; recently receiving over 2 million dollars in grants. It is a huge money-grab, and child welfare money is certainly part of it.

I checked out the site mentioned at the end of the following article and read some heart-breaking stories. One story mentioned that a certain tribe had only 5,000 members, but they held over 1,000 children in foster homes. - LJM

Children’s Lives Destroyed by ICWA, Says CAICW

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Across America, children that have never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs are routinely being removed from homes they love and placed with strangers chosen by tribes.

Though proponents of the ICWA argue that the act has safeguards to prevent misuse, scores of multi-racial children are being negativelyaffected by application of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

Over decades, numerous tribal members have married non-members and moved off the reservations. Many chose to leave because they didn’t want their children raised amid the dangers rampant in Indian Country.

However, ICWA authorizes tribal jurisdiction over any child who is a member of a tribe, or eligible for membership and the biological child of a member. Tribal governments determine their own membership and most require only 1/4 blood quantum, The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma goes further and claims jurisdiction over any child with ancestry tracing back to the Dawes Rolls no matter how minute the blood quantum. Making matters worse, some states have recently passed laws barring courts from considering whether a child or his family have any real connection to the tribe. As a result, the following occurs:

“… it was discovered she (the birthmother) is 1/128th Cherokee. That makes my son 1/256 or .0039% Native American and 99.9961% not…. His mother…was very adamant about the Cherokee Nation NOT raising her child and the court records show this. In April of 2006, we were notified of the Cherokee Nation’s intent to take us to court and remove our son from our home…. Since then, we have been in a constant state of panic….”

Any emotionally healthy child, no matter their heritage, is devastated when taken from home and forced to live with strangers. Even children of 100% tribal heritage are devastated if they’re taken from non-tribal families they love and placed with strangers they know nothing about.

The Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare (CAICW) is the only national organization advocating for families who have lost or are at risk of losing children due to misapplied and sometimes illegal application of the ICWA. The CAICW will be at the National Press Club at 12 noon, Tuesday, September 4, 2007, with affected families sharing about this growing problem.

Letters from birth parents, grandparents, foster families, pre-adoptive families, and tribal members themselves can be read at http://www.caicw.org/familystories.html.

icwa indian child welfare act child welfare children

Recently I introduced two site features: one, a place for people to post referrals to good CPS-fighting attorneys, and the other, a place for people to make a request for an attorney. Both posts have had good responses, yet I know without a doubt that most of the people asking for legal help will not find it by posting on this website. I’m sorry to say that, but it is true. There are few attorneys who are so hard-up for work to do that they’ll come here to pick and choose clients who are probably broke and looking for someone to work pro-bono (for free).

Get over the idea that you might find a good pro-bono attorney. It rarely happens. In the seven-plus years since I started this site I’ve seen it happen only once. An attorney represented a very high-profile case in Oregon AFTER the couple became so desperate they kidnapped their own children from state custody. That attorney lost the case and the couple has been imprisoned ever since.

The alternative to finding the dream-attorney is to take that court-appointed freebie do-nothing attorney the county provides, and make that person WORK for YOU.

The main problem with these court-appointed attorneys is that they are paid by the county; that same county that is your adversary in juvenile court. So how motivated can they be to go against the county and help you?

Turn the tables. Take charge of your case.

A way to control how your attorney handles your case is to decide, yourself, how you want it handled. Then sit down and write your attorney a comprehensive letter detailing exactly what you want to have done with your case.

A keyword to remember is proactive. YOU take the lead. Rather than REacting to what others are doing to you, start thinking ahead to what your next move should be. Keep your attorney informed with a series of letters.

Remind this person, your attorney, that you are the client and you need and demand request the attention your case deserves. If your attorney doesn’t do the things you request, that person is setting himself/herself up for a legal malpractice lawsuit. But if you don’t set forth your requests in writing, there’s no proof you asked for anything in particular to be done.

Let’s face it. These court-appointed attorneys are known for what they don’t do. They often meet a client at the door on the way into the courtroom. They look through the case file as if it were the first time they’ve seen it, trying to orient themselves to what’s going on. Of course there’s no time for them to do any type of adequate defense of the case. They don’t know you, your children, or your situation. They don’t know the truth and don’t know who’s lying. And it seems they just don’t care.

My apologies to all court-appointed attorneys who don’t fit this description, but I’m sure you know that these are the facts about many if not most court-appointed attorneys in juvenile law cases.

You have to do something to get a dead-beat court-appointed attorney’s attention. Writing letters is the way to go. It puts them on notice that (1) you have some legal knowledge, (2) you want your children back, (3) you want a better quality of representation than they are giving to most clients.

If I were to write a letter to an attorney in a new CPS case, it might go something like this:

You have been appointed to represent me as an attorney in the county juvenile court. Be on my side; I need your help. I am fighting for the release of my three children from state custody. I am innocent of any wrongdoing. The caseworker made assumptions about me that are false. My children need to be at home with me, for their well-being - mentally, emotionally, and physically.

While you are my attorney, please keep in mind that you are working for me, not for the county that pays you. As my attorney I expect you to give me the best legal representation available. I therefore request face-to-face meetings with you at least once monthly to make sure you are actively working on my case, and not letting it slide between the cracks.

I understand that many court-appointed attorneys tend to simply guide parents through the juvenile court system, advising them to plead guilty to charges to make things easier for everyone else in the courtroom. This is not the kind of representation I’m requesting. I’m asking you to be actively involved in proving my innocence.

I’m hereby asking that you take my case to trial and make the caseworker prove all charges. Since they are false charges, I think it would be in my best interest, and the best interest of my children, if I were to fight to prove my innocence with a full trial. Do not under any circumstances ask me to plead guilty to false charges against me.

As you know, parents involved in CPS cases have to complete a ’service plan’ yet many do so and still do not get their children returned. I would like to avoid doing any kind of ’services’ and request that you refuse all services, and/or force the caseworkers to prove the need for any services requested. I do not want to be in the position of many parents in these cases forced to have psychological evaluations when there is no evidence of mental illness, or forced to do drug testing when there’s no evidence of drug abuse. Please honor my request, protect my best interests, and see that my time is not wasted by unnecessary court-ordered ’services’. Of course they would also be a waste of taxpayer money. Do everything you can to resist these services in my case. As you are my attorney I’m trusting you to fight these issues individually and fiercely.

I expect you to be 100% aware of what is happening with my case at all times, and to inform me immediately of any changes.

I expect you to obtain and share with me a complete copy of the case file including all case narratives.

I expect you to help me compile substantial evidence to prove my innocence in this case by preponderance of the evidence.

I expect you to produce legal paperwork including a complete response to all caseworker reports, declarations supporting my side of the case, and other documents as needed, and to present those documents to the judge or juvenile court referee who hears our case.

I expect you to do everything you can to prevent my name from being included on the central index, blacklisting people from working with children. I am innocent and my name should not be included on that list.

Please respond to my requests in writing within ten days; I will need your written response for my records in this case.

Sincerely,

Name of Client

…

NOTE: Some of these suggestions are for people with NEW cases; if your case has gone beyond the initial phases your needs will be different. Don’t just copy what I wrote; put these ideas into your own words. TYPE your letters. MAKE COPIES FOR YOUR RECORDS and keep them in a safe place.

…

Comments? I would like to get other ideas from the people reading this on what could be included in letters to attorneys. What do you want from your attorney? Let’s brainstorm this and come up with some great ideas that people who come here in the future will be able to benefit from. Are there any phrases all letters should contain? Anything you think we shouldn’t ask the attorney?

The WCF Courier reported:

Marie Mahler, 39, of Cedar Falls, filed three reports between Aug. 27, 2004, and Oct. 7, 2004, used in a juvenile court case that she “knew or reasonably should have known were false” and that the reports would be used by a judge to make a decision in the case, according to court records obtained by the Courier.

Mahler repeatedly included misrepresentations of conversations, events and relationships of the people involved with the case, according to court records.

Court records say she claimed that Jesup police officers were called to the mother’s home for a drug investigation in August 2004. Records indicate an officer was called to the home not for drugs, but to prevent an altercation between two siblings. No signs of drugs were found.

Mahler, who has been a Buchanan County social worker since 1998, pleaded ‘not guilty’.

Roger Munns, a spokesman for her employer, the Iowa Department of Human Services, said “This is really quite unusual.”

Yes, we know that caseworkers lie in court documents and get away with it, and that having one criminally charged is unusual. However we hope that this will become common practice to stop lying CPS social workers everywhere.

***

Would you like to see your caseworker charged criminally for lying about you? If so, keep this in mind:

While the offenses occurred in 2004, Bernau said Mahler is exempt from Iowa’s statute of limitations law because she is still a state employee. In most felony cases, charges have to be filed within three years of the offense. However, that three-year period begins for state employees only after they are no longer working for the state.

Perjury is a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

(This is per Iowa state law. Your state laws may be different - do the research.)

Source: Social worker charged with perjury, by Josh Nelson, Courier Staff Writer, June 12, 2007

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If you have ever had a caseworker lie about you in a court document, please leave a comment to this post, and tell us about it.

I’ve seen way too many lies in social worker reports to the courts.

It’s time for this criminal practice to result in prison sentences. Every perjury conviction will be a victory!