|
|
|
Alleged
|
|
when
|
when
|
when
|
|
|
|
Plaintif(s)
|
Defendent(s) |
Nature
|
where
|
occur
|
filed
|
resolvd
|
Judgment
|
ref
|
|
Lulu Corter |
Dr. Miller
Newton (formerly national clinical director
Straight, Inc); Kids of North Jersey, and his
psychiatrists |
child abuse |
Newark, NJ |
|
|
July 2003 |
$6,500,000 settlement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rebecca Erlich |
Dr. Miller
Newton (formerly national clinical director
Straight, Inc); Kids of North Jersey, and his
psychiatrists |
child
abuse |
Newark, NJ
|
|
|
1998
|
$4,500,000
settlement |
1
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
Lucy
|
She had
already been placed in SAFE on 3 separate
Marchman Acts for observation. She escaped was
now 18, and her dad , an attorney, tried to
force her back in on 4th Marchman Act.
|
Pinellas
Cty, Fl |
2000
|
|
|
Magistrate
denied Marchman Act commitment |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
G. T. and
J. P. old comers at Growing Together--a
Straight-descendent program |
in an
apparent un-official rite of passage called the
Naked Crusader, four old comers tried to orally
sodomize a newcomer, masturbated on his back.
criminal # for G. T. 97028770MMD02 |
West Palm
Beach, Fl |
1997
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
Straight-Cincinnati |
sensory
deprivations, sexual confessions, kids sitting
in own defecation, kids carving on self. Atty.
Richard Doyle 606-431-5683 , Cincinnati, led 3
year investigation. |
Ohio
|
|
|
|
Straight
voluntarily closed on day of trial. Strangely,
today Kids Helping Kids of Cincinnati --a
Straight descendent program operates out of old
Straight -Cincinnati facility |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
Growing
Together. State investigation found that a GT
client warned that he might commit suicide but
his counselors thought he just wanted
attention. The client did commit suicide and
the state concluded that the client may still be
alive had his warning been taken seriously
|
West Palm
Beach, Fl |
1986
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Straight
President Walter Loebenberg and Straight Exec
Dir Bernadine Braiwaite |
while
officers of Pembroke Pines Gen Hospital, prior
to Straight, failed to pay back appx. $950K of
Medicaid money. |
federal
court, Tampa, Fl |
|
|
|
out come
not known |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
Straight
counselor Arthur Nichol, age 40 |
rape of
two male teenagers, a Straight client and his
friend |
Pinellas
Cty |
|
|
8-29-91 7
years prison |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
George
Ross of Possibilities Unlimited--a Straight
descendent program. Prosecutors announced they
would seek jail time. |
While
Miller Newton is the highest Straight or former
Straight official to pay out the highest civil
award against a Straight or a Straight-like
program, Dr. George Ross, Straight's former
national education director, is the highest
Straight or former Straight official to ever be
prosecuted in a criminal court. (Miller Newton
settled with the federal government by paying
$45,000 for 254 fraudulent insurance claims in
return for not being criminally prosecuted.)
Ross was tried in Aug 1985 for physically
holding kids in his program. Originally 5
people made charges against him but the judge
dismissed 2 immediately. One of Ross' character
witnesses was Helen Petermann, Straight's former
clinical director, who herself has been accused
of abuse. |
Fayette
Cty, Ky |
|
|
1986
|
Prosecutors were Phil Maloney and a Mr. Giles.
Ross' attorney was the former states attorney.
Ross was acquitted. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Doe
|
Straigh-Springfield, et al |
Minor
alleged was spat upon and not allowed to wipe
off spit untill he admitted he admitted he was a
drug addict. He escaped and was run down and
beaten by Straight old comers until a Virginia
State trooper interceded. |
Fairfax
County, Va. |
7-91
|
|
|
Attorney
Sandra Havrlik, of Fairfax County handled his
case. Disposition is unknown. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Columbia
Mgt, Inc |
Straight,
Inc. |
Straight
sued by its landlord sued for failure to pay
$42,726.31 in rent. |
Columbia,
MD District Court. |
|
2-18-92
|
|
unknown
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fairfax
Food Services and Caterers |
Straight,
Inc. |
Straight
sued by a Pizza company for owing a $17,177.72
pizza bill. |
Fairfax
County |
|
c. 91 |
|
"discontinued and stricken" |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christi
Fortson |
Straight
Dallas |
False
imprisonment, physical and emotional abuse, she
was "frightened, humiliated, embarrassed, and
suffered severe physical pain and emotional
anguish" |
Dallas
|
|
1991
|
|
Defended
by D. Gerry Orth of Chappel and Handy, 1800 City
Center Tower Two 301 Commerce St, Fort Worth
76102-4118, 817-332-1800. Outcome unknown.
|
|
|
Michael
Daniels |
Straight-Saint Petersburg |
sued for
driving him insane |
|
|
|
c. 1988
|
Daniels
lost |
|
|
Bill Fager |
Straight-Springfield |
sued for
abusing him and driving him insane |
|
|
|
1993 |
Fager lost |
|
|
Straight
Dallas |
Tempie
Worthy (mother of Christi Fortson) |
a gag suit
to keep the mother from sounding off at protests
of the Straight facility |
Dallas
|
|
1991
|
|
see
Christi Fortson |
|
|
Sherri
Slaughter |
Straight
Dallas |
kidnapped
|
Dallas
|
|
c91
|
|
her atty
asking $5 million. She independently settled
for $2,000. |
|
|
Frank L.
Giocondo |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # SC316584 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
9-22-88
|
|
|
|
|
Khachik
Toomian |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # B029996 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
9-30-88
|
|
dismissed
with prejudice 1-4-91 |
|
|
Harriet I.
Hermann |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # SC319545 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
12-30-88
|
|
|
|
|
Richard A.
Hermann |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # SC319545 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
12-30-8?
|
|
Richard
Hermann awarded $1303 plus $26 cost of court on
2-7-89 |
|
|
Rykoff
Sexton, Inc. |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # B041973? |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
8-24-89
|
|
dismissed
with prejudice 5-14-90 |
|
|
Randel
Sherwood |
Straight
of Southern California |
small
claims case # B088158 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
1-15-93 |
|
|
|
|
Yorbi
Linda Commerce Assoc |
Straight
of Southern California |
case #
688552 |
Santa Ana
Central Justice Center |
|
5-5-92
|
|
Straight
ordered to pay $872,642.37 on 10-6-92. Appears
to be for rent default. |
|
|
Gibralta
Products, Inc. |
Kids of
Southern California |
case #
565557 |
Santa Ana
Central Justice Center |
|
8-18-88
|
|
|
|
|
Harriet
Herman |
Kids of
Southern California |
case #
584418 |
Santa Ana
Central Justice Center |
|
3-9-89
|
|
|
|
|
Altobar
Dev. Co. Inc. |
Kids of
Southern California ? |
case #
564182 |
Santa Ana
Central Justice Center |
|
8-2-88
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
Straight
counselor Ken Barker |
allegedly
kissed and touched client Beth Cline |
Chesapeake, VA Circuit |
|
|
1-8-91
|
trial date
1-8-91. resolution not known. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott
Beatty |
Straight
Springfield, VA |
spat upon,
other abuses. |
Fairfax
Cty, Va. |
89-90
|
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
State
health granted 90 day conditional license to
Straights in Orlando and Saint Petersburg
instead of the normal yearly license due to
violations. |
Pinellas
and Orange County Florida |
6-22-89
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
Dewitt Mildrum and mother Rene H. Mildrum
|
Straight
Saint Petersburg |
abuse
|
Pinellas
Cty, Fl |
|
|
8-22-88
|
Straight
settled |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karen
Norton |
Straight,
Inc.; Miller Newton |
Miller
Newton threw Karen Norton against a wall
|
Pinellas
Cty, Circuit Court, Fl |
|
|
1990
|
$720,000
#85011481CI |
2
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amy Craun
|
Straight-Springfield, VA, |
abuse
|
Fairfax
Cnty, Va |
1987
|
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Doe
|
Straight
St Pete |
had
psychiatric problems--not drugs. Was beaten,
starved, started carving on his body |
|
|
|
11-4-86"
|
Attorney
Karen A. Barnett handled case. Straight settled
for $15K and host family for $10K. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric
Weaver |
Straight
Cincinnati |
Claimed
Straight made him so despondent he carved on his
body. Parents say they were told by Straight
staff that carving was normal part of detox.
|
Cincinnati
|
1986
|
|
|
Cincinnati
attorney Jonathan Schiff was representing Weaver
as of 10-16-86. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Does
1, 2, 3, 4. |
Straight-Cincinnati |
Four
youths fled Straight Cincinnati. |
Cincinnati
|
85-86
|
|
|
Cincinnati
attorney Jonathan Schiff represented all four
successfully and kept them from being sent back.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Does
1, 2, 3, 4. |
Straight
Cincinnati |
Filed in
Ohio from 83 - 85 by Ohio attorney David J.
Scacchetti complaining kids beaten, painfully
restrained, held in small isolation rooms for
long periods of time, denied food and sleep.
|
|
|
|
|
Two suits
settled out of court; two pending as of 2/91.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wendi
Weidman |
Straight
Cincinnait |
a
teenager, alleged attacked and beaten at
Straight and at host home |
Cincinnati
|
86
|
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benson
Williams age 14 |
Straight
Sarasota |
atrocities
including beatings, hung by his underpants
carried about by his hair, mental and physical
torture, deprivation of medical attention and
schooling |
Sarasota
Cty Circuit Court |
|
8-7-83
|
|
Sarasota
attorney Larry Byrd handled case. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lawrence
Taylor Williams |
Straight
Sarasota |
15 years
old at time of abuse. alleged being deprived of
bathroom facilities and proper food. |
Sarasota
|
|
|
|
Sarasota
attorney Larry Byrd handled case. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Margaret
L. Heath |
Straight
Sarasota |
beaten,
thrown to a concrete floor, and pinioned there
for over 2 hours, deprived of adequate food,
water, sleep pulled out of chair by hair, denied
education, denied bathroom privileges.
|
Sarasota,
Fl. |
|
8-4-85
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Straight,
Inc. |
State of
Florida |
Straight
sues for right to force teens into treatment
|
2-13-85
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
Florida
Health warns Straight to stop force therapy
|
Pinellas
Cty and Orange Cty, Fl |
9-14-84
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
Florida
Health orders straight to change its ways
|
Pinellas
Cty |
6'21'83
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael T.
Keen |
Straight
St Pete |
assault,
false imprisonment, etc |
Pinellas
Cty |
82
|
10-83
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 teens
rep by ACLU |
Straight-Atlanta |
inhumane
treatment |
Cobb Cnty,
Ga. Superior Court |
81-82
|
|
|
|
4a
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arletha
Schauteet |
Straight-St Pete, Miller Newton |
held
against will, kidnapping told by Newton her mom
would be put in jail for kidnapping if she did
not co-operate. |
St Pete
|
81-82
|
|
'8-83 |
writ of
habeas corpus released her. Her atty William
A. Leffler. Straight settled-undisclosed
amount. |
4a |
|
Hope
Hyrons |
Straight-St Pete, Miller Newton |
kidnapping, false imprisonment at sibling
interview, restraint, (she's from Longwood, FL)
told by Newton, I don't give a damn about your
rights |
|
|
|
8-83
|
Straight
settled for undisclosed. Her atty William A.
Leffler |
5
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
Daniels |
Straight-St Pete |
driving
him insane |
|
|
5-83
|
|
Daniels
lost |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin
Brashears |
Straight-Atlanta |
he was an
adult, false imprisonment |
|
|
8-83
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
Straight-Sarasota and specified counselors. |
Sarasota
states attorney James T. Gardner (principal
assistant David Levin) issues damning 600 page
report on Straight-Sarasota on kidnappings false
imprisonments, threats to court order unless
voluntarily sign in; enrolling those not drug
dependent, hair pulling, neck grabbing, throwing
clients against walls. Based on statements from
Straight counselors In 1989, David Levin,
former Sarasota ass't state atty, said on West
57th Street--it was child abuse and torture
directed by Miller Newton. |
Straight -
Sarasota |
|
|
|
facing 24
criminal indictments Straight Sarasota
voluntarily closed. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles
from Albuquerque |
|
transported to Straight by in leg irons by 2
private detectives. |
St Pete
|
9-3-83
|
|
|
judge
ordered release because proper commitment
procedures not followed and judge saw no sign
of drug addiction. |
6
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacqueline
Stallings |
Straight
Saint Petersburg |
physical
assaults and false imprisonment |
St Pete
|
82
|
83
|
6-11-85
|
case #
83012161CI. Straight found to have committed a
"malicious act". Settlement for $37,500.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Douglas |
Straight
Saint Petersburg |
abuse
|
St Pete
|
|
85
|
|
case
85001827CI. Straight found to have committed a
"wrongful act". |
8 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
Keen |
Straight-St Pete |
false
imprisonment |
|
|
10-83
|
|
|
7
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
|
criminal
restraint and involuntary servitude served on
Miller Newton |
Bergen
Cty, NJ |
|
|
12-88
|
Bergen
County Superior Court dismissed charges.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
|
Bergen
County prosecutors found black eyes, strip
searches, sleep deprivation, solitary
confinement and denial or right to leave at age
18 |
|
|
|
|
prosecutors escorted out a number of kids over
age 18 |
9
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Susan W.
Milan AKA Susan White |
Straight-Atlanta |
Ms. Milan
represented by ACLU. Alleged medical
malpractice, false imprisonment, fraud, assault.
ACLU contact President Bruce Morris |
US
District Court |
|
3/19/85
|
|
awarded
$37K for peanut butter diets |
10
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jennifer
Woolston |
Kids of
Salt Lake City, et al |
kidnapping, strip search, in trying to escape
she fell from window and broke bones in feet and
arms, dislocated shoulder, damaged
cartilage/ligament in both knees |
Salt Lake
City |
1989
|
|
|
she was
released by writ of habeas corpus on 9-21-89.
She won her case for an undisclosed amount.
|
10'23
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
Miller
Newton's franchise Kids of Southern California
closed under state scrutiny. Straight occupied
the facility the day Kids left and took over the
Kids' clients. Just over a year later the state
closed Straight down for child abuse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
|
hospital
records show bleeding from scalp and blurred
vision for client Tony Mitchele. When he became
an adult he left but staff member Tony K. was
arrested for trying to kidnap Mitchele back to
the program. |
Kids, NJ
|
|
|
|
According
to staffer Christy Johnston, Mitchele dropped
charges after Kids promised never to take him
back |
11
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Larry Clay
|
|
a legal
adult in home state of Texas held against will
|
KIDS, NJ
|
|
|
|
taken out
by an FBI agent with a subpoena |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
|
KIDS'
staffer Alex Zdanow tells West 57th Street he
and others were ordered to take two kids into a
room and "throw them around" |
|
88
|
|
|
no charges
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
Newark
Administrative Judge Edith Klinger releases
damaging 53 page report on KIDS saying Many of
the deficiencies . . . create hazards to health
and safety |
Newark, NJ
|
1989
|
|
|
state
health officials ignored Judge's report and
granted Kids a special license to operate for
another 10 years! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Doe
|
King E.
Davis, Commissioner of Dept Mental Health,
Virginia, Barry P. Craig, Dir of Licensure, Dept
of Mental Health, VA, host home parents and
Straight-Springfield, Va. |
13
year-old sexually abused by old comer in host
home bathroom. second offense for the old comer.
Sandra Havrilak, the boy's attorney, sued
Virginia |
Fairfax,
VA |
1989
|
1990
|
|
Virginia
Commonwealth Atty determined that Commissioner
Davis could not be sued. But Davis closed
Straight after this for a record of child
abuse. Outcome against Straight unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dianne
Saccomani |
Straight,
Inc. |
breach of
contract. in her response she includes report of
findings from Florida Protective Service System
detailing abuses her son Larry Turner received
|
|
|
1990
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. N.
|
Straight-Springfield, VA, |
sodomized
by curling iron by 3 old comers for failing to
write diary. Sndra Havrilak thought to be her
attorney |
Fairfax,
VA |
1989
|
1990
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
Carlos
Lugo, Michael O'Connor, George Clemence
|
KIDS'
counselors Carlos Lugo, Michael O'Connor, George
Clemence beat 17 year old Channery Soto
|
New Jersey
|
93
|
|
1993
|
all three
counselors convicted of assault. fined like
$100. Michael O'Connor admitted that beatings
were routine. Judge Emil DelBaglivo said it was
"almost unbelievable" that the program director
would condone violence. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
George
Clemence |
charged
for assaulting Michael Siculietano. Clemence was
convicted 3 years before for assaulting Channery
Soto |
|
|
|
|
prosecutors dropped charges without informing
Siculietano |
|
| |
|
|
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Criminal
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Miller
Newton, et al |
Marilyn
Kearns, age 23, filed police report charging
kidnapping, false imprisonment after she
attended sibling rap in Secaucus, NJ In 1997 a
copy of the police report was handed to the FBI
in Newark, NJ |
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Hudson
County did not prosecute, nor did the US Justice
Dept. |
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Criminal
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Patricia
Logan |
assault on
13 year-old Celena Moore |
NJ
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1-27-98
|
convicted
of simple assault Jan 1998 |
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Criminal
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Jenny
Logan, Erin Moss |
assault on
13 year-old Celena Moore. Jenny Logan is listed
as one of the defendants in Jennifer Woolston's
civil suit against KIDS of Salt Lake City
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NJ
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1996
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no
prosecution |
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Criminal
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Erin Moss
|
Andrea
Jones complaint against Erin Moss |
KIDS, NJ
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1996
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no
prosecution |
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Criminal
|
Miller
Newton |
Sharon
Tyler files charges |
KIDS, NJ
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no
prosecution |
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Criminal
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Miller
Newton |
Chrysis
Johnson files charges |
KIDS, NJ
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1996
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no
prosecution |
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Administrative |
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Essex
County juvenile judge releases John Shaw from
KIDS treatment after personal meeting with him
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KIDS, NJ
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1997
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Criminal
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Dr. Newton
accused by federal prosecutors in Newark of
insurance fraud. |
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9-96
|
Newton
agrees to pay $50,000 to cover 254 counts of
insurance fraud but does not have to plead
guilty. Former KIDS psychiatrist Raymond
Edelman admits that KIDS fraudulently used his
rubber stamp after he left the program
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Criminal
|
Layne
Meechan, founder of Proctor Advocate, Salt Lake
City--which is based, in part, on Miller
Newton's Kids. |
prosecuted
apparently for allowing a girls' peers to abuse
her |
|
1989
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apparently
convicted but overturned by a judge on a
technicality. |
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Roger
Rossano |
KIDS, NJ
|
fraudulent
insurance charges |
NJ
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12-96
|
KIDS
apparently lost or settled |
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James
Wright |
Straight-St Pete, Carl Palumbo, and others
|
A Maryland
judge sent Wright to Straight in lieu of jail.
Wright said he entered Straight after 7 hour
intake in which he was threatened with physical
harm. claims he was later kidnapped by Calumbo
who represented self as a cop, and others. He
was hog tied and taken back to Florida, but
escaped on the way. |
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6-18-84
|
Straight
settled. outcome on others unknown. Fairfax
Judge Bach, who had sent Fairfax Judge Crounce's
son to Straight in lieu of jail., presided.
Judge Crounce filed a writ of habeas corpus to
see own son. |
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Father of
Michael Calabrese |
Michael
Calabrese |
Miller
Newton had looked into his eyes and determined
Michael was a drug addict. Father petitioned
Orange Cty Court to have his son committed to
Straight. |
Orange
Cty, Fl |
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10-15-80
Petition denied. |
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Administrative |
|
HRS-Florida state health--issued report that
Straight threatening kids to be court ordered or
sent to psychiatric hospital unless voluntarily
sign in. |
Pinellas
Cty, Fl |
4-22-81
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Kristina
Mizerak |
Straight-St Pete, et al |
jumped or
fell from 4th floor window trying to escape from
host home or trying to commit suiicde. says she
was sexually abused at Straight. got a broken
back. Her attorney Julian M. Piper also handled
Daniels case. |
Pinellas
Cty, Fl. Circuit Court |
1978
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1981
|
settlement. records sealed but St Pete Times
sued in 83 to unseal and Judge did so.
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Criminal
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US
Representative C. W. Young from Florida
announced he was investigating potential
criminal misconduct of Straight-St Pete after
receiving 3 complaints, presumably from out of
state. |
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4-30-78
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none
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20
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Criminal
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|
In Jan
1978 Florida health -HRS- released a report
stating that 30 allegations of abuse could not
be substantiated. However, Bob Marshall later
publicly stated the report had been toned down.
The Florida Bureau of Criminal Justice & Policy
Assistance did its own report and found that
many of the 30 allegations had been
substantiated. Mel Sembler admitted that some
Straight people had called the Secretary of
Health. The report also found that in 1.5 years
Straight had admitted 460 kids but only 1 had
been black! |
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1-78
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Bob
Marshall fired from his job with state health.
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Criminal
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St Pete
Police Officer Hartz, nephew of Straight
director Jim Hartz accused of threatening a kid
at Straight by pulling out handcuffs.
|
Pinellas
Cty, Fl |
1978
|
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|
investigated by Chief Mac Vines who found no
wrong doing. Mac Vines was on Straight's
advisory committee along with Lt David Milchan.
After Bob Marshall fired from HRS Milchan worked
for HRS before becoming Chief of Police for St
Pete Beach. Straight co-founder Joe Zappala's
residence. Later Lions Club has Zappala
Policeman of the Year Award. |
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Criminal
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Gail
Stepheson. Escaped form Straight, ran to a house
asked to use phone, occupants said OK. Later
Straight girls walked into the home without
permission and drug Ms. Stepheson out. This
launched a Congressional inquiry by Florida
Congressman Bill Russell. Several people came
forward and said they would testify, but James
Russell--the states attorney did not
investigate. Weeks later Stepheson announced
she now wanted to stay in Straight. It was at
this time that Mack Vines who became chief of
police and Judge Dadswell joined a committee to
study Bob Marshall, the HRS official
investigating Straight. Marshall was fired. The
same had happened in 1973 at the St Pete Seed
with Roger Young, then to Jeff Bourgholtzer
whose dad became a founding board member of
Straight (Leonard Lubin, ACLU represented both
boys), The same thing happened to a 16 year old
girl who had been abducted from Saint Petersburg
Catholic High School into The Seed with her
mother's consent. All forced to The Seed in
1973, made the newspapers but James T. Russell,
the states attorney who was on The Seed's
advisory board took no action. Allen Allweis,
Russell's chief investigator was on Straight's
advisory board and later became a director on
Straight's board of directors. Attorney Myron
Mensch was also on Straight's advisory board and
his brother Richard was an assistant state's
attorney. |
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David F.
White |
Straight-St Pete, Jim Hartz, Robin Germann
|
kidnapping, strip search, assault, illegal
search, invasion of privacy, released by writ of
habeas corpus, boys dad is prominent area
attorney Jack E. White, who may have later
become a judge |
Pinellas
Cty, Fl. may have been in federal court
|
|
11-2-77
|
|
unknown
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Jerry
Vancil escaped from Straight in 1977, got to
press and said he had been beaten. Press
investigated and found that an incident had
occurred. Jerry Vancil disappeared and state
investigating official Bob Marshall was fired.
|
Pinellas
Cty, Fl |
1977
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