August 28th 03, 06:41 PM
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030828/APN/308280785
OR:
http://tinyurl.com/lhvp
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Published Thursday, August 28, 2003
Former DCF attorney files whistle-blower lawsuit in Lakeland
The Associated Press
LAKELAND, Fla.
A former Deparment of Children & Families attorney has filed a
whistle-blower lawsuit against the agency claiming he was fired because he
complained of shoddy case work.
The department has until Friday to respond to the lawsuit filed by John
Patterson, which names DCF Secretary Jerry Regier as the defendant.
DCF spokesman Tim Bottcher, said department policy forbids comments on
lawsuits and would not comment on why Patterson was dismissed.
Patterson said he was fired in October 2002 for complaining openly about
unethical practices that included false claims of child neglect and social
workers mishandling cases and putting children's lives at risk.
Patterson, who has since opened a private law practice, does not want to
return to his job as a staff lawyer at the DCF District 14 headquarters in
Lakeland., but is asking for unspecified damages, including back pay.
"He complained about things that may not have been illegal but definitely
went toward the inefficient operation of DCF," said Merette Oweis,
Patterson's attorney. "One in particular had some bearing on the safety of
a child."
In his complaint filed last month, Patterson alleges supervisors ignored
his concerns that he could find no proof to allegations of abuse or neglect
in at least two petitions to put children in foster care. The Lakeland
resident said that in one case parents were accused of failing to provide
adequate housing and income, but the department's paperwork lacked
verification, Oweis said.
Patterson said he dismissed the allegations rather than go through with the
petitions, resulting in his firing.
Patterson said other complaints were ignored, such as DCF investigators
appearing in court unprepared, or sending replacements "who could not
provide crucial information to the court, which was directly (affecting)
the ability of DCF to protect children."
Last modified: August 28. 2003 12:58PM
Copyright 2003 The Ledger
OR:
http://tinyurl.com/lhvp
************************************************** *******
Published Thursday, August 28, 2003
Former DCF attorney files whistle-blower lawsuit in Lakeland
The Associated Press
LAKELAND, Fla.
A former Deparment of Children & Families attorney has filed a
whistle-blower lawsuit against the agency claiming he was fired because he
complained of shoddy case work.
The department has until Friday to respond to the lawsuit filed by John
Patterson, which names DCF Secretary Jerry Regier as the defendant.
DCF spokesman Tim Bottcher, said department policy forbids comments on
lawsuits and would not comment on why Patterson was dismissed.
Patterson said he was fired in October 2002 for complaining openly about
unethical practices that included false claims of child neglect and social
workers mishandling cases and putting children's lives at risk.
Patterson, who has since opened a private law practice, does not want to
return to his job as a staff lawyer at the DCF District 14 headquarters in
Lakeland., but is asking for unspecified damages, including back pay.
"He complained about things that may not have been illegal but definitely
went toward the inefficient operation of DCF," said Merette Oweis,
Patterson's attorney. "One in particular had some bearing on the safety of
a child."
In his complaint filed last month, Patterson alleges supervisors ignored
his concerns that he could find no proof to allegations of abuse or neglect
in at least two petitions to put children in foster care. The Lakeland
resident said that in one case parents were accused of failing to provide
adequate housing and income, but the department's paperwork lacked
verification, Oweis said.
Patterson said he dismissed the allegations rather than go through with the
petitions, resulting in his firing.
Patterson said other complaints were ignored, such as DCF investigators
appearing in court unprepared, or sending replacements "who could not
provide crucial information to the court, which was directly (affecting)
the ability of DCF to protect children."
Last modified: August 28. 2003 12:58PM
Copyright 2003 The Ledger