Wex Wimpy
September 2nd 03, 06:55 PM
Former DCF Attorney Files Whistle-Blower Lawsuit In Lakeland
POSTED: 2:43 p. m. EDT August 28, 2003
LAKELAND, Fla. -- A former Department 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."
http://www.wftv.com/news/2440859/detail.html
POSTED: 2:43 p. m. EDT August 28, 2003
LAKELAND, Fla. -- A former Department 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."
http://www.wftv.com/news/2440859/detail.html