Today Peter Szymonik has been invited to be part of a panel discussion tomorrow morning on NPR Radio in Hartford, from 9:00am-10:00am, about the GAL problem in this state.
Rep. Ed Vargas, Elizabeth Thayer and Jeff Michelson (a GAL) are also part of the panel.
Tune in and ask your questions, join the conversation!
Syzmonik sounded angry and bitter. Vargas sounded weak and out of touch especially on his North Korea statement. Great job NPR for bringing some reasonable voices to the debate.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that after the current criminal investigations have run their course, Vargas's comment will look understated. We shall see.
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Delete"Syzmonik sounded angry and bitter."
DeleteAgreed.
I personally think this is an incorrect assessment and I say that despite the fact that I am not one of Peter Szymonik's fans. I thought Peter made a very effective case in regard to the victims of family court even though he was often cut off and now allowed to finish his thoughts.
DeleteI would ignore this comment from anonymous. People who appear and misstate issues and are unable to identify themselves and stand behind what they say are commonly found to be cowards and are in fear of losing their cash cow otherwise know as the Connecticut Family Court System. We all now who you are anyway. IP addresses are a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteFunny that you didn't recommend all the previous and many "anonymous" posts in so many of the articles posted on this blog that agree with your pov be ignored -- just the first one above. Joel, I want open debate. All pov's should be heard, not just the one's we agree with. Too many of us have been ignored for far too long as it is.
DeleteAgree but I would request the POV's be substantiated with hard facts. I'm sure a well off parent who bought off a GAL will gladly sing praise of the GAL. So if someone speaks highly of them, I would like to ask them if the other party agrees. And more importantly, why? Thank you for you rcomments.
DeleteHector Morera
I'm past the anger and bitterness and now working diligently in favor of much needed sweeping reforms of our state's horrifically dated, ineffective and broken family laws. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt is so silly and obvious that insiders seeking to protect the status quo of the corrupt system (not broken, but corrupt) hide behind the name 'Anonymous' and then make posts on sites like this.
ReplyDeleteIf you're so proud of your profession and so confident in your position, why hide? Show yourself, and engage in adult dialog if you are capable of doing so. Otherwise, your words are dust in the wind . . . gone without notice.
Congrats and Thanks to NPR, and also to Ed Vargas, Peter S, and others who took time out to call in (Hector, Monica, Cheryl, etc.)
Adult dialog? What you guys are interested in is personal attacks, not adult dialog. Is it a conspiracy that two callers actually had good experiences with their GAL's? I guess NPR was screening out real people. And do you agree with Ed Vargas and his N. Korea comment? Yes, congrats NPR and to all callers for true adult debate.
ReplyDeleteNo one is denying that there are good GAL experiences. We are here to address the hundreds, if not thousands of bad GAL experiences. Also, to follow your logic, we would have to invite the opposing parties for those 2 persons who spoke well of their GAL to see if their experience was the same. I am sure my ex will gladly talk well of the GAL. The fact remains that too many GAL's use threats and coercion for whatever reason in divorce cases. It's true we have emails to prove it. Thank you for your comments.
DeleteI welcome debate. You may find me at the LOB on any given day when the Judiciary Committee is in session.
Hector Morera
Also would like to add that I did not engage in any personal attack today. I stated the facts. That 1st attorney did not advise me of my rights when he told me to sign the paper for a GAL. My gal perjured herself and there were no repercussions.
DeletePersonal attacks would be if I called them names like crooks or evil.
Thank you for your observations. I'm sorry but mine disagree with yours.
Hector Morera
I say we block the 'Anonymous' because they have personality issues and can't get along with everyone so they have to hide themself. I am a court watcher and Advocate for children and parents Rights in the courts to watch and listen to the true facts of the money making racket that is actually going on in our courts.
ReplyDeleteIt will not be long till the violations are seen by the GAO's in ongoing investigations as to the nature of the corruption in our courts by officers of the courts.
No need to. If our arguments are strong enough, they will prevail. I confronted someone else who was anonymously saying lies about me on line. I asked them to substantiate their claims with hard facts. They couldn't. We have enough hard facts on our side to prevail. We really do.
DeleteHector Morera
GAL's are not supervised at all and free reign to impose any kind of senseless reports, opinions in court that they want to play you with.
ReplyDeleteTo them its a big crap shoot gamble of the dice with your life they are trying to play with to see if you'll buy into it... Let them know you don't play their negligent and incompetent game. My comment I made today (28:35): US Concerned Parents, we court watch and advocate for families in the Family court and juvenile court. The system is not built to keep the family together (it them have conflicts) or preserve your family is why the Family courts should be overturned and returned to the churches w/ mediation with workers other tan this money making business that is going on in our courts." The best program is both biological parents and wholesome activities in childrens lives. How many parents and grandparents have to lose their homes, college funds and all assets before the GOV stops the illegal business of stealing our kids and everything else. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. wake up America.
Agree.
DeleteThanks to all of you who have fought hard to bring this broken down system to light. You have worked tirelessly to make things better for children and families in CT. Of course, there will always be dissenters who want to keep the money rolling in. I have had a terrible experience with my GAL. I was forced to spend $80,000 in GAL fees and most of those fees were unfounded and unnecessary. I cannot find one person who would believe that being charged these outrageous fees was beneficial to the children. I went from affording things for my children to wondering how to afford the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter. I am a hard working middle class person, and I was even threatened with jail time if I did not pay these GAL fees including fees for things that are not allowed by CT statutes. Unfortunately, most GALs have lost sight of why they were appointed. I would have loved to have met a GAL who was truly interested in the well being of children and not in the well being of their wallet. GAL fees need to be capped and limited. GALs should not be attorneys but should have a mental health background.
ReplyDeleteAs a court appointed GAL, we are underpaid (if paid at all) and over worked. I personally have over $100k in accounts receivable from parents who never paid. Always remember that the parent who doesn't get what they want ALWAYS blames the GAL. Sometimes that's both parents. Look at your own inadequacies first.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem is that most of us do not see the value of a GAL. My ex husband was medically neglecting my children and yet the GAL in my didn't take any action whatsoever regarding that issue. The GAL made the statement that I was very likely severely mentally ill when I had a psychiatric report readily available indicating that was not the case. When my ex husband refused to pay the utility bills he had agreed to pay pendent lite, the GAL stated that I had sufficient financial resources to pay them myself, a statement for which she absolutely no evidence whatsoever. Needless to say, my ex paid the GAL bill, but I didn't pay a considerable amount of it. The GAL in my case also coached my ex husband on how to conduct his case, met with him regularly to clue him in to how to proceed, phone called him. I figured since he got all the GAL's time, he should pay for it. I ended up with custody of my children, but no thanks to the GAL who spent her time actively engaged in campaigning against me. Personally, again, I see no need for a GAL to interfere in my parenting or conduct a biased investigation that is intended to cause further dissension. However, I will say, any GAL who does a good job, who earns the respect of his clients, will more likely be paid than not. Unfortunately, most GALs are complete idiots.
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