Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Error? or CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The following story is making headlins because of the monetary award. The real issue here though is CONFLICT OF INTEREST. This happens in almost all private adoptions. If the birthmother has any legal reprenstation at all, it is the same lawayer working for, and paid for by, the adoptive parents. CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!!
Jury: $3 million for adoption lawyer error
Feb 15, 2006, 20:06 GMT
KANSAS CITY, MO, United States (UPI) -- A Missouri jury awarded a woman $3 million after finding that her lawyer misrepresented her 11 years ago when she put her child up for adoption.
Kansas City, Mo., jurors found that Sanford Krigel and his law firm failed to adequately represent Chandrika Collins, 32, The Kansas City Star reported.
Collins said she believed Krigel was her lawyer in 1995 when she agreed to let a Pennsylvania couple adopt her baby.
After the proceedings started, Collins changed her mind and chose not to put the baby up for adoption. Jurors said Krigel did not try to stop the process and actually worked with the adoptive parents.
The newspaper said Collins did not see her son, now 10, for more than four years while she fought in court for joint custody.
The Star quoted an adoption advocacy group as saying it is common for lawyers to represent both birth mothers and adoptive parents.
Krigel said during the trial that he never actually worked for Collins and referred her to another lawyer after talking to her for a few minutes. His lawyers said he would appeal.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
Jury: $3 million for adoption lawyer error
Feb 15, 2006, 20:06 GMT
KANSAS CITY, MO, United States (UPI) -- A Missouri jury awarded a woman $3 million after finding that her lawyer misrepresented her 11 years ago when she put her child up for adoption.
Kansas City, Mo., jurors found that Sanford Krigel and his law firm failed to adequately represent Chandrika Collins, 32, The Kansas City Star reported.
Collins said she believed Krigel was her lawyer in 1995 when she agreed to let a Pennsylvania couple adopt her baby.
After the proceedings started, Collins changed her mind and chose not to put the baby up for adoption. Jurors said Krigel did not try to stop the process and actually worked with the adoptive parents.
The newspaper said Collins did not see her son, now 10, for more than four years while she fought in court for joint custody.
The Star quoted an adoption advocacy group as saying it is common for lawyers to represent both birth mothers and adoptive parents.
Krigel said during the trial that he never actually worked for Collins and referred her to another lawyer after talking to her for a few minutes. His lawyers said he would appeal.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
# posted by Senior Mom @ 2:21 PM 
