Tuesday, April 03, 2007
"The Bird Man" Strikes Back
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NJ man wants adoption records sealed
This is the story of a VERY DANGEROUS 60-year-old man who has custody of twin baby girls created for his sole "use" and "ownership." Not only are these girls in harms way, but so too is all of adoption law!
By Jon Murray
jon.murray@indystar.com
The attorney for a 60-year-old New Jersey man who adopted twin girls from Indiana has sought to formally seal a court case challenging that adoption.
Last month The Indianapolis Star filed a petition to open records in the Indiana Court of Appeals case, which has been unavailable to the public because of Indiana's adoption secrecy law. The Indiana Department of Child Services is challenging Stephen F. Melinger's 2005 adoptions of the girls, who now are almost 2.
Steven C. Litz, Melinger's attorney, has not yet responded to the Star's petition. But he filed a separate motion Thursday seeking a court order to seal the case separately from the restrictions imposed by the adoption law, and also to seal all future court filings such as the Star's.
The Star's petition said the public's interest would be served by making public the legal debate over whether the adoptions violated interstate laws and other restrictions.
"As this court is undoubtedly aware, the same day it filed the motion, the Star ran a front page story on the motion, again referring to confidential information that had been illegally provided to it," Melinger's motion says. "It then sought to justify opening this court's file by referring to the fact that there had been publicity about the case, publicity which it created by obtaining confidential records illegally. Such bootstrapping techniques should not be tolerated by this court..."
Karen Zaria and Kathy Zee Melinger were born nearly two years ago to a South Carolina surrogate mother. Litz's Monrovia-based company arranged the adoption in Indiana.
But the girls' adoptions by Melinger, a New Jersey teacher, ran into trouble after Marion County officials opened a child welfare investigation.
Melinger had raised concerns among Methodist Hospital staff by showing up in the neonatal intensive-care unit to visit the newborns with a live bird in the left sleeve of his suit jacket and, later, bird feces on his clothing. Nurses also were concerned that he did not seem to know how to care for the children and planned to drive them back to New Jersey by himself.
Last week, Litz testified during an Indiana House committee hearing that Melinger, a magician, had "made the disastrous decision" to enter the hospital with a pet dove. But Litz said home studies later found Melinger to be a suitable parent.
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My post on Indy Star Comment board:
This dude - "The Bird Man" - is dangerous! He and ALL surrogacy should be stopped!
HOWEVER - we cannot put adoption on trial here, nor sealed adoption records. Surrogacy is NOT adoption ... it is CREATIONISM gone wild! Adoption involves finding homes for orphans...not creating designer babies as playthings for Jacko or this sicko 60-year-old nut job!
These babies need immediate court appointed guardians to protect them and their rights. The mother who SOLD them should be arrested and charged with human trafficking. All paid surrogacy should be criminalized as such. Selling an organ is illegal - how can we permit the selling of human beings? This is a very BAD sci-fi back to the future of slavery!
NJ man wants adoption records sealed
This is the story of a VERY DANGEROUS 60-year-old man who has custody of twin baby girls created for his sole "use" and "ownership." Not only are these girls in harms way, but so too is all of adoption law!
By Jon Murray
jon.murray@indystar.com
The attorney for a 60-year-old New Jersey man who adopted twin girls from Indiana has sought to formally seal a court case challenging that adoption.
Last month The Indianapolis Star filed a petition to open records in the Indiana Court of Appeals case, which has been unavailable to the public because of Indiana's adoption secrecy law. The Indiana Department of Child Services is challenging Stephen F. Melinger's 2005 adoptions of the girls, who now are almost 2.
Steven C. Litz, Melinger's attorney, has not yet responded to the Star's petition. But he filed a separate motion Thursday seeking a court order to seal the case separately from the restrictions imposed by the adoption law, and also to seal all future court filings such as the Star's.
The Star's petition said the public's interest would be served by making public the legal debate over whether the adoptions violated interstate laws and other restrictions.
"As this court is undoubtedly aware, the same day it filed the motion, the Star ran a front page story on the motion, again referring to confidential information that had been illegally provided to it," Melinger's motion says. "It then sought to justify opening this court's file by referring to the fact that there had been publicity about the case, publicity which it created by obtaining confidential records illegally. Such bootstrapping techniques should not be tolerated by this court..."
Karen Zaria and Kathy Zee Melinger were born nearly two years ago to a South Carolina surrogate mother. Litz's Monrovia-based company arranged the adoption in Indiana.
But the girls' adoptions by Melinger, a New Jersey teacher, ran into trouble after Marion County officials opened a child welfare investigation.
Melinger had raised concerns among Methodist Hospital staff by showing up in the neonatal intensive-care unit to visit the newborns with a live bird in the left sleeve of his suit jacket and, later, bird feces on his clothing. Nurses also were concerned that he did not seem to know how to care for the children and planned to drive them back to New Jersey by himself.
Last week, Litz testified during an Indiana House committee hearing that Melinger, a magician, had "made the disastrous decision" to enter the hospital with a pet dove. But Litz said home studies later found Melinger to be a suitable parent.
---------------
My post on Indy Star Comment board:
This dude - "The Bird Man" - is dangerous! He and ALL surrogacy should be stopped!
HOWEVER - we cannot put adoption on trial here, nor sealed adoption records. Surrogacy is NOT adoption ... it is CREATIONISM gone wild! Adoption involves finding homes for orphans...not creating designer babies as playthings for Jacko or this sicko 60-year-old nut job!
These babies need immediate court appointed guardians to protect them and their rights. The mother who SOLD them should be arrested and charged with human trafficking. All paid surrogacy should be criminalized as such. Selling an organ is illegal - how can we permit the selling of human beings? This is a very BAD sci-fi back to the future of slavery!
# posted by Senior Mom @ 11:23 AM 
