12 October. Judge Daniel True Andrews signed the adjudication order submitted by the Florida Department of Children and Families, ruling against Ashleigh's father and formally making the 5 1/2-year-old girl a ward of the state. The written ruling came after a weeklong trial during which the state failed to present any evidence to justify the seizure of Ashleigh Danielle Abbott from her Miramar dad in April 1998, let alone her 2 1/2 years of incarceration in a group emergency shelter (the longest such stay without adjudication against a protective parent in U.S. history.)
Read story in Sun-Sentinel
Miami Herald article, and additional information
2 Oct. Federal lawsuit against Jeb Bush filed. Floridas Governor in millions dollar hot seat over child abuse case.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 2 Oct. Closing arguments were made in Ashleigh case 2 Oct. Judge ordered all sides lawyers from the Florida Attorney General's Office representing the Department of Children and Families in Broward dependency court, the Guardian Ad Litem lawyers, and Abbott, father of Ashleigh, to submit proposed orders citing case law that would stand up on appeal by Oct. 10, at 10 am
Also, Attorney Dowd filed federal lawsuit in Fort Lauderdale on behalf of Paul Scott Abbott against Floridas Governor Jeb Bush; DCFs Secretary Kathleen Kearney, and a dozen other defendants. The suit seeks Ashleighs immediate return, damages of 100 million dollars, plus two hundred thousand dollars for each of the 900 days she has been in captivity. Hearing set before Federal Judge Graham and Magistrate Turnoff. Suit cites numerous constitutional violations including wire fraud, mail fraud, cites the RICCO Act-racketeering on part of government and others.
To view section of lawsuit, click here. (110K) No hearing date set.
Previous News:
2 Oct. 11:50 am EDT
Closing arguments Monday, 2 Oct. 8 am. Room 540, Broward County Courthouse, starting 8 a.m. State lawyers outnumbered spectators on 29 Sept., closing day of trial, yet despite the gov't financed legal machine, expert testimony for the father whittled into the trumped up charges of molestation, and thwarted the outlandish character assassination. Click for more.
Without approval or a vote, our tax dollars are paying for DCF's defense. Paul needs your help. PLEASE go to your local Bank of America branch and deposit whatever you can in "Free Ashleigh Fund."
28 Sept.
Dad and final expert witness for father slated to testify Friday. PLEASE try to be in the courtroom Friday (9-29) as Ashleigh trial concludes. Begins at 8 a.m. with Dad's testimony, Room 540, Broward County Courthouse.
27 Sept.
You are REALLY needed as we put on OUR case Thursday and Friday, following 12 1/2 hours of outrageous unsubstantiated testimony of a court-appointed psychologist alleging Dad sex-abuse of 5-year-old daughter on day 3 of witch hunt trial. Room 540, Broward County Courthouse, starting 8 a.m. each day.
26 Sept
Trial resume Weds. 27 September
Miami Herald story, ex-wife testifies
Sun-Sentinel story, trial begins
Trial continues 26 Sept. During Monday's hearing (25 Sept.) the state failed to present any evidence justifying the April 1998 seizure of Ashleigh Danielle Abbott from her father. Most of the day was devoted to testimony of the mother who admitted, at least in part, to well-documented felony child abuse of a first child from a first marriage, battery on the father and commitment to a mental institution for a suicide attempt when pregnant with Ashleigh. Click to current press releases.
Latest: Hearing set for 25 September. Click for latest advisories.
24 Sept.
Please Attend Trial 25 September. Make plans now to be at the trial -- finally -- through which 5-year-old Ashleigh may finally be returned to the home from which she was abducted by the State of Florida 2 1/2 years ago and illegally held ever since in a group emergency shelter in which she has been subjected to repeated abuse.
Trial starts Monday, Sept. 25, at 8 a.m., with opening statements in Room 540, Broward County Courthouse, 201 S.E. 6th St., Fort Lauderdale. Badges with Ashleigh's photo, saying "Let Me Go Home," will be distributed to her supporters.
15 Sept.
Sneaky hearing set for 9-15 at 1 p.m. in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. CANCELLED. Today's Ashleigh hearing was called off, which we think is good legally, as judge has decided to wait until trial to determine if he'll admit Ashleigh's hearsay statements, thereby eliminating the possibility of an appeal stay by the state.
(Although the state kept its motives deliberately vague, they apparently dealt with further efforts to introduce child hearsay that centers around Ashleigh's masturbatory activity that began upon her kidnapping by the state and has continued throughout her nearly 2 1/2-year illegal incarceration in the group emergency shelter.)
7 Sept.
Trial continued - delayed until 25 September hoop jumping takes on new significance
"As the witnesses have failed to establish a tie between the child's actions and any impropriety on the part of the father, Paul Scott Abbott, 43, Assistant Attorney General Jill Bennett has been forced to concede that the state has no evidence of any kind of abuse on the part of the father but rather has held Ashleigh all this time on the notion she is somehow "at risk."
6 Sept.
TV Camera Tossed from Court in Case of Broward 5-year-old; Controversial Hearing Resumes Wednesday (Sept. 6) at 8 a.m. While innocent girl remains in emergency shelter 30th months, state low-blows with sexual charges to pump its case.
Click to Miami Herald articles
Click to Sun-Sentinel article
4 Sept.
Trial Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 8 a.m., and continuing throughout the week or until completion. Judge Andrews has vowed to move the case along as swiftly as possible, pursuant to an order to expedite from the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach. Click to read new media advisory.
28 Aug.
Hearing Motion for immediate return states,"The perverts who have pathologized this child are the state and its agents" following a Miami Herald article shifting the blame for sexual overtones on 5 -year-old Ashleigh while under the state's care. Click here for media page relating to trial including Sun-Sentinel articles.
27 Aug.
(Click to Miami Herald editorial, 25 Aug.)
24 August
Motion filed 24 Aug. states,"The perverts who have pathologized this child are the state and its agents." Click here for 28 Aug. hearing Motion and Herald story.
Axed: 23 Aug.
Hearing set following Aug.11 order of Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach giving state 20 days to show why it should not grant a petition for a writ of habeas corpus to immediately return Ashleigh to her home with her dad. Click for details.
14 Aug.
Hearing near for tot Dad wants back from state - Fourth District Court of Appeal agrees with dad that his daughter was unlawfully seized.** High profile JUDGE DANIEL TRUE ANDREWS to hear Ashleigh case. Trial set for 5 Sept. Click for details
12 Aug.
The Children's Home Society, under investigation for failing to notify authorities about the alleged sexual abuse of 5-year-old Ashleigh, has been faulted in the past for failing to inform child welfare officials of suspected abuse. `It's not like the CHS, at any time, tried to hide anything from anybody," the executive director said. Read several articles from Miami Herald including "Agency lax in reporting supected abuse."
12 Aug.
Florida witch hunt spreads as political wife enters dispute. This Internet publisher/ newsletter cited in re-thinking attitudes. Click here for Miami Herald story, "Clerk's wife lands in controversy by backing man in custody fight."
11 Aug.
Agency attempts to abort visitation before planned visit. Well respected woman deemed unsuitable supervisor. Click for details.
CHILD MOLESTED in SHELTER . See below and click here for latest Miami Herald story.
Section Update Florida's convoluted
Believe it or Not!'
Dateline: South Florida 9-23 Aug. 2000.
"In her more than two years of state care, Paul Scott Abbott's young daughter has somehow graduated from a suspected victim of sexual abuse to an alleged perpetrator," says Fla.'s child care agency.
Click here for full Miami Herald article,"Bizarre Twist in custody battle."
Also see Miami Herald article initially reporting abuse and read story below
Florida dad insists child safe with him. Paul Abbott's daughter has been in state custody for nearly half her life. Florida now accuses 5-yr-old of being sexual aggressor following her 21/3 years in state captivity. Learned behavior in shelter is now turned against her by Florida's Department of Children and Families.
UPDATE: 9 Aug. CHILD MOLESTED in SHELTER
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Aug. 9. 5-year-old Ashleigh molested while incarcerated by state of Florida. Child still not returned to father despite his pleas for her return. Click to series of Miami Herald articles.
In the latest tragic saga of Ashleigh Abbott, child care workers are reviewing charges that she has been abused while in state custody. "If the state heard of a child being molested at home, that child would be immediately removed, but the same rules do not apply in state facilities," said Paul Abbott, the child's father. He had alerted the authorities more than 2-plus years ago when his child returned from a visit with her mother with a busted lip. Weeks later Ashleigh was taken away and imprisoned in the emergency shelter where she now resides.
The state claims Abbott "had failed to protect the child from abuse she received during a supervised visitation with her mother." He is also faulted "for attempting to deprive his ex-wife -- whom caseworkers had repeatedly accused of being abusive -- of visitations." His former wife had her revoked professional license reinstated, but is prohibited from working with children. She was ordered away from a child from a previous marriage after being found abusive. "She is very convincing in her stories," Abbott said. "Look how she has convinced the courts that I am the bad guy. Her false accusations have kept my daughter imprisoned."
To date, witnesses have not been allowed to testify on the father's behalf.
To date, despite a court order, Abbott still has not seen his own records.
To date, Gov. Jeb Bush remains defiantly resolute in not responding to a 27 July subpoena to give his deposition re in the tragic case of child seized 2 1/4 years ago at age 3 and illegally held since in a Broward group emergency shelter.
03 Aug.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. State Concedes Kearney Failed to Enter Disposition Order in Case in which Broward 5-year-old Held 2 1/4 Years; Attorney General's Office Trying to Get Order Now, Backdated to 1998. Click here to read story.
03 Aug.- 31 July.
Florida's Republican Gov. Jeb Bush not bound by laws that govern the rest of us. Termed Ashleigh's "ultimate captor" in a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, the Gov.has ignored a 27 July subpoena to give his deposition re in the tragic case of child seized 2 1/4 years ago at age 3 and illegally held since in a Broward group emergency shelter. Bush Ignores subpoena, new judge handed case.
20 July.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Ultimate Captor" Gov. Jeb Bush Subpoenaed in Effort Seeking State-Abducted 5-Year-Old's Return to Dad Filing highlights efforts to get return of Ashleigh Danielle Abbott, now 5, to her father, from whom she has been illegally kept for 27 months. Click to read.
10 July.
Abbott filed a habeas corpus petition before the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach asking for the release of his daughter. Usually such is filed on behalf of criminals. In a petition seeking Ashleigh's designation as a dependent of the state, "the agency said Paul Abbott had failed to protect the child from abuse she received during a supervised visitation with her mother. In a later complaint, the state faulted Abbott for attempting to deprive his ex-wife -- whom caseworkers had repeatedly accused of being abusive -- of visitations."
[Ed. Note: How could the father be around when the child was with her mother? Generally, supervised visitation means the mother and child are in the presence of a third party - not the father!] Click here for Herald story
See below for lawsuits filed June 15 and June 07, both in federal courts.
|