J.
01-10-2005, 05:50 PM
http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=5&sid=143605
UT Adoption Agency Under Attack by IL Birth Mother
Jan. 10, 2005
Coco Warner Reporting
A church group and others in Chicago today accused a Utah adoption agency of
coercing a 20-year old woman into giving up her three-month old baby.
The grandmother and birth mother of baby Tamia filed a lawsuit this morning
against Midvale's "A Cherished Child Adoption Agency." Their claim, the agency
took advantage of a woman who was clearly in emotional distress.
Flanked by leaders of her church and Chicago attorneys, Marie McDonald says her
daughter, Carmen was coerced into signing away the rights to three-month old
Tamia. She says "The Cherished Child Adoption Agency" flew Carmen and Tamia to
Salt Lake City on December 4th, and that Carmen agreed to the adoption only
because she was mentally unstable and under duress.
Robert Fioretti, Plaintiff's Attorney: "There were false promises, in addition,
made to Carmen that she was going to have the child adopted by a bi-racial
couple. When she arrived it turned out to be an all white couple."
The licensing department of Utah's Department of Human Services conducted their
own investigation.
Elizabeth Sollis, Department of Human Services: "We received a complaint in the
regards to the handling of this adoption in December, and we investigated it in
that same month and found that the agency was not in violation."
Still, many in Illinois are expressing concern about Utah adoption laws-- that
once papers are signed, they become legally binding at that moment, while other
states require a waiting period.
Marty Shannon, Division of Child and Family Services: "The counseling for birth
parents becomes as you can understand very crucial though-- is the birth
parents need to really understand is that it is a final decision that if they
have any reservations or any questions-- the point is don't sign."
So far, "The Cherished Child Adoption Agency" has made no public comments and
denied our request today for an interview.
"The Bible is the most shoplifted book in the United States."
That Book of Perfectly Useless Information. Harper Collins (2004)
UT Adoption Agency Under Attack by IL Birth Mother
Jan. 10, 2005
Coco Warner Reporting
A church group and others in Chicago today accused a Utah adoption agency of
coercing a 20-year old woman into giving up her three-month old baby.
The grandmother and birth mother of baby Tamia filed a lawsuit this morning
against Midvale's "A Cherished Child Adoption Agency." Their claim, the agency
took advantage of a woman who was clearly in emotional distress.
Flanked by leaders of her church and Chicago attorneys, Marie McDonald says her
daughter, Carmen was coerced into signing away the rights to three-month old
Tamia. She says "The Cherished Child Adoption Agency" flew Carmen and Tamia to
Salt Lake City on December 4th, and that Carmen agreed to the adoption only
because she was mentally unstable and under duress.
Robert Fioretti, Plaintiff's Attorney: "There were false promises, in addition,
made to Carmen that she was going to have the child adopted by a bi-racial
couple. When she arrived it turned out to be an all white couple."
The licensing department of Utah's Department of Human Services conducted their
own investigation.
Elizabeth Sollis, Department of Human Services: "We received a complaint in the
regards to the handling of this adoption in December, and we investigated it in
that same month and found that the agency was not in violation."
Still, many in Illinois are expressing concern about Utah adoption laws-- that
once papers are signed, they become legally binding at that moment, while other
states require a waiting period.
Marty Shannon, Division of Child and Family Services: "The counseling for birth
parents becomes as you can understand very crucial though-- is the birth
parents need to really understand is that it is a final decision that if they
have any reservations or any questions-- the point is don't sign."
So far, "The Cherished Child Adoption Agency" has made no public comments and
denied our request today for an interview.
"The Bible is the most shoplifted book in the United States."
That Book of Perfectly Useless Information. Harper Collins (2004)
