LilMtnCbn
03-11-2004, 06:55 AM
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cadoption11mar11,0,7919
885.story?coll=sfla-news-broward
State, Coral Springs adoption agency in talks to settle allegations
By Megan O'Matz
Staff Writer
Posted March 11 2004
State officials are negotiating with the owner of a Coral Springs international
adoption agency to settle an inquiry into unfair and deceptive business
practices, possibly avoiding a civil suit.
The talks between International Adoption Resource Inc. and the state Department
of Children & Families and the Attorney General's Office revolve around how
long IAR may be prohibited from operating in Florida, and which of the
company's workers, if any, may be legally permitted to get involved again in
the adoption industry in Florida.
Also at issue: whether the company must repay clients thousands of dollars in
fees.
DCF moved in January to revoke IAR's operating license, citing "international
determinations or allegations that IAR is or has been involved in baby
smuggling and kidnapping for the purpose of adoption by American families."
The company, headed by Rebecca K. Thurmond, denied any wrongdoing and is
seeking the reinstatement of its operating license.
A hearing is set for March 31 and April 1 before an administrative law judge of
the state Division of Administrative Hearings.
If a settlement is reached beforehand, the hearing will be canceled.
Jack Moss, DCF district administrator in Broward County, acknowledged: "DCF is
involved in ongoing settlement negotiations with International Adoption
Resource, Inc. regarding the licensing matter."
Michael B. Cohen, attorney for Thurmond, said: "There are discussions ongoing."
He declined to comment further, except to say: "Hopefully we'll be able to
resolve it to everyone's benefit, ultimately."
IAR caught the attention of authorities in September, when police raided a
house rented by IAR in Costa Rica, finding nine Guatemalan babies there. IAR
Attorney Cheryl Eisen later said IAR helped the children's birthmothers to
travel from Guatemala to Costa Rica, where local attorneys were to arrange the
adoption of the children by U.S. families, during a hiatus in overseas
adoptions in Guatemala.
Investigators in Central America are looking at whether the children were
brought to Costa Rica legally.
DCF has cited IAR for failing to inform the department that one of its
employees, Adoption Coordinator Rolf Levy, was wanted in Costa Rica on
suspicion of trafficking in children and was under investigation in Colombia
for kidnapping and arranging illegal adoptions.
DCF found Levy was using numerous aliases and Social Security numbers. The
department also claims IAR kept shoddy records on the children and families it
served.
In December, the Florida Attorney General's Office subpoenaed the company's
records in an investigation into whether IAR's advertising and business
practices violated the state's consumer protection law.
JoAnn Carrin, spokeswoman for Attorney General Charlie Crist, declined to say
whether the office is negotiating with IAR. "We are still in the process of
investigating the international adoption group," she said.
However, Carrin said, in general, if the state can resolve a case through the
settlement process and "get the same results we'd seek by going to court, it's
not unusual for us to try to settle cases."
If a settlement is not successful, the attorney general's office could file a
complaint in civil court if it finds the company has violated the law.
No criminal charges have been brought against IAR or Thurmond.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
885.story?coll=sfla-news-broward
State, Coral Springs adoption agency in talks to settle allegations
By Megan O'Matz
Staff Writer
Posted March 11 2004
State officials are negotiating with the owner of a Coral Springs international
adoption agency to settle an inquiry into unfair and deceptive business
practices, possibly avoiding a civil suit.
The talks between International Adoption Resource Inc. and the state Department
of Children & Families and the Attorney General's Office revolve around how
long IAR may be prohibited from operating in Florida, and which of the
company's workers, if any, may be legally permitted to get involved again in
the adoption industry in Florida.
Also at issue: whether the company must repay clients thousands of dollars in
fees.
DCF moved in January to revoke IAR's operating license, citing "international
determinations or allegations that IAR is or has been involved in baby
smuggling and kidnapping for the purpose of adoption by American families."
The company, headed by Rebecca K. Thurmond, denied any wrongdoing and is
seeking the reinstatement of its operating license.
A hearing is set for March 31 and April 1 before an administrative law judge of
the state Division of Administrative Hearings.
If a settlement is reached beforehand, the hearing will be canceled.
Jack Moss, DCF district administrator in Broward County, acknowledged: "DCF is
involved in ongoing settlement negotiations with International Adoption
Resource, Inc. regarding the licensing matter."
Michael B. Cohen, attorney for Thurmond, said: "There are discussions ongoing."
He declined to comment further, except to say: "Hopefully we'll be able to
resolve it to everyone's benefit, ultimately."
IAR caught the attention of authorities in September, when police raided a
house rented by IAR in Costa Rica, finding nine Guatemalan babies there. IAR
Attorney Cheryl Eisen later said IAR helped the children's birthmothers to
travel from Guatemala to Costa Rica, where local attorneys were to arrange the
adoption of the children by U.S. families, during a hiatus in overseas
adoptions in Guatemala.
Investigators in Central America are looking at whether the children were
brought to Costa Rica legally.
DCF has cited IAR for failing to inform the department that one of its
employees, Adoption Coordinator Rolf Levy, was wanted in Costa Rica on
suspicion of trafficking in children and was under investigation in Colombia
for kidnapping and arranging illegal adoptions.
DCF found Levy was using numerous aliases and Social Security numbers. The
department also claims IAR kept shoddy records on the children and families it
served.
In December, the Florida Attorney General's Office subpoenaed the company's
records in an investigation into whether IAR's advertising and business
practices violated the state's consumer protection law.
JoAnn Carrin, spokeswoman for Attorney General Charlie Crist, declined to say
whether the office is negotiating with IAR. "We are still in the process of
investigating the international adoption group," she said.
However, Carrin said, in general, if the state can resolve a case through the
settlement process and "get the same results we'd seek by going to court, it's
not unusual for us to try to settle cases."
If a settlement is not successful, the attorney general's office could file a
complaint in civil court if it finds the company has violated the law.
No criminal charges have been brought against IAR or Thurmond.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
