Kathryn Wellman Deadbeat
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Kathryn Wellman Deadbeat

GARNER (WTVD) — Imagine in these troubled economic times if your boss just stopped paying you for months.

It's happening to workers right here in the Triangle and it's beinginvestigated by the state and by Troubleshooter Diane Wilson.

Several former Therapeutic Strategies employees came to TroubleshooterDiane Wilson after not getting their pay checks and not just for onepay period but several.

Former Therapeutic Strategies Program Director Miquel Ramirez says he'sout $12,000. He tells Troubleshooter Diane Wilson, "Right now my houseis in foreclosure. I haven't been able to pay."
Mom-to-be Broni Ademski's also missing money. She adds, "I'm owed about$6,000 to $7,000" Latezes Bridges-Watkins says she's out more than$7,000. She says, "You're steadily getting behind, spiraling downward, needing more money to stay afloat. So it's horrible as it affects everyaspect of your life."

Therapeutic Strategies is a community support agency that's part of thestate's mental health reform. It helps those with mental illness orsubstance abuse problems get help.

Now, former Therapeutic employees may have to rely on publicassistance. Broni adds, "Having to look into going to a food bank, goto churches, wondering if my lights get cut off. What am I going to do?"

Kathryn Wellman Deadbeat

The owner of Therapeutic Strategies is Kathryn Wellman. She lives in agated community, drives a luxury Mercedes, and even had enough sparechange to donate thousands to political candidates recently. KathrynWellman seems well-off.

Miquel says, " She's a politician. She likes that lifestyle. Peoplethat look at her at say wow." But these former Wellman employeesstopped being wowed a long time ago as they say she owes them back payfrom June.

These former employees came to Troubleshooter Diane Wilson and she caught up with Kathryn Wellman outside her Garner office. Wellman didn't want to talk on camera but did invite her into her office to talk off-camera.

Wellman admitted she hasn't paid past, even present, employees formonths because she just doesn't have the money. She told TroubleshooterDiane Wilson she's trying to rebuild and get loans to pay back-salary, back-rent on the office, and personal bills.

But before she can do any of that that she has to pay-back Medicaid forbilling overcharges.in the summer of the state orderedTherapeutic Strategies to reimburse $111,743.74.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the paybackwas because of the 33 community support clients Therapeutic Strategieshad the state found 11 weren't clinically necessary.

Also, the state found that 32 of the 33 cases weren't appropriate induration and intensity. Wellman blames the Medicaid problems on formerstaffers from 2007 taking bad notes and not doing their jobs right.

As for Miquel, Broni and Latezes they say Wellman should stop makingexcuses and start making payments. Latezes adds, "You as a businessowner have to accept responsibility for your own business."

The NC Department of Labor is also investigating Kathryn Wellman. They've even put in writing to those former employees that they'reconfident they'll get the back pay from Wellman but so far, nothing.

As for Wellman, she admits she owes the Department of Labor claims, andsays she's working with the state on that. She does disputes how muchshe owes each former employee. She says the credit crunch is keepingher from getting the loans she needs to pay them. She also says she'slooking for a buyer, or investors for the company.

More news about

Company: Kathryn Wellman Deadbeat
Country: USA
State: South Carolina
City: New York

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