I am a 40 year old single mother, of one, 11 yr old wonderful son. I was divorced in 1994, in Columbus, Georgia & recieved custody of my son who was 10 months old at the time.
When I left my ex, we moved back to Auburn, Al, to reside with my mom. My ex took me to court, in Columbus Georgia because my son & I use to live there. Since my ex was from there & currently residing in Columbus, since he was filing for divorce that's the city & state with the Jurisdiction. FOREVER & always
My ex took me back to court about 16 months later & filed in Auburn, Al. (dumb me) Not knowing any better went & hired an attorney, for $7,500 I still have the cancelled check. My ex's lawyer stated in court, 'that since my son & I had resided in Lee county for over a year, that she had the "divorce & custody" case MOVED relocated to Lee County Alabam. Ofcourse, I still maintained custody, but He received joint custody.
My ex & THAT attorney Theresa Dean, have taken me to court FIVE times since, in Lee county Alabama.
I was a registered Nurse & Certified Surgical Tech. For many years. And unfortunately became addicted to Lortab. But never let it enterferr with my sons up bringing. My son was VERY HAPPY and a wonderful wonderful young individual. He maintained an A B honor roll, with the exception of one quarter each year he'd drop to a 'C' & then we'd pull it back up. He was voted Most Popular Kid in the Class one year, the next year he received Most Popular kid in the School. Even though I worked, Part-time I was always Homeroom Mom always involve with the school & activities & on a first name basis, with his teachers, the principal & vice principal.
My son was involved with Baseball & was (is) a FANTASTIC ball player, recieving Sportman ship, # 1 player etc. My son & I have always had a very close and wonderful relationship. One parent said my son & I were 'Buddies'.
In June I started recieving help for my substance abuse, my ex husband filed for custody & we went to court on YEP 9/11/03, & my ex was granted custody. Again, he took me to court in Lee County Alabama. However, my son & I had been residing in Panama City, Fl, since 1999, we were BOTH a resident of Florida.
After, being released in January I've been seeking back custody every since. My son ABSOLUTELY HATES his dad, they have NEVER had any kind of relationship & Virtually can't stand each other. My son has threatened on MANY occassions that he was going to kill his dad. My ex does nat take any kind of care of him & has literally tortured my son Mentally & Emotionally. My son's report card from the 5th grade consisted of over 5 F's, a couple of C's and the rest were D's. He was suspended twice in one week and MANY more things.
In May of this year my ex tried to run over my with his truck in which my son was a passenger. The first time I did nothing the second time I filed a report in Columbus Georgia. My sons passenger door was still open while he was squealing past me.in Georgia is was charge with Aggravated Assault, two weeks later he tried to back up over me again in Auburn, Alabama. Lee County charged him with 'Reckless Endangerment'.
This ordeal is SO unbelievable & long I'll just cut through the chase.
The DA's office in Georgia told me that I needed to go back to my first originall attorney in Georgia. And expressed that I needed to do it NOW. Under the circumstances I was embarresed (due to my addiction) and my then attorney was now a State Senator of Georgia. Also I felt that I trusted my attorney, in Lee County, that I'd had since 1999 & trusted the justice system here in Lee County. It was AWFULL my worst nightmare possible.
My son spoke with the Judge, Robert Harper & told him he feared his dad & was depressed & un happy living with him & He Begged the Judge please don't make him go back. My ex's attorney, Theresa Dean, told my son if "he told anyone he wanted to live with his mom, the Judge, Robert Harper, said he was going to put his mom, me in jail." They scared the HELL out of my child. My son spoke with DHR, about the fears he had at his dads'. His dad had put him on drugs for Sczophrenia (sp), which my son is NOT. He has been diagnoised with with Mild ADHD problems, but would probably grow out of. The medicine that my ex put him on was Resperdol, NEVER has this drug been used on anyone under 15 yr old. And was not recommended for anyone under 25 yrs old.
My son told DHR, the Auburn Police Dept. And the Judge that his dad constantly would drink and drive, take him the concerts, (band parties) on school nites coming in at the wee hours of the morning. But no one listened! They just sent him back and took my visitation away from me. I thought I was going to DIE. This just didn't make since. Crooked Crooked Crooked.
I found out that my divorce HAD NEVER been moved from Georgia to Alabama, at any time AND the Family Court in Columbus told me it could never be moved to any other state or county at any time anyway.
Yes, I went to my first attorney I hired in 1993, Seth Harp, now Georgia State Senator. He was furious! The judge in Columbus, Georgia signed an INSTANTOR, giving me instant custody mad as well you know... When the Sherriffs' Dept. Went to pick up my son my ex RAN. About an hour later, my attorney got a call from the Judge in Lee County, mad as a hornet. Cussing him out telling him that he was going to put me in jail for Fraud. Meaning going to the original state. My attorney HIT the roof & told Judge Robert Harper to shut up & that he was the one who had broken the law, not his client.
Lord do I have a MESS do I need media coverage I'D BEGG for it. Georgia claimed jurisdiction on this case & we go back to court Sept. 1 to review my visitation in the Lee County courts, who have no jurisdiction. What's going to happen I don't know. The judge in Georgia told me, my ex and his attorney that actually my ex didn't have legal custody of my son. I've been to court so many times I can't count, money spent is up to over $20,000.
I had to hire another attorney to go into court on Sept. 1, in Lee County, only paid her $500.00. She's very nice and my attorney in Columbus has been in contact with her daily. Ofcourse the judge in Lee county will find out Sept. 1 that Lee County has never had jurisdiction (at anytime) still doesn't have jurisdiction and when my ex was granted custody, my son was a resident of Florida.
What I have found out is, the four attorneys involved and the Judge have always known from the begining that Alabama has NEVER HAD jurisdiction on this case. They have ALWAYS KNOWN what they were doing & I was the stupid one.
My mom of 73 yrs of age, is now filing for welfare, after working over 50 years. She retired from Prudential after 25 years as the first female manager. Took a few years off & went to work in Real Estate. After 20 yrs there she retired she owns her own house & it was paid for. Now with all these attorney fees my mom & I are flat broke. My car is 8 years old & paid for, with no heat / defrost, the power windows will not go up or down the motors' are broke. $150 each to fix. And it has over 145,000 miles on it. I just hope it will hold up for another year.
Can anyone help
Larry Cooper, was my attorney
Mitzi Sears, was my moms' attorney, (we found out she never needed an attorney
The gaurdian at Lietum, lord only knows why
Theresa Dean, my ex's attorney the one who threatned my son & has lied to judges and taken me to court over 5 times when Lee County had no jurisdiction.
Laurie
Auburn, Alabama
U.S.A.
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