11051996 - News Article - Family House disputes judge

Family House disputes judge
NWI Times
Nov 5, 1996
http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/family-house-disputes-judge/article_f714ac6a-0042-549f-83d0-19e4815804d2.html
VALPARAISO - Within a month of the opening of the Children/Parent Center, court-appointed guardian ad litem Beatrice Lightfoot attempted to transfer at least four Family House clients to the center she co-founded with Porter Superior Court Judge Thomas Webber.

Sharon Caywood, Family House's board president, said it is that action that led her to ask for a meeting with Webber in November 1995, not a dispute about Family House's hours as portrayed in Webber's public account published Sunday in The Times.

"I have been shocked and very disappointed that Judge Webber had been on the board of Children/Parent Center (CPC) and instrumental in helping them set up a 501C3 (nonprofit organization)," Caywood said Monday after learning of the incorporation by Webber and Lightfoot.

On Monday, Caywood disputed Webber's statement about last fall's meetings with Family House.

Caywood said at least four confused families called Family House last fall, saying they had been transferred to Children/Parent Center by Lightfoot. "They did not want to leave," Caywood said.

Caywood said she called a meeting with Webber during which she asked Webber if he planned to put Family House out of business.

Caywood said Family House was raising funds at the time in order to relocate.

Caywood said she told the judge, "If that's your plan, you need to tell us now."

"There was no answer (from Webber)," Caywood said.

Ultimately two of the families were appointed a guardian ad litem, which was Lightfoot, who then referred them to her own center, according to Caywood.

Ruth Massmann, Family House executive director, said she recalled that of the remaining two cases, one was dismissed and one stayed with Family House.

On Monday, Webber said he authorized Lightfoot to transfer any cases she felt needed to be transferred.

A letter by Webber to Lightfoot dated Oct. 30, 1995 confirms Webber authorized Lightfoot "to use the facility which will best serve the needs of the children and parents."

Caywood said the meeting with Webber followed a meeting Oct. 23, 1995, which was called by Porter Circuit Court Judge Raymond Kickbush, who was concerned about duplication of services.

At that meeting, Caywood said Kickbush and Webber asked Lightfoot how she expected to be paid. Lightfoot replied she was going to bill the county. Both judges explained to Lightfoot that they had a budget allocated only for Family House.

Nevertheless, Family House received several months of billing for clients who were being seen at CPC, Caywood said.

Webber wrote in his response to inquiries from The Times: "Judge Kickbush was requested to arrange a meeting with Family House board of directors. Subsequently, a meeting was held in Judge Kickbush's jury room with the Family House board of directors, their executive director and those interested members of the judiciary. Family House was requested to either change or increase the hours of operation to accommodate the exchange of children on a more flexible schedule. Family House agreed to be a place for the exchanging of children but declined to change or increase their hours of operation to accommodate the dates and times set forth in the court's standard visitation order. A second meeting was held in my office with members of the board of directors of Family House where it was again stressed that a location was needed for parents to exchange children. Family House again indicated that a change of hours of operation was impossible."

"At neither meeting were our hours the main issue or main topic," Caywood said. "We will never turn a family away. Needs are always met at Family House."

On Monday, Webber said the underlying purposes to both meetings were as he outlined in his letter to The Times. "The Family House people were discussing their concerns, and I was discussing my concerns."