Press Release by Kipling’s Who’s Who on behalf of member, Susan Titus Glascoff

                                                                                                 (See STG’s blog  www.advocateforlegalaccountability.com)

Everyone agrees- stay clear of the legal system if you can.  Why?  Everyone is aware

            of often outrageous costs, years of wasted time, a nearly impossible burden of proof

            with manipulation by the more powerful party likely to determine the outcome.

            Most know it is too easy to sue in the U.S. and that this adds cost to business, health-

            care, and individuals since blame often replaces self-responsibility.  It would be

            sobering if estimated legal costs for a few of the major categories could be compiled

            as a per cent of our GDP!   Outrageous hourly billing that is hard to verify  

            drives the system, promoting lots of delays via nitpicking repetitious legalese.

            Excessive malpractice premiums force defensive medicine and counter-

            productive business practices..  Legal fees impoverish divorcing families or one

            spouse relative to the other, more often mothers with dependent children,

            sometimes causing loss of custody to abusers.    Divorce has become big business

            and compassionate, constructive solutions that would benefit them and all

            society are given short shrift.    Fewer seem aware that judges are too often biased,

            or worse, and that the public has scant defense.  Recusal (judge withdrawal) is

            voluntary even when there are serious allegations.  Impeachment is almost

            nonexistent.  Many states report two to three thousand complaints yearly, but

            sanctions numbering in the single digits.    This tarnishes good judges!

 

            High-powered conferences and award-winning books and videos have yielded

            meaningless reforms.  Why?  Could it be that the conferences as well as the

            intended separation of powers of our three branches of government are

            compromised by too many lawyer members?   In 1821 Thomas Jefferson said, “The

            germ of the destruction of our nation is in the power of the judiciary.”  The reason

            given was lack of checks and balances.  Susan Titus Glascoff, a longtime national

            advocate re many serious issues, had a web petition in 2004 requesting legal

            accountability be a presidential campaign topic.  (She requested it again via

            letter to 2007-8 debate commission).    The petition supposedly dysfunctioned,

           but  after the 2004 election appearing at top was- “Aren’t you glad the election

            turned out the way it did?”   11 million websites were requesting reforms!

 

            In 2005, and ongoing, Ms. Glascoff sent out a highly researched report to over

            100 media and senators, etc., which included letters from noted authors with reform

            ideas.    Senator Barack Obama was the only senator (of 21) to send a personal

            response letter  (June 24, 2005 part of his letter stated- “It is unfortunate that family

            courts can often be places that hinder, rather than help, the broken families who

            enter them, and this situation must be addressed…. I can tell you care deeply about

            the situation and have many good insights on what can, and should, be done.”  He

            noted some reform legislation was pending across the country, but Ms. Glascoff and

            numerous other  reform-minded people continue to observe scant improvement.)

Ms. Glascoff spoke (early 2005) before the NY Matrimonial Commission; 30 of its

32  members were judges and lawyers.   A renowned retired lawyer, who helped

create the National Coalition for Family Justice (NCFJ, a 501C3) in 1988 and whose

father was one of the founders of the American Bar Association,  expressed that the

NYMC results “merely moved the deck chairs on the Titanic.”  ETC!

 

Ms. Glascoff was asked, as executive director of the advisory board, by the NCFJ’s 

president to start attending the Brooklyn, NY Taub divorce case on Feb. 5, 2007, since

legal improprieties were reported from outset, summer 2005.   She often sentthe NYTimes

information about legal abuse in this case (and others, also to Mayor Bloomberg,

administrative judges, etc.) including that Judge Carolyn Demarest ordered discovery,

only $350/wk maintenance (which didn’t even cover wife’s supposed share of the mortgage),

that husband get the home out of foreclosure, etc., yet enforced none of this, forcing the wife

to file bankruptcy.  Foreclosures (3 in process in Taub case), bankruptcies, and court costs

(estimates from a  retired NY judge - who is very upset with our legal system- found NYC’s to

be  a  be about $4500  per  D AY for ONE court  ROOM) cost all taxpayers!    (YET, Oct. 30, 2008

             bankruptcy Judge Stong emphasized the Taubs'assets are about $41 million and expressed

             concern the case is taking  so long - 3   1/2 years.   When Mr. Taub’s lawyer complained that

             Mrs. Taub had started collecting some rent from properties deeded in her name- the federal

             trustee interrupted asking, “Is she not supposed to eat till the case  is finished?”)   The NYT

             interviewed Ms. Glascoff and the Taubs, but the Oct. 5 article (by Ruth Padawer, but edited

             by NYT) in their quarterly Key Magazine totally skewed the facts, painting the wife as

             mercenary and the  husband as mostly fighting for his rights, downplaying official abuse

             testimony, misleadingly mentioning sexual libel suit, and casting judge as neutral, etc!  

              Biased editing erodes trust in good authors and media.

          

 The NYT listed none of Ms. Glascoff’s extensive credentials, characterizing her as a “self-

             described advocate who said in a low voice that she thinks many are getting bribed.”

             She did say she is a freelance advocate, but noted she was requested to attend by the

             NCFJ, is a member of 4 whos’ whos, etc. and mentioned bribery as an aside of her

             opinion but asked that not be published, though evidence points that way.   Lawyers agree

             to start, then abruptly withdraw.    BUT she, Chana Taub and sister gave tons of data showing

             Simon Taub not credible- 3 federal fraud convictions, prostitution arrest, NYC government

             website listings detailing his 103 building violations – many illegal apartments, fire violations,

etc.-   and tens of thousands in unpaid fines, etc. all essentially ignored by various city agencies.

             Even though 48 pages of highly documented, much legally prepared, recusal papers  have been

             given to the NYT, the NYT refuses to recant or fire the final editor!  (They were aware recusal

             papers were in process for months and had much of the data.) Major media blatantly twisting

            the truth causes apathy, disgust, etc. and hurts everyone!   Meanwhile, the court system seems

t           to be doing its best to ignore the formally filed recusal papers re Judge Carolyn Demarest.

 

            Why is Ms. Glascoff detailing so much of the Taub case?  Because she wants the

             public to conclude themselves that our legal system, and major media, sorely need

             checks and balances!    This case is truly but the tip of the iceberg!   Ignoring court    

             abuse, re ANY topic, impairs the ability of the many good judges and lawyers to

             function, plus too many of them are fearful of speaking out against colleagues.  Our

             entire financial crisis is intertwined with legal dysfunction  (partly via ridiculous

            CEO contracts) and misleading media!    How can we solve our crisis or lead this

             way?   We need national sustained dialogue (? Contests?)  not only about legal and

              media dysfunction but about compassionate constructive ideas for conflict

             management and the challenges of good partnering and parenting  ASAP!

                     Isn’t Barack Obama’s message that was overwhelmingly endorsed-

                   “Change  we can believe in?”         Our KIDS KANT WAIT, so neither can we!   

                                             (See STG's blog   www  .advocateforlegalaccountability.com)        

                                                      For newspaper or media contact only:

                          To verify the above person's inclusion, contact Kipling's Who'sWho In Leading Business

                          Professionals' Offices at (631) 243-0202