Press Release by Kipling’s Who’s Who on
behalf of member, Susan Titus Glascoff
(See STG’s blog ww.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
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