The Case
As we have been in litigation since May, 2008, we are not able to discuss various details of our case. However, we have a generalized timeline of court proceedings that we have attended so that you can see how our case is progressing.
| January 3, 2008 | Bob and Lisa adopt beautiful Baby Bryan in Columbus, OH. |
| May 2008 | Four months after the adoption, the birth
parents changed their minds and decided to contest the adoption. Since their
right to revoke consent had long passed, they have been trying desperate
measures to convince the court that the adoption was a scam. Although they
have made many, many astonishing accusations, the following should describe the
absurdity that we up against:
They claim that Lisa and I, the adoption agency, our California and Ohio adoption attorneys, the California and Ohio case workers and social workers assigned to the adoption, the Ohio hospital where Bryan was born, as well as the governors of California and Ohio, are all a part of a "black market baby smuggling ring". |
| June 2008 | Scheduled status conference. All parties were required to attend; however, the birth parents did not show up. Another status conference was rescheduled for July 2008. |
| July 2008 | Schedule status conference. All parties were required to attend, however, the birth parents again did not show up. Another status conference was rescheduled again for later in the month. |
| July 2008 | Scheduled status conference. All parties attended. The court paid all expenses for the birth parents, including airfare, hotel, car rental and meals. The court appointed separate attorneys for the birth parents, due to a conflict in that the birth father indicated that he does not want the child and the birth mother does. The court is paying for the birth parents' attorneys despite the fact that the birth father's family had won a previous $18 million lawsuit against Chevron. Depositions and psychological evaluations were scheduled for all parties for September 2008. |
| September 2008 | The birth parents did not show up for the scheduled depositions or court ordered psychological evaluations. Bob and Lisa's depositions were then postponed as a result. |
| October 2008 | Court ordered status conference. The birth parents attended via teleconference. Bob and Lisa were present in court. Depositions were rescheduled for January 2009. |
| January 2009 | The birth mother's deposition lasted two days. The birth father, Bob and Lisa's depositions were rescheduled for March 2009. |
| March 2009 | Schedule status conference. Neither party were required to attend, however, Bob did attend. |
| March 2009 | One week later, the birth parents visit with Bryan at the courthouse. Over the next three days, the birth parents were to have their psychological evaluations, and the birth father, Bob and Lisa were to finish their depositions. However, the birth parents left California before their evaluations and deposition. |
| April 2009 | Schedule status conference. The birth parents' psychological evaluations and final depositions are rescheduled for June 2009. The three week trial is finally scheduled for July 2009. |
| June 2009 | The birth mother's attorney deposes Lisa and Bob. Lisa and Bob's attorney deposes the birth father. During his colorful testimony, the birth father claims conspiracy, calling this entire adoption process a "baby-selling machine supported by the cash cows, Bob and Lisa". He stated that everyone involved in the adoption are part of this "baby-selling machine", including, among others, the California adoption attorney, the adoption agency, the Ohio adoption attorneys, the Ohio social workers, the L.A. County social workers (whom the birth father verbally assaulted), the California judge who presides in the case (he claims that Bob and Lisa's attorneys have the judge in their back pocket), and even Governor Schwarzeneggar himself. The birth father indicates he has come up with 170 violations in the adoption process and has taped phone conversations of many politicians and law enforcement agents that he says are part of the conspiracy, and has 300 witnesses that he will be calling to the stand during trial. He also confessed to taping phone conversations between Lisa and his wife. While it is illegal to record phone conversations without the consent of all parties if one of the parties is located in California, he states that since Lisa's voice was in Ohio, it was legal. Another of his comments worth mentioning is the fact that he confessed that he is going to sue everyone because "I want my $18 million", and that having that much money solves all your problems. The $18 million is in reference to the money that his family had won in a lawsuit against Chevron. |
| July 27, 2009 | The trial starts in Ohio and lasts four days. Bob and Lisa's appearances are waived. The birth parents, who live just 20 minutes from the Ohio courthouse, do not appear for reasons unknown. Bob and Lisa's Ohio attorneys and hospital social workers give their testimonies. |
| August 4, 2009 | The trial resumes in California and lasts two weeks. Bob and Lisa are present on all days. Despite the court paying for ALL travel expenses, including airfare, hotel, car rental and meals, the birth parents do not appear for reasons unknown. |
| August 20, 2009 | Closing arguments and the judge's decision. During an emotional statement, the judge rules in favor of Bob and Lisa. After more than a year of court proceedings, much of which were delayed for a variety of unknown reasons on the part of the birth parents and their attorneys, the adoption is to proceed. |
| October 9, 2009 | The birth mother files for appeal. |
| October 19, 2009 | The birth father files for appeal at the last minute. |
| December 17, 2009 | Although the appellate court is aware that the birth parents are financially capable of retaining their own attorneys, as well as the financial crisis that the state of California is currently in, the court still appoints an attorney for them. |
| January 19, 2010 | The birth parents' opening brief is due. |
| January 25, 2010 | The birth parents' attorney files their opening brief. |
| January 27, 2010 | The appellate court asks the appellants' attorney to file a supplemental brief. |
To date, Bob and Lisa have spent well over $100,000 in litigation costs. We still owe our attorneys over $40,000, while the birth parents have all their expenses paid for by the court, which we estimate to be over $100,000 as well.