stripe Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 BY STEVE SCHMADEKE Chicago Tribune First published Aug 27 2011 07:01PM Updated Aug 28, 2011 12:06AM Chicago • Raised in a $1.5 million Barrington Hills, Ill., home by their attorney father, two grown children have spent the last two years pursuing a unique lawsuit against their mom for "bad mothering" that alleges damages caused when she failed to buy toys for one and sent another a birthday card he didn’t like. The alleged offenses include failing to take her daughter to a car show, telling her then 7-year-old son to buckle his seat belt or she would contact police, "haggling" over the amount to spend on party dresses and calling her daughter at midnight to ask that she return home from celebrating homecoming. Last week, at which point the court record stood about a foot tall, an Illinois appeals court dismissed the case, finding that none of the mother’s conduct was "extreme or outrageous." To rule in favor of her children, the court found, "could potentially open the floodgates to subject family childrearing to ... excessive judicial scrutiny and interference." In 2009, the children, represented by three attorneys including their father, Steven A. Miner, sued their mother, Kimberly Garrity. Steven II, now 23, and his sister Kathryn, now 20, sought more than $50,000 for "emotional distress." Miner and Garrity were married for a decade before she filed for divorce in 1995, records show. Among the exhibits filed in the case is a birthday card Garrity sent her son, who in his lawsuit sought damages because the card was "inappropriate" and failed to include cash or a check. He also alleged she failed to send a card for years or, while he was in college, care packages. On the front of the American Greetings card is a picture of tomatoes spread across a table that are indistinguishable except for one in the middle with craft-store googly eyes attached. "Son I got you this Birthday card because it’s just like you ... different from all the rest!" the card reads. On the inside Garrity wrote "Have a great day! Love & Hugs, Mom xoxoxo." (continues) http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/52469658-68/garrity-card-court-lawsuit.html.csp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Ungrateful brats! Money grubbing, ungrateful, spiteful brats! Sorry, strong language. But, that is how I would characterize it. The father claiming that he tried to dissuade his children from bringing the lawsuit and then representing them for free???? Oh, there are words for him, unfortunately, those would be quite impolite to say on this board. I wish the court had slapped the kids with court fines, jail time, something for filing a completely frivolous claim. What a waste of tax dollars and of course she had to pay legal fees to defend herself! Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I think it's telling that their attorney father is representing them. Smells like a distinct case of sour grapes. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Apparently, these young adults think "good mothering" is giving them whatever they want? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 How sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Apparently, these young adults think "good mothering" is giving them whatever they want? Sounds like my 17 year old. :001_huh: :lol: Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTanya Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Sounds like the father has been poisoning them against their mother. Based on their allegations, I have many suits in my future. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Why was the greeting card inappropriate, by the way? I don't get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 The only thing I can think of to say about this is that the judge is an !d!ot for not punishing the attorneys involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Well, bless their little teeny tiny hearts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hwin Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Sounds like something that came from the Onion. I can't believe this is for real! (Is it?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Entitlement issues galore, stoked by a vengeful ex husband with a law degree. Can't imagine why she divorced him. *eyeroll* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenjenn Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Sounds like something that came from the Onion. I can't believe this is for real! (Is it?) This was exactly my thought. The day a case like this wasn't thrown out of court immediately will be the day I move to Australia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 The only thing I can think of to say about this is that the judge is an !d!ot for not punishing the attorneys involved. :iagree: If I were her, I would file a complaint with the bar association. The judge should have slapped them with HER attorney's fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Why was the greeting card inappropriate, by the way? I don't get it. sought damages because the card was "inappropriate" and failed to include cash or a check.I think they found the card inappropriate because it failed to include cash or a check. :glare: I think the only bad parenting going on here is raising entitled, spiteful brats - and that's putting it politely. I'm not sure that can be completely laid on the mother's door, though - sounds like dad was the greater culprit there... I'm sure these two prizes are going to be perfect parents someday. :001_rolleyes: I'm just gobsmacked at how out-of-touch these kids are - I mean, with all the actual abusive and neglectful parenting going on in the world, they really thought a judge would sympathize with them because they didn't like the birthday card mommy sent them? That even said nice things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annandatje Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Publicity stunt. Avert eyes and walk past quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I don't think this is for real. The attorney should have been sanctioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I tired to find this on snopes, but failed to do so. But then I got caught up reading snopes stuff - and school is starting late today. :$ Good think my kids never notice. To them school just comes after breakfast and before lunch. ... So if breakfast is late - then school can be late with no comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 (edited) :iagree: If I were her, I would file a complaint with the bar association. The judge should have slapped them with HER attorney's fees. :iagree: Her ex sounds like a real douche. The attorneys involved should be sanctioned. It is ridiculous they even tried it. Edited August 29, 2011 by Sis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 The dad commented on trying to dissuade the kids from filing. Not that I believe that in the slightest, but isn't commenting on the case a violation of attorney-client priviledge? Wonder if the kids will sue him next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Most states have parental immunity laws that protect parents from being sued for normal parenting issues. There are exceptions made to the laws to protect children from abuse and neglect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Well, bless their little teeny tiny hearts. Yup, my thoughts too. Good luck getting someone to be a parent with you. Can you see dating someone like that? Can you imagine someone wanting to procreate with someone like that? Ungrateful *****es. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I am not sure I have any words for this. If my kids grow up to act this way, then I obviously failed them miserably as a parent. I am going to venture a guess here and say that lawyer dad raised them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegGuheert Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I am not sure I have any words for this.Exactly what I have been thinking...though I'm confident I can muster a few anyway! :D I find myself fully agreeing with the judgment of the court: Last week, at which point the court record stood about a foot tall, an Illinois appeals court dismissed the case, finding that none of the mother’s conduct was "extreme or outrageous." To rule in favor of her children, the court found, "could potentially open the floodgates to subject family childrearing to ... excessive judicial scrutiny and interference."But to me, that doesn't go NEARLY far enough. Does this father or do these children *really* want to try to turn motherhood into a truly thankless job? Where would (will??) we be if motherhood is treated as something to be disparaged by children? I really hope we are not as far down that path as the existence of this lawsuit implies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 That is absolutely insane! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Well, there is clearly some kind of bad parenting going on, if these two have a sense of entitlement that huge, isn't there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 Sounds like something that came from the Onion. I can't believe this is for real! (Is it?) Yes! It's real! http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2011/08/29/illinois-court-dismisses-bad-mothering-suit/ <-- Wall St Journal blog http://www.state.il.us/court/R23_Orders/AppellateCourt/2011/1stDistrict/July/1103023_R23.pdf <-- court decision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Brats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 I laughed at the idea that not including cash means she forgot they were children. The phrasing was amusing. Otherwise the suit seems to saying that the mother was alternately favoring and outright ignoring each of the children. Clearly a troubled family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Well, there is clearly some kind of bad parenting going on, if these two have a sense of entitlement that huge, isn't there? This crossed my mind. Sounds like the dad may have had custody of the kids singlely for a while, though. I'm guessing he is a very bitter man. Seriously, can you imagine if such a suit were allowed? That would definitely affect the birth rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdalley Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Sounds like these two brats should be forced to listen to a song by The Eagles - 'Get Over It' I think we as a collective whole should sue the lawyer father for his obviously poor parenting skills and his lack of will power. He should have told them there was no way he would think of representing them in such a stupid lawsuit. Had I been the judge I would have laughed them out of court and told them to get a dose of reality. How disgusting. My DH would love to get a card from his mother - no cash or check needed. Just the knowledge she remembers his birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 It does cross the line to ask a partying teen to return home with the car at midnight. It WAS prom night, after all! ;) :auto: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivka Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I pity the judge (or, more likely, the clerks) who had to come up with 37 pages of response in which they pretend to give the plaintiffs serious consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I just had my son load the dishwasher, hope he does not come back when he is an adult and sue me for "forced Labor". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I just had my son load the dishwasher, hope he does not come back when he is an adult and sue me for "forced Labor". Dd9 just jokingly told me that she was going to call CPA to report me for giving her too many chores. I said in horror, "Not the accountants!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 I have plenty of words... but none are printable. :glare: I guess my girls better start keeping notes now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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