10 kids by 8 women: ex-NBA player's child support

Yesterday, “Nancy Grace” did a segment on former NBA player Jason Caffey and his child support suits and bankruptcy. The report is Caffey owes over $400,000 in child support payments for 10 children by 8 different women in 5 different states. And I guess these are the ones, as Nancy put it "that we know about." According to Grace, bankruptcy doesn't exempt a parent from paying child support.
They reported that he claims $11,000 as his monthly income and pays out almost $7,000 per month. Caffey, over the span of his eight-year career played professional basketball for the Chicago Bulls, the Bucks, and Warriors, they estimated his annual salary to be at least $5 Million per year, and he retired five years ago.
His college sweetheart and mother of his first child was on the show. It looks as if she has moved on, because she was photo’d in what appeared to be a wedding gown with a man, and perhaps a family photo with the guy, and a young boy. She reported when he worked, he paid his child support. After he retired, payments were inconsistent. This is one mother. He claims after retirement, he does not make the same income, and should not have to make the same payments.
Nancy gets into what she calls his string of businesses that he is reported to have, and one of her guests talks about him having had supposedly having a history of a "mental illness—social anxiety disorder." What it has to do with payments, who knows? Several obvious issues are in play, besides the one of responsibility. However, is this too logical---when you are changing jobs or moving from a certain income level to a lesser level, doesn’t the parent go into court and say in the beginning, “I can’t afford these payments?” I don't know what his situation was, because I have not followed his story.
No one knows all the financial details, but they had some of his financial information on supersoakerstyle blast. It looked like snippets of an annual report statement up on the screen. I mean WOW. I must really be out of the loop, because I thought people stopped having so many kids-here-there-everywhere. Anyway, a whole lotta dynamics are working this issue.

Dennis Rodman Owes Nearly $1 Million in Child Support

Dennis Rodman has had more than his fair share of legal troubles in the past, but now it seems that the former NBA star is facing one of his toughest times yet. According to reports, Rodman is “broke and extremely sick” and owes nearly $1 million in child support.
According to the L.A. Times, Rodman is facing a 20-day jail sentence for failing to pay spousal and child support to his ex-wife, Michelle Moyer. As of March 1, Rodman owes Moyer $808,935 in back child support for the 9- and 10-year-old children and $51,441 in back spousal support.
However, Rodman’s lawyer, Linnea Willis, said in court documents that he is “extremely sick” and barely able to cover his own living expenses, much less the $5,000 he also has to pay for a child from another relationship.
“Respondent Dennis Rodman is broke and cannot afford any additional fees,” according to court documents filed on his behalf. Willis also claims that the attorneys that have represented him to date have done it pro bono.
  

To see more child support information click here

N.J. Superior Court judge suspended for using lawyer with cases before her

TRENTON — A state Superior Court judge was suspended for one month without pay today for seeking help with a child support dispute with her ex-husband from a lawyer who had cases before her, according to an order handed down by the state Supreme Court.
Melanie Appleby, a family court judge in Ocean County, violated six ethics rules for state judges, including one that requires judges to disqualify themselves from proceedings in which their impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
In 2012, Appleby sought help from Frank Louis, a lawyer with two cases before her at the time, to respond to a letter from her ex-husband seeking to terminate child support payments because their son was graduating college, according to a decision issued in September by the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct.
Appleby and Louis met in the judge's chambers to discuss the letter, during which time Louis expressed concern about being disqualified from appearing before her because of a conflict of interest, according to the decision.
"Given these concerns, Mr. Louis offered to 'work something' out whereby he would assist (the judge) with the legal issues" raised by the letter, "while still maintaining his ability to appear before (the judge) on behalf of his other clients," the committee decision said.
Six weeks later, Louis sent a response to Appleby's ex-husband on letterhead of another law firm and with a forged signature, according to the committee. Only after that law firm objected did Louis declare he was representing the judge in the matter.
A complaint was filed with the committee by Appleby's ex-husband accusing her of engaging in a conflict of interest. The committee's finding said she acknowledged as much, but denied attempting to conceal it and denied violating any judicial rules.
The committee, however, disagreed, and the Supreme Court agreed with the findings.
"The evidence demonstrates, clearly and convincingly, that (the judge) failed to conduct herself in a manner consistent with these high ethical standards, and in at least one instance did so intentionally, for which public discipline is necessary," the committee wrote.

Deadbeat Parents and Unpaid Child Support

When a parent is ordered by the court to pay child support and continuously fails to do so, he or she is commonly referred to as a "deadbeat parent." This pejorative term is used the actual legislation of some states, and is often misunderstood. Parents who fall behind on child support due to job loss or unforeseen circumstances aren't necessarily "deadbeats." Deadbeat is generally reserved for those who have the means to pay, but do not. Parents who are unable to pay may be eligible for child support modification.

More on Deadbeat Parents:

• Myths About Deadbeat Parents
• Quiz: Recognize a Deadbeat Parent
• Consequences

Stereotypes About Deadbeat Parents:

"Deadbeat parents" and "deadbeat dads" are not synonymous. Not all deadbeat parents are fathers, and not all non-custodial fathers are neglectfully behind on child support. In fact, there plenty of moms who have been ordered to pay child support, yet fail to do so, as you can see from jurisdictions that post lists of their most wanted deadbeat parents online.

Consequences for the Parent Who Does Not Pay:

There are several things the state can do when a parent falls behind in child support payments. These steps include:

• Garnishing his or her pay
• Refusing to allow the parent to obtain a legal passport
• Intercepting unemployment compensation
• Offsetting federal and/or state income tax refunds
• Enforcing jail time

Taking Action When the Checks Stop Coming:

If you are owed back child support payments, you should contact your local Child Support Enforcement Office to report the lack of payments. Be prepared to provide detailed explanations of the missed payments, as well as any information you may have about the parent's last known location.

Inability to Pay:

It's also important to be aware that many times the parent who is in arrears simply does not have the money to pay the child support payments. In some cases, payments may need to be adjusted to reflect the individual's most current earnings. In other cases, the parent owes so much child support that the money will simply never be paid in full.

The Relationship Between Child Support and Child-Parent Visitations:

Child support is completely separate from visitations. In the eyes of the law, the parent who owes back child support payments still has the right to visit with the child. Therefore, any parent who is in distress over missing child support payments should take the steps outlined above instead of withholding visitations. Refusing to allow your child to visit with your co-parent because he or she has unpaid child support could jeopardize your good standing with the courts.

To see more child support information click here

What about the deadbeat moms?

 Single dads are sick and tired of being labeled "
deadbeats" when it comes to paying child support. And data suggest they have good reason to be upset.
The percentage of "deadbeat" moms is actually higher than that of dads who won't pay, even though mothers are more consistently awarded custody of children by the courts.
Census figures show only 57 percent of moms required to pay child support -- 385,000 women out of a total of 674,000 -- give up some or all of the money they owe. That leaves some 289,000 "deadbeat" mothers out there, a fact that has barely been reported in the media.
That compares with 68 percent of dads who pay up, according to the figures.
Men who are due child support are also getting tired of deadbeat moms' excuse that they can't pony up the money, and some courts have responded.
California lawyer Eudene Eunique in February was denied a passport because she was $30,000 behind in child-support. Instead of spending money on visiting her family in Mexico and on business contracts, the appeals court ruled Eunique’s money should go to her kids.
Meanwhile, warrant officers in southwest Florida earlier this summer dubbed an effort to list the area’s top deadbeat moms who owed up to $19,000 in support as "Operation Father’s Day." Included on the list were Trudi Dana, 43, who owes $19,001 and 29-year-old Mary Mahadie Friar, who owes $16,493.
Of course, the problem of deadbeat dads remains a serious one. Many more men than women have to pay child support, making the overall number of deadbeat dads much greater.
The statistics show 4.3 million moms out of 6.3 million who are supposed to receive child support actually get it. That leaves the alarming figure of about 2 million deadbeat dads, putting them more in the media spotlight than deadbeat moms.
But men also still pay much more in child support. The Census Bureau last month also released numbers showing fathers paid an average of $3,000 to custodial moms in 1997. Women paid little over half that. Moms also get about 60 percent of what they are owed, whereas dads only get 48 percent.
Not only are the dads paying up more when they don’t have custody, but when the court does hand the kids over to dads, they work more than moms who have custody.
While 7 percent of custodial moms work more than 44 hours a week, 24.5 percent of single custodial dads work more than 44 hours. And only about half as many custodial dads get government help than moms.
Some dads say it’s not for a lack of laws that moms are getting away with not paying up.
Bill Henry is head of Dads Against Discrimination of West Virginia and a single dad. In 1983, his first ex was ordered by the court to pay $25 a month in child support – which he did not start actually receiving until 1987 – even though the state minimum then should have been $75 a month.
Henry said dads are often discouraged from pursuing custody battles by attorneys and often don’t like to make waves in the system, as long as they get to regularly see their child or get complete custody.
"A lot of men are afraid to ask for child support simply because they think if they’re asking for child support, they won’t get a chance to get custody," Henry said.
California dad Scott Downing has also experienced child-support snafus and said courts continue to give dads the short end of the custody stick. "The laws are there, but it’s the way the courts interpret those laws," he said.
Single dad David Wood of North Carolina has similar concerns.
"My frustration … is not so much there’s any biases in me getting child support … it’s just the whole system needs a lot of work. If you don’t get aggressive with it … you have to really work to get it if someone doesn’t want to play the game" and pay up.
Wood, whose ex-wife has had trouble in court, said there are four men he knows of just at his workplace who are currently or are going to be single dads, or are grandparents of kids who had deadbeat moms.
"It’s not the exception anymore," Wood said, adding that before he became a single dad two years ago, "I would have almost bought into that stereotype" the dads are usually the deadbeats. But "that philosophy is just 30-40 years out of date."
But more moms that don’t have the kids simply can’t afford to pay child support since they are poorer, said Geraldine Jensen, president of the Association for Children for Enforcement of Support. Studies show the average income for non-custodial moms is only $15,000 a year, whereas non-custodial dads average about $40,000 a year.
And moms who don’t have custody of the kids often remarry and have more kids, and often choose to not work.
But "that’s certainly no excuse," Jensen said. "It doesn’t matter if you’re a mom or dad, you should meet your child support obligations."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,59963,00.html#ixzz2Ofc4C3LJ

To see more child support information click here

Mom charged with murder of 5-year-old son, she beat the child to death because he broke the TV

Florescu Viorel for News

Kim Crawford, 21, is charged with murdering her son, after 5-year-old Jamar Johnson was discovered to have died from blunt trauma to the chest.

A Bronx mom said she beat her 5-year-old son to death  because he broke the television while playing Nintendo Wii, prosecutors said Monday.

Kim Crawford, 21, smacked Jamar Johnson in his back and stomach on June 13 "harder than I've ever hit him," she told cops.

Crawford watched him vomit and complain of agonizing pain for five days as his internal injuries got worse. She never took him to the hospital because she feared getting arrested, she told investigators.

Jamar (r.) and Heaven Johnson, whose mother Kim Crawford is charged with murdering Jamar (Family Handout).

"I was worried they'd see the bruises and I'd get in trouble," she told cops.

Jamar died of an infection to his lacerated pancreas and intestine at Montefiore Medical Center late Friday.

Prosecutors charged Crawford with murder and manslaughter. She was ordered held without bond Monday.

"I can't believe this," Jamar's dad said outside court.

The petite single mom told cops several different stories about how Jamar was injured before finally admitting the truth, prosecutors said.

First, she claimed he simply got sick, went to sleep and never woke up, prosecutors said. She then claimed he fell while playing in the park and injured himself.

After hours of questioning, she finally admitted becoming enraged at Jamar when he told her he broke the television, prosecutors said.

"I hit Jamar twice in the back and twice in the stomach," she told cops.

On Friday night Crawford "held Jamar's hand and it was cold," she told cops. "He wasn't moving."

Crawford's lawyer, Camille Abate, said the mom should not have been charged with murder.

"The facts do not establish at all that this mother tried to kill her child," Abate said. "I have no idea whether hitting someone with their hand causes these kinds of injuries. It's clear that for two days she was worked over by police."

Jamar's heartbroken family called his death "inexcusable."

"Whether or not she did it on purpose doesn't matter, because my beautiful grandson is gone and he's not coming back," said Jamar's grandmother, Betsy Johnson. "It's a tragedy. It's inexcusable."

Crawford has previous arrests for drugs and assault, police sources said, and a long history of domestic incidents with the boy's father.

Police were called for domestic incidents between the pair nine times since 2006, sources said. Crawford had an open warrant for violating probation at the time of her arrest.

In a separate case, a Bronx man was charged Monday with killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter, police said. Edgar Algarin, 26, apparently exploded in anger because Enidaliz Ortiz-Encarnacion wouldn't eat, sources said. He told police he punched the girl in the back, sources said.

The city Medical Examiner's office said the girl was choked and beaten in the upper torso.

Algarin, who has no previous arrest record, was charged with murder and manslaughter. The child was in cardiac arrest when an ambulance arrived at the family's Mott Havenapartment early Saturday. She died a short time later at Lincoln Hospital.

Sources said the girl's mother was away on business and that Algarin may have been angry that he was forced to babysit.

To see more child support information click here

Jermaine Dupri sued by Sarai Jones over child support payments

In March, a judge ordered Dupri, a 38-year-old music producer worth millions, to pay $2,500 a month and an additional $7,500 to Sarai Jones, based on the results of a paternity test, according to the Associated Press, which carried the report.
Dupri and his attorney have not commented. Jones has a 7-month-old daughter.
Dupri is also facing financial troubles, the AP said, adding that his mansion was almost auctioned off after a foreclosure and that the music producer owes the state of Georgia more than $493,000 in back taxes for 2007. Dupri has a daughter, Shaniah Mauldin, with Pam Sweat.
He says in his 2008 memoir "Young, Rich, and Dangerous: The Making of a Music Mogul," that he met Sweat when he was 25 and that she told him of her pregnancy after the two dated for several weeks.
Dupri and Jackson broke up in 2009 after being together for about seven years.

To see more child support information click here