Michael Rowe

GUARDIANSHIP THE REAL MEANING' -- "The typical ward of the court has fewer rights than the typical felon -- he can no longer receive money or pay his bills ", one witness testified at a U.S. House Subcommittee hearing in 1987 . "By appointing a guardian, the court entrusts to someone else the power to choose where you will live, what medical treatment you will get and in some cases when you will die! In short, guardianship is the MOST punitive civil penalty that can be levied against an American Citizen."

Disability is NOT A CRIME, but Michael Rowe and hundreds of other victims of guardian abuse , have less rights than convicted felons. Look at the photos of Michael Rowe following his accident. Does he appear to be unfit for society? Look at him driving our small tractor. My husband instructed him how to drive it . Michael took directions perfectly. He even enjoyed raking our field with the tractor, under my husbands supervision! This was only weeks before Mikes guardian hearing in 1998. Mike had a legal right to change guardians and choose his guardian, but Judge Harter did not see it that way. The Judge gave his court order that Mike must remain in a head injury rehab for life time care and not be released! Rana Letchlitner, executive director of Guardian & Alternatives Inc. was assigned Mike's new guardian, hand picked by the Judge himself! She restricts Michael 's right to receive visitors, and phone calls, and mail from the people he loves. She violates Mikes rights to freedom of association, even pastoral visits are denied him. Prisoners even have rights to pastoral visits!

Michael Rowe's case is not isolated. Michigan has more guardianship's appointed than any state in the country, including California which is three times it's size! Do you really think Michigan has more mentally incapacitated persons than any state in the country, which is the criteria for guardianship? Head injury facilities were non- existent before 1980. In early 1980's guardianships more than quadrupled in Michigan. There is a definite link to guardianships and filling beds to capacity in these state licensed facilities. Most incarcerated in them are under guardianships. Void a guardianship, victims could sign themselves out of their own free will. Guardianship is used a a dirty method to hold people as literal hostages while the corrupt profit.

Persons with disabilities are being discriminated against across the board by our courts. Judges are "willfully" ignoring (violating) the law. Judges are "railroading", persons with certain disabilities into guardianship's. Namely those who sustained head injuries who fall under Michigan's No- Fault Auto Insurance Claims, with pending accident settlements. Once snared into a guardianship, the corrupt now have control over every aspect of the persons life and finances. That means they can "steal" the injured parties multi million dollar settlements, without their knowledge, as in Michael Rowe's case. Each player gets their piece of the pie.

The corruption does not stop there. The guardians take out large life insurance policies on their new 'wards' of the court, so they profit even after they die! The facilities may be state licensed, "group homes", nursing homes, and head injury rehabilitation centers. Coach House Rehab Center in Coldwater, Michigan , where Michael resides, claims to be a specialty rehab that treats "head injured." There is no such licensing under this specialty. It is licensed as a foster care home.

***** It is important to remember that for 14 years following Mikes accident he was on NO medication. He was healthy and could transfer himself from his wheel chair without assistance. He walked with a walker in school, and lifted weights and exercised, building up his strength and muscles. The court documents state, Mike is on Prozac, Flouxetine, Vioxx, Tripeptal, Depakote, Desyrel, Seroquel and other maintenance medications. Many of these drugs were intended for short term and contradicted for head injured.

Now after years of so-called specialized rehab in a head injury facility, Michael can no longer do transfers, he cannot walk with the walker, he has no strength in his legs nor body, and is zombie like. IS THIS YOUR DEFINITION OF “CARE?” HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE CARED FOR LIKE THIS? BEWARE OF THE “EXPERT'S ~ THEY COULD BE OUT TO GET YOU!

How could this kind of injustice be happening in our free country? Who are the culprits? ... REMEMBER ONE THING -- IT TAKES A JUDGE TO PLACE SOMEONE UNDER GUARDIANSHIP. * see photo of Mike's deteriorating condition after being forced drugged in Coach House Rehab facility, in Coldwater, MI.

The head injury rehabs in America are scams. They are run as psychiatric wards. Head injury is a physical condition, not a psychiatric condition! . Congressional hearings were held in the early 1990's exposing fraud and corruption in America's head injury rehabilitation system. Over 20 years later nothing has been done to stop it.

Fourteen years AFTER Michael Rowe's accident he was unjustly "put away", by a court order. Judge Harter willfully ignored the laws that specifically protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

Michigan law states persons with disabilities are entitled to live in the least restrictive environment of the persons choice, which fosters the development of maximum self-reliance and independence. Guardianship is to be the last resort of the courts, and "if" the court orders a guardianship-- a partial guardianship is to be the first option, and the person is entitled to a jury trial for this determination. The Michigan Mental Health Code also reinforces this with the Inclusion Best Practice Guidelines, stating persons with disabilities are entitled to a full share in ALL the privileges and resources the community has to offer.

The Americans with Disabilities ACT of 1990 (ADA) -- Congress ruled the isolation and segregation of individuals with disabilities as a serious and pervasive form of discrimination. In 1999, the Supreme court ruled in the Olmstead case, that States are required to place persons with disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions... determining that.. "Unjustified placement or retention of persons in institutions SEVERELY limits their exposure to the outside community, and constitutes a form of discrimination based on disability.

Guardianship evil continues to terrorize countless victims, snaring and imprisoning them into Nazi -like concentration camps, calling them “care facilities” . Guardianship is nothing more than "ownership of human beings", a for-profit lucrative business . The average fee in these facilities, is 1200 dollars a DAY per patient. Is it any wonder the doctors involved in Mikes 'care', have stocks in these rehabs, as do the drug companies that supply the drugs. (See Photo of Mike's deteriorating condition)

History has repeated itself.

At least there was an end to World War II...when the flood light shown on Hitler's evil. But not so with guardianship abuse in this country.

The years pass by while Mike is held hostage against his will, isolated, forced drugged, wasting away in utter loneliness.

We must be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the oppressed and persecuted.

What can YOU do to help free Michael from this oppression and injustice?

First and foremost you can commit to prayer and let me know you will be praying for Michael until God answers, at prayersformichael@yahoo.com

You can write to the Supreme Court ( State and Federal) and demand an investigation into Michael Rowe's situation . Also write letters to our Congressmen, State Representatives , public officials, and Michigan Dept. of Economic Growth, and Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services , who are suppose to be overseeing corporate fraud, corruption and human rights violations in care facilities.

Your support and donations to help us fight guardian abuse are appreciated, and can be mailed to National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse (NASGA), and is a 501 © (3) civil rights organization founded by victims of unlawful and abusive guardianships and is incorporated in Indiana.

Www.stopguardianabuse.org

NASGA
PO Box 886
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056

Please send Mike letters and cards, which lets the facility and Guardian know that people across this great land are outraged and we're not giving up until Michael is set free.

Address; Michael Lee Rowe - Coach House Rehabilitation Center - 265 N. Michigan Ave. - Coldwater, Michigan 49036. Phone no of this facility is; 1-517-278-5933

You may also send letters to Michael's guardian, voicing your concerns.

Mikes guardian is ;Rana Letchlitner ( Guardian & Alternatives, Inc.) ,212 W. Railroad St. ,Dowagiac, Michigan 49047-1410

e-mail address is; Rana Letchlitner ~ gua@mich.com - phone no. is – (616)782-295

***Rana Letchlitner is a Registered Guardian by the National Guardianship Association as of April 9, 2003.

You can send a formal complaint to the National Guardianship Association asking for Mikes case to be investigated. Please read more of Mikes story and view the photo gallery.

Thank you and May God bless you for caring,

Sincerely, Katie Morris (Michael's lifetime friend and advocate) please send me an email telling me you are praying for Michael at prayersformichael@yahoo.com

P.S. Please read more of Michael's story and view the photo gallery of Mike.

www.stopguardianabuse.org