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Michael Rowe
sustained a disability due to a motorcycle accident which occurred
in Sept. of 1982, at the age of 16. He was
hospitalized for several weeks then transferred to an intensive
rehabilitation unit, where he learned to clothe and feed himself,
use a wheelchair and do transfers. Gradually, he learned to walk
with a walker. One side of his body is very limited. His speech is
affected by the accident, but Michael learned to
communicate quite effectively.
After 4 months of intensive
rehabilitation, the doctors sent Mike home in the care of his mother
and brother. He went to regular school. He was home for 2 years,
then was transferred to a foster care boarding school, as it became
more difficult for his family to care for him. His brother was the
main care taker as his mother is developmentally disabled.
He
lived at Shady Pines Foster Care , in Battle Creek, Michigan for the
next 10 years. His court records indicate that Michael was sent home
from rehab on NO medication and continued to progress for the next
12 years without medications.
Michael
adapted to his disability. Family and friends described Mike as
bright, happy, out-going and fun loving. Mike enjoyed school, and
especially wood working class, competition wheel chair sports,
bowling, swimming, and gardening. He won awards for the
competitions. He liked girls and they liked him. He dated mostly
non- handicapped girls. He liked going out with friends to fairs,
dances and proms. (see photos, how happy and healthy Mike looked!)
His school records are glowing with good reports, which
documented Mike was groomed for independent living upon graduation
and recommended for job training. It took Mike longer to get through
school due to his disability, but he made it , and achieved a high
school diploma! Mike was excited about getting into an apartment
with some assistance with daily care. He was excited about being
independent. As you know many American's with disabilities live
independently successfully. (see photo of Mike at graduation with
cap and gown).
But then a horrible turn of events occurred
which shattered Mike's hope of living the American dream. The
Declaration of Independence, proclaims; “ We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that ALL men are created equal, and are endowed by
their Creator with certain *unalienable rights, among these are *
life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Michael never imagined that
a motorcycle accident would strip him of all liberties, as a free
citizen!
In late 1995 ( nearly 14 years AFTER Mikes accident)
he ended up in a rehab facility which claimed to specialize in
treating persons with head injuries. Mike was lead to believe by a
social worker that this move would train him for a job and
independent living. But it was a trick.
**** In 1997 I ,
Katie Morris had taken a new nursing job at Battle
Creek Neuro Rehabilitation Center , from an ad in the newspaper. I
wanted to expand my nursing experience in another area. This
facility was a Timber Ridge Incorporation, and claimed to be experts
in treating persons with head injuries. This is where I met
Michael Rowe.
This job changed my life forever. I
never imagined a shoddy run facility, akin to the horror stories in
the back wards in the old state hospitals, was still in existence
today! I thought such places were abolished back in the 50's? I was
appalled to witness horrid abuses and gross human rights violations
to people who simply had disabilities.
Most of the residents
at this facility took complete care of themselves requiring no
nursing care at all! Most were young men between the ages of 18 and
30, who had sustained injuries by a motor vehicle accidents. Most
had recovered quite well, but were held as literal hostages, against
their will. Many had not seen the outside of the facility in ten
plus years, not even for holidays!
Yet this facility was
deceptively marketed as a Rehabilitation Facility for the brain
injured.
The residents were very vocal about wanting out of
there. I could not understand why they couldn't get out? Throughout
my employment there, I tried to find out why they were not released
long ago? After all, I thought “rehabilitation” meant short term.
The underlying factor in all cases was ... "the guardian called
the shots". Their guardians made them stay there. It was what you
would call a "guardian hell hole .. a black hole with no escape."
Many, including Michael Rowe tried to escape, but got hauled back
and punished then labeled as "elopers". Michael kept asking me
“why?, why? Are they doing this to me?” Michael hated the forced
drugging. He tried to resist but they held him down and forced the
drugs into him. He kept asking me “why?” He said he was never on any
medication before.
I saw no real rehab going on in this
facility.
I took my concerns to the administration time and
time again, asking why these young men were they being denied
visitors, even pastoral visits, and countless other abuses! The
resounding reply was... " you have to realize Katie, these people
are brain injured!"
After making too many waves, and asking
too many questions, I was fired after about 9 months of employment.
I filed a formal complaint to the Michigan Department of
Consumer and Industry, which licensed this facility. A six month
investigation pursued, which confirmed my complaints to be valid.
The facility was charged with multiple violations and was closed due
to the findings from my formal complaint.
My hope was to try
to help these people by filing the complaint. But Mike and the
others were farmed out to even more restrictive facilities which
were branches of the head injury rehabilitation industry. Mike was
sent to Coldwater, Michigan , Coach House Rehabilitation Center –
(see photo of this facility).
I never forgot my friends, my
bothers and sisters in Christ. I promised Michael and the others
that I would try to get to the bottom of what was going on? From
that time on --- 1998 until now 2010, I have fulfilled that promise.
But still no help for Mike.
My husband and I became friends
with Michael Rowe's eldest brother in 1998. We began to study the
laws on guardianship. It was evident that Mike had a legal right to
change guardians, and a legal right to choose his guardian. By law
it should not have been any problem at all. Mike chose us, with his
brother's approval. His brother tried many times to help Mike, but
the court kept digging up things of his past to discredit him. Even
though he has been clean of any police record since he served time
in prison, they still used it against him. He was pleased we were
willing to help Mike.
We filed the petition for change of
guardianship for Michael September 2, 1998. The Judge kept
postponing the hearing. Finally the hearing was set for the first
week in November1998. Prior to this, we visited Michael regularly.
Mike was allowed to come for long four day week ends, and outings
with our family. But, after we petitioned for guardianship change,
we were zapped with restraining orders, and forbidden to have any
contact with Michael until after the hearing, per the Judge Harter's
court order. ( see file of court order)
We did not have a
clue what horrible turn of events was in store for Michael. Soon we
were to discover the entire guardianship hearing was a sham! Mikes
fate was prejudged before the hearing ever took place. Judge Philip
Harter denied Michael Rowe his lawful right to choose and change
guardians.
After the hearing we tried to visit Michael to
deliver his leg brace and a bag of his clothing. We were stopped at
the door and told to leave. They threatened to call the police. Mike
saw us through the glass doors and tried to get to us in his wheel
chair. Four workers held him down as he was crying out to us. We
could not believe what was happening ?
The next day we were
served with a permanent restraining court order, stating that we
were never to see Mike again, nor call him nor send him mail. The
same order was served on my elderly parents who visited Mike often
and another couple who befriended Mike. Later we learned these
unlawful restraining orders are used at a whim to entrap victims of
guardian abuse. It is a means to stop anyone who makes waves for the
scoundrels who use innocent humans for profit.
We continued
to search court records hoping to find missing links to explain why
this injustice occurred. Four years later the truth was revealed.
Hidden in Calhoun County court records, we discovered a TEN MILLION
DOLLAR law suit, filed by attorney Jeuls Olsman, on behalf of
Michael Rowe and Guardian, Inc. October 13, 1998. ( see attached
file)
Michael, his brother had no knowledge that attorney
Jeuls Olsman had filed a ten million dollar lawsuit, for abuses Mike
sustained while a resident at Battle Creek, Neuro Rehab Center. This
ten million dollar law suit stemmed from the dindings from the
formal complaint I filed to the State Licensing Dept. We did not
understand who gave him the right to do that? We had received a
strange call from this attorney asking us to meet him on a Saturday
morning in Battle Creek at Attorney Darryl Price office, a few weeks
prior to Mike's guardianship hearing. We did not understand what was
going on ? But we reluctantly met him there with Daryl Price
present. They began badgering Mike's brother about his past prison
record. Then they urged him to be the petitioner , not us. We and
Mike's brother became very uncomfortable about this whole meeting .
We knew something was fishy but we did not know what they were up
to?
More pieces to the puzzle began to fit together . Some
years later we learned Guardian, Inc. of Calhoun County and a ring
of other conspirators, used an opportunity from the findings of the
state investigation, to cash in on a big settlement, leaving Michael
Rowe, the victim of the abuse and his family, in the dark! Judge
Harter obviously was involved in the conspiracy. Michael Rowe was
victimized by a legal system which claimed to be his "protector."
Many years have passed by while Mike is still being held
against his will, isolated, forced drugged, and wasting away in
utter loneliness. He is still denied freedom of association, even
pastoral visits. Even hardened criminals cannot be denied pastoral
visits!
Michael is denied an independent medical and
psychological exam. He is forced to be at the mercy of strange
doctors who profit from the head injury rehab industry. Mike's
guardian is in direct violation of the law which states clearly;
700.5306 - Michigan Probate Law – (2) The court shall design the
guardianship to encourage the development of maximum self-reliance
and independence in the individual.
Judge Harter has a
pattern of ordering wards of his court to be evaluated only by
Doctor Robert Fabiano. Dr. Fabiano is a licensed Psychologist, who
is director of Par Rehab Services, which is affiliated with Par
Pharmaceuticals, affiliates of the lucrative Head Injury Industry.
Dr. Robert Fabiano's final statement in his evaluation of Michael,
is as follows;
“ The results of the psychological evaluation
would indicate that Michael Rowe will require a structured and
supervised living setting such as that provided by Coach House
Rehabilitation Center, in Coldwater, Michigan. He is not an
appropriate candidate to make decisions on an independent basis. He
will require a guardian indefinitely. Date of evaluation: 1/15/99.”
****** Please note that Michael's guardianship hearing
was November 9, 1998. There were no doctors testimony nor
evaluation at this hearing. Judge Harter made himself chief medical
examiner, and proclaimed Michael Rowe mentally incapacitated then
court ordered he must remain incarcerated in only a facility that
specializes in treating head injuries. Judge Harter knew that Coach
House was only licensed as a foster care home and has no such
specialty. Judge Harter court ordered Dr. Robert Fabiano
to evaluate Mike two months AFTER the hearing to try to cover his
crime of “railroading” Michael into this fake
facility. After the sham hearing, we wrote to the Judge asking -
“how could you proclaim Michael Rowe mentally incapacitated when you
are not a doctor?” We pointed out to him other acts of fraud he
committed by denying Michael his lawful right to
choose his guardian and change guardians.
***700.5306
Michigan Probate Law – (1) The court must find by clear and
convincing evidence that the individual is incapacitated, to appoint
a guardian, and that the appointment is necessary as a means of
providing continuing care and supervision of the incapacitated
individual, with each finding supported separately on the record.
This web site is not only to inform the public of the atrocities
of guardianship abuse in this country but it is a desperate plea to
the public to help free Michael Rowe.
Michael deserves to live a life of freedom. Not only does
the Declaration of Independence proclaim this but our Sovereign God
and Creator of the Universe proclaims that. Jesus said , “ He came
that we may have life and have it more abundantly”. Jesus said , “he
came to set the captives free.” God is no respecter of persons. He
values each and every one of us equally.
We do not believe it
is Gods will for Michael Rowe to suffer like this. We believe God
works through His people. God is searching for others to help us
free Michael. We are using this web page as a means to find help for
Mike. We cannot do this alone. Only by public outrage will Mike be
helped.
We are shining a floodlight on guardianship abuse
with hope others will become outraged and help us.
Especially
if there are investigative reporters out there willing to
investigate Mike's case, please contact us or the National
Association to Stop Guardian Abuse.
Thank you so much
from our hearts,
and may God bless you.
Sincerely,
Katie and George Morris (Mikes
lifelong friends and advocates)
prayersformichael@yahoo.com
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