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