A Spanish Fort attorney claims the Baldwin County Department of Human Resources has violated the civil rights of hundreds of children and parents and says he is preparing to sue the “incestuous” system on their behalf.
Over the past few months, attorney Yancey Burnett says he and the staff of his Eastern Shore practice have gathered evidence and testimonies from Baldwin County parents who said the county’s DHR office used “flawed” psychological evaluations to prevent their children from coming home and instead keep them in foster care.
kAmqFC?6EE D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H =2DE H66< q2=5H:? r@F?EJ sw# C646:G6D >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD :? 7656C2= 7F?5D 7@C 25@AE:?8 49:=5C6? E@ ?6H 72>:=:6D 2?5 6>A=@JD “>6C46?2CJ” 6G2=F2E:@?D E@ AC@G:56 sw#’D =2HJ6CD H:E9 E96 6IA6CE A6CDA64E:G6 E96J ?665 E@ 492==6?86 A2C6?ED’ C:89ED E@ 4FDE@5J @7 E96:C 49:=5C6?]k^Am
kAm“%96J 86E E92E >@?6J 2?J E:>6 E96J D?2E49 2 <:5 7C@> D@>63@5J 2?5 25@AE E96> @FE E96 324< 5@@C] %92E’D H9J E96J 5@?’E 8:G6 2 C2E’D J@F\<?@H\H92E 23@FE C6F?:7:42E:@?[” qFC?6EE D2:5] “%96J’C6 DFAA@D65 E@ 42C6 23@FE C6F?:7:42E:@?[ 3FE E96J 92G6 2 A6CG6CD6 AC@76DD:@?2= :?46?E:G6 E@ 25@AE E96 <:5 @FE[ H9:49 :D 4@?EC2CJ E@ 8@@5 2?5 23@FE 2D 6G:= 2D :E 4@F=5 36]”k^Am
kAmqFC?6EE 244FD65 sw# @7 FD:?8 ADJ49@=@8:DED F?BF2=:7:65 E@ H@C< @? 72>:=J =2H 42D6D[ 6>A=@J:?8 2? :?E6?D:G6 A2?6= @7 4@>AFE6C E6DED E@ AC65:4E A2C6?ED’ 3692G:@C 2?5 “@G6C\5:28?@D6” E96> H:E9 G2C:@FD A6CD@?2=:EJ 5:D@C56CD] w6 2=D@ 4=2:>65 A2C6?ED’ :?DFC2?46 2?5 E96 DE2E6 @7 p=232>2 2C6 36:?8 5@F3=6\3:==65 7@C E96D6 6G2=F2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmp55:E:@?2==J[ D@>6 @7 E96 9F?5C65D @7 A2C6?ED qFC?6EE D2:5 4@?E24E65 9:> 2==6865 @?6 @7 sw#’D 7@DE6C A2C6?ED D6IF2==J 23FD65 J@F?8 3@JD :? 9:D 42C6] qFC?6EE 4=2:>65 sw# :D 2H2C6 @7 E96 D:EF2E:@? 2?5 5:5 ?@E9:?8 23@FE :E]k^Am
kAm}@ =2HDF:ED 92G6 J6E 366? 7:=65 :? DE2E6 @C 7656C2= 4@FCE 282:?DE sw#[ qFC?6EE D2:5[ ?@E:?8 9:D 7:C> H:== 9@DE 2 E@H? 92== :? q2J |:?6EE6 @? $2EFC52J[ |2J `f E@ 82E96C >@C6 42D6D 2?5 962C >@C6 DE@C:6D] p 56D:C6 E@ D66 sw# C6DA64E A2C6?ED’ C:89ED E@ C2:D6 E96:C 49:=5C6? 2?5 492?86 :ED 3692G:@C 7@C E96 36EE6C >@E:G2E65 qFC?6EE E@ 24E]k^Am
kAm“xE ;FDE D66>D D@ 2H7F= 2?5 @776?D:G6 E@ >6[ 2D 2 =2HJ6C :E’D @776?D:G6 E@ >6] x 36=:6G6 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? :D 2AA=:423=6 E@ 6G6CJ3@5J 2?5 6G6CJ 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= C:89E @F89E E@ 36 FA96=5[” qFC?6EE D2:5] “xE’D 2 D25 DE2E6 @7 2772:CD 3642FD6[ :? E96 6?5[ E96 24EF2= @C:8:?2= 56D:8? @7 sw# :D E@ 36 2 D2G:@C[ E@ 36 2 96=A @C E@ 36 2 3C:586 7@C 2 72>:=J 8@:?8 E9C@F89 2 E@F89 E:>6[ 3FE :E’D EFC?65 :?E@ E96 @AA@D:E6]”k^Am
kAm!2C6?E y:>>J uFD@? D2:5 =2DE H66< 96 H2D :?E6CG:6H65 3J 2 ADJ49@=@8:DE 7@C ?@ >@C6 E92? `d >:?FE6D[ H9@ 4@?4=F565 :? 2 ag\A286 6G2=F2E:@? E92E uFD@? D9@F=5 ?@E 92G6 4FDE@5J @7 9:D ?@H h\>@?E9\@=5 52F89E6C[ q:==J2??2[ 3642FD6 @7 2 ?2C4:DD:DE:4 A6CD@?2=:EJ 5:D@C56C H:E9 H9:49 96 92D ?6G6C AC6G:@FD=J 366? 5:28?@D65]k^Am
Jimmy Fuson with his daughter Billyana
Photo courtesy of Jimmy Fuson
kAm%96 bg\J62C\@=5 7C@> q@? $64@FC 5:D4FDD6D 9@H 96 >@G65 @? 7C@> 9:D 255:4E:@? E@ >6E92>A96E2>:?6 ?:?6 >@?E9D 28@ 2?5 9:D 7:89E 7@C q:==J2?2 :? E96 u2463@@< 8C@FA[ “qC:?8:?8 w@>6 q:==J2?2]” uFD@? D6CG6D 2D 2? 25G@42E6 7@C qFC?6EE’D =682= :?G6DE:82E:@? @? D@4:2= >65:2]k^Am
kAmv:G6? E9:D ADJ49@=@8:42= C6A@CE[ uFD@? D2:5 sw# H:== ?@E 4@?D:56C E96 5@K6?D @7 5CF8 E6DED 96 @C56C65 2?5 A2DD65 E@ AC@G6 9:D D@3C:6EJ] %96 286?4J 2=D@ 3C:67=J A=2465 q:==J2?2 :? 2 7@DE6C 9@>6 CF? 3J 2? {vq%" 4@FA=6[ H9:49 uFD@? D2:5 H6?E 282:?DE 9:D A6CD@?2= G2=F6D]k^Am
kAmq:==J2?2 H:== EFC? `_ >@?E9D @=5 D@@?[ uFD@? D2:5[ 2?5 96 92D @?=J D66? 96C 7@C 2 E@E2= @7 bd 9@FCD] uFD@? :D 2==@H65 E@ DA6?5 @?6 9@FC H:E9 9:D 52F89E6C 2E sw#’D #@36CED52=6 @77:46 @?46 A6C H66<]k^Am
kAm“x’> ?@E D2J:?8 7@DE6C A2C6?ED 2C6 325] x’> ?@E D2J:?8 E96 7@DE6C DJDE6> :D 325] x’> ?@E D2J:?8 sw# :D 325[ 3FE E96:C A@=:4:6D 2?5 AC@465FC6D 2C6 E2C86E:?8 FD[” 96 D2:5] “(:E9 E96 2>@F?E @7 2FE9@C:EJ sw# 92D[ E96J ?665 E@ 8:G6 FD 5F6 AC@46DD]”k^Am
kAmp=232>2 sw# DA@<6DH@>2? z2E9CJ? $9@FA6 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E @? E96 2==682E:@?D 282:?DE E96 q2=5H:? r@F?EJ @77:46 2?5 E96 =:E:82E:@? E92E 4@F=5 D@@? 36 7:=65 282:?DE :E]k^Am
k9bm‘x%’$ sx$v&$%x}v %~ |t’k^9bm
kAmqFC?6EE D2:5 96 DE2CE65 E2<:?8 @? ;FG6?:=6 4@FCE 2?5 72>:=J =2H 42D6D 27E6C 7:=:?8 2 7656C2= =2HDF:E =2DE DF>>6C 282:?DE E96 r@?64F9 r@F?EJ sw# @77:46 7@C 2==6865=J E9C62E6?:?8 E@ AFE E66?286C $2C2 w6CC>2?? :? 2 w@FDE@? r@F?EJ ADJ49@=@8:42= 724:=:EJ :7 D96 5:5 ?@E D2J 96C >@E96C H2D 23FD:G6] w6CC>2?? “8@E E96 964< 362E @FE @7 96C” :? E96 724:=:EJ 3J @E96C E66?286CD 2?5 F?56CH6?E 6>6C86?4J 3C2:? DFC86CJ[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 =:E:82E:@? 92D ?@E J6E 8@?6 E@ EC:2=[ 3FE qFC?6EE D2:5 E96 “9@CC6?5@FD” G:@=2E:@?D 96 H:E?6DD65 :? w6CC>2??’D 42D6 :?DA:C65 9:> E@ =@@< 7@C D:>:=2C :DDF6D :? 9:D 9@>6 4@F?EJ]k^Am
kAm“x DE2J65 @FE @7 E96> Wsw# 2?5 ;FG6?:=6 42D6DX ;FDE 3642FD6 x H2D?’E ECJ:?8 E@ >2<6 :E >J 32:=:H:4<[ D@ E@ DA62<[” 96 D2:5] “x H2D?’E ECJ:?8 E@ 56G6=@A 2? 6IA6CE:D6 :? :E[ 3FE x ;FDE D2H E96J H6C6 D@ 325=J 92?5=65 2 =@E @7 E:>6D 2?5 6DA64:2==J 2 =@E @7 4:G:= C:89ED G:@=2E:@?D H6C6?’E 6G6? 36:?8 A2:5 2EE6?E:@? E@]”k^Am
kAmqFC?6EE D2:5 H92E :D 8@:?8 @? :? q2=5H:? r@F?EJ’D sw# @77:46 “:D D:4< 2?5 EH:DE65 :? 2 =@E @7 H2JD[” 2?5 96 9@A6D E96 =2HDF:ED 282:?DE E96 286?4J H:== =625 E@ 492?86] w6 6DE:>2E65 36EH66? `__ 2?5 b__ A6@A=6 H:== 36 A2CE @7 E96 =2HDF:ED[ 56A6?5:?8 @? 9@H >2?J 4@?E:?F6 E@ 4@>6 7@CH2C5]k^Am
kAmx? p=232>2[ A2C6?ED 42? =@D6 4FDE@5J @7 E96:C 49:=5C6? E@ sw# 2?5 E96 7@DE6C 42C6 DJDE6> 3642FD6 @7 23FD6[ ?68=64E[ 5CF8 FD6[ 2=4@9@= 23FD6 @C >6?E2= 962=E9 :DDF6D[ qFC?6EE D2:5] ~?46 5CF8 FD6 :D ?@ =@?86C 2? :DDF6 :? 2 42D6[ 7@C :?DE2?46[ sw# D6?5D A2C6?ED =:<6 uFD@? 7@C >6?E2= 6G2=F2E:@?D[ 96 D2:5] %96 6G2=F2E:@?D 4@?5F4E65 7@C q2=5H:? r@F?EJ’D sw# @77:46 2C6 “C:5:4F=@FD @A:?:@?D” E92E 8@ 2=@?8 H:E9 H92E6G6C sw# H2?ED[ qFC?6EE 4=2:>65]k^Am
kAm“W%96 ADJ49@=@8:DEX H:== =:E6C2==J =@@< 2E E96 C64@>>6?52E:@?D >256 3J sw# 2?5 ;FDE 25@AE E92E :?E@ 9:D @A:?:@?[ 2?5 96 5@6D E92E @G6C 2?5 @G6C 282:? :? 7C@?E @7 >J 4=:6?ED[” qFC?6EE D2:5] “sw# <?@HD 96 :D AC6EEJ >F49 2 >6C46?2CJ 7@C H92E6G6C E96J H2?E]”k^Am
kAm$E2?52C5 AC24E:46 5:4E2E6D ADJ49@=@8:DED D9@F=5 :?E6CG:6H 2 A6CD@? 7@C 2E =62DE 2? 9@FC 367@C6 >2<:?8 2? 6G2=F2E:@?[ qFC?6EE D2:5] qFC?6EE D2:5 E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 3C@F89E :? 7@C 6G2=F2E:@? 2C6 C2C6=J A6CD@?2==J :?E6CG:6H65 2?5 2C6 86?6C2==J >256 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 9@FCD\=@?8 4@>AFE6C E6DED E92E =625 E@ 6I46DD:G6 5:28?@D6D]k^Am
kAm“W%96 ADJ49@=@8:DEX AC6D6?ED BF6DE:@?D E@ A6@A=6 2?5 92D E96> 7:== @FE 2?DH6CD[ 3FE 96 5@6D?’E 5@ 2? :?E6CG:6H[” 96 D2:5] “w6 92D 2 >JC:25[ 2 8C@FA @7 ADJ49@=@8:42= E6DED E92E 2C6 >@DE=J 5@?6 3J 4@>AFE6C] p=>@DE 2== @7 >J 4=:6?ED H9@ 2C6 23@FE E@ DF6 WE96 ADJ49@=@8:DEX 92G6 E96 D2>6 DE@CJi ‘x 42>6 :?[ x E2=<65 E@ 9:> 7@C 23@FE 7:G6 >:?FE6D[ >2J36 `_ >:?FE6D[ 2?5 E96? 96 AFE >6 @? 2 4@>AFE6C 2?5 x DA6?E E96 H9@=6 52J — 6:89E @C ?:?6 9@FCD — @? E96 4@>AFE6C] %96J H@F=5?’E =6E >6 92G6 2?J 7@@5] %96J H@F=5?’E =6E >6 92G6 2?J 5C:?<]”k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 E6DED 25>:?:DE6C65 E@ 6G2=F2E6 9@H =:<6=J 2 A6CD@? :D E@ FD6 5CF8D F?56C 46CE2:? 4:C4F>DE2?46D 92D ?@E 366? AC@G6? E@ 36 244FC2E6[ qFC?6EE D2:5] p?@E96C 2DD6DD>6?E 42==65 E96 |:==@? r=:?:42= |F=E:2I:2= x?G6?E@CJ[ @C |:==@?[ E6DE 6G2=F2E6D 2 A6CD@? 7@C A6CD@?2=:EJ 5:D@C56CD[ 3FE qFC?6EE D2:5 :E :D @?=J 67764E:G6 @? A2CE:4:A2?ED H9@ 92G6 2 AC6\6I:DE:?8 4@?5:E:@? 7@C 2 A6CD@?2=:EJ 5:D@C56C]k^Am
kAm“,%96 ADJ49@=@8:DE. 25>:?:DE6CD E92E E6DE @G6C 2?5 @G6C 282:? E@ A6@A=6 H9@ 5@?’E 92G6 2 AC6\6I:DE:?8 4@?5:E:@? 7@C 2 A6CD@?2=:EJ 5:D@C56C[” 96 D2:5] “*@F @G6C 5:28?@D6 E92E A6CD@? :? 7C@?E @7 J@F] *@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 5:28?@D6 E96> H:E9 2== <:?5D @7 E9:?8D E92E 5@?’E 2AA=J 2?5 D9@F=5?’E 2AA=J]”k^Am
kAmx? 2=>@DE 2== 42D6D[ qFC?6EE D2:5 E96 ADJ49@=@8:DE FD65 3J sw# AC65:4ED E96 A6@A=6 6G2=F2E65 H:== 6?8286 :? “325 3692G:@C” 2E E96:C 49:=5C6?’D 6IA6?D6]k^Am
kAmqFC?6EE 2=D@ 4=2:>65 E96 ADJ49@=@8:DE @7E6? FD65 3J sw# 5@6D ?@E 92G6 E96 AC@A6C 65F42E:@? E@ 36 2 4=:?:42= ADJ49@=@8:DE 2?5 D@>6E:>6D 3:==D 3@E9 E96 DE2E6 @7 p=232>2 2?5 9:D A2E:6?ED’ :?DFC2?46 7@C 6G2=F2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmqFC?6EE 2=D@ 4=2:>D sw# <?6H @?6 @7 :ED >2=6 7@DE6C A2C6?ED H2D D6IF2==J 23FD:?8 E96 J@F?8 49:=5C6? :? 9:D 42C6 2?5 5:5 ?@E9:?8 E@ DE@A :E[ 96 D2:5] sw# 4@?E:?F6D E@ A=246 49:=5C6? :? E96 >2?’D 42C6[ qFC?6EE 4=2:>65[ 3642FD6 E96C6 2C6 D@ 76H 7@DE6C 72>:=:6D H9@ H:== 2446AE 3@JD]k^Am
kAm“w6 92D E@F4965 E96> 2?5 7@?5=65 E96> :? 4@>A=6E6=J :?2AAC@AC:2E6 H2JD[” 96 D2:5] “%96 AC@3=6> H:E9 sw# :D E92E E96J <?6H 23@FE :E 2?5 72:=65 E@ DE@A :E] x? 724E[ @?6 @7 E96 sw# H@C<6CD[ 42D6H@C<6CD 7@C >J 4=:6?E 6G6? E@=5 96C[ ‘w6J[ :7 :E H2D >J <:5[ x H@F=5 ;FDE E2<6 E96 <:5 2?5 CF?[ 3FE H6’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ >@G6 9:> @FE @7 7@DE6C 42C6[ H6’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ >@G6 9:> @FE 7C@> H9@ 96’D H:E9]’”k^Am
kAmq2=5H:? r@F?EJ sw# 5:DC6DA64ED E96 4:G:= C:89ED @7 E96 A2C6?ED 2?5 49:=5C6? F?56C :ED :?7=F6?46[ qFC?6EE D2:5]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 5:D8FDE:?8 E@ >6[” 96 D2:5] “x H2?E E@ >2<6 E96> A2J 2?5 x H2?E E@ >2<6 E96> 4@?E:?F6 E@ A2J :? 4@FCE F?E:= E96J 492?86 E96:C 3692G:@C]”k^Am
k9bmuxvw%x}v ~}k^9bm
kAmp7E6C 9:D 52F89E6C q:==J2?2 H2D 3@C?[ uFD@? D2:5 q2=5H:? r@F?EJ sw# 7=28865 E96 =:EE=6 8:C= 3642FD6 D96 925 2 D:3=:?8 2=C625J =:G:?8 :? E96 4@F?EJ’D 7@DE6C 42C6 DJDE6>] (96? 42D6H@C<6CD 2D<65 9:> :7 96 H2?E65 A2C6?E2= 4FDE@5J @7 E96 49:=5[ 96 E@=5 E96> 96 ?66565 E@ >@G6 @? 7C@> FD:?8 5CF8D 2?5 255C6DD @E96C A6CD@?2= >2EE6CD 367@C6 96 4@F=5 36 2 7F==\E:>6 72E96C]k^Am
kAmuFD@? D2:5 sw# D6?E 9:> E@ 36 6G2=F2E65 27E6C E96J D2H 96 H2D @G6C4@>:?8 9:D 255:4E:@? E@ >6E92>A96E2>:?6] %96 C6DF=E:?8 2?2=JD:D[ uFD@? D2:5[ H2D “E@E2==J E@ E96 =67E 7:6=5” 2?5 7=2H65]k^Am
kAm“w6 @?=J :?E6CG:6H65 >6 7@C `a E@ `d >:?FE6D[ 2?5 @FE @7 E92E `a E@ `d >:?FE6D 96 HC@E6 2 ag\A286 C6A@CE D2J:?8 x H2D ?2C4:DD:DE:4[ 3@C56C=:?6 A6CD@?2=:EJ 5:D@C56C[ DA=:E 5:D@C56C[ x H2D 8C2?5:@D6 2?5 E92E E96C6 H2D ?@ H2J :? E96 7@C6D6623=6 7FEFC6 E92E 96 4@F=5 D66 >6 92G:?8 E96 42A23:=:EJ E@ 36 2 525[” uFD@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm%9@F89 96 92D 366? D@36C 7@C ?:?6 >@?E9D 2?5 92D 36EH66? `d 2?5 a_ ?682E:G6 5CF8 E6DED :? 9:D 72G@C[ uFD@? D2:5 sw# DE:== 9@=5D 282:?DE 9:> 2 >@?E9D\@=5[ A@D:E:G6 92:C 7@==:4=6 E6DE 7@C 5CF8 FD6] w6 56D4C:365 sw#’D 42D6 282:?DE 9:> 2D “3@8FD” :? :ED 6?E:C6EJ[ 2?5 D2:5 96 92D DA6?E E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD 7:89E:?8 :E :? 4@FCE] #682C5:?8 2 4C:>:?2= C64@C5[ uFD@? D2:5 96 :D “`__\A6C46?E 4=62C]”k^Am
kAmuFD@? H2D AC6G:@FD=J :?5:4E65 :? a_aa :? q2=5H:? r@F?EJ @? 492C86D @7 E9:C5\568C66 AC@A6CEJ E967E @7 =6DD E92? S`[chh 2?5 H2D D6?E6?465 E@ ac >@?E9D @7 AC@32E:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ @?=:?6 =682= C64@C5D] p D>2== 4=2:>D 42D6 4@??64E65 E@ E96 :?5:4E>6?E C625D uFD@? 2==6865=J AC@>:D65 E@ :?DE2== 4@F?E6CE@AD 7@C 2 vF=7 $9@C6D H@>2? 7@C S`[afh[ 3FE ?6G6C 5:5 E96 H@C<]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C 42D6 :? D>2== 4=2:>D 4@FCE 7:=65 :? a_ac 3J 2? ~C2?86 q6249 H@>2? C625D uFD@? 2==6865=J C646:G65 Sba_ 7@C H@C< @? 2 423:?6E[ 3FE 5:5 ?@E 4@>A=6E6 E96 ;@3[ 244@C5:?8 E@ @?=:?6 4@FCE C64@C5D] p q2=5H:? r@F?EJ ;F586 :DDF65 2 5672F=E ;F58>6?E 282:?DE uFD@? :? E96 42D6]k^Am
kAmuFD@? H2D D6?E6?465 E@ EH@ J62CD @7 AC@32E:@? :? a_`c :? |:49:82? 27E6C 36:?8 2CC6DE65 @? 492C86D @7 4@F?E6C76:E:?8 :? a_`a[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 |:49:82? s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@CC64E:@?D’ H63D:E6]k^Am
kAm(96? qFC?6EE 4@?E24E65 9:> 23@FE 9:D 42D6 282:?DE sw# 2?5 2D<65 :7 96 H@F=5 2446AE 2 D6EE=6>6?E 7C@> sw#[ uFD@? D2:5 96 H@F=5 EFC? 5@H? 2?J @776C @7 >@?6J 2?5 AFCDF6 =682= 24E:@? :? E96 ?2>6 @7 @E96C 72>:=:6D 7:89E:?8 E96 DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm“xE’D ?@E E96 >@?6E2CJ A2CE 7@C >6] (6 92G6 E@ AFE 2 DE@A E@ E9:D[” uFD@? D2:5] “%96C6 2C6 A2C6?ED @FE 96C6 H9@ 5@?’E 92G6 E96 C6D@FC46D ,E@ 7:89E.]”k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.