Pacific Justice Institute - Oakland, California

Ms. S. O.

I'm sure they help some people: they did not help us. First: I asked for an affiliate attorney, but was told to call the president of this organization, so I did. He was of no use, was discouraging, and then told me he doesn't practice in my state, so I should speak to an attorney here. That is the first thing I attempted to do and the first fail for this org.

Second: In speaking to him, I expressed how there is an active situation involving false allegations filed with CPS which CPS admitted (on a recording) are without merit, but they pursued with a vengeance anyway. When the 5th Amendment was asserted, which is a right available for CPS investigations, CPS stated that right does not exist.

The local cops joined in on the governmental-abuse fun, resulting in available 14th Am. due process claims under 42 USC 1983, including unlawful search without warrant or probable cause. How do I know no probable cause? Because CPS attempted to obtain a court order and the judge denied it; they attempted to obtain a warrant and it was denied. That is how bogus the claims made were.

CPS went on to deprive of 14 Am. due process by failing to follow their own policy, and stated (on recording) "I don't care what the policy says" while at the same time admitting the complaint was clearly bogus. In sharing this (and other facts) with this organization's leader, he said "Well, just cooperate because you're not going to get $1M in damages." Apparently he decided the goal was to seek millions of dollars in damages.

What about the fact that names are now on the Central Registry for a complaint which CPS admitted was bogus and per their policy they were supposed to drop because they determined it was bogus? How about wanting removal of one's name from the registry which is there specifically to track child abusers.

How about the fact that CPS stated that there is no right to physically discipline a child, even though the law in Michigan states that reasonable physical discipline is parental prerogative. Is that not a deprivation of rights under color of law? And how about the fact that they place that restriction, irrespective of religious doctrine, on all low-income persons - those who receive state assistance.

So - to be clear: the state is depriving individuals who receive food or other state assistance from religious expression under color of law and threat of penalization by denial of said benefits, registration as a child abuser, and daily harassment to include visits from police officers with neither probable cause, warrant, nor court order.

There are more than 15 persons this has happened to, which makes it certifiable as a class action. But, this guy doesn't see that? So there is the second fail for this organization.

Maybe he's just really not familiar with Michigan law. Because in Michigan, filing a false CPS complaint can result in severe penalties. If the false complaint would have resulted in a misdemeanor, the false complainant is guilty of a misdemeanor. Same thing if it was a felony. So, I guess I'll speak to someone who has a better understanding of what the rule of law is here.

Notwithstanding: for that reason, I cannot recommend this agency for anything.

Emily K.