PARENT'S RIGHTS NOW!

The 2004 state statistics regarding child support are available here. South Carolina has nothing of which to be proud. So it makes one wonder why South Carolina State Attorney General Henry McMaster's has decided to join Palmetto Family Council in its prosecution of the cultural wars. Wouldn't South Carolina be better off making sure that its most helpless citizens are cared for rather than worrying about changing a Constitution that has served us for decades?

An article in the New York Times discusses how the combination of technology and easy credit is making it easier for identity thieves to ply their trade. However, there are other factors contributing to the problem. As the article notes, "But the suspect showed officers something they had not seen before. Browsing a government Web site, he pulled up a local divorce document listing the parties' names, addresses and bank account numbers, along with scans of their signatures. With a common software program and some check stationery, the document provided all he needed to print checks in his victims' names — and it was all made available, with some fanfare, by the county recorder's office. The site had thousands of them."

Under the circumstances, it may be a good idea for those who have had the unfortunate experience of being in Family Court to determine whether their personal information is secure.

JUDGE CUTS JURY AWARD

According to a report in the Charleston Post and Courier, Circuit Court Judge J.C. Nicholson Jr. reduced the award granted to former Guardain Ad Litem Linda Erickson. This reduction was to about $1.7 Million in combined actual and punitive damages from the previous amount of $6.5 Million. Also, according to the article, the suit filed by former Dorchester County Family Court Judge Alvin Biggs was unsuccessful.

We make no comment about the verdict in the Erickson case, other than to predict that the case it will either be settled or the verdict will be reduced further on appeal.

As to Judge Biggs, we think that the case should never have been brought. This is because we believe that those who offer themselves to serve as Family Court Judges should be prepared to take a great deal of undeserved abuse. It goes with the job.

The State has reported that the proposed legislation to end Common Law Marriage was "shelved" yesterday. Reportedly, "Senate leaders gave up the effort after concluding continued pursuit of its abolition would take away too much time better devoted to passage of other ( more important) proposals."

All we can say is, "Good for the Senate leaders!"

A BETTER MOUSETRAP FOR GAMBLING WINNINGS?

A few weeks ago, South Carolina State Representative John Graham Altman proposed denying undocumented illegals the right to collect lottery winnings in the State of South Carolina. Given that there was no practical way to enforce this proposed legislation and that North Carolina will soon be competing with South Carolina for lottery participants, the South Carolina Legislature wisely rejected Mr. Altman's proposal.

But now Rhode Island may have up with a better idea.

The Providence Journal reports that Rhode Island State Representative Alfred A. Gemma, D-Warwick, is pushing to require Lincoln Park and Newport Grand to withhold slot machine winnings from any Rhode Island parent who the state says owes $500 or more. According to "federal statistics," last year, Rhode Islanders owed $72.4 million in child support, but paid only $43.9 million.

As some of you may recall, Mr. Bardes sent a very interesting letter to DSS. We never saw DSS's reply. So if anyone out there in BLOGGERLAND can provide us with an update either on Mr. Bardes or his dealings with DSS, we would love to hear from you.

THE LAWYER AND THE LEXUS--A NOT SO FUNNY JOKE

A very successful lawyer parked his brand new Lexus in front of the office, ready to show it off to his colleagues.

As he got out, a truck came along too close to the curb and completely tore off the driver's door. Fortunately, a cop in a police car was close enough to see the accident and pulled up behind the Lexus, his lights flashing.

But, before the cop had a chance to ask any questions, the lawyer started screaming hysterically about how his Lexus, which he had just picked up the day before, was now completely ruined and would never be the same, no matter how the body shop tried to make it new again.

After the lawyer finally wound down from his rant, the cop shook his head in disgust and disbelief. "I can't believe how materialistic you lawyers are," he said.

"You are so focused on your possessions that you neglect the most important things in life."

"How can you say such a thing?" asked the lawyer.

The cop replied, "Don't you even realize that your left arm is missing? It got ripped off when the truck hit you!"

"OH, MY GOD!" screamed the lawyer. .."MY ROLEX!"

Now some folks--many of them members of "THE BAR" may not find this joke to be funny. However, it does illustrate a point that we have been making for months. When real wages have not increased in years and the cost of living for the average person is spiraling out of sight, how can JOHN Q. PUBLIC afford to litigate his visitation rights and how can Jane P. Public afford to go into Court to make her ex pay his share of the Orthodontic Bill? And won't the person whose employer is either a lawyer or who makes the higher income eventually win through attrition? Or more to the point--when South Carolina domestic lawyers are charging $450 per hour AND Family Court Judges are approving these types of fees, shouldn't "THE BAR" expect to be ridiculed?