FIT MOTHER TRAPPED IN DECATUR ILLINOIS FAMILY COURT SYSTEM

FIT PARENT ORDERED BY JUDGE ALBERT G. WEBBER IV TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT TO NON-PARENTS

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Decatur IL Lawyers Raid Minor Children's Trust Fund; $211,000.00 and Counting


Blog by Weapons of Mass Discussion:

The Schneider Saga Continues
By Matt for the TIB Network:


The Schneider Saga Continues


I have recently obtained documents that support Amy Joan Schneider's claim that trust fund money that was set aside for her children has been used by her opponents for the purpose of continuing the fight to keep her children away from her.

This is an excerpt from an affidavit filed by Benito DiTerlizzi, the husband of Amy Joan's sister who once had custody of Amy Joan's children prior to her death:
3. In 2003, the Plaintiff [Amy Joan Schneider – MATT] discovered, after my late wife and her sister, Christine DiTerlizzi, had passed away, that Christine had left a trust fund of approximately $600,000 for the benefit of the plaintiffs children.

[5.] The trust fund established for the plaintiffs' children has been paying the legal costs incurred in the custody dispute. To date, the trust has expended over $211,000 in attorney fees and costs in defending against all of the plaintiffs legal actions.

It is clear that money earmarked for the children is being used by Amy Joan's opponents. What is not clear from these documents, is where exactly all of this money has gone. Have attorneys and the Court managed to soak up over $200,000 that belongs to Amy Joan Schneider's children?

Using the funds is clearly not illegal, but is it ethical? What kind of person does this sort of thing? Access to what's left of the $600,000 is quite an incentive for this fight. Such questions are circumstantial evidence, at best, but Ms. Schneider's opponents' motivation can and should be examined. Remember, this isn't some criminal trial, we're talking about who actually has the right to raise two of Amy Joan Schneider's children.

I have yet to see the Court rule that Amy Joan Schneider is not capable of parenting. She has, in fact, been certified by a professional from the McLean County Center for Human Services as being "not unfit to parent her children." It does not appear that Amy Joan's opponents have proven their case, yet they continue to have custody of her children. Dr. Hamilton does, however, state that he is not able to evaluate her ability, nor is he an expert in parenting.

A couple of items of interest show up in that letter that need additional explanation. First, there is a notation about Amy Joan's experience with "substance abuse" which Ms. Schneider informs me is about a DUI and not drugs. Apparently, Dr. Hamilton felt it would reflect better on Ms. Schneider with the more nebulous phrasing than actually spelling out her history. Second, Ms. Schneider has been diagnosed as having Bi-Polar Disorder. Ms. Schneider informs me that this is a family affliction and that several members of her family have been so diagnosed including her sister seeking permanent custody of her children and the sister who formerly had custody before her death.

It appears that Lady Justice isn't quite so blind in this case.

Other Installments of this Story

Amy Schneider's Fight for her Children
Link

Schneider Follow Up
Link

Schneider Update
Link

Another Schneider Update
Link

24,499 views 30 replies
Reply #1 Top
This sounds like a jim Crow case from the 50s in the deep south.  Unfortunately, it is happening in a state that just elected its second black senator.  Seems the judiciarary (SP) is still in Jim crow mode.
Reply #2 Top
I am the author of the piece quoted. I'd like to point out that the title for my article is "The Schneider Saga Continues" and not "FIT MOTHER TRAPPED IN DECATUR ILLINOIS FAMILY COURT SYSTEM" or "FIT MOTHER ORDERED BY JUDGE ALBERT G. WEBBER IV TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT TO NON-PARENTS" although either could be the lede...

Based on what I've seen of this case, it appears more like the lawyers are gobbling up the money and that is one of the motives for this miscarriage of justice. One of the commenters on my site made the connection with the Terry Schiavo case wherein it looks like the lawyers and one side of the case are holding out for money. While the cases aren't all that similar, the motivation could be...

Ms. Schneider would disagree with me, but I don't think race has much to do with this. Rather, I think the money is the primary motivator in play here.
Reply #3 Top

Ms. Schneider would disagree with me, but I don't think race has much to do with this. Rather, I think the money is the primary motivator in play here.

That may be why the guardian parents are fighting, but why did the judge take only half the children away in the first place?  That sounds exactly like race.  It quacks waddles and swims, it is a duck.

Reply #7 Top
This is just another example of the legal system thinking they "own" our children. Basically, this seems like a control freak/money grabbing/racist thing. The legal system is soooo concerned for the "welfare" of our kids that they forget about the basic moral principals that founded this nation. I think someone needs to smack "Lady" Justice in the mouth and wake her up.
Reply #8 Top
This is unbelievable. I've been reading the history on it, and I can't understand how a family can turn on itself this way, and how the lawyers and the court back it up and soak up financial resources rather than look for a way to solve it. Aren't a mother's rights supposed to usurp those of other family members? Not anymore, I guess. Disgusting!
Reply #10 Top

This is unbelievable. I've been reading the history on it, and I can't understand how a family can turn on itself this way, and how the lawyers and the court back it up and soak up financial resources rather than look for a way to solve it. Aren't a mother's rights supposed to usurp those of other family members? Not anymore, I guess. Disgusting!

The state Social Services agencies are so afraid of allowing one child abuser go free, that the system has tilted the other way and now parents are guilty until provven Innocent.  I think it sucks as well, but unless we, as a nation, are willing to stand up to the mindless bureaucrats, it will continue to occur.

Reply #11 Top
I have posted a response over at WMD (but have just found a way to reply here, so I will do so here too).

Dr Guy, et al.:

The judge in this case can NOT take AJS's black children because they aren't the children involved in the case. This isn't a matter of Social Services coming in and taking children; this is a matter wherein AJS's family were already taking care of her white children BEFORE the black children were even born.

The judge can't simply come in and take all of her children. The system doesn't work that way. The judge can only take action on the case in front of him.

All of which is why I contend that race is not the motivator behind the judge's actions. Whether or not the judge is getting financial or political reward MIGHT be on the table, but race and Jim Crow laws aren't it.

This is exactly why I think "AJS's Fight Against Racism and Segregation" is a TERRIBLE name for her cause. It conjures up images of Jim Crow laws and racism that aren't a factor in the case itself. It's misdirection from the facts of the case. AJS's charges of racism and segregation could be levelled against her family, she probably has sufficient evidence to make that case; but against this judge - she hasn't proven it to me and I came in to it with a pretty open mind. The burden of proof is on the accuser...
Reply #12 Top
Mr. Hurley, I think you have done a wonderful job in exposing this case, but you are wrong. I live in Skokie and I have been an attorney in Illinois for over 32 years. I have seen all of the changes in the family court system including the so-called 1997 improvements ("Welfare Reform Act"). The Judge in this case has "jurisdiction" over any child in the State of Illinois if the child is in imminent danger, regardless of how it came to the Court's attention. In this Schneider case, Judge Webber has used a provision of the IL Marriage and Dissolution Act--improperly I might add--to remove the children from their mother 'for their safety.' Removing two children from Ms. Schneider and leaving three is an overt ruse. My experience has been that most local lawyers are afraid to cross a judge in a situation like this. If you notice, most of the time when a judge is outed, the media brings it to the public's attention. In my opinion, this is clear racism and peer monetary reward. Two-hundred thousand dollars is ridiculous and this whole matter should be investigated. If anyone is waiting for the Macon County IL bar to correct this mess, keep dreaming. Any attorney that wants to continue earning a living in the relatively small community of Macon County will steer clear of the wrongs and possible crimes in the Schneider case. I must sadly confess that I would not take on Judge Webber in lieu of providing for my family.
Reply #13 Top

The judge in this case can NOT take AJS's black children because they aren't the children involved in the case.

If she is not fit to raise her white kids, then what makes this judge think she is fit to raise her black ones?  The Judge may spin it any way he wants, but actions speak louder than words. It waddles, quacks and swims.  It is a duck.

Reply #14 Top
The judge is making the mother pay child support for her own white children while she is raising her three other black children. Segregation is the correct word. The Jim Crow laws of the south would not allow whites to be with blacks. I agree with Dr. Guy, this is a duck.
Reply #15 Top
Fourth time is the charm... I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but this forum isn't liking something that I'm putting in my response and is rejecting it...

Therefore, I have posted my response to both Concerned Citizen and Dr. Guy in the comments section of the " Schneider on the Custody of her Black Children" post over at my blog.

Thanks for the comments, interest and feedback...

MATT HURLEY
Reply #16 Top

Fourth time is the charm... I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but this forum isn't liking something that I'm putting in my response and is rejecting it...

You have stated your case quite well, and taken on the face, one would tend to agree with you.  However, as Others pointed out, there is indeed something rotten in the state of denmark (Illinois) when a Judge can arbitrarily decide to deny custody to a biological parent on nothing more than unmitigated racial bigotry. Whether on his part or the custodial parents part, it is still bigotry and wrong.

Reply #17 Top
I've been following this story. My sister has three children. She and her ex husband got tied up in drugs and she was put in jail for four years. The children stayed with me until she got out in 1996. After that she took her kids and she's been doing fine. In TN a parent has a right to have their kids. I can't understand IL keeping this mother's kids with a sister when the mother is obviously able to care for them. As for the black and white, why cant this mother see her white children? That tells me there is something wrong.
Reply #18 Top
Dr. Guy,

The statement you pulled out from my last was misinterpreted, I think. I was having difficulty getting that one printed here for some reason. I don't know what the trouble was but it took four times to get anything posted...

And I agree that something is definately wrong in Illinois if this is "normal" juris prudence...

MATT HURLEY
Reply #20 Top
Yesterday I was in judge Webber's court on child support. The place was full. Then this guy came in and walked right up front where the lawyres are and the judge was like, what do you want! Then the guy said I got papers to serve you with. Webber's face turned red and him and the guy had some words. Then webber told the guy to go sit down. The guy said hes not setting down he has other people to serve, then he left. I learned later that the guy came back and webber GOT SERVED with some papers to go to court. It was cool, this guy did not let Webber push him around at all. Somebody said it may have been in the Schneider case.
Reply #21 Top

Yesterday I was in judge Webber's court on child support. The place was full. Then this guy came in and walked right up front where the lawyres are and the judge was like, what do you want! Then the guy said I got papers to serve you with. Webber's face turned red and him and the guy had some words. Then webber told the guy to go sit down. The guy said hes not setting down he has other people to serve, then he left. I learned later that the guy came back and webber GOT SERVED with some papers to go to court. It was cool, this guy did not let Webber push him around at all. Somebody said it may have been in the Schneider case.


Please keep us informed on changes.
Reply #23 Top
I too like Amy Schnedier have my bi-racial child taken away from me by Judge Scott Diamond in Macon County along with the same 4th District Judge Sue Myerscough. There is no justice for our children in Macon County, if the other party has more money than you do. My mother and sister also conspiered to have my only child taken away from me, by then again I didn't have the backing of my sister's husband Steve Horve of Steve Horve Builders in Decatur backing me. I NEVER HARMED my daughter IN ANY WAY NOR WOULD THAT THOUGHT EVER CROSS MY MIND. It also never crossed my mind that my mother and sister would ever try to take my daughter, although maybe it should have since she ALWAYS wanted a daughter and her husband can not have any more children so hey why not steal mine? You apparently have enough money to do so in MACON COUNTY! The Illinois court system has even overlooked The Indian Child Welfare Act in my case,under which my child(who is now 7) and myself fall. Cherokee Nation even sent their lead attorney Diane Hammons to my last Appellate Court hearing. My phone # is 309-310-2110. CHILDREN ARE FOR SALE IN MACON COUNTY!
Reply #24 Top
What are you taking about? Is someone FINALLY doing something about those judges down there in Macon County? Did this incident really happen? If so what's it all about and does anyone know an out come? I'm sure glad I don't live there. Who oversees these judges? Is it just their peers? Or is there a panel or something? And what's going on with some judge named Sue Myerscough and exactly how is she tied into these cases-If this is really happening why does it seem to going on with children who are not white? wHY HASN'T THE locate newspaper picked up on it? Here's a better idea-what about People magazine,20/20 or maybe 60 minutes? Remember bad judges do not like being exposed. I feel really sorry for these poor kids and their hard fighting MOTHERS!
Reply #25 Top
What are you taking about? Is someone FINALLY doing something about those judges down there in Macon County? Did this incident really happen? If so what's it all about and does anyone know an out come? I'm sure glad I don't live there. Who oversees these judges? Is it just their peers? Or is there a panel or something? And what's going on with some judge named Sue Myerscough and exactly how is she tied into these cases-If this is really happening why does it seem to going on with children who are not white? wHY HASN'T THE locate newspaper picked up on it? Here's a better idea-what about People magazine,20/20 or maybe 60 minutes? Remember bad judges do not like being exposed. I feel really sorry for these poor kids and their hard fighting MOTHERS!