Mom, denied visits, sues Children Services agency

Butler Co. custody in US court
Mom, denied visits, sues Children Services agency

HAMILTON - A mother who lost visitation with her 10-year-old daughter after Butler County Children Services got involved in her private custody case has taken her long-time battle with the agency to federal court.

Joetta Street, of Hamilton, filed a civil rights suit in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati against Butler County commissioners; her ex-husband's wife, Michelle Money-Richardson, who worked for Children Services; former agency director Jann Heffner; former deputy director Donna Saunders; former clinical director Kathy Hayes; current intake director Judy Stadler; and several other agency employees.

Street just last week was granted supervised visitation with her daughter.

A scathing county report last year concluded that Money-Richardson and other agency officials had misused their authority in taking Street's daughter so her ex-husband, Vincent Richardson, could have custody.

The girl was removed from Street's home a year ago after Money-Richardson accused Street of emotionally abusing the child.

Children Services officials intervened in Domestic Relations Court proceedings to have Street kept away from the child.

The lawsuit doesn't set a dollar amount but asks for compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorney fees and court costs.

Money-Richardson was forced to quit her $61,000-a-year job with Children Services last month after she was caught working as a college instructor while on county-paid sick leave for a stress-related illness.

Heffner was forced out of her $125,000-a-year job after the death of 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel in foster care. Saunders and Hayes left recently after their jobs were eliminated in a restructuring of the agency.

Original Article-

NKY.Com - Butler Co. custody in US court

Does this story sound familiar? It should if you have been following my case.

Right now my Malicious Prosecution case is in State Court, but getting it into Federal Court and including all the players is looking better and better everyday!