Sue: It's the American Way

In a Washington Post February 28 article, I read in dismay that, "Relatives of the four girls whose decomposed bodies were found last month in a Southeast Washington rowhouse have hired lawyers to pursue claims against the D.C. government for failing to prevent months of neglect and abuse." This action is adding insult to injury to these children's death and making worse a horrific situation where 4 innocent children were murdered by their accused mother.

The family, including Mamie Jacks, the accused's mother, Jessie Fogle, grandmother of two of the children, and one of the children's father (name not disclosed), who were no where in sight for months and years, while these children suffered day after day only to be murdered, now want money from the District of Columbia. Did Jacks, the father, or Fogle not wonder where their children/grandchildren were on holidays; did they not wonder how the children were doing in school; did they not visit them or the mother; what about a simple phone call. No, they did nothing, and, now they want money - blood money. How so disturbing and disgusting this is. What about their negligence and turning their backs on their very own family? I will hold my tongue on how I feel about these people.

As for our legal system, I don't understand how the courts can even consider this. While the government should be expected to protect children and ensure their well being, they can not possibly be responsible for the day to day care of every child within their jurisdiction; that is the parents' responsibility. Unfortunately, many children have parents who neglect this responsibility and the extended family needs to overtake this task. Some very, very unfortunate children, like these four murdered children, had nothing. And, now the people who did nothing, want something. What does this say about society and our judicial system.

P.S. Two additional law suits in DC, while not as disturbing and heart-wrenching as this one, are equally appalling as to how far the courts allows these actions to proceed:
Roy Pearson, a Washington, D.C., Lawyer Sues Dry Cleaners $67 million for Lost Trousers and Raelyn Campbell sues Best Buy for $54 million for a lost computer

Maybe a should sue Nestor's, the place I bought my ski boots and had my bindings adjusted, because my bindings did not release and accordingly, when I fell, I tore my ACL? What do you think?