Court Certifies Classes in 'Kids for Cash' Case (profit-making detention centers)
Court Certifies Classes in 'Kids for Cash' Case
(CN) - A federal judge certified classes of thousands of parents and children who say two imprisoned state judges made millions by sending the kids to profit-making detention centers.
Former Luzerne County Judges Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Michael T. Conahan pleaded guilty in federal court in February 2009 to taking $2.6 million in kickbacks for sending juveniles to privately run detention centers, PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care, between 2003 and May 2008.
Hundreds of children and parents who say they were victimized by the corruption filed two federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) class actions a week later.
In one case, lead plaintiff Florence Wallace says her 14-year-old daughter was taken from Ciavarella's courtroom in shackles in a case involving alleged threats on MySpace, and sent to a PA Child Care camp
Plaintiffs in another class action also sued 15 defendants, including attorney Robert Powell, a former co-owner of PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care, and Robert Mericle, who owns a major construction firm that built the children's prisons.
Along with wrongful imprisonment claims, some of the plaintiff parents complained their wages were garnished or their Social Security benefits were seized to pay for their childrens' imprisonment.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/05/21/57838.htm
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