Baron Lee
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The day I decided to leave Sharon and take my son, I came home from work and picked up Eric and headed out the door. On my way out, she started screaming at me, asked me what I was doing and refused to let me leave the house. And she started pulling on Eric and screaming. I was afraid Eric was going to get hurt, so I handed my son over to him. And in the meantime, she's screaming.
The day I decided to leave Sharon and take my son, I came home from work and picked up Eric and headed out the door. On my way out, she started screaming at me, asked me what I was doing and refused to let me leave the house. And she started pulling on Eric and screaming. I was afraid Eric was going to get hurt, so I handed my son over to him. And in the meantime, she's screaming.
The neighbors heard the commotion and called the police. When the police arrived, she made some accusations saying that I had abused her and my son and I was breaking furniture around the house. When the police interviewed me, I explained to them that this was not true. Clearly there's no broken furniture and I hadn't hit her and there was no bruises or marks or scratches to prove otherwise.
The neighbors heard the commotion and called the police. When the police arrived, she made some accusations saying that I had abused her and my son and I was breaking furniture around the house. When the police interviewed me, I explained to them that this was not true. Clearly there's no broken furniture and I hadn't hit her and there was no bruises or marks or scratches to prove otherwise.
I did agree that if she would take Eric and leave, we could handle this in court. So the police allowed her to take Eric and they advised us that we should handle this in court. A couple of hours later, Sharon decided to come back to the house without Eric, but she had brought a couple of friends of hers and she was trying to get into the house.
I did agree that if she would take Eric and leave, we could handle this in court. So the police allowed her to take Eric and they advised us that we should handle this in court. A couple of hours later, Sharon decided to come back to the house without Eric, but she had brought a couple of friends of hers and she was trying to get into the house.
I had already managed to get the locks changed the minute she left because I didn't want to have any issues with domestic violence or being arrested for false accusations. When she tried to enter, I called the police. When the police arrived, she said that she was trying to get into the house because I had posted nude pictures of her online.
I had already managed to get the locks changed the minute she left because I didn't want to have any issues with domestic violence or being arrested for false accusations. When she tried to enter, I called the police. When the police arrived, she said that she was trying to get into the house because I had posted nude pictures of her online.
I explained to the police officers, obviously this wasn't true. And I asked if this is the case, please provide proof of what she's making accusations of. She claims that it was posted on Facebook on one of her friends' posts. When I asked her who the friend was or where the post was, she said it was deleted and she doesn't remember which friend saw the post.
I explained to the police officers, obviously this wasn't true. And I asked if this is the case, please provide proof of what she's making accusations of. She claims that it was posted on Facebook on one of her friends' posts. When I asked her who the friend was or where the post was, she said it was deleted and she doesn't remember which friend saw the post.
The police officers that came the second time weren't very friendly towards me and told me that, you know, if I was posting this kind of stuff, I could go to jail. I explained to them this wasn't the case. They told me that I couldn't legally keep her out of the home because she's on the deed of the house as well. And I explained to them I just didn't want to have a domestic violence case.
The police officers that came the second time weren't very friendly towards me and told me that, you know, if I was posting this kind of stuff, I could go to jail. I explained to them this wasn't the case. They told me that I couldn't legally keep her out of the home because she's on the deed of the house as well. And I explained to them I just didn't want to have a domestic violence case.
Charges and that the previous officers had recommended that we be apart for the time being until we could settle this in court.
Charges and that the previous officers had recommended that we be apart for the time being until we could settle this in court.
She ended up leaving, then two weeks later I was served with a temporary restraining order and a protective custody order and was told that I had to go to court in two weeks to contest this, but in the meantime I was being evicted out of my house and I was only allowed to take my car and a bag of clothing. I had to leave everything else in the house Two weeks later I ended up going to court.
She ended up leaving, then two weeks later I was served with a temporary restraining order and a protective custody order and was told that I had to go to court in two weeks to contest this, but in the meantime I was being evicted out of my house and I was only allowed to take my car and a bag of clothing. I had to leave everything else in the house Two weeks later I ended up going to court.
I found out that this was a ploy for her to get a favorable parenting plan and she had basically told the courts that she was afraid that Eric would die in my care because I didn't know how to care for him, which was a lie. When the Even with the false accusations, Being unfounded, they limited my visitations to see my son two hours a week, twice a week.
I found out that this was a ploy for her to get a favorable parenting plan and she had basically told the courts that she was afraid that Eric would die in my care because I didn't know how to care for him, which was a lie. When the Even with the false accusations, Being unfounded, they limited my visitations to see my son two hours a week, twice a week.
And I had to pay a guardian ad litem, $1,500 for supervised visits based off the accusations that my son would die in my care. I went and paid the guardian ad litem so I could get my visitations put in place. And within the first visit, the guard in the light asked me why I was having supervised visits. Because clearly I was a capable father. I knew everything about my son.
And I had to pay a guardian ad litem, $1,500 for supervised visits based off the accusations that my son would die in my care. I went and paid the guardian ad litem so I could get my visitations put in place. And within the first visit, the guard in the light asked me why I was having supervised visits. Because clearly I was a capable father. I knew everything about my son.
I knew how to manage his tone. I knew how to manage feeding him and giving medication. And that it seemed ridiculous that I needed supervised visits. So when I went back to court the second time, I tried to appeal myself. Ich habe den Kindersupport gewonnen, weil ich 6.000 Dollar pro Monat in Unterstützung und auch versuchen konnte, einen Ort zu leben.
I knew how to manage his tone. I knew how to manage feeding him and giving medication. And that it seemed ridiculous that I needed supervised visits. So when I went back to court the second time, I tried to appeal myself. Ich habe den Kindersupport gewonnen, weil ich 6.000 Dollar pro Monat in Unterstützung und auch versuchen konnte, einen Ort zu leben.
Ich habe den Appell verfehlt, aber sie haben die überwiesenen Besuche entfernt und ich konnte meinen Sohn zweimal pro Woche holen. However, these transitions or exchanges were very volatile. Sharon had made it very difficult to manage these exchanges. And at one point she tried to literally run me over.
Ich habe den Appell verfehlt, aber sie haben die überwiesenen Besuche entfernt und ich konnte meinen Sohn zweimal pro Woche holen. However, these transitions or exchanges were very volatile. Sharon had made it very difficult to manage these exchanges. And at one point she tried to literally run me over.
I ended up on the hood of her car and she drove with me on the hood of her car for a couple hundred yards until I was able to
I ended up on the hood of her car and she drove with me on the hood of her car for a couple hundred yards until I was able to
roll off her car successfully and when I told the police what happened they refused to allow me to press charges told me that I had to manage this thing in family court because it's a civil matter and then when I told the family court what had happened they just told me that we had to learn to co-parent better
roll off her car successfully and when I told the police what happened they refused to allow me to press charges told me that I had to manage this thing in family court because it's a civil matter and then when I told the family court what had happened they just told me that we had to learn to co-parent better
With all that was going on during this time, Eric was being hospitalized as well and I was concerned about his welfare and his care because his mom wasn't taking care of him, was the main reason I was wanting to leave her in the first place.
With all that was going on during this time, Eric was being hospitalized as well and I was concerned about his welfare and his care because his mom wasn't taking care of him, was the main reason I was wanting to leave her in the first place.
The courts refused to listen to me and my son kept going to the hospital and every time I went to visit him, Sharon would make lies and get me kicked out of the hospital and I'd have to contact a social worker to get access to see my son again. All this time I I was paying as much as I could with the support, but I wasn't able to keep up with the total costs.
The courts refused to listen to me and my son kept going to the hospital and every time I went to visit him, Sharon would make lies and get me kicked out of the hospital and I'd have to contact a social worker to get access to see my son again. All this time I I was paying as much as I could with the support, but I wasn't able to keep up with the total costs.
I was living out of my car in the middle of winter at a rest stop in Everett. And by the time December came around, he had been out of my care for a little over four months. The courts threatened to throw me in jail if I didn't catch up with the back support, which was about $12,000 to $14,000 at the time. So he did make that very tough decision to leave Washington.
I was living out of my car in the middle of winter at a rest stop in Everett. And by the time December came around, he had been out of my care for a little over four months. The courts threatened to throw me in jail if I didn't catch up with the back support, which was about $12,000 to $14,000 at the time. So he did make that very tough decision to leave Washington.
While going through all of this, no one believed anything that I was saying. Most people doubted the severity of the situation I was facing. However, Didi was there for me emotionally. She and I met back in 2001, shortly after she completed college in Canada. She moved down to Las Vegas to live with her mom. We became friends right away and over the years we kept in contact.
While going through all of this, no one believed anything that I was saying. Most people doubted the severity of the situation I was facing. However, Didi was there for me emotionally. She and I met back in 2001, shortly after she completed college in Canada. She moved down to Las Vegas to live with her mom. We became friends right away and over the years we kept in contact.
When Didi found out what I was going through, she suggested that I move back to Las Vegas, where she could help me get back on my feet. Three months after moving to Las Vegas, Didi and I had decided to move in together with her and her two children, Sophia and Ethan. Sophia was six at the time and Ethan was nine. And they grew to like me right away.
When Didi found out what I was going through, she suggested that I move back to Las Vegas, where she could help me get back on my feet. Three months after moving to Las Vegas, Didi and I had decided to move in together with her and her two children, Sophia and Ethan. Sophia was six at the time and Ethan was nine. And they grew to like me right away.
Sophia started calling me Daddy right away and then Ethan shortly after that. We did a lot of stuff together. We went on road trips and I was able to put a little bit of the situation I was dealing with to the side. But I knew that eventually I needed to get back to Washington to fight for Eric.
Sophia started calling me Daddy right away and then Ethan shortly after that. We did a lot of stuff together. We went on road trips and I was able to put a little bit of the situation I was dealing with to the side. But I knew that eventually I needed to get back to Washington to fight for Eric.
Didi and I made a decision that when that happens, that we were going to relocate our entire family to Washington. This way I could be with Eric and also Sophia and Ethan could end up going to a better school and having a better life here in Washington as well.
Didi and I made a decision that when that happens, that we were going to relocate our entire family to Washington. This way I could be with Eric and also Sophia and Ethan could end up going to a better school and having a better life here in Washington as well.
My name is Baron Lee. I'm also known as the Asian 50 Cent. I was born in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. When I was a year old, my family decided to relocate to Hawaii, where my dad is originally from. At the age of three, the authorities were called out to my family's home after my neighbors had heard me crying for three days.
My name is Baron Lee. I'm also known as the Asian 50 Cent. I was born in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. When I was a year old, my family decided to relocate to Hawaii, where my dad is originally from. At the age of three, the authorities were called out to my family's home after my neighbors had heard me crying for three days.
When the police arrived, they found me laying in an inch of water in my family's bathtub. I had burn wounds covering both of my arms and my legs. and I was barely alive. They rushed me to Hilo Hospital, where they were able to stabilize me and put me into surgery to do a procedure called skin graphing to care for my burn wounds. Fortunately, I made a recovery.
When the police arrived, they found me laying in an inch of water in my family's bathtub. I had burn wounds covering both of my arms and my legs. and I was barely alive. They rushed me to Hilo Hospital, where they were able to stabilize me and put me into surgery to do a procedure called skin graphing to care for my burn wounds. Fortunately, I made a recovery.
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However, during their investigation, they had discovered that my parents had burned me with a clothing iron. So I was placed into my very first foster home. I remained in the foster care system until I was 17. During that time, I had 17 placements, 6 group homes and in and out of juvenile detention centers. The foster care system played a big impact in my life.
However, during their investigation, they had discovered that my parents had burned me with a clothing iron. So I was placed into my very first foster home. I remained in the foster care system until I was 17. During that time, I had 17 placements, 6 group homes and in and out of juvenile detention centers. The foster care system played a big impact in my life.
I went through a lot of challenges and adversities and also learned a lot of life lessons. My experiences in foster care helped mold me into the man I am today.
I went through a lot of challenges and adversities and also learned a lot of life lessons. My experiences in foster care helped mold me into the man I am today.
Untertitelung des ZDF, 2020 Untertitelung. BR 2018 Untertitelung. BR 2018
Untertitelung des ZDF, 2020 Untertitelung. BR 2018 Untertitelung. BR 2018
Verzeihung der Jungs war nicht etwas, was ich sofort nachgedacht habe. Es hat mir eigentlich ein bisschen Zeit gedauert, um alles zu denken, was geschehen ist. Es war nicht bis ich bemerkte, dass die Jungs auch Verbrecher waren. Es war Sharon, die sie in ihren diabolischen Plan eingelassen hat. Sie hat ihre Leben verletzt, ihre Familienleben verletzt.
Verzeihung der Jungs war nicht etwas, was ich sofort nachgedacht habe. Es hat mir eigentlich ein bisschen Zeit gedauert, um alles zu denken, was geschehen ist. Es war nicht bis ich bemerkte, dass die Jungs auch Verbrecher waren. Es war Sharon, die sie in ihren diabolischen Plan eingelassen hat. Sie hat ihre Leben verletzt, ihre Familienleben verletzt.
So, when the prosecution approached me about offering them a lower sentencing, I was all for it. My intention was that the boys would be able to see the opportunity being given to them, that they would go ahead and get an education while they're in prison. And then eventually when they got out, go ahead and make a life for themselves. I was glad I was able to meet with Quincy's parents.
So, when the prosecution approached me about offering them a lower sentencing, I was all for it. My intention was that the boys would be able to see the opportunity being given to them, that they would go ahead and get an education while they're in prison. And then eventually when they got out, go ahead and make a life for themselves. I was glad I was able to meet with Quincy's parents.
I wanted them to know that I had no ill will towards them or towards Quincy. And I also wanted to relieve them of any burden of guilt. I mean, I couldn't imagine if one of my teenagers went and did something as silly as that and what kind of
I wanted them to know that I had no ill will towards them or towards Quincy. And I also wanted to relieve them of any burden of guilt. I mean, I couldn't imagine if one of my teenagers went and did something as silly as that and what kind of
So I wanted to give them that peace and let them be able to just focus on being able to support Quincy and eventually, you know, being there for Quincy when he gets out. As far as Sharon goes, her sentencing was definitely not long enough. When the prosecutor told me that they wanted to give her a plea deal and lower her sentencing down to 152 months from 300 months, I was adamantly against it.
So I wanted to give them that peace and let them be able to just focus on being able to support Quincy and eventually, you know, being there for Quincy when he gets out. As far as Sharon goes, her sentencing was definitely not long enough. When the prosecutor told me that they wanted to give her a plea deal and lower her sentencing down to 152 months from 300 months, I was adamantly against it.
And the prosecutor basically told me that they were going to take this plea deal because it's a guaranteed prosecution and they didn't want to risk going to trial and possibly not being able to get her prosecuted. And I told them I didn't care. I wanted to go to trial. But they went ahead and moved forward with the plea deal.
And the prosecutor basically told me that they were going to take this plea deal because it's a guaranteed prosecution and they didn't want to risk going to trial and possibly not being able to get her prosecuted. And I told them I didn't care. I wanted to go to trial. But they went ahead and moved forward with the plea deal.
So when her sentencing came, I went in front of the judge and I told them, you know, that I was against the plea deal. However, instead of the 152 months, that she should get the 165 months, which was the maximum for that plea deal they offered her. Since they already had taken it down from 300 months, 165 was more than fair if she was going to get a plea deal.
So when her sentencing came, I went in front of the judge and I told them, you know, that I was against the plea deal. However, instead of the 152 months, that she should get the 165 months, which was the maximum for that plea deal they offered her. Since they already had taken it down from 300 months, 165 was more than fair if she was going to get a plea deal.
Thankfully the judge agreed and she got to 165 months, which means that she won't be getting out before Eric turns 18. My intention is to get Eric's guardianship in place so he'll be protected from her when she finally gets out.
Thankfully the judge agreed and she got to 165 months, which means that she won't be getting out before Eric turns 18. My intention is to get Eric's guardianship in place so he'll be protected from her when she finally gets out.
The main reason I lost custody of my son is that we have a broken family court system here in the state of Washington and many states across the country. My ex-wife was able to file for a protection order because she said I was abusing her and my son. Two weeks later, the protection order was thrown out with prejudice because they realized they were all false allegations.
The main reason I lost custody of my son is that we have a broken family court system here in the state of Washington and many states across the country. My ex-wife was able to file for a protection order because she said I was abusing her and my son. Two weeks later, the protection order was thrown out with prejudice because they realized they were all false allegations.
However, a parenting plan was put in place, which required me to vacate my home, pay her $6,000 a month in child support and restrict my visits to two hours twice a week. And I was required to pay $1,500 for supervised visits because she said my son would die in my care. On top of that, I lost all medical decision making for my son.
However, a parenting plan was put in place, which required me to vacate my home, pay her $6,000 a month in child support and restrict my visits to two hours twice a week. And I was required to pay $1,500 for supervised visits because she said my son would die in my care. On top of that, I lost all medical decision making for my son.
After I had my very first visit, the guardian ad litem realized that I was more than capable of being a father and knew everything about my son's medical conditions. However, this is a tactic that is used by lawyers because there is no perjury mechanism in the family court system so anyone can lie and make up any type of stories.
After I had my very first visit, the guardian ad litem realized that I was more than capable of being a father and knew everything about my son's medical conditions. However, this is a tactic that is used by lawyers because there is no perjury mechanism in the family court system so anyone can lie and make up any type of stories.
So after I was shot, I really wanted to advocate for father's rights. And I met a gentleman named Blair Daly. He started an organization called Washington Initiative for Boys and Men. And for the past four years, he has been trying to get a house bill passed to create a commission for boys and men with the intention of making sure that boys and men are represented anytime a law is created.
So after I was shot, I really wanted to advocate for father's rights. And I met a gentleman named Blair Daly. He started an organization called Washington Initiative for Boys and Men. And for the past four years, he has been trying to get a house bill passed to create a commission for boys and men with the intention of making sure that boys and men are represented anytime a law is created.
I am hoping we can also get legislation to create proper due process for men in family court system and to make 50-50 parenting a standard.
I am hoping we can also get legislation to create proper due process for men in family court system and to make 50-50 parenting a standard.
When I saw that I had a platform where people were listening to me tell my story, I started spreading awareness about what foster kids go through. That's when Blair introduced me to a gentleman named Rick Newell. Rick and his wife Rebecca had successfully run a non-profit that mentored inner city youth for the past 10 years.
When I saw that I had a platform where people were listening to me tell my story, I started spreading awareness about what foster kids go through. That's when Blair introduced me to a gentleman named Rick Newell. Rick and his wife Rebecca had successfully run a non-profit that mentored inner city youth for the past 10 years.
Rick explained to me that he was stepping away from the program and wanted to start a program similar to that, but for foster kids. He also explained to me that he had very minimal experience with foster kids and asked me if I would be willing to mentor him for a year. During that year we met once a week. I shared a lot of my own personal experiences and things that I went through.
Rick explained to me that he was stepping away from the program and wanted to start a program similar to that, but for foster kids. He also explained to me that he had very minimal experience with foster kids and asked me if I would be willing to mentor him for a year. During that year we met once a week. I shared a lot of my own personal experiences and things that I went through.
We discussed the obstacles that we would face dealing with the issues that are currently in the broken system. Also with the issues with the children and their trauma and things that they have to deal with. As well as the obstacles we would have to face putting together this program. and creating a curriculum that would help these kids thrive.
We discussed the obstacles that we would face dealing with the issues that are currently in the broken system. Also with the issues with the children and their trauma and things that they have to deal with. As well as the obstacles we would have to face putting together this program. and creating a curriculum that would help these kids thrive.
So after a year, we started Route 21, and our main goal is to take previous foster kids in the ages of 20s and 30s and pay them to mentor kids currently in care, starting at freshman year age. Our hopes is to keep them out of the streets and facing some of the normal social issues that foster kids go through, like drug addiction, incarceration, homelessness and sex trafficking.
So after a year, we started Route 21, and our main goal is to take previous foster kids in the ages of 20s and 30s and pay them to mentor kids currently in care, starting at freshman year age. Our hopes is to keep them out of the streets and facing some of the normal social issues that foster kids go through, like drug addiction, incarceration, homelessness and sex trafficking.
Instead, give them the tools and the knowledge needed so they are able to thrive once they hit adulthood. I've been on the board of advisors and the board of directors for a couple of years now. However, recently I stepped down from the board of directors because my business partner and I started a general contracting company.
Instead, give them the tools and the knowledge needed so they are able to thrive once they hit adulthood. I've been on the board of advisors and the board of directors for a couple of years now. However, recently I stepped down from the board of directors because my business partner and I started a general contracting company.
Since we're both in foster care, we wanted to create a business that could help aged out foster kids. So what we do is we employ aged out foster kids and teach them the construction industry. Our goal is to help them find something that they like in the construction field and create a subcontract company, giving them their own business, teaching them how to run a company themselves.
Since we're both in foster care, we wanted to create a business that could help aged out foster kids. So what we do is we employ aged out foster kids and teach them the construction industry. Our goal is to help them find something that they like in the construction field and create a subcontract company, giving them their own business, teaching them how to run a company themselves.
Network and market for themselves as well, as well as hire and manage their own team. We wanted to do more and we hope that by what we do, that they're able to eventually replicate what we do and help other kids as well.
Network and market for themselves as well, as well as hire and manage their own team. We wanted to do more and we hope that by what we do, that they're able to eventually replicate what we do and help other kids as well.
Eines der größten Herausforderungen, die ich immer noch erlebe, ist die Behandlung von Eric. Die meisten Leute verstehen das nicht, aber ich habe keine legalen Behandlung meines Sohnes. When I started the custody battle with my ex-wife, she was given custody and I was limited visitations to a couple hours a week. This never changed even once he was put into foster care.
Eines der größten Herausforderungen, die ich immer noch erlebe, ist die Behandlung von Eric. Die meisten Leute verstehen das nicht, aber ich habe keine legalen Behandlung meines Sohnes. When I started the custody battle with my ex-wife, she was given custody and I was limited visitations to a couple hours a week. This never changed even once he was put into foster care.
When they took him out of her home and put them into foster care, that's when they opened up what they call a dependency case. During that dependency case was where we had that two years of Sharon and I both getting visitations and it wasn't until she did that crazy stunt, putting my son on the floor, that the dependency court Ich wurde von meinem Sohn in der physischen Verwaltung gegeben.
When they took him out of her home and put them into foster care, that's when they opened up what they call a dependency case. During that dependency case was where we had that two years of Sharon and I both getting visitations and it wasn't until she did that crazy stunt, putting my son on the floor, that the dependency court Ich wurde von meinem Sohn in der physischen Verwaltung gegeben.
Im August 2020 waren wir auf der Suche nach einem Trial in der Familienverwaltung, weil wir versucht hatten, das Gesetz von der Verwaltung in der Familienverwaltung zu erheben, wo die Verwaltungstechnik geändert werden könnte, wo ich eine legale Verwaltung hätte. Aber weil Sharon es gewünscht haben wollte, wurde sie auf eine Suche erhoben, die im August 2020 vorgelegt wurde.
Im August 2020 waren wir auf der Suche nach einem Trial in der Familienverwaltung, weil wir versucht hatten, das Gesetz von der Verwaltung in der Familienverwaltung zu erheben, wo die Verwaltungstechnik geändert werden könnte, wo ich eine legale Verwaltung hätte. Aber weil Sharon es gewünscht haben wollte, wurde sie auf eine Suche erhoben, die im August 2020 vorgelegt wurde.
However, I got shot in July of 2020, so that trial never came to fruition. While she was incarcerated in King County Jail for three years awaiting sentencing, they would not allow her to attend a Zoom trial or in-person trial to Family Court to get this parenting plan changed. So I had to wait until she was sentenced.
However, I got shot in July of 2020, so that trial never came to fruition. While she was incarcerated in King County Jail for three years awaiting sentencing, they would not allow her to attend a Zoom trial or in-person trial to Family Court to get this parenting plan changed. So I had to wait until she was sentenced.
Well, a year ago when she was sentenced, I went back to Family Court to petition, only to find out, because the case had been inactive for three years, that they went and closed the Family Court case. So I had to petition and only recently got it reopened.
Well, a year ago when she was sentenced, I went back to Family Court to petition, only to find out, because the case had been inactive for three years, that they went and closed the Family Court case. So I had to petition and only recently got it reopened.
And now I'm in the process of figuring out whether I'm going to have to go to trial or they're going to just allow me to get custody of my son since she is now incarcerated. I haven't been able to get a lawyer yet to figure Ich muss versuchen, meine nächsten Schritte zu finden, aber das ist genau da, wo ich gerade bin.
And now I'm in the process of figuring out whether I'm going to have to go to trial or they're going to just allow me to get custody of my son since she is now incarcerated. I haven't been able to get a lawyer yet to figure Ich muss versuchen, meine nächsten Schritte zu finden, aber das ist genau da, wo ich gerade bin.
Das verrückte Teil daran ist, dass wenn die Regeln umgekehrt hätten, die Frau nichts tun würde. Das Staat würde ein emergency court hearing nennen und für die besten Interessen des Kindes nennen und automatisch das Papier geben und die Mutter in dieser Situation in die Gefängnis geben. But as a father, I get no help and I have to do this all on my own.
Das verrückte Teil daran ist, dass wenn die Regeln umgekehrt hätten, die Frau nichts tun würde. Das Staat würde ein emergency court hearing nennen und für die besten Interessen des Kindes nennen und automatisch das Papier geben und die Mutter in dieser Situation in die Gefängnis geben. But as a father, I get no help and I have to do this all on my own.
If you'd like to help me, a couple of things I could ask. If you guys know a lawyer that wants to take a case off for pro bono. And also to just follow and support me on my socials. You can find all my links on linktree.com. Thank you.
If you'd like to help me, a couple of things I could ask. If you guys know a lawyer that wants to take a case off for pro bono. And also to just follow and support me on my socials. You can find all my links on linktree.com. Thank you.
Untertitelung. BR 2018 Vielen Dank. ... Musik ... ... Musik ... Vielen Dank. Untertitelung. BR 2018 Untertitelung. BR 2018 Untertitelung. BR 2018
Untertitelung. BR 2018 Vielen Dank. ... Musik ... ... Musik ... Vielen Dank. Untertitelung. BR 2018 Untertitelung. BR 2018 Untertitelung. BR 2018
This is my son, Eric Dragon Lee. He's 10 years old now. When he was born, he was born in a birthing center here in Everett, Washington. When he was just 8 days old, we saw that he was very sick and we were instructed by our family physician to take him immediately to Seattle Children's Hospital to the emergency room.
This is my son, Eric Dragon Lee. He's 10 years old now. When he was born, he was born in a birthing center here in Everett, Washington. When he was just 8 days old, we saw that he was very sick and we were instructed by our family physician to take him immediately to Seattle Children's Hospital to the emergency room.
When we arrived, they took Eric from us and immediately took him up to the newborn ICU and then took my ex-wife and myself into a room to tell us what was his condition. They had about 10 to 12 doctors and nurses in the room. Und im Grunde hat er uns erzählt, dass Eric einen schweren Fall von Hyperbilirubin hatte.
When we arrived, they took Eric from us and immediately took him up to the newborn ICU and then took my ex-wife and myself into a room to tell us what was his condition. They had about 10 to 12 doctors and nurses in the room. Und im Grunde hat er uns erzählt, dass Eric einen schweren Fall von Hyperbilirubin hatte.
Sie sagten, dass die meisten Kinder, wenn sie krank sind, sie sind bei einem Niveau von 10 bis 15, und sie müssen unter blaue Lichter behandelt werden. Was über 20 ist, müssen sie normalerweise eine Bluttransfusion machen. Sie sagten, dass mein Sohn's Bilirubin-Niveaus ein Niveau von 47 waren, das höchste, das jeder in diesem Krankenhaus gesehen hat.
Sie sagten, dass die meisten Kinder, wenn sie krank sind, sie sind bei einem Niveau von 10 bis 15, und sie müssen unter blaue Lichter behandelt werden. Was über 20 ist, müssen sie normalerweise eine Bluttransfusion machen. Sie sagten, dass mein Sohn's Bilirubin-Niveaus ein Niveau von 47 waren, das höchste, das jeder in diesem Krankenhaus gesehen hat.
We were, you know, going through a lot of emotions at the time. I was upset, I was mad, I was concerned. And I asked him, you know, what was the future for Eric going to look like and why was he, you know, this sick? Comes to find out that When the birthing center sent a nurse to do a genetic testing on my son when he was a day old, left the lab sample in the back of her car for a week.
We were, you know, going through a lot of emotions at the time. I was upset, I was mad, I was concerned. And I asked him, you know, what was the future for Eric going to look like and why was he, you know, this sick? Comes to find out that When the birthing center sent a nurse to do a genetic testing on my son when he was a day old, left the lab sample in the back of her car for a week.
So they didn't know anything about him until we came into the hospital and they discovered that he had a genetic disorder called galactosemia, which did not allow his body to break down galactose, which is found in lactose. We had been feeding Eric breast milk for the whole week. So basically he was being poisoned that we hadn't known.
So they didn't know anything about him until we came into the hospital and they discovered that he had a genetic disorder called galactosemia, which did not allow his body to break down galactose, which is found in lactose. We had been feeding Eric breast milk for the whole week. So basically he was being poisoned that we hadn't known.
I was told that if we had been informed, we would have been putting him on a non-lactose diet and some type of formula and he would have been just fine. But because the bilirubin levels were so high, it caused severe brain damage to him. In the beginning they told us that he could possibly be a vegetable, he could possibly die.
I was told that if we had been informed, we would have been putting him on a non-lactose diet and some type of formula and he would have been just fine. But because the bilirubin levels were so high, it caused severe brain damage to him. In the beginning they told us that he could possibly be a vegetable, he could possibly die.
But fortunately he did survive, but he did end up with a form of cerebral palsy called dystonia. Dystonia affects all of his motor skills, so he's never going to be able to walk or talk, communicate the way you and I do. He also has some vision issues and audio-neurotopy, which affects his hearing. He has a form of connexion and a thing called GERD, which affects his gastro.
But fortunately he did survive, but he did end up with a form of cerebral palsy called dystonia. Dystonia affects all of his motor skills, so he's never going to be able to walk or talk, communicate the way you and I do. He also has some vision issues and audio-neurotopy, which affects his hearing. He has a form of connexion and a thing called GERD, which affects his gastro.
And he gets a lot of severe reflux, can't keep things down. Aktuell hat er eine medizinische Pumpe in seinem Stomach, um Baclofen zu vermitteln, die seine Töne von Dystonie vermittelt. Und er hat auch eine GJ-Tube, mit der er alles durchführt. Er nimmt nichts oral. Was bedeutet das für Eric? Er muss 24-Stunden-Bedienung haben. Es gibt nichts, was er selbst tun kann.
And he gets a lot of severe reflux, can't keep things down. Aktuell hat er eine medizinische Pumpe in seinem Stomach, um Baclofen zu vermitteln, die seine Töne von Dystonie vermittelt. Und er hat auch eine GJ-Tube, mit der er alles durchführt. Er nimmt nichts oral. Was bedeutet das für Eric? Er muss 24-Stunden-Bedienung haben. Es gibt nichts, was er selbst tun kann.
Er ist immer ein sehr glücklicher Junge. Even with all the adversities that he's faced, he always finds a way to stay positive and happy. While we also went and sued the birthing center for their negligence, However, because they were just a birthing center and not a major hospital, their insurance company had a maximum payout of a million dollars.
Er ist immer ein sehr glücklicher Junge. Even with all the adversities that he's faced, he always finds a way to stay positive and happy. While we also went and sued the birthing center for their negligence, However, because they were just a birthing center and not a major hospital, their insurance company had a maximum payout of a million dollars.
Our lawyers had instructed us that we're more than likely going to be able to get more than that, even if we went after the doctors and the nurses personally, because it would have been hard. It would cost more money to try and get that from them instead of suiting them. So we ended up settling out of court and the insurance company paid us the million dollars.
Our lawyers had instructed us that we're more than likely going to be able to get more than that, even if we went after the doctors and the nurses personally, because it would have been hard. It would cost more money to try and get that from them instead of suiting them. So we ended up settling out of court and the insurance company paid us the million dollars.
But with lower fees and everything, Eric was left with $650,000. So I put that into a special needs trust where that money would be able to grow tax-free. And I wouldn't have access to it or neither would his mom. However, there's a caveat. If the event that Eric was to pass away before the age of 30, the beneficiaries have a payout on whatever is left in the trust.
But with lower fees and everything, Eric was left with $650,000. So I put that into a special needs trust where that money would be able to grow tax-free. And I wouldn't have access to it or neither would his mom. However, there's a caveat. If the event that Eric was to pass away before the age of 30, the beneficiaries have a payout on whatever is left in the trust.
There is a small piece that my ex-wife didn't realize, though in the state of Washington, before beneficiaries are paid out, Social Security and Medicaid, they get paid back before the beneficiaries. So if he had passed away, we would have ended up adopting it either way. But I have no access to this money, even though I have custody with him. This money is strictly for his medical needs.
There is a small piece that my ex-wife didn't realize, though in the state of Washington, before beneficiaries are paid out, Social Security and Medicaid, they get paid back before the beneficiaries. So if he had passed away, we would have ended up adopting it either way. But I have no access to this money, even though I have custody with him. This money is strictly for his medical needs.
He has everything cared for until he's 18, so that money can grow without it being touched. So when we are no longer here, at least he has some funds to help manage his care. But as you can see, he always finds a way to smile and laugh. Say bye.
He has everything cared for until he's 18, so that money can grow without it being touched. So when we are no longer here, at least he has some funds to help manage his care. But as you can see, he always finds a way to smile and laugh. Say bye.
The day I decided to leave Sharon and take my son, I came home from work and picked up Eric and headed out the door. On my way out, she started screaming at me, asked me what I was doing and refused to let me leave the house. And she started pulling on Eric and screaming. I was afraid Eric was going to get hurt, so I handed my son over to him. And in the meantime, she's screaming.
The neighbors heard the commotion and called the police. When the police arrived, she made some accusations saying that I had abused her and my son and I was breaking furniture around the house. When the police interviewed me, I explained to them that this was not true. Clearly there's no broken furniture and I hadn't hit her and there was no bruises or marks or scratches to prove otherwise.
I did agree that if she would take Eric and leave, we could handle this in court. So the police allowed her to take Eric and they advised us that we should handle this in court. A couple of hours later, Sharon decided to come back to the house without Eric, but she had brought a couple of friends of hers and she was trying to get into the house.
I had already managed to get the locks changed the minute she left because I didn't want to have any issues with domestic violence or being arrested for false accusations. When she tried to enter, I called the police. When the police arrived, she said that she was trying to get into the house because I had posted nude pictures of her online.
I explained to the police officers, obviously this wasn't true. And I asked if this is the case, please provide proof of what she's making accusations of. She claims that it was posted on Facebook on one of her friends' posts. When I asked her who the friend was or where the post was, she said it was deleted and she doesn't remember which friend saw the post.
The police officers that came the second time weren't very friendly towards me and told me that, you know, if I was posting this kind of stuff, I could go to jail. I explained to them this wasn't the case. They told me that I couldn't legally keep her out of the home because she's on the deed of the house as well. And I explained to them I just didn't want to have a domestic violence case.
Charges and that the previous officers had recommended that we be apart for the time being until we could settle this in court.
She ended up leaving, then two weeks later I was served with a temporary restraining order and a protective custody order and was told that I had to go to court in two weeks to contest this, but in the meantime I was being evicted out of my house and I was only allowed to take my car and a bag of clothing. I had to leave everything else in the house Two weeks later I ended up going to court.
I found out that this was a ploy for her to get a favorable parenting plan and she had basically told the courts that she was afraid that Eric would die in my care because I didn't know how to care for him, which was a lie. When the Even with the false accusations, Being unfounded, they limited my visitations to see my son two hours a week, twice a week.
And I had to pay a guardian ad litem, $1,500 for supervised visits based off the accusations that my son would die in my care. I went and paid the guardian ad litem so I could get my visitations put in place. And within the first visit, the guard in the light asked me why I was having supervised visits. Because clearly I was a capable father. I knew everything about my son.
I knew how to manage his tone. I knew how to manage feeding him and giving medication. And that it seemed ridiculous that I needed supervised visits. So when I went back to court the second time, I tried to appeal myself. Ich habe den Kindersupport gewonnen, weil ich 6.000 Dollar pro Monat in Unterstützung und auch versuchen konnte, einen Ort zu leben.
Ich habe den Appell verfehlt, aber sie haben die überwiesenen Besuche entfernt und ich konnte meinen Sohn zweimal pro Woche holen. However, these transitions or exchanges were very volatile. Sharon had made it very difficult to manage these exchanges. And at one point she tried to literally run me over.
I ended up on the hood of her car and she drove with me on the hood of her car for a couple hundred yards until I was able to
roll off her car successfully and when I told the police what happened they refused to allow me to press charges told me that I had to manage this thing in family court because it's a civil matter and then when I told the family court what had happened they just told me that we had to learn to co-parent better
With all that was going on during this time, Eric was being hospitalized as well and I was concerned about his welfare and his care because his mom wasn't taking care of him, was the main reason I was wanting to leave her in the first place.
The courts refused to listen to me and my son kept going to the hospital and every time I went to visit him, Sharon would make lies and get me kicked out of the hospital and I'd have to contact a social worker to get access to see my son again. All this time I I was paying as much as I could with the support, but I wasn't able to keep up with the total costs.
I was living out of my car in the middle of winter at a rest stop in Everett. And by the time December came around, he had been out of my care for a little over four months. The courts threatened to throw me in jail if I didn't catch up with the back support, which was about $12,000 to $14,000 at the time. So he did make that very tough decision to leave Washington.
While going through all of this, no one believed anything that I was saying. Most people doubted the severity of the situation I was facing. However, Didi was there for me emotionally. She and I met back in 2001, shortly after she completed college in Canada. She moved down to Las Vegas to live with her mom. We became friends right away and over the years we kept in contact.
When Didi found out what I was going through, she suggested that I move back to Las Vegas, where she could help me get back on my feet. Three months after moving to Las Vegas, Didi and I had decided to move in together with her and her two children, Sophia and Ethan. Sophia was six at the time and Ethan was nine. And they grew to like me right away.
Sophia started calling me Daddy right away and then Ethan shortly after that. We did a lot of stuff together. We went on road trips and I was able to put a little bit of the situation I was dealing with to the side. But I knew that eventually I needed to get back to Washington to fight for Eric.
Didi and I made a decision that when that happens, that we were going to relocate our entire family to Washington. This way I could be with Eric and also Sophia and Ethan could end up going to a better school and having a better life here in Washington as well.
My name is Baron Lee. I'm also known as the Asian 50 Cent. I was born in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. When I was a year old, my family decided to relocate to Hawaii, where my dad is originally from. At the age of three, the authorities were called out to my family's home after my neighbors had heard me crying for three days.
When the police arrived, they found me laying in an inch of water in my family's bathtub. I had burn wounds covering both of my arms and my legs. and I was barely alive. They rushed me to Hilo Hospital, where they were able to stabilize me and put me into surgery to do a procedure called skin graphing to care for my burn wounds. Fortunately, I made a recovery.
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However, during their investigation, they had discovered that my parents had burned me with a clothing iron. So I was placed into my very first foster home. I remained in the foster care system until I was 17. During that time, I had 17 placements, 6 group homes and in and out of juvenile detention centers. The foster care system played a big impact in my life.
I went through a lot of challenges and adversities and also learned a lot of life lessons. My experiences in foster care helped mold me into the man I am today.
Untertitelung des ZDF, 2020 Untertitelung. BR 2018 Untertitelung. BR 2018
Verzeihung der Jungs war nicht etwas, was ich sofort nachgedacht habe. Es hat mir eigentlich ein bisschen Zeit gedauert, um alles zu denken, was geschehen ist. Es war nicht bis ich bemerkte, dass die Jungs auch Verbrecher waren. Es war Sharon, die sie in ihren diabolischen Plan eingelassen hat. Sie hat ihre Leben verletzt, ihre Familienleben verletzt.
So, when the prosecution approached me about offering them a lower sentencing, I was all for it. My intention was that the boys would be able to see the opportunity being given to them, that they would go ahead and get an education while they're in prison. And then eventually when they got out, go ahead and make a life for themselves. I was glad I was able to meet with Quincy's parents.
I wanted them to know that I had no ill will towards them or towards Quincy. And I also wanted to relieve them of any burden of guilt. I mean, I couldn't imagine if one of my teenagers went and did something as silly as that and what kind of
So I wanted to give them that peace and let them be able to just focus on being able to support Quincy and eventually, you know, being there for Quincy when he gets out. As far as Sharon goes, her sentencing was definitely not long enough. When the prosecutor told me that they wanted to give her a plea deal and lower her sentencing down to 152 months from 300 months, I was adamantly against it.
And the prosecutor basically told me that they were going to take this plea deal because it's a guaranteed prosecution and they didn't want to risk going to trial and possibly not being able to get her prosecuted. And I told them I didn't care. I wanted to go to trial. But they went ahead and moved forward with the plea deal.
So when her sentencing came, I went in front of the judge and I told them, you know, that I was against the plea deal. However, instead of the 152 months, that she should get the 165 months, which was the maximum for that plea deal they offered her. Since they already had taken it down from 300 months, 165 was more than fair if she was going to get a plea deal.
Thankfully the judge agreed and she got to 165 months, which means that she won't be getting out before Eric turns 18. My intention is to get Eric's guardianship in place so he'll be protected from her when she finally gets out.
The main reason I lost custody of my son is that we have a broken family court system here in the state of Washington and many states across the country. My ex-wife was able to file for a protection order because she said I was abusing her and my son. Two weeks later, the protection order was thrown out with prejudice because they realized they were all false allegations.
However, a parenting plan was put in place, which required me to vacate my home, pay her $6,000 a month in child support and restrict my visits to two hours twice a week. And I was required to pay $1,500 for supervised visits because she said my son would die in my care. On top of that, I lost all medical decision making for my son.
After I had my very first visit, the guardian ad litem realized that I was more than capable of being a father and knew everything about my son's medical conditions. However, this is a tactic that is used by lawyers because there is no perjury mechanism in the family court system so anyone can lie and make up any type of stories.
So after I was shot, I really wanted to advocate for father's rights. And I met a gentleman named Blair Daly. He started an organization called Washington Initiative for Boys and Men. And for the past four years, he has been trying to get a house bill passed to create a commission for boys and men with the intention of making sure that boys and men are represented anytime a law is created.
I am hoping we can also get legislation to create proper due process for men in family court system and to make 50-50 parenting a standard.
When I saw that I had a platform where people were listening to me tell my story, I started spreading awareness about what foster kids go through. That's when Blair introduced me to a gentleman named Rick Newell. Rick and his wife Rebecca had successfully run a non-profit that mentored inner city youth for the past 10 years.
Rick explained to me that he was stepping away from the program and wanted to start a program similar to that, but for foster kids. He also explained to me that he had very minimal experience with foster kids and asked me if I would be willing to mentor him for a year. During that year we met once a week. I shared a lot of my own personal experiences and things that I went through.
We discussed the obstacles that we would face dealing with the issues that are currently in the broken system. Also with the issues with the children and their trauma and things that they have to deal with. As well as the obstacles we would have to face putting together this program. and creating a curriculum that would help these kids thrive.
So after a year, we started Route 21, and our main goal is to take previous foster kids in the ages of 20s and 30s and pay them to mentor kids currently in care, starting at freshman year age. Our hopes is to keep them out of the streets and facing some of the normal social issues that foster kids go through, like drug addiction, incarceration, homelessness and sex trafficking.
Instead, give them the tools and the knowledge needed so they are able to thrive once they hit adulthood. I've been on the board of advisors and the board of directors for a couple of years now. However, recently I stepped down from the board of directors because my business partner and I started a general contracting company.
Since we're both in foster care, we wanted to create a business that could help aged out foster kids. So what we do is we employ aged out foster kids and teach them the construction industry. Our goal is to help them find something that they like in the construction field and create a subcontract company, giving them their own business, teaching them how to run a company themselves.
Network and market for themselves as well, as well as hire and manage their own team. We wanted to do more and we hope that by what we do, that they're able to eventually replicate what we do and help other kids as well.
Eines der größten Herausforderungen, die ich immer noch erlebe, ist die Behandlung von Eric. Die meisten Leute verstehen das nicht, aber ich habe keine legalen Behandlung meines Sohnes. When I started the custody battle with my ex-wife, she was given custody and I was limited visitations to a couple hours a week. This never changed even once he was put into foster care.
When they took him out of her home and put them into foster care, that's when they opened up what they call a dependency case. During that dependency case was where we had that two years of Sharon and I both getting visitations and it wasn't until she did that crazy stunt, putting my son on the floor, that the dependency court Ich wurde von meinem Sohn in der physischen Verwaltung gegeben.
Im August 2020 waren wir auf der Suche nach einem Trial in der Familienverwaltung, weil wir versucht hatten, das Gesetz von der Verwaltung in der Familienverwaltung zu erheben, wo die Verwaltungstechnik geändert werden könnte, wo ich eine legale Verwaltung hätte. Aber weil Sharon es gewünscht haben wollte, wurde sie auf eine Suche erhoben, die im August 2020 vorgelegt wurde.
However, I got shot in July of 2020, so that trial never came to fruition. While she was incarcerated in King County Jail for three years awaiting sentencing, they would not allow her to attend a Zoom trial or in-person trial to Family Court to get this parenting plan changed. So I had to wait until she was sentenced.
Well, a year ago when she was sentenced, I went back to Family Court to petition, only to find out, because the case had been inactive for three years, that they went and closed the Family Court case. So I had to petition and only recently got it reopened.
And now I'm in the process of figuring out whether I'm going to have to go to trial or they're going to just allow me to get custody of my son since she is now incarcerated. I haven't been able to get a lawyer yet to figure Ich muss versuchen, meine nächsten Schritte zu finden, aber das ist genau da, wo ich gerade bin.
Das verrückte Teil daran ist, dass wenn die Regeln umgekehrt hätten, die Frau nichts tun würde. Das Staat würde ein emergency court hearing nennen und für die besten Interessen des Kindes nennen und automatisch das Papier geben und die Mutter in dieser Situation in die Gefängnis geben. But as a father, I get no help and I have to do this all on my own.
If you'd like to help me, a couple of things I could ask. If you guys know a lawyer that wants to take a case off for pro bono. And also to just follow and support me on my socials. You can find all my links on linktree.com. Thank you.
Untertitelung. BR 2018 Vielen Dank. ... Musik ... ... Musik ... Vielen Dank. Untertitelung. BR 2018 Untertitelung. BR 2018 Untertitelung. BR 2018
This is my son, Eric Dragon Lee. He's 10 years old now. When he was born, he was born in a birthing center here in Everett, Washington. When he was just 8 days old, we saw that he was very sick and we were instructed by our family physician to take him immediately to Seattle Children's Hospital to the emergency room.
When we arrived, they took Eric from us and immediately took him up to the newborn ICU and then took my ex-wife and myself into a room to tell us what was his condition. They had about 10 to 12 doctors and nurses in the room. Und im Grunde hat er uns erzählt, dass Eric einen schweren Fall von Hyperbilirubin hatte.
Sie sagten, dass die meisten Kinder, wenn sie krank sind, sie sind bei einem Niveau von 10 bis 15, und sie müssen unter blaue Lichter behandelt werden. Was über 20 ist, müssen sie normalerweise eine Bluttransfusion machen. Sie sagten, dass mein Sohn's Bilirubin-Niveaus ein Niveau von 47 waren, das höchste, das jeder in diesem Krankenhaus gesehen hat.
We were, you know, going through a lot of emotions at the time. I was upset, I was mad, I was concerned. And I asked him, you know, what was the future for Eric going to look like and why was he, you know, this sick? Comes to find out that When the birthing center sent a nurse to do a genetic testing on my son when he was a day old, left the lab sample in the back of her car for a week.
So they didn't know anything about him until we came into the hospital and they discovered that he had a genetic disorder called galactosemia, which did not allow his body to break down galactose, which is found in lactose. We had been feeding Eric breast milk for the whole week. So basically he was being poisoned that we hadn't known.
I was told that if we had been informed, we would have been putting him on a non-lactose diet and some type of formula and he would have been just fine. But because the bilirubin levels were so high, it caused severe brain damage to him. In the beginning they told us that he could possibly be a vegetable, he could possibly die.
But fortunately he did survive, but he did end up with a form of cerebral palsy called dystonia. Dystonia affects all of his motor skills, so he's never going to be able to walk or talk, communicate the way you and I do. He also has some vision issues and audio-neurotopy, which affects his hearing. He has a form of connexion and a thing called GERD, which affects his gastro.
And he gets a lot of severe reflux, can't keep things down. Aktuell hat er eine medizinische Pumpe in seinem Stomach, um Baclofen zu vermitteln, die seine Töne von Dystonie vermittelt. Und er hat auch eine GJ-Tube, mit der er alles durchführt. Er nimmt nichts oral. Was bedeutet das für Eric? Er muss 24-Stunden-Bedienung haben. Es gibt nichts, was er selbst tun kann.
Er ist immer ein sehr glücklicher Junge. Even with all the adversities that he's faced, he always finds a way to stay positive and happy. While we also went and sued the birthing center for their negligence, However, because they were just a birthing center and not a major hospital, their insurance company had a maximum payout of a million dollars.
Our lawyers had instructed us that we're more than likely going to be able to get more than that, even if we went after the doctors and the nurses personally, because it would have been hard. It would cost more money to try and get that from them instead of suiting them. So we ended up settling out of court and the insurance company paid us the million dollars.
But with lower fees and everything, Eric was left with $650,000. So I put that into a special needs trust where that money would be able to grow tax-free. And I wouldn't have access to it or neither would his mom. However, there's a caveat. If the event that Eric was to pass away before the age of 30, the beneficiaries have a payout on whatever is left in the trust.
There is a small piece that my ex-wife didn't realize, though in the state of Washington, before beneficiaries are paid out, Social Security and Medicaid, they get paid back before the beneficiaries. So if he had passed away, we would have ended up adopting it either way. But I have no access to this money, even though I have custody with him. This money is strictly for his medical needs.
He has everything cared for until he's 18, so that money can grow without it being touched. So when we are no longer here, at least he has some funds to help manage his care. But as you can see, he always finds a way to smile and laugh. Say bye.