State investigating Schiavo foundation

[janx]

TALLAHASSEE — State officials are examining whether a foundation set up by the parents of Terri Schiavo is operating illegally by taking donations to defray legal costs in the decadelong battle to keep their daughter alive.

The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, created by Robert and Mary Schindler, seeks donations to "offset some of the expenses associated with protecting Terri," according to its Web site, terrisfight.org.

Nonprofit groups that solicit contributions in Florida are required to register with the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. Registered groups also are required to file an annual report of contributions and expenses, although contributors' names are not required.

The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation filed with the state Department of Corporations as a Florida nonprofit on Feb. 8, 2002, but according to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, has never registered to solicit contributions.

(more at link)
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/epaper/2005/02/08/a8a_schiavo_0208.html

[maddezmom]

1. this will be a story to follow

thanks for posting

[janx]

2. You're welcome. Information like the following is especially interesting:

The Life Legal Defense Foundation is a California-based anti-abortion group that collected more than $440,000 in 2002, according to thefederal tax records.

The organization became involved in the case about three years ago, according to Executive Director Dana Cody, and has spent at least $300,000 on legal fees and associated costs on behalf of the Schindlers.

Much of the support for Life Legal Defense Foundation comes from the Alliance Defense Fund, which collected more than $15 million in private donations in 2002, according to federal tax documents.

Alliance Defense Fund "is funding litigation that is going on to confront and challenge the radical legal agenda advocating homosexual behavior, defending parental rights, and to restore the Constitution's guarantee of free exercise of religion," IRS documents read.

[moobu2]

3. It's about time someone investigated those revolting people

Sorry, I just think these people are the most disgusting slime balls..
<typos>

[DemBones DemBones]

5. Imagine you had a daughter in the situation their

daughter is in. You might well feel the same way they do about allowing her to starve to death.

[moobu2]

7. I've have been in that position as have 1,000's of others

But we didn't sell our family member off to some political group to use for their ignorant delusional agenda.

This woman is brain dead, the only part of her brain that's living is the Auto reflexive system. She's gone and had been for 15+ years.

Medical science has advanced to a state where we can now keep peoples bodies alive even though the person is gone and even though there is no higher brain left at all, as is the case with this woman.

There isn't any reason to keep feeding her body like that, It's absurd.

[moobu2]

4. another article with more info

"TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A charity founded three years ago to help pay legal costs for the parents of Terri Schiavo in a prominent right-to-die case has been fined $1,000 for failing to register with the state to solicit donations.
An administrative complaint filed Monday by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services gave the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation the option of paying the fine and registering properly with the state, or paying the fine and shutting down. It could also request an administrative hearing.

The foundation's purpose is to help Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, block her husband's attempts to remove the feeding tube that has kept her alive since she suffered severe brain damage when her heart briefly stopped 15 years ago.

Barbara Weller, an attorney for the Schindlers, said Tuesday the proper paperwork will be filed soon. She said the process was delayed partly because the Schindlers were exploring whether they could seek nonprofit status."

<snip>
"We just want to bring the organization into compliance," McElroy said. "Like everybody else, they have to file the paperwork so the public can get an accounting of how this money is spent."

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGBKY0BSY4E.html

[janx]

6. ??

Weller said she didn't know how much has been donated to the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation, but it has never had more than $30,000 or $40,000 in its coffers.

Dana Cody, executive director of the Life Legal Defense Fund, said the organization has spent at least $300,000 on legal fees and costs in the Schiavo case in the past three years.

[janx]

8. kick