Motion to continue supervised visits due to new disclosures by Damon
This is a motion that was filed in May, '03, after Judge Smyth said that he was going to resume unsupervised visits after only 2 months at the first hearing by him in family court. Previously, it had been in DV court and Judge Hightower had issued and continued a temporary restraining order against Eric because of what he said was credible evidence of abuse. Cindy objected to unsupervised visits being resumed stating that there was a restraining order and CPS had strongly recommended continuing supervised visits, and there had not been an investigation done yet in family court. She warned that Eric might threaten Damon if he got him back unsupervised, so it was important to do an investigation BEFORE unsupervised visits were resumed. Judge Smyth dismissed Cindy's concerns along with the restraining order and CPS recommendations and approved unsupervised visits.
When Cindy told Damon he was going to be unsupervised with Eric during the day, he said that the "hard thing" his father did to him happened in the daytime too, as well as other places, including every night he visited Eric. Cindy then filed this motion informing the court of all the new places that Damon said the abuse happened and asked that the supervised visits be continued until these new incidents could be investigated. Judge Smyth completely ignored it. Damon later told Cindy and his brothers that his father began threatening to kill him if he told anyone about the abuse after that, so he didn't say anything else until just before they went into hiding, when he told his teacher. (Before he disclosed the abuse, Damon said Eric had told him it was "our little secret.")
Hannah's House is the supervised visitation center.
This is a motion that was filed in May, '03, after Judge Smyth said that he was going to resume unsupervised visits after only 2 months at the first hearing by him in family court. Previously, it had been in DV court and Judge Hightower had issued and continued a temporary restraining order against Eric because of what he said was credible evidence of abuse. Cindy objected to unsupervised visits being resumed stating that there was a restraining order and CPS had strongly recommended continuing supervised visits, and there had not been an investigation done yet in family court. She warned that Eric might threaten Damon if he got him back unsupervised, so it was important to do an investigation BEFORE unsupervised visits were resumed. Judge Smyth dismissed Cindy's concerns along with the restraining order and CPS recommendations and approved unsupervised visits.
When Cindy told Damon he was going to be unsupervised with Eric during the day, he said that the "hard thing" his father did to him happened in the daytime too, as well as other places, including every night he visited Eric. Cindy then filed this motion informing the court of all the new places that Damon said the abuse happened and asked that the supervised visits be continued until these new incidents could be investigated. Judge Smyth completely ignored it. Damon later told Cindy and his brothers that his father began threatening to kill him if he told anyone about the abuse after that, so he didn't say anything else until just before they went into hiding, when he told his teacher. (Before he disclosed the abuse, Damon said Eric had told him it was "our little secret.")
Hannah's House is the supervised visitation center.
