I'll ask Act.da to host this document, but for now here's the teaser. This is a lawsuit brought by a teen placed in PV by the DCS asking reimbursement of his social security funds used to pay PV. It gets much, much worse. Act.da, this is a smoking gun we've been looking for! I'll give you a call, there are other cases we can review. I have no idea how these documents suddenly appeared and I refuse to say anymore. Never question serendipity. No wonder TN DCS refused to cooperate with an investigation...
BEFORE THE TENNESSEE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
IN THE MATTER OF:
R.G.
VS.
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES
CASE NO. 02-41
FINDINGS OF FACTS: CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND FINAL ORDER
Excerpt, emphasis added)
The breakdown of cost associated with the student's stay at Peninsula Village indicates that Social Security benefits were not used to pay for educational and related services, The total cost of services provided to the student by Peninsula Village was $89,096.50 (see Exhibit 54). Of this amount, $42,785.25 was paid by TennCare for medical or treatment services. (Id.) The remaining $46,311.25 was paid by taxpayers of the State of Tennessee, with $6,411.20 reimbursed from the student's Social Security benfits which were supplied by the taxpayers of the United States of America.
In the final analysis, the student was in DCS custody because of the student's delinquent behaviors. Absent those behaviors, DCS would not have been forced to place the student in Peninsula Village.
...Upon reviewing the relevant Social Security Administration Regulations it does not appear that the purpose of the Social Security benefits was to create a savings account for juvenile delinquents but was intended to pay living expenses.
DCS is the prevailing party.
It is so ordered.
JAMES STEPHEN KING
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE
DATED: April 21, 2003
If anyone else wants to look into this, one of the contracts between TN DCS and PV is Contract No. H2026
