Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Thanks to Ruth Lynn Estep

All of us in the Stout-Moran household want to extend our thanks to Ruth Lynn Estep. Ruth is the lawyer the court assigned to represent Andrea and Bram in our most recent court proceedings; as the lawyer for the children her job is to advocate not what one or the other of the parents want, but what she thinks is in the best interests of the children. Obviously we think she did that, and more to the point, Andrea and Bram think she did that.

We spent more than a decade in Los Angeles Family Court prior to Ruth's introduction to this case, and during that entire decade, never met a single person as conscientious and hard working as Ruth. She is the only person in a decade plus to actually read the documents associated with this case, to speak to the children at sufficient length to understand their perspectives and experiences, and to then communicate that to the court.

We deeply appreciate it. Thank you.

23 comments:

Steve Perry said...

Nice to know there are still people like that around.

Tom said...

Yup, it's always nice to hear about people like that. Even better to have them in your life.

ditmars1929 said...

More good news. Glad you got the help you needed. I guess you can put an end to the Allan Rodgers Experience.

Daniel Keys Moran said...

Casil & Rodgers want it taken down. If we can be genuinely shut of the pair of them in return, it could happen. I have no idea if they're really willing to go away at this point, but I imagine we'll find out soon.

ditmars1929 said...

Sorry, Dan, I am very fortunately unfamiliar with child custody. But if the court has determined that C&R are no longer entitled to have contact with the children, then doesn't that automatically make them go away? Or are they allowed to harrass you in their vast amount of free time? Could you get a cease & desist or restraining order or some b.s. like that?

Daniel Keys Moran said...

95% of the trouble they've ever been capable of causing lay in the threat to the kids. Without that to concern me, not much about them does concern me. It would be nice to have them gone, to be sure.

Sean Fagan said...

The "child's advocate" idea always struck me as surprisingly good -- so obvious, so needed, I'm surprised it got implemented.

Of course, as with a lot of things, it doesn't work out well a lot of the time. I'm glad it did for your kids.

Anonymous said...

I doubt Casil and Rodgers will go away soon or at all easily. The addition of new content to the old ARE blog may be the only thing they'll pay attention to.

Dave

Anonymous said...

I can only imagine the frustration after a decade of waiting for a corrective. All the more so when the welfare of a child is involved.
There must have been times when you felt like scraping the social contract. Well done on seeing it through.

Daniel Keys Moran said...

Dave,

Not holding my breath. If they'd really wanted to go away they've had many opportunities. I suspect it's not impossible Casil does want to be done with this; Alan's broke and Casil's been paying his bills again, and this has cost her a ton for nothing but aggravation.

Rodgers I doubt. He's a mentally ill alcoholic who's almost entirely driven by anger and resentment, and as long as he doesn't have to do the heavy lifting himself, I'm guessing he'll keep plugging away.

... but we'll see.

OneMadCow said...

Life must have been easier, if not a bit more satisfying, to just be able call someone out to a duel when they were being asshats. At least the resolution was binding.

Jay Awram said...

More, more, more!

Unknown said...

May your family have a safe holidays Mr. Moran.

OneMadCow said...

Dan. Post more. I'm getting tired of the same page. And Happy New Year.

mike said...

Any chance you're going to be releasing (more) AI War any time soon? I know you've been dealing with personal issues in your life and it's probably gotten moved to the back burner, but I hadn't seen any updates in a long time and I was just curious...

Anonymous said...

Mr. Moran,
I have no idea of the current state of things, as your most recent blog post is over 6 months old, but I sincerely hope this works out. For the childrens' sake, and also for my own ridiculously self-centered desire to read more stories of the Continuing Time.
Custody battle and real life aside, your stories are some of the finest I have read in forty years of sci-fi. Thank you for what you have already given us.

Anonymous said...

Dan, it's been 8 months since we've heard from you. I hope all is well, and that you have been enjoying your victory. Looking forward to your next posting!

Unabogie said...

Hey Dan,

Sorry to hear about this. I was just googling some old friends I haven't seen "around" in a while (on the eve of the Lakers game tomorrow) and found your blog. I hope aside from this you're doing well.

Tom said...

Way off topic, I know, but it has been a while since we've heard anything from you. I was looking forward to your thoughts as the Lakers rocked their way to another championship. And of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least ask about the status of A.I. War. Any tidbits you can throw our way?

Hope all is well.

OneMadCow said...

*tick*

One year.

*tick*

Metalsmith said...

last chance to make a post before the 1 year mark.

What happened, we miss ya.

Anonymous said...

??? ICMP ECHO REQUEST 8

Daniel Keys Moran said...

Every now and again I get a critical comment on this thread directed at Ruth. I might even let one through, someday, from a real person with the cojones to sign his or her real name. Anonymous trolls needn't apply ...