Yes, I think he hired Felos in May 1998, no?
Interesting Timeline
Posted By: Frank
Date: Thursday, 13 November 2003, at 4:15 p.m.
Many people, groups, and the media have harshly critcized Jeb Bush and the Florida legistature for passing "Terri's Bill", claiming among other things that it is uncostitutional to pass a law that applies only to one person.
Consider this timeline:
May 1997 - Deborah Bushnell send a leter to Judge Shames (he was before Judge Greer) saying that the Schindlers should be involved in Terri's care during her final days (since Michael intends to move Terri to hospice and remove her feeding tube).
Aug. 1997 - Felos sends a letter to the Schindler's notifying them of pending action to remove Terri's feeding tube.
May 1998 - George Felos is hired and files a petition in Court to remove Terri's feeding tube.
April 6, 1999 - House Bill 2131 was introduced in the legislature by the Florida Elder Affairs & Long-Term Care Committee to amend Section 765 (Civil Rights) of the Florida Statutes. two weeks later, the legislature Committee on Judiciary recommmended that House Bill 2131 should also change the Section 765.101 legal definition of life prolonging procedures to add: "INCLUDING ARTIFICIALLY PROVIDED SUSTENENCE AND HYDRATION, WHICH SUSTAINS, RESTORES, OR SUPPLANTS A SPONTANEOUS VITAL FUNCTION".
Oct 1, 1999 - Senate Bill 2228 (formerly HB2131) becomes law changing Section 765.101 of the Florida Statutes to include the above.
Jan 24, 2000 - Trial begins to decided whether to remove Terri's feeding tube.
Feb 11, 2000 - Judge Greer orders that Terri's feeding tube can be removed.
If you followed the timeline, Felos filed a petition to remove Terri's feeding tube BEFORE the law was changed, and the trial began AFTER the law was changed (and Greer approved removal of the tube).
Why is that? Did the Florida legislature knowingly or unknowingly pass a law that would apply specifically to Terri? I don't think there were any other hotly contested "right to die" cases at that time. (The cases of Cruzan, Bludworth, and Browning were decided years before). I wonder who paid-off or influenced who to get the law changed?
And here's some very interesting reading that might help answer that question (link below). Scroll down about half-way to "They make it all possible".
They make it all possible:
Congressman Bilirakis congressman for many years. Now his son Gus Michael Bilirakis serves on the Suncoast Hospice Board of Directors.
There are actually three boards because there are profits and non-profits.
The salaries at the top are sky high."
Barbara Sheehan Todd also serves on the Hospice Board. She was a County Commissioner the same time (1980-98) Judge Greer was a Pinellas county commissioner from 1984-92.
Judge Greer was a zoning lawyer.
http://www.sptimes.com/News/042801/TampaBay/Judge_George_Greer.shtml
Atty George Felos sat on the Hospice Board Felos has been paid approximately $550,000.00 Judge Greer used to be on Hospice's Board too (ED: Chairman of the Board)
Martha Lenderman - outgoing chairman of hospice, chair for 2 years, is sister of Judge John Lenderman (Family Law Division with Judge Greer)
Richard M Jerger, Jr (was a president of Pinellas Independent Agents, Inc in 1990-1991) is a holder in the PHILADELPHIA CONSOLIDATED HOLDING CORP which bought out Jerger and Sons. insured mobile homes
Raymond Blacklidge is a registered lobbyist in the Florida Legislature who works for the Jerger Company. Blacklidge is a Business Partner to Richard Jerger, who is an Insurance Executive selling mobile home insurance in the state of Florida. Jerger somehow became the Business Partner to Michael Schiavo.
Jodi Centonze is Michael Schiavo's domestic partner and now mother of his 2 children.
http://pao.co.pinellas.fl.us/htbin/cgi-scr3?o=1&a=1&b=1&r=&s=1&u=0&p=29+28+16+61655+000+0390267%2C302337%2C661&name=View
Barry G. Wilkinson registered agent for Jerger Ins.
Judge Greer and Robert Wharrie (hospice) are on the same dicussion PANEL!! Almost at the bottom of the page
http://www.clwbar.org/resipsa/december-january02/article462.html .
The Mcconihay Greer Connection Together on the board of "Suncoast Christian Camps Inc"... with GREER as registered agent..
The Damonte -Mcconihey connection
The Damonte - Mcconihay corp is called "Approved Management Corporation"...
Jonathan Damonte -lawyer for the Mobile home association, is connected to Greer through a business partner, Stephen McConihey
2nd Felon Gets 2nd Chance at Hospice
A payroll worker is the second employee the hospice hired in recent years despite a criminal record.
-After pleading guilty to felony grand theft in 2001 and being sentenced to five years of probation, (she used company credit card to use for work purchases to charge $7,791 for personal items before getting caught.) Karen Langan was looking for a new job.
-Another employee, Susan A. Wynn, pleaded guilty in Georgia to embezzlement in 1996 after admitting that she stole $370,000 from a public agency. Wynn, who served prison time and is on probation, works as an administrative assistant to the hospice's vice president of finance.
Link:St Petersburg Times Online
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/06/26/Northpinellas/2nd_felon_gets_2nd_ch.shtml
Based on his testimony promising rehabilitation services for Terri, in part, the malpractice jury awarded Mr. Schiavo $1,200,000.00, of which approximately $700,000.00 was placed in a trust fund for Terri's support and maintenance.
Terri has not been certified as "Terminally ill" as required by federal regulations for the use of federal funds for hospice care, yet has resided at Hopsice Woodside since March or April, 2000.
I am way past the blur stage. Who knew we would uncover so many complexities and turf wars between Hospice and former employees? This is a major legal-medical situation with political overtones without taking into account religious implications