[pollyg107]

Congress passed a law giving them the right to a trial de novo, but the lawyers didn't ask for that in their first federal lawsuit. Much of the anger here at FR that has been directed toward Jeb Bush and the judges really should be directed equally toward the lawyers for Terri's parents. Why on earth did they wait until the last minute to bring forth the evidence of Terri's statement that she wanted to live?

[churchillbuff]

Why on earth did they wait until the last minute to bring forth the evidence of Terri's statement that she wanted to live?

Good question. They had time for TV and radio appearances during the week.

[Vor Lady]

I think an earlier poster hit it on the head. All they wanted was to take care of their daughter. I'm sure they never saw the tidal wave of animosity that their 'son-in-law' had for their daughter and for them. By the time they realized they were in fight to the death with major league players, it was too late.

[EDINVA]

it's so easy for all these legal scholars to talk about where the Schindlers' attorneys failed ... but where were they when the Schindlers needed them? Their lawyers have worked on this case for years, pro bono. Time for the big-time, showboat lawyers to stfu.

[Cboldt]

Why on earth did they wait until the last minute to bring forth the evidence of Terri's statement that she wanted to live?

Who knows. But they did bring it up, and the evidence was rejected by the courts as being not timely presented.

[wouldntbprudent]

I'm with you: I've been thinking all along, what's up with the parents' lawyers? They seem to have fallen down on the job on several fronts.

[ontos-on]

I think that the bad lawyering at the federal district court resulted from two things:

(1) the time pressure they felt they were under because the tube had already been removed; and

(2) the false belief that the district court would read the new law passed by Congress the way they wanted it to be read and not as it could and was read by a judge who wanted no part of all this. Their pleadings make it look like they felt that the district court would accept them with open arms--so they did not prepare a case that would have forced the district case to find that there were realistic questions as to the due procees required when a court is taking someone's life, is involved.

False confidence and euphoria that the Congress passed that law--with not enough good thinking.

[Trust but Verify]

Terri's statement that she wanted to live?

Maybe I missed something, but she actually said she wants to live? She said that? When?