Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Texas

Last year my child who was 14 at the time was attending a church in the HEB area where we lived. I begin to notice changes in her attitude/behavior and thus begin to try to figure out what was going on with her. It wasnt until I got a call one Sunday from someone at the church that left me a voicemail stating that my child was there and that she had marks/cuts on wrists. I then proceeded to go to the church and took her straight to the hospital.

After her 3 day stay I moved her to another facility. In the meantime I had someone from the church come to my house and also was contacted via message from a popular social networking site. I made it clear to these people not to contact me or my child as I knew someone had to know what was going on. While she was moved to the other facility I was notified that the "church" had found out where she was and had attempted to try and see her.

I ended up moving because of this and here it is a year later and there is still contact going on, and Im beginning to see the behavior in her changing again.

I do not think that anything "sexual" happened involving any members, brainwashing possibly as I have not been able to get her interrested in another church.

What I would like to know is this, are they negligent if they knew my child was "harming" herself?? I know for a fact someone knew because I found some texts on my phone one day. The voicemail that was left from a member of the church ... he didnt sound too concerned and stated that maybe she needed "counciling" and they had some there that she could talk to.


Asked on 6/25/12, 10:38 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Dunn Mark D. Dunn

The fact(s) that (a) your child is cutting herself and (b) she started attending a certain church may not be connected at all.

If the CPS is called, they will probably blame YOU. Just a heads up.

You should tell these church folks to leave you and your daughter alone. Put it on your outgoing voicemail message if necessary: "If you're calling from the Church of the Holy Snake, don't leave a message, and leave us alone, permanently. Don't make me get a restraining order against you."

And look up these folks on the internet - put in a search such as "Church of the holy snake complaings."

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Answered on 6/26/12, 6:22 am


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