Tag Archives: politics

BATTLING ANTISEMITISM IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD

The mental health community has a sordid history of oppression directed toward Jewish therapists and advocates. So much so that in 2005, as a response to the continuing prevalence of antisemitism, the APA adopted the “Resolution on Anti-Semitic and Anti-Jewish Prejudice” (the “Resolution”), in which it condemned “all anti-Semitic attitudes and actions, both overt and covert” and promoted “fairness, respect, and dignity for all people, regardless of religion or ethnicity, in all arenas in which psychologists work and practice.

Importantly, the Resolution also recognized, among other things, that:

a. Antisemitism or “anti-Jewish hostility” has taken “various forms over the centuries,” and that much of the antisemitism we see today takes the form of “prejudiced attitudes” and “discriminatory statements or acts” perpetrated by those who deny “actual bias against Jews”;

b. Perpetrators of modern antisemitism may find it difficult to identify their anti-Jewish bias, “as their beliefs about themselves may be that they are not biased against Jews”;

c. The antisemitic nature of modern anti-Jewish hostility may be disguised as “discourse regarding the actions of the Government of Israel,” and;

d. “[E]xtreme anti-Israel rhetoric” can lead to “demonization and dehumanization of Jews.

In a research article published by the APA in 2024, a group of Jewish psychologists described the various forms of antisemitism that may exist in psychological settings by categorizing antisemitism into four central themes:

(1) overtly antisemitic behavior;

(2) tropes/stereotypes;

(3) erasure/invisibility of identity, and;

(4) silencing.

The article defines “silencing” as a type of antisemitism that “creates environments where some Jewish people feel excluded and even unsafe to reveal important parts of their identity and assimilate in efforts to avoid negative social, educational, or professional consequences. Some examples of silencing as a form of antisemitism provided in the article include “[d]enying Jewish trauma, suppressing Jewish voices, and refuting the lived experiences of Jewish individuals.”

[The preceding paragraphs are set forth in a lawsuit filed against a counseling center operating in Dallas, Texas.]

Licensed psychologists are required to act in accordance with the rules and guidelines set forth by the APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (the “APA Ethics Code”). Notwithstanding such in recent years, the mental health field — which encompasses an array of practitioners, including social workers, licensed counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists and more — chose to ignore the APA Ethics Code and created then embraced a bastardized vision of a practice that relies on a social justice framework.

With no diversity of opinion, with no intelligent debate, with no oversight nor compassion, this radical social justice framework has been allowed to fester and grow. It was ripe for a Krakatoa sized eruption of hate filled, mean-spirited vitriol bordering on the very manifestation of evil.

The nightmarish events of October 7, 2023, provided the catalyst. As Iran’s proxy terrorist organization Hamas invaded Israel and committed unspeakable crimes against humanity including torture, murder, rape, kidnapping and other gruesome genocidal acts, we were justified in thinking this reprehensible event would bring us all together in unified condemnation of this atrocity.

Instead, since the events of October 7th, there has been a dramatic 340% increase in global antisemitism.

Equally concerning, since October 7, 2023, there have been increasing reports of antisemitism specifically within the mental health field. Not only has this rise in antisemitism negatively impacted the quality and accessibility of care available for Jewish individuals seeking psychological help, but it has also negatively impacted the livelihoods and employment prospects of Jewish therapists and mental health professionals.

Nathalie Edmond, a professor and the director of counseling at Villanova University taught her students that the “colonized mind” and Zionism are mental illnesses of the frontal lobe alongside fascism, “rape culture” and “genocidal tendencies.” What a load of crap!

Some research studies indicate that up to 75% of Jewish medical professionals say they have experienced antisemitism at work

In part, that is because we have been confronted with a bizarre, alternate reality. The “Mental Health Mean Girls,” consisting of radical therapists and advocates in the mental health community, fanned the volcanic flames of hatred. And the blatant racism exhibited by these mental health mean girls was both shocking and reprehensible. Predictably, it was directed at the all too familiar target of oppression. That is, Jewish people. In this instance, Jewish therapists and counselors.

Before proceeding, I want to point out I am not Jewish. I am not in an intimate relationship with a Jewish woman. In fact, I am a “Fallen Catholic.” More a spiritual sentient being. Discussions of the multiverse or what constitutes “the soul” appeal to me.

As Jewish mental health professionals opened up about the harassment and abuse perpetrated against them by the Mental Health Mean Girls, I began to listen. And investigated. And researched. And what I found bordered on being beyond belief.

Sally Satel, a psychiatrist and fellow at the American Enterprise Institute noted: “More and more clinicians insist that psychotherapy is, foremost, a political rather than a clinical enterprise.” [Violating APA guidelines.]

Calling this approach “critical social-justice therapy,” she says, “Under a social-justice regime, therapists who have the ‘wrong’ politics — they might, for example, believe that Israel has a right to exist and to defend itself — must be kept away from “vulnerable patients.” If, conversely, it is the patient whose politics are perceived to be misbegotten, revising their viewpoint must become the focus of the treatment. [Violating APA guidelines.]

“Currently, Jewish patients (deemed to be members of a privileged group) are finding themselves subject to attempts by activist-therapists to morally reeducate them; no support of Israel can be condoned as it is declared a ‘settler colonial’ state.” [Violating APA guidelines.]

That mindset worked so well in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. Oh, wait!

Of course, all this nonsense flies in the face of one of the APA’s core competencies, that is cultural competence. The APA defines “cultural competence” as the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from cultures or belief systems different from one’s own.

“When someone posted in a private Facebook group for Chicago therapists in March [2024], asking whether anyone would be willing to work with a Zionist client, several Jewish therapists quickly responded, saying they would be happy to be connected to this person.” Therapists commonly rely on listservs and other online groups for referrals.

“Those who replied, offering their services to this unnamed client soon found themselves added to a list of supposedly Zionist therapists that was shared in a group ironically called ‘Chicago Anti-Racist Therapists’,” Deutch said, adding that the purpose of the list, according to its author, Heba Ibrahim Joudeh, was to prevent referrals to therapists with “Zionist affiliations.” [Violating APA guidelines, federal statutes and most state’s ethical codes.]

According to Deutch, the administrator of the Facebook group, the list was a good way “to be transparent about clinicians who promote and facilitate white supremacy via Zionism.” [Violating APA guidelines.]

“The only trait shared by the 26 therapists on the list,” said Deutch, “is that they are Jewish.” [The information in the preceding paragraphs was set forth in this article.]

https://www.thejewishstar.com/stories/social-justice-shrinks-blacklist-jewish-patients,24134

It gets worse.

According to the aforementioned article and others, anti-Zionism is now the price of admission to the private Facebook group, “Therapists in Private Practice” (TIPP). This group is administered with an iron fist by Namrata Rindani. [Violating APA guidelines, federal statutes and most state’s ethical codes.]

After Oct. 7, prospective members applying for participation in TIPP have been required to respond to the following: “This is an anti-oppression based group. We examine privilege and engage in discourse related to dismantling oppressive systems in the field. We support BLM [Black Lives Matter] and are Pro Palestine. Are you open and willing to support this direction?” Answering the question is not optional. [Violating APA guidelines, federal statutes and most state’s ethical codes.]

Oppressive systems? The horrible irony of this term in its application to that very group would be laughable … if not so tragic.

Since the TIPP supports BLM, let’s briefly review what BLM has become so we understand why it is so deserving of the support of Rindani and her crones.

Ideologically, BLM leans strongly towards radical leftist positions, particularly concerning issues like “defunding the police” and reforming the capitalist system. The idea of redirecting funds from one sector (in this case, the police) to social programs targeting specific communities (Black communities) mirrors principles from Marxist-Leninist textbooks.

The BLM movement (although on life support now) overly emphasizes racial divisions, exacerbating the already polarized nature of American society. Research suggests that BLM overlooks broader issues of violence and crime, reducing everything to racial factors. While the movement is purportedly anti-racist, it exhibits elements of Black racism against white people.

While BLM as a movement is ideologically radically left, its leaders were awash in vice and corruption. BLM’s leaders spent $14 million on purchasing luxury properties in Los Angeles and Toronto. Most of the $90 million donated to BLM did not reach Black communities or improve education, healthcare, or financial conditions—the movement’s stated goals. Instead, the funds were spent on real estate and personal gains for a few leaders.

Back to TIPP, reports indicate it was made clear Jewish therapists and advocates were not safe to voice their opinions or thoughts, or they would be kicked out of TIPP. Multiple people told The Jewish Insider, a daily, journalistic outlet covering policy and politics that they were removed from the TIPP group by Rindani. Their crime? Writing posts supportive of Israel — or even for liking other people’s posts supporting Israel or defending Jewish colleagues who were attacked for their views.

Another Jewish therapist who was kicked out of the TIPP group stated, “The biggest issue is that anyone providing empathy to Jews for any reason is seen as anti-justice, anti-brown, anti-Palestinian, anti-advocacy … If anyone’s having an issue about feeling alone being Jewish, you get spammed in the comments about, ‘Free Palestine.” [Violating APA guidelines, federal statutes and most state’s ethical codes.]

So, the Rindani genocidal (her word, not mine) mob supports criminals, not crime victims and derides the very system which allows them to spew forth their hate messaging while cancelling those who disagree with their views.

Rindani removed a number of members who voiced support for Israel. In one comment on a post from a Jewish member, Rindani made clear there is no room for dissent in her racist group of oppression:

“We are not open to debate about this in particular … I will be direct abt tbis [sic.] and then you can make your choice from there. We as Admin [sic.] call this is a Genocide.” [emphasis added]

A genocide! A genocide? What the hell? Rindani, here is what a genocide looks like you vacuous, insensitive reprobate:

16 Apr 1945, Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Buchenwald, Germany — Survivors at Buchenwald Concentration Camp remain in their barracks after liberation by Allies on April 16, 1945. Elie Wiesel, the Nobel Prize winning author of , is on the second bunk from the bottom, seventh from the left. — Image by © CORBIS

Rational, sane, open minded, compassionate, intelligent people could classify Rindani’s misconduct as racist, hypocritical, and unethical which is not only sanctionable but actionable in courts and before administrative boards.

Since Rindani is in San Diego, the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (“BBS”) may have issues with Rindani and others of her ilk.

The BBS’s mandate is to protect the public, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 4990.16. Conduct doesn’t have to occur inside a therapy session to be actionable. If discriminatory behavior shows a lack of fitness to practice or undermines the trustworthiness of the therapist, the BBS can discipline.

Online harassment, bullying, or antisemitic speech toward colleagues can be viewed as:

(1). Unprofessional conduct (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 4982(n)), or

(2). Dishonest/corrupt acts substantially related to the duties of a therapist (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 4982(v)).

The BBS can also charge Rindani with violations of:

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 4982(n): Unprofessional conduct — This catch-all allows the Board to discipline for conduct that, even outside clinical work, calls into question the therapist’s professional judgment, integrity, or ability to serve clients;

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 4982(v): Dishonest, corrupt, or fraudulent act — If the online conduct includes defamation, harassment, or coordinated discrimination campaigns, this section could apply;

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 4982(b): Gross negligence/incompetence — If online antisemitism reflects an inability to practice therapy in a culturally competent, nondiscriminatory way, it can be framed as incompetence.

But that is far from the problems which could be encountered by reckless, unprofessional, racist therapists like Rindani.

The specter of litigation is very much in play. And no, a presumed first amendment right to free speech does not protect people like Rindani.

The TIPP is a professional referral and marketing forum. Exclusion affects economic and business opportunities. And liability under federal and state statutes is a huge problem.

California has some of the broadest protections in the country. It’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, Cal.Civ. Code § 51, applies to all business establishments of every kind whatsoever and prohibits discrimination based on religion, ancestry, ethnicity, and political beliefs. Courts have interpreted business establishments broadly and a referral marketing group with professional impact qualifies.

Rindani’s conduct could also violate California’s Unfair Competition Law since exclusionary discriminatory practices in a business context are unlawful and unfair.

Exclusion of Jewish counselors arguably violates the federal civil rights statute, 42 USC § 1981 which protects against discrimination and business relationships based on race and ethnic ancestries.  Courts have recognized Jews as a protected racial/ethnic group under § 1981.  If exclusion blocks access to referrals and marketing (which are effectively business opportunities) § 1981 would arguably apply.

If other Moderators or Administrators are working with Rindani to exclude Jewish counselors, then they could be liable through a civil conspiracy to deprive equal protection which violates the Civil Rights Act, 42 USC § 1985.

There are various other state and common law violations perpetrated by Rindani and her crones as well.

The very frightening aspect for Rindani and her crones is that … this type of lawsuit is already pending … right here, in Dallas, Texas.

https://www.thelawfareproject.org/releases/2025-06-18/the-lawfare-project-and-winston-strawn-llp-announce-lawsuit-against-dallas-based-mental-health-clinic

The lawsuit alleges that plaintiffs Yocheved Junger and Jacqueline Katz–two Jewish therapists–were wrongfully terminated in retaliation for exercising their protected right to oppose workplace discrimination, after their employer, a counseling center prevented them from assisting a colleague treating a Jewish client experiencing trauma related to antisemitism. (Sound familiar, TIPP?)  

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are being represented by Winston & Strawn. This is a powerful, international law firm with at last count, 975 attorneys. With offices throughout the United States, Europe and other locations, that law firm represents wealthy clients. And is financially structured to fight anyone. It employs the brightest and the best.

This very well could be, and should be the future for Rindani and others like her.

There are obvious violations of the APA’s Code of Ethics. There are obvious violations of administrative agency’s codes of ethics. There are obvious violations of federal and state civil rights laws. There are obvious violations of the common laws of numerous states. There are obvious violations of the very laws of human decency.

And … there are obvious ways of retribution against the Mental Health Mean Girls like Rindani.

The harassment, oppression and abuse of Jewish counselors one way or another will come to an end. Through apologies, reformed and enlightened conduct and overall inclusion. Or …

Through administrative complaints to various state and federal agencies (which I am presently working on.) Through class-based litigation filed against Rindani and all those who conspire with her to harass and attempt to cancel Jewish therapists and counselors.

Powerful forces have arrived to right the wrongs wrought by the Mental Health Mean Girls. From this point on, THEY are now the hunted … not the hunter. THEY should be concerned about their future employment. THEY now will know they will no longer will be able to warp the minds of their patients and clients. THEY have every right to be afraid.

For the storm is coming. And it is coming for them.

Therapist on Therapist Oppression: Through the Lens of Logic, Reason and Accountability?

It is improbable, if not impossible to grasp all nuanced messaging which exist in the eating disorder community. There is far too much dysfunction, self-absorption, insecurity, fear, egomania and fractured souls. Families suffering from eating disorders have become an afterthought as radical therapists and advocates spew forth their hate filled messaging and dark opinions and viewpoints on life.

Shouldn’t we all be able to embrace a future filled with hope and recovery led by therapists and advocates who can set aside their own personal vendettas and views on social justice, politics and indigenous person’s land use rights for the sake of people who are suffering and dying from eating disorders?

Shouldn’t we be able to sincerely ask those social justice warriors and pretend advocates why did they get in the eating disorder community to begin with? Was it to save lives? Or has it always been merely a platform they could exploit to spew forth their self-loathing, anger and hatred?

It has reached a point where some advocate’s messaging has passed the boundaries of not just inanities but decency. They don’t care who they hurt or who they damage so long as “their truth,” is spewed forth for all to see. Not only do they utilize social media to parade their ignorance, but they become grand marshal of their ignorance parade.

The latest example of this abomination is the manner in which radical advocates in the eating disorder community intentionally harm, intimidate and silence anyone who does not agree with their pedantic views on the Israel/Palestinian conflict. These therapists attempt to suppress anyone who does not agree with their view that the Palestinians are oppressed, that Israel is committing genocide and that Israel has no right to exist. From the River to the Sea dammit!

Of course, I can’t help but wonder how many of these therapists can even explain which river and which sea are involved. Have they even traveled to that part of the world? Have they experienced “real life?” Or does the totality of their existence consist of what they read on the internet and the marches they attend along with persons who are paid by extremist organizations to incite hatred and division?

Moreover, the fundamental question is … what in the blue hell does a therapist’s views on the Israeli/Palestinian issues have to do with eating disorder treatment? Or treating your fellow professionals with such derision if they do not agree with your opinion? Please provide us all answers to those questions.

I have spoken with a number of therapists who have said they have been bullied, derided, and ostracized because they do not agree with the radical element’s views about Palestine. That they do not feel welcome at events hosted by these oppressive elements. It has digressed so far that those who feel oppressed have begun to organize their own events where they can discuss, oh I don’t know, eating disorder issues respectfully and professionally!

Even so, we must continue to have an open mind. Perhaps those radical therapists have formal training and education in foreign affairs and international diplomacy. Perhaps they have attended master’s programs emphasizing the complexities of foreign policy. Perhaps they attended, and maybe even graduated from the Kennedy School at Harvard, or the Fletcher School of Diplomacy at Tufts University, or the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown, or the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton. Perhaps they are not just using their short sighted, uneducated opinions to create division and rancor! …

But, let’s give them a chance. Let’s give them an opportunity. Let’s ask them which of the following may best describe them and their viewpoint?

We understand the social justice warrior often uses the term “intersectionality.” This word represents the notion that a common thread exists amongst all oppressed groups. By their “logic,” LBGTQIA++ people are oppressed, fat people are oppressed, Palestinians are oppressed, everyone except for white men are oppressed. Therefore, all struggles are automatically tied together. For one to succeed, they must all bond together, beside, and for, each other. All for one! and None for all! … What a crock of bullshevick.

This radical leftist viewpoint is tinged with a misguided transposition of Western identity politics onto the Middle East. This collapses all nuance and reduces a complex situation into a simple binary of “oppressor versus oppressed.” As such, leftists in English-speaking nations tend to see Palestine (including Hamas) as an oppressed, brown victim class whose freedom-fighting “resistance” against their oppressive, white, US-backed colonizers in Israel is a righteous cause with which to stand in solidarity. 

Their argument also lacks logic, facts, reason and quickly falls apart. Not only would most Palestinians recoil at defending LGBTQ rights, (which the eating disorder social justice warriors hold dear) but the Palestinian cause falls far from the circle of the “oppressed.”

Israel is at the forefront of LBGT rights in the Middle East. In Israel, LGBT people are visible members of society with legal protections, civil rights, and a plurality of public acceptance. Tel Aviv began holding pride parades in 1993, long before many other Western cities, and today it stands as a leading mecca of gay culture alongside giants like San Francisco and Berlin. Even the holy city of Jerusalem, Israel’s capital known for tradition and freedom of worship, now hosts an annual pride parade.

Contrarily, the “Queers for Palestine” movement seeks to meld LGBT advocacy with Palestinian liberation. Queers for Palestine absorb the false leftist binary of seeing the world split between the oppressed and oppressor and standing with the seemingly oppressed, even if that means standing against their own interests (or against human rights, in general). This juxtaposition has precipitated a whirlpool of ridicule and criticism due to the fact that LGBT rights scarcely exist within the Muslim world, and the Palestinian territories are no exception. This fallacious binary does a disservice to both the theory it claims to honor and the reality it comes to address – rendering it so ersatz and two-dimensional that it no longer actually exists in the real world.

In October 2022, Ahmad Abu Marhia, a gay Palestinian man was found beheaded. Independent reports found that four Palestinians were killed because they were homosexual. Sharia courts have been set up where homosexuals are threatened with the death penalty by stoning, burning and hanging.  These courts also declare persons suspected of homosexuality to be ‘outlaws’, who can be murdered with impunity.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-5-2003-1346_EN.html

Today in 2025, Palestinian culture ostracizes, humiliates, jails, tortures and often murders people simply for being gay.

Unfortunately, facts, logic, and sound reasoning fall upon deaf ears of the radical element in the eating disorder community. Of course, we could be wrong. Perhaps, the Jihadists would embrace the radical obesity movement and the leftist ideology!

In late February 2025, the Houston Eating Disorder Specialists (HEDS) organization cancelled its seminar entitled, “The Ethics of Modern Eating Disorder Care … Exploring Nuances and Opposing Perspectives.” Its keynote speaker, Gloria Lucas is a Palestinian supporter, and the term “anti-Semite” has been directed toward Ms. Lucas. HEDS’s seminar was cancelled because HEDS could not and did not embrace opposing perspectives and it chose to support the radicalism of one person over the needs of the eating disorder community. Those pesky, whiny families struggling with eating disorders! How dare they seek assistance!

The organizers behind Weight Stigma Awareness Week 2025 are doing their bit to stoke the flames of derision and hatred among eating disorder therapists.

One of the speakers that week is Caleb Luna, a self-described artist, public scholar, theorist of the body and particularly proud, plural pronoun proponent. Luna’s views on intersectionality are as follows: “Considering what is happening to Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank; white supremacy, racism, colonization, forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and genocide, those of us who claim to be for liberation, including healthcare providers aligned with HAES®, must stand up for what is right. The liberation for fat people, Black people, indigenous people, queer & trans people, AND Palestinian people are interlocked. Our liberation is tied up in one another’s. There is no hierarchy of oppression. If we are all to be free, we must take measured action.” 

The manner in which Luna is woefully off base is legion. Nevertheless, the organizers of this event will allow him to spew forth his illogical, ill-informed opinions during Weight Stigma Awareness Week. He will be applauded by sheep like followers numbering in the “tens” who are desperate for a place they can regard as “home.” No matter how many other people are hurt in the process.

So, for those therapists and professionals who have been bullied, pushed around, ostracized, harassed and demeaned by the Anti-Semitic, Pro Palestine at All Costs, Intersectionality Uber Alles, militant advocates, a few words of advice.

Ignore them, or;

Laugh at them, or;

Confuse them with facts, or;

Confuse them with reason, logic and accountability, or;

Remind them what the eating disorder community is really about, that is, helping families, or;

If all of that is to no avail, then …

UPDATE iaedp

As many know, iaedp is facing an existential crisis brought about by its own lack of transparency, past irresponsible management decisions, litigation, and administrative complaints filed with the IRS, Department of Labor and the California Franchise Tax Board.

It has been almost a year since I last wrote on iaedp. This article is meant to give an update on various issues. As before, these updates will be coming from a person who is in an adversarial relationship with iaedp.

On behalf of aggrieved eating disorder certified professionals and a potential class, I filed the lawsuit in federal court in Dallas, Texas. Iaedp, Dena Cabrera, Dr. Joel Jahraus and Dr. Ralph Carson were named as defendants. They are represented by a law firm based in Chicago. Ms. Harken is represented by a different law firm. All attorneys are from reputable firms and have strong reputations.

The case was moved to the Central District of Illinois, a district in which Ms. Harken resides. Despite the passage of time, the case is in its infancy and none of the substantive merits have been decided.  iaedp, its named board members and Ms. Harken have all filed motions to dismiss the case. In essence, the defendants are saying that the plaintiffs have not properly plead the case, do not have legal standing to bring the lawsuit and did not allege sufficient facts supporting their claims. These types of motions to dismiss are standard practice in most cases filed in federal court.

Naturally, the Plaintiffs disagree with the Defendants’ position, are requesting that the motions be denied and the case be allowed to proceed. The Court has not yet ruled on those motions.

In the unlikely event the motions are granted and the case is dismissed, an appeal will be filed in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, Illinois.  When the motions are denied, the case will proceed to the next stage. This involves engaging in extensive discovery, depositions and document production.

Regardless, the lawsuit will not be decided any time soon as settlement is unlikely. In the past almost two years, including before filing suit, the plaintiffs made at least three (3) settlement offers with the hope of expeditiously resolving this matter.

iaedp chose to not make any substantive response.  

Before filing suit, we sent a letter with information and evidence showing improprieties and concerns about iaedp. We requested that we sit down and talk as professionals. We even suggested bringing in a neutral mediator to assist. No monetary demands. No demands that any iaedp officer be fired. iaedp and Ms. Harken decided to “lawyer up” and refused to talk. This necessitated filing the lawsuit. Had Ms. Harken and iaedp agreed to meet, perhaps the lawsuit would not have been necessary. And iaedp would not be on the edge of collapse.

In the past few months, we again made a settlement offer to Drs. Carson, Jarhaus and Ms. Cabrera. We requested that with their attorneys present, they sit down and have a professional, frank discussion about any knowledge or information they had of iaedp. In exchange, they would be dismissed from the lawsuit. No monetary demands. No public statements demanded. Just a request to talk. Again, our efforts were rejected.

As such, the parties are now set in their positions. No further settlement discussions are anticipated. No settlement is anticipated. When all efforts to salvage what is left of iaedp have been refused, what is there to discuss? Every attempt we made to resolve all issues so that past sins could be addressed leading to a more hopeful future were rejected.

There are times in a lawsuit, if one side is pushing settlement discussions, the other side looks upon that as a sign of weakness.  The opposing attorney thinks, “They recognize the holes in their own case! We can exploit this.” At times, that is accurate.

However, there is another reality. At times one side may wish to pursue settlement for a much greater purpose. By addressing past sins, and then moving forward, the needs of a community are often best served. It is a sign of being willing to work for the common good. Far from a weakness, it demonstrates strength. It is not a sign of an unwillingness to go to war. Instead, it is a willingness to exhaust all possible avenues of resolution before going to war. Because that may be in the best interest of a community. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

An expeditious, confidential settlement was in iaedp and Ms. Harken’s best interest. Especially when you consider the following facts, all of which have been confirmed as being accurate:

  1. For a significant period of time, iaedp was not in good standing in the State of California, the state in which it was organized;
  2. When a California organization is listed as not being in good standing, it does not have the authority to conduct business (including perhaps, overseeing and issuing board certifications);
  3. For most of its existence, iaedp was not registered as a foreign (California) organization in the State of Illinois, its principal place of business;
  4. When a foreign (California) organization is not properly registered in the State of Illinois, it does not have the authority to conduct business (including perhaps, overseeing and issuing board certifications);
  5. The Illinois Secretary of State lists a number of iaedp chapters as being dissolved or not in good standing;
  6. As a result of the lawsuit being filed, iaedp removed the requirements of symposium attendance and association membership in order to acquire or maintain board certification. This happened only after the lawsuit was filed and was one of the key issues in the case;
  7. Some person, presumably Mr. Harken, forged the signatures of Dr. Jahraus and Ms. Cabrera on corporate documents submitted to the Illinois Secretary of State;
  8. Presumably in order to attempt to avoid paying taxes not just to the State of California but the IRS, Ms. Harken classified herself, or at times, her non-existent corporation as an independent contractor;
  9. The California Franchise Tax Board assessed and is collecting significant back taxes, penalties and interest from iaedp;
  10. Even though there is a legion of documents, including Ms. Harken’s prior sworn declaration that Ms. Harken was an independent contractor, last month Ms. Harken filed a motion with the Court stating that she was an employee of iaedp. The significance of misleading the Court on this issue was to attempt to avoid liability under the racketeering laws;
  11. As a result of Ms. Harken’s false statement about being an “employee,” Plaintiffs filed a motion for sanctions asking the Court to assess sanctions against Ms. Harken.

There are many other facts supporting Plaintiffs’ right to recovery in the lawsuit. However, perhaps the most significant issue may be that since iaedp was not in good standing in either California or Illinois for significant periods of time, did iaedp have the legal authority to oversee and issue board certifications during those times? That is, if you were issued your board certification when iaedp was not in good standing, is your certification valid? Is your certification basically a worthless piece of paper? And if not, what are the ramifications? Those will be questions for the Court to decide.

In litigation as in war, you achieve victory by engaging in a relentless, well-orchestrated and carefully designed plan to obtain victory and deprive your opponent of the initiative. You make your opponent pay a price higher than it expected for choosing the path of war. In litigation, an attorney has the power of the legal system. Issuing subpoenas for relevant documents not just from the named parties but also from third parties and witnesses. Deposing people who may have information of relevant facts. Uncovering lies. Exposing arrogance, greed and collusion. Discovering facts which support long held suppositions. Hundreds of hours spent on the process. The uncertainty.  The unexpected.

If iaedp prevails in the lawsuit, it will attempt to continue its existence the best it can. Or if and when the plaintiffs prevail, and a judgment especially on a class wide basis is entered, many certified professionals will be eligible to receive some type of monetary compensation. However, iaedp may not have the financial resources or enough insurance in place to satisfy a large judgment. This will inevitably result in iaedp failing or declaring bankruptcy and the certification program either being adopted by another organization or falling altogether.

In any event, the eating disorder community is at a crossroads. We can only hope that the community finally comes together and proceeds in a direction that is designed to bring collaboration, wisdom and insight. We can only hope.

Research Grants, DEI and the Future

On February 7, 2025, in accordance with the Trump Administration’s mandate to eliminate waste in federal spending, the National Institute of Health (“NIH”) announced it was capping “indirect costs” on federal research grants at 15%. In addition, a number of research projects, both current and future were terminated.

Indirect costs are used to cover research expenses such as equipment and facilities maintenance, IT services, and administrative support. Indirect costs are itemized separately from direct research costs and are often expressed as a percentage. For example, an indirect cost rate of 50% means that for every dollar awarded as part of a research grant for eligible direct costs, the institution would receive an additional 50 cents to cover indirect costs.

But indirect costs are also used to fund another very important aspect of research.

Every university-based study has to go through a rigorous ethics process. All animal studies go through IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee). All human studies through an IRB (Institutional Review Board.)

Not only are studies submitted for a full ethics board review at the beginning of the study, but they must be renewed every year and any deviation from protocol, adverse event or other unforeseen result must be resubmitted and reviewed by the board. These committees include faculty members who receive a minimal salary for their time and include lay members from the community (who are also remunerated).

The review involves a substantial amount of work and basically ensures that animals used in research are being treated humanely and that people are (being treated like animals?). No, that people are treated ethically. The documentation and regulatory aspects are so complex that many universities now have a Regulatory and Compliance Officer to assist in the tracking of all aspects of these research grants.

Without the IRB and IACUC there can be no research. If the university administration decides to “break” the current indirect system, the ethics structures would also break, and this would be another way in which research would screech to a halt.

So, the question must be asked, how did we get here?

In 2023 the NIH invested $35 billion in research through 50,000 competitive grants to more than 300,000 researchers at 2,500 universities/research institutions. Of the $35 billion, $26 billion was for the ‘direct cost’ of the research and $9 billion (26%) was for indirect costs.

In its February 7, 2025, announcement, the NIH said its 15% cap on indirect cost could save $4 billion annually. On the surface, this cap may seem reasonable.  

So, why is the 15% cap causing such turmoil in academia?

First, it came from the Trump Administration. Since many people in academia look upon President Trump as evil, or the anti-Christ, or a Fascist or Hitler incarnate, they look upon anything he does as bad for the Republic.

Undoubtedly part of the angst was also caused by the heavy-handed manner in which the announcement was made, and the cuts implemented. Giving universities only one weekend to absorb the news, conduct meetings and conferences, and undertake a search to locate and receive other sources of funding is patently unreasonable. Budgets had been set, scholarships and employment for university professionals had been scheduled in part based on the indirect grant costs. To presume that universities could undertake all actions necessary to continue research projects in the span of 48 hours is unrealistic.

But there are two sides to a coin and two edges to every sword.

So, why did this happen?

Some pundits speculate that DEI is the underlying culprit. And the heavy-handed manner in which DEI has been foisted upon the American public.

DEI is an incredibly nuanced, complex, multi-faceted topic. At its core, it attempts to address the manner in which we, as a just and fair society can and must stride forward into a bold future. A future filled with hope for all. When properly implemented, DEI provides greater opportunities for those who have been traditionally overlooked.

Microsoft created a neurodiversity hiring program targeting individuals with autism and other neurological differences.

Johnson & Johnson invested in a supplier diversity program to support owned by minorities, veterans and people with disabilities.

When implemented by diverse, intelligent persons from both ends of the political spectrum, DEI can be intelligently utilized to provide greater opportunities. That requires collaboration by people of differing opinions and backgrounds.

That is one of the ways where Academia fails.

Academia pushes an identity-based approach to DEI encouraging people to define themselves by race, gender and victimhood rather than by merit and responsibility. This mindset focuses on resentment instead of ambition.

Regarding DEI and equality, Academia and liberals tend to focus on equality of outcome (does everyone have the same things?).

Corporations and conservatives tend to focus on equality of opportunity (is everyone treated the same?).

The undeniable reality is that on its surface and as utilized by Academia, DEI is fundamentally discriminatory. DEI asserts that representation must be based on an end product or result evidencing broad based inclusion regardless of merit. This attempts to address the horrific scourge of past discrimination by engaging in horrific acts of future discrimination.

Under the Biden Administration, DEI and research grants flourished.

However, a society which distorts history is not advancing. It is regressing. One of the great failures of multiculturalism is its rejection of assimilation. The process by which different cultures blend into a shared identity rather than remaining separate factions. We must focus on merit and opportunity. Not grievance.

So, what must be done now? 

The old system of applying for and pursuing grants is over. Quite frankly, it should be. The eating disorder research community has suffered far too long at the hands of a radical element which places their social justice and political views over families. Those people who have ignored and derided the medical community in order to showcase their own dysfunctions and inner turmoil.

Tragically, it is now the university research professionals who are paying the price for this ignorance as their research funding has been reduced or eliminated.

In the short term, there is not much the university-based research professionals can do.  Except pray that the various pending lawsuits result in favorable outcomes.

Certainly, GoFundMe accounts are not the answer. Unless hundreds of thousands of dollars are contributed through GoFundMe accounts, those GoFundMe efforts approach questionable ethical boundaries. A few thousand dollars will do nothing to replace the lost funding.  They are symbolic at best.

But the long term?

First universities and researchers must have a greater understanding of the possible return of investment for grants. Universities must become more like the private sector.  They must have vision as to how research is applicable to the understanding and treatment of illnesses in the real world. Not social justice issues. Not radical political issues.

As such, universities must mandate that the focus of research be applied to medically based, science supported issues. A commonly cited factor for NIH allocation decisions is scientific opportunity. Universities and institutes are typically looking for the best and most innovative research.

However, an important question is whether research on the same diseases remains on the forefront of discovery for many years. It is difficult to accept, given the constancy of funding across diseases, that the relative likelihood of scientific breakthroughs varies in the same way across diseases now as it did 10 or even 20 years earlier.

Disease-specific advocacy also plays an important role in NIH funding. Although advocates’ success in garnering congressional support for research can lead to higher overall NIH budgets, most advocacy groups focus on specific diseases. Some of the extra funding that certain diseases obtain could be the result of these efforts.

This means that medical and scientific aspects of an illness must be emphasized and placed at the forefront of a study. Research which involves social justice issues or denying science not only will not get funded, but they cause harm to the community.

Private foundations and large corporations want to know exactly how your research study will improve the lives of their employees or the people their foundation supports.

University professionals must determine the manner in which emerging technologies and synthetically created intelligence platforms will become involved in the subject about which their research addresses. Ai is not just here to stay, but it is growing and learning at an alarming rate. If a researcher does not have a firm grasp on emerging creations and technologies and how that impacts his/her study … they are wasting their time.

Universities can partner with research and development liaison organizations. Those organizations can find suitable collaborative outside entities who will invest money to cover in part, those indirect costs. A failure to do will result in overall failure.

For that matter, there are a number of private equity companies and a few publicly traded companies which own hundreds of mental health treatment centers across the United States. These entities have literally billions of dollars of assets and resources at their disposal. Imagine the epic advances and increased knowledge of eating disorders, including state of the art treatment protocols which could be discovered and implemented through … collaboration. This type of collaborative effort would not only lead to breakthroughs in treatment resulting in a legion of lives being saved, but as another benefit, would result in increased profits for those companies.

There are solutions. Ready solutions. However, finding the right solution can be difficult and confusing.

In order to discover a brave new world, we must embrace strength, resolve, intelligence, collaboration and faith. Without those qualities, we will remain lost. And knowledge and advancement will be stifled.

IAEDP … WELCOME TO EPSTEIN ISLAND


Jeffrey Epstein’s international sex trafficking ring was based on his private island in the US Virgin Islands. The conduct of Epstein and his collaborators was horrific and evidenced the worst in human behavior. Those who visited the island, or for that matter, anyone who even associated with Epstein once news of his misconduct began to surface were looked upon as being complicit.

The consequences of being complicit are playing out in courtrooms. As they often do.

The US Virgin Islands sued JPMorgan Chase alleging that Chase facilitated and benefitted from the sex trafficking of young women. Chase filed a counterclaim alleging, “… the US. Virgin Islands was ‘complicit in the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein,’” saying the sex predator gave high-ranking officials money, advice and favors in exchange for looking the other way. The parties settled the case with Chase paying $75 million. Of that amount, $55 million was directed to charities in the US Virgin Islands.  [emphasis added]

Twelve (12) victims of Epstein’s filth sued the FBI for the FBI’s “repeated and continued failures, delays and inaction” which allowed Epstein to continue his sex trafficking operation for more than 20 years. [emphasis added]

The German bank, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $75 million to victims of Epstein after the victims filed suit.  They alleged the bank was complicit in the sex trafficking and chose profit over following the law. [emphasis added]

Epstein’s victims sued Epstein’s personal attorney and accountant alleging that those two professionals were complicit by continuing to conduct business with Epstein and provided additional means by which Epstein could continue his monstrous conduct even after having actual knowledge of his misconduct.

Epstein’s victims sued JPMorgan Chase alleging it was complicit with Epstein allowing him to continue his horrific conduct.  Documents produced in the case showed that JPMorgan ignored internal warnings and overlooked red flags about Epstein because he had been a valuable client. As a result, JPMorgan paid $290 million in a settlement agreement to the victims.

A press release from JPMorgan to NPR stated: “We all now understand that Epstein’s behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man. Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes.” [emphasis added]

A lesson learned from the Epstein corruption is that knowledge of reprehensible conduct and continued association with a predator equate to acquiescence and being complicit.

Which brings us to iaedp … and Acadia Healthcare. Acadia’s reprehensible conduct has been the subject of widespread publicity. As such, we can and must presume that iaedp has actual knowledge of Acadia’s many unethical and illegal activities.

So why then is iaedp pandering to Acadia, accepting Acadia’s dirty money and like an amoral courtesan, crawling into bed with them?

Iaedp holds its first Symposium AB (After Bonnie) beginning February 21, 2025. As with all organizations which hold a conference, iaedp solicits and receives money from sponsors.

The business relationship between an organization and sponsor should be symbiotic. The sponsoring company provides financial support, goods, or services to the event in exchange for various promotional benefits, such as brand visibility, logo placement, speaking opportunities, or access to the event’s audience. The organization receives funding.

Any reasonable organization would closely vet sponsors to ensure that the sponsors are reputable and have a shared or compatible vision and mission. This duty is incredibly important.

And yet, what are we to make of an organization which has knowledge of numerous instances of unethical, illegal and/or harmful conduct perpetrated by its main sponsor and yet still welcomes them with open arms?

On its Symposium page under sponsors, the very first sponsor listed is … Acadia Healthcare.

https://iaedpfoundation.com/events/2025-symposiu

This despite the fact iaedp has knowledge that Acadia was eviscerated by the Senate Finance Committee in a damning report in June 2024 evidencing deceit and systemic abuse of patients;

The New York Times published a comprehensive article evidencing that Acadia was committing many wrongful and/or unethical acts towards patients;

Acadia agreed to pay a $19.8 million fine to the Department of Justice and three states;

Acadia agreed to pay another $1.38 million to the United States because of Acadia’s misconduct directed toward employees;

The Veteran’s Administration announced it was conducting its own investigation into Acadia;

The New York Times published a second report on Acadia evidencing that Acadia methadone clinics fraudulently billed Medicaid and other insurers for therapy sessions that did not take place, some clinics accepted patients who were not addicted to opioids to boost patient volume, and dozens of current and former employees at Acadia clinics in 22 states told the Times the clinics sometimes failed to provide adequate counseling to patients receiving treatment for opioid use disorder;

There are now at least four lawsuits filed against Acadia by disgruntled, angry investors. These lawsuits claim that Acadia, as a matter of its business practices and on a corporate wide basis, perpetrated widespread fraudulent acts and engaged in acts of misconduct and malfeasance;

In August of 2024, a civil case was filed alleging that one of Timberline Knolls employees raped a patient in May of last year;

Acadia agreed to pay $1,386,000 to the Securities Exchange Commission pursuant to a Cease-and-Desist Order entered on September 9, 2024. It was found that Acadia had, as a matter of its employment practices, violated rules permitting whistleblowers to receive a reward payment for reporting Acadia’s employment practices to the appropriate federal agency;

In May 2019, Acadia agreed to pay the federal government $17 million to settle allegations it defrauded Medicaid in West Virginia;

Since 2000, Acadia has paid approximately $49,000,000 in fines to federal and state agencies for other egregious conduct.

Rape. Sexual abuse. Emotional abuse. Mental Abuse. Fraud on the government. Fraud on families.

Acadia has paid hundreds of millions of dollars to settle lawsuits in which it was found liable for that reprehensible conduct.

And yet, iaedp still embraces Acadia Healthcare with open arms and accepts their dirty money.

With Epstein, banking institutions and third parties were, and are being held accountable as collaborators and being complicit. Because they continued to accept dirty money. Because they profited. Because of their inaction. Because of their association.

The exact same conduct exhibited by iaedp.

However, in the eating disorder community … there is no accountability nor consequences imposed for reprehensible conduct.

The following exchange is attributed [incorrectly] to Winston Churchill:

“Churchill: “Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?” Socialite: “My goodness, Mr. Churchill… Well, I suppose… we would have to discuss terms, of course… “

Churchill: “Would you sleep with me for five pounds?”

Socialite: “Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!”

Churchill: “Madam, we’ve already established that. Now we are haggling about the price.”

Under Ms. Harken’s iron grip, iaedp through its own past misconduct (i.e., tax fraud, unfair and illegal certification program, filing forged documents with the Illinois Secretary of State) clearly established what it is.

So, we should not be surprised that iaedp has chosen to associate itself with one of the most corrupt mental health organizations in the United States. Through its association and acceptance of Acadia’s sponsorship dollars, iaedp is complicit in helping Acadia maintain whatever standing it has in the community.

Iaedp is willing to lie in bed with a corrupt entity so long as it is being paid. Which sounds very similar to the world’s oldest profession.

Now, iaedp has a choice to make. 

Does it stand with the families about whom it professes to care? Families in incredible pain?

Or like an amoral courtesan, does it continue to lie with ethically bankrupt predators like Acadia?

Sadly, we all know what iaedp is going to do.

Iaedp had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to take a stance and at the very least, issue a statement strongly condemning Acadia’s repeated misconduct. Instead, iaedp chose to do nothing. It remained silent. It did nothing. That is … except taking Acadia’s dirty money and giving it a prominent place as a sponsor at its Symposium.

And we are left to wonder … as an amoral courtesan, how much dirty money did it take for iaedp to compromise all principles of decency and sell its soul … assuming it ever had one.

AED … AT THE CROSSROADS

“Destroy the old you, before it destroys you. It’s not about erasing your history, but rather rewriting it with intention, resilience, and newfound strength. Break down the barriers that prevent you from becoming the best version of yourself. Strive to be better tomorrow than you were today.”

  • Author Unknown

The book on 2024 is closed and has been placed on the shelf.

Certainly, the book on the Academy for Eating Disorders (“AED”) is closed. In every way possible.

Its flaws and faults are many. Financially being taken advantage of by its “management company” and doing nothing. Emphasizing a radical, leftist agenda. A cowardly refusal to address corruption in the mental health community. A parochial self-important view. All these factors have conspired to push AED to the brink of extinction.

When Your Management Company Holds You Ransom

Virtual, Inc. is AED’s “management company.”

Virtual advertises that it provides the following services: “Our comprehensive services include finance and accounting; global events management; group secretariat support; HR services; leadership and operations consulting; membership management; marketing and creative services; certification and licensure management; communications; and cutting-edge technology solutions.”

So how has Virtual performed?

Under Virtual’s “leadership,” from 2020 through 2023, AED has reported a total combined loss of -$658,156.00.

For this cataclysmic financial performance, Virtual charged AED fees in the amount of $1,780,836.00.

Again …

A financial loss of -$658,156.00.

Management fees of $1,780,836.00.

Ponder that level of incompetence. Of professional negligence. Of malfeasance. And yet, AED stands idly by letting this financial drain happen, year, after year, after year, after year.

After one year alone of having a management company underperform resulting in a six-figure loss to an organization, that organization would undoubtedly take an exhaustive due diligence examination of the management company. But four consecutive years? And to have management fees be approximately three times the loss sustained by AED under that management company’s incompetence? Any rational organization would have long ago unleashed its legal counsel on that management company with the instructions to go medieval on that company.

But AED? It whistles by the graveyard. It does nothing. It continues to allow itself to be exploited and abused.  And we are justified in asking one question. A one-word question. That question is … Why?

Even still, AED’s issues and troubles are multifaceted.

AED’s Tribal Echo Chamber is of the Highest Importance

AED has been overrun by radical leftists who place their own outlandish political and social justice beliefs over people who suffer from eating disorders. Even over the financial welfare of its own organization.

In July 2024, AED announced its international conference (“ICED”) was going to take place in San Antonio, Texas in May 2025. In this announcement, AED broadcast its intention of using eating disorders as a platform upon which they intended to continue to propagate its radical political agenda over the priority of research of eating disorders.

AED stated:

“While Board members were excited at the opportunity, there was much concern for the comfort and safety of our attendees considering the political climate in the state of Texas.” 

“We understand and respect that some of you will make the decision not to attend ICED 2025 due to its location. We hope that you will continue to support AED, and perhaps consider a donation to one of the many grass roots organizations in San Antonio fighting for equality. Thank you.”

Good Lord. I cannot even begin to fathom how a mental health organization could understand, let alone respect a fear based, cowardly, irrational decision prioritizing a person’s blind allegiance to a political party over their chosen profession.

AED chose to foster a fear based, ideological platform before everything else. To say that AED has betrayed all families who suffer from eating disorders would be charitable.

So, let’s expose the irrationality of AED’s fear based, political agenda and observe its continued march toward irrelevancy and obsolescence.

The Bear is Blue

With regard to ICED in San Antonio, presumably, the AED “professionals” are concerned for their safety and welfare because a majority of Texans voted for Donald Trump for president. Perhaps they believe that all Republicans, or all who voted for President-Elect Trump are inherently evil.

And yet, one of the many things these AED “professionals” got wrong is they did not consider that Bexar County, the county in which San Antonio is located, is overwhelmingly blue… it is a Democratic stronghold. (Oh, and for clarity’s sake, Bexar is pronounced either “Bear” or “Bair,” your choice.)

Let’s review how the denizens of Bexar County voted in the last 5 presidential elections;’:

In 2024, Kamala Harris received 54.9% of the vote in Bexar County;

In 2020, Joe Biden received 58.2% of the vote in Bexar County;

In 2016, Hillary Clinton received 54.6% of the vote in Bexar County;

In 2012, Barack Obama received 51.56% of the vote in Bexar County;

In 2008, Barack Obama received 52.41% of the vote in Bexar County.

Every judge presiding over the district courts in Bexar County (district courts are the courts in which civil and criminal lawsuits are first heard) is a Democrat. Many of these judges ran unopposed.

The mayor, the district attorney, and the county sheriff are all Democrats. 3 of the 4 county commissioners are Democrats. The 4th is a graduate of the Naval Academy, is a 4th generation military veteran, flew the F-18 fighter jet for 10 years during his tours of duty, graduated with an MBA from Wharton and is married with three children. What a scoundrel!

This information raises a number of questions. Why exactly are the members of AED concerned for their safety and welfare when they will be visiting an incredibly diverse city in which Hispanics comprise 59% of the population and the vast majority of the citizens are Democrats?

And why does AED “respect” the decision of its members who choose not to attend because of their narrow political views? If someone can supply an answer which is more accurate that “idiocy,” by all means, let us know.

AED’s short-sightedness is further demonstrated on its DEI position. Society has self-corrected on this topic. DEI is yesterday’s news.

In 2023 – 2024, rational people and companies decided that the quality and integrity of its product were of the utmost importance.  Companies like Google, Meta, Walmart, Ford, John Deere, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, Molson Coors, Boeing, Toyota, Microsoft and many other companies are scaling back or eliminating their DEI programs. Numerous universities throughout the United States are eliminating DEI programs.

They understand that equal opportunity does not mean equal results.

But AED? No.

AED is doubling down on DEI.  It still has its DEI Advisory Committee. This Committee’s purpose is: “The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee is responsible for helping move both our organization and our field in the direction of being more diverse, equitable, and inclusive and strengthening our organization’s policies, initiatives, and programs.”

Notice there is nothing about improving the quality of research being conducted. There is nothing about improving the quality and professionalism of AED’s members. There is nothing about how families will benefit from this Committee.

And still, AED members are concerned about their welfare and safety in San Antonio? Really? While AED is being systematically, financially abused every year to the point of bankruptcy? While AED elevates their social justice clown show over the needs of those who are suffering?

Speaking of Abuse and Misconduct

Perhaps because AED is a victim of financial abuse, AED refuses to speak out on other aspects of abuse and neglect perpetrated against our most vulnerable population. However, AED does embrace those causes which coincide with their radical vision.

On June 5, 2020, AED released a position paper announcing its solidarity with Black Lives Matter and offered insights into tackling “systemic anti-Black racism and White Supremacy within the eating disorder field.”

Click to access AED_Statement_on_Black_Lives_Matter.pdf

It should come as no surprise that when the corruption within the leadership of the Black Lives Matter movement was exposed, and the Black Lives Matter movement crumbled and became a shell of that which it aspired to be, AED, as a leftist political organization remained radio silent.

https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/reckoning-black-lives-matter

And yet, what is surprising is that as more and more corruption within the mental health and eating disorder fields is exposed by the legacy media, AED again chooses to do and say … nothing.

Corruption, Corruption and AED remains both mute and moot.

The widespread corruption at Acadia Healthcare cannot be denied. Our most vulnerable loved ones are being exploited and in some instances, abused, raped or killed. And still, AED does nothing. And says nothing.

Acadia Healthcare owns McCallum Place, Montecatini, Carolina House and Timberline Knolls. These “treatment centers” allegedly attempt to treat eating disorders.  Acadia is a publicly traded company which may end up as the most corrupt mental health organization in United States history.

2024 was catastrophic for Acadia. Acadia was eviscerated by the Senate Finance Committee in a damning report in June 2024 evidencing deceit and systemic abuse of patients; the New York Times published a comprehensive article evidencing that Acadia was committing many wrongful and/or unethical acts towards patients; Acadia agreed to pay a $19.8 million fine to the Department of Justice and three states; Acadia agreed to pay another $1.38 million to the United States because of Acadia’s misconduct directed toward employees; the Veteran’s Administration announced it was conducting its own investigation into Acadia; the New York Times published a second report on Acadia evidencing that Acadia methadone clinics fraudulently billed Medicaid and other insurers for therapy sessions that did not take place, some clinics accepted patients who were not addicted to opioids to boost patient volume, and dozens of current and former employees at Acadia clinics in 22 states told the Times the clinics sometimes failed to provide adequate counseling to patients receiving treatment for opioid use disorder. 

There are now at least four lawsuits filed against Acadia by disgruntled, angry investors. These lawsuits claim that Acadia, as a matter of its business practices and on a corporate wide basis, perpetrated widespread fraudulent acts and engaged in acts of misconduct and malfeasance. In August of 2024, a civil case was filed alleging that one of Timberline Knolls employees raped a patient in May of this year.

Rape. Sexual abuse. Emotional abuse. Mental Abuse. Fraud on the government. Fraud on families. And in response to the numerous investigations, fines, settlement agreements, lawsuits and patients being abused, all of which impacted Acadia’s volume and revenue growth, Acadia’s Chief Financial Officer, Heather Dixon stated, “If lower volumes persist, Acadia will reduce facility-level costs accordingly.” That means, the higher paid employees, i.e., medical doctors being laid off.

Profits, profits above all else.

And still, AED does and says nothing. And we must wonder … why?

After all, there is precedence for taking action. When Michael Jacksa’s widespread physical and sexual abuse was exposed at Timberline Knolls, the National Eating Disorder Association returned Timberline Knolls’ annual financial contribution of $10,000.00.  NEDA refused Timberline Knolls/Acadia’s dirty money.

However, at ICED 2025, as some AED “professionals” cower in fear concerned for their safety and welfare, undoubtedly Acadia and its subsidiaries, McCallum, Montecatini, Carolina House and Timberline Knolls will proudly display their wares in AED’s exhibit hall. At $3,500 per exhibit table, Acadia will undoubtedly be contributing at least $17,500 to AED’s coffers. [How else will Virtual be paid?]

We have various names for that conduct.  Accepting dirty money. Hypocrisy. Lack of integrity. AED refuses to speak out against systemic abuse in the mental health community and all the while is accepting money from a corrupt corporation which abuses patients and has paid hundreds of millions of dollars to resolve lawsuits based on that abuse.

And yet, AED is not finished with its journey leading to its inevitable destruction. Nonetheless, the time has long since passed for AED to either take a stand with those who are abused and fight against corruption … or be part of the scandals, abuse and horrific conduct by cooperating with the perpetrators.

Ethics, Ethics Everywhere and None of it for …?

Since AED will not come to the mountain, the mountain will come to AED.

AED has an Ethics Committee. It’s long past time for AED to start utilizing it. Within one week, information regarding Acadia, its dirty practices and sordid conduct will be submitted to AED’s Ethics Committee. And AED will be faced with what should be a “no-brainer” decision.

AED can choose to support those who are victims by Acadia’s nefarious, illicit conduct. Or they can stand in solidarity with Acadia. Acadia, who abuses the system. Acadia, who abuses our most vulnerable population. Acadia, who abuses and removes hope. Acadia, who abuses and who removes … life.

But choose AED must … and will. And we will know the direction AED chooses. And the ramifications of that choice will determine whether AED remains a viable entity … until at least Virtual gets through with it.

ACADIA’S TRAIL OF VICTIMS

Recent articles highlighted the many legal and financial issues plaguing Acadia Healthcare. Upon further research, additional legal and financial issues have come to light.

Lawsuits

There are now at least three lawsuits filed by disgruntled, angry investors. These lawsuits claim as a matter of its business practices and on a corporate wide basis, Acadia perpetrated fraudulent acts and engaged in acts of misconduct and malfeasance.

The oldest lawsuit was filed in 2018 by the St. Claire County Employees Retirement System on behalf of themselves and a class of other investors. The lawsuit alleges that throughout and before the Class Period,  Acadia, its officers and Board of Directors engaged  in  a  scheme  to  defraud  and  mislead  investors  concerning  patient  care,  staffing  levels,  and  legal  compliance  issues. Acadia has vigorously defended the case.  The Court granted class certification and the case is expected to go to trial in 2025.

Two other cases were filed in October 2024 after: Acadia was eviscerated by the Senate Finance Committee in a damning report in June 2024; the New York Times published a comprehensive article evidencing that Acadia was committing many wrongful and/or unethical acts towards patients; Acadia agreed to pay a $19.8 million fine to the Department of Justice and three states; Acadia agreed to pay another $1.38 million to the United States because of Acadia’s misconduct directed toward employees, and; the Veteran’s Administration announced it is conducting its own investigation into Acadia.

These cases were filed against Acadia, its CEO and CFO and prior CEO and CFO.  Amongst other claims, the lawsuits allege misrepresentation and fraud.

If found liable, Acadia could be forced to satisfy judgments in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Administrative Fines

In September 2024, Acadia agreed to pay $19.85 million dollars to the United States for knowingly submitting false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE for inpatient behavioral health services that were not reasonable nor medically necessary.

Acadia also agreed to pay $1,386,000 to the Securities Exchange Commission pursuant to a Cease and Desist Order entered on September 9, 2024. In this investigation, the SEC found that Acadia had, as a matter of its employment practices, violated rules permitting whistleblowers to receive a reward payment for reporting Acadia’s employment practices to the appropriate federal agency. Acadia also required some of its departing employees to waive their right to file a complaint with any federal government agency.

These provisions created impediments to participation in the SEC’s whistleblower program by requiring employees to forego either their right to file a complaint with the Commission staff or the financial award they might receive for doing so. Through this conduct, Acadia violated SEC Act Rule 21F17(a), which prohibits any person from taking any action to impede an individual from communicating directly with the Commission staff about a possible securities law violation.

These agreements were signed by former employees 56 times between 2019 and 2023.

The Veteran’s Administration announced it was proceeding with its investigation into Acadia for violating laws pertaining to Tricare.

In May 2019, Acadia agreed to pay the federal government $17 million to settle allegations it defrauded Medicaid in West Virginia. The federal government alleged that a subsidiary [CRC Health, L.L.C.] of Acadia which owns seven drug addiction treatment centers in West Virginia, defrauded Medicaid over several years through false claims for laboratory tests related to the opioid epidemic.

Since 2000, Acadia has paid approximately $49,000,000 in fines to federal and state agencies for its egregious conduct.

Other Governmental Investigations

As previously stated, a Senate Committee Report and the New York Times (twice) eviscerated Acadia for its business practices.  On October 3, 2024, Adam Schiff, Senator-elect from the State of California, sent a letter on Congressional letterhead to Acadia demanding answers to eight (8) questions addressing a number of the improprieties.

One of these questions was, “Tim Blair, an Acadia spokesman, has publicly acknowledged that Acadia has deployed employees, referred to as “assessors,” throughout nearby hospital emergency rooms to support hospital staff. What specific services do assessors provide? What education-level and qualifications are required to work as an assessor? What specific training is provided to assessors by Acadia?”

The next day, October 9, 2024, Ron Wyden, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting that the Department of Justice begin an investigation into the facts set forth in the Senate Report.

Private Lawsuits

In 2019, a lawsuit was filed against amongst other defendants, Acadia Healthcare. In that lawsuit, a guardian of an adolescent accused the Acadia companies of failing to protect a young girl under their care. The filing states that an employee of one of Acadia’s subsidiary companies repeatedly raped the child in 2018. The jury awarded the plaintiff $485 million dollars in damages.  Acadia initially stated it would challenge the jury verdict.

Instead, Acadia paid the plaintiff $400 million. $400,000,000.00!

There are at least four (4) lawsuits filed against Acadia and Timberline Knolls and criminal cases pending against Michael Jacksa, a former Timberline Knolls counselor.  Jacksa sexually assaulted at least six (6) patients at Timberline Knolls.

In 2018, Acadia through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ascent Children’s Health Services announced it was closing all ten (10) locations in the State of Arkansas. This closure displaced nearly 1700 children.

The closures were announced after the settlement of a Crittenden County Circuit Court civil lawsuit filed in July 2017 by Ashley Smith, mother of 2-year-old Christopher Gardner. Christopher died June 12, 2017, after being left in a transport van at the West Memphis facility for eight hours. Ascent workers signed documents showing that Christopher was taken inside the West Memphis day care center, even though he remained on the van.

Kendra Washington, Felicia Ann Phillips, Wanda Taylor and Pamela Lavette Robinson, all former Ascent employees were charged with felony manslaughter in Christopher’s death. 

In August of 2024, a civil case was filed alleging that one of Timberline Knolls employees raped a patient in May of this year. A law firm based in Indianapolis represents at least (7) patients who were abused at the hands of Acadia. At least three of these cases are pending in state courts in Indiana and substantiate the allegations made against Acadia.

Now, a former patient of Acadia from Texas has come forth. She alleges the same reprehensible conduct perpetrated by Acadia at other facilities was directed against her. And … I have the honor and privilege of co-counseling with that Indiana law firm to pursue her rights here in Texas.

For those who continue to deal with Acadia (as is your right), for those who continue to accept Acadia’s money, you may wish to review the definition of “dirty money.”

For that money came from patients who were wrongfully held against their will, from patients who were held for the sole purpose of increasing the profit margin of Acadia, from patients who did not receive adequate care or treatment, from patients who were abused and in some cases, sexually assaulted or raped. From patients who died at the hands of employees of Acadia.

And to those organizations which have accepted thousands of dollars from Acadia entities, organizations which have actual knowledge of Acadia’s wrongful conduct, organizations with so called ethics committees but who do nothing … NOTHING … to demand accountability or assess consequences … when you look into a mirror, that death mask reflected back is the visage of your acquiescence, your acceptance and your guilt.

$19.85 MILLION, KARMA AND THE HMS ACADIA

Karma is a Sanskrit word meaning “action.” Generally, we understand it to mean the consequences of one’s actions. The word “karma” is commonly used to indicate bad karma, and the word “merit” is often used to indicate good karma. The law of karma is best described as “cause and effect” because every action (or cause) has a corresponding consequence (or effect). If you plant good causes, you will reap good effects, and if you plant bad causes you will reap bad effects.

There have been many quotes about karma.  “Karma is a cruel mistress.” “For the keynote of the law of karma is equilibrium, and nature is always working to restore the equilibrium whenever through man’s acts it is disturbed.”

Karma comes at unexpected times and in unexpected ways.  Case in point, recent statements made by Christopher Hunter, the current CEO of Acadia Healthcare. In August, in response to a question about the recent damning Senate Committee report about Acadia, Mr. Hunter stated: “Yes. I would say we just haven’t seen any real impact from the Senate hearing in the report. … And so, it’s also not overly material from a financial standpoint to begin with.”

About six weeks after Mr. Hunter’s heartless statement, the Justice Department announced that Acadia agreed to pay $19.85 million to settle an investigation into Acadia.

The United States contended that between 2014 and 2017, Acadia knowingly submitted false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare for inpatient behavioral health services that were not reasonable or medically necessary. In particular, the United States contended that Acadia admitted beneficiaries who were not eligible for inpatient treatment and failed to properly discharge beneficiaries when they no longer needed inpatient treatment and had improper and excessive lengths of stay.

The United States further alleged that Acadia knowingly failed to provide adequate staffing, training and/or supervision of staff, which resulted in assaults, elopements, suicides and other harm resulting from these staffing failures. In addition, Acadia allegedly failed to provide inpatient acute care in accord with federal and state regulations, including, but not limited to, by failing to provide active treatment, to develop and/or update individualized assessments and treatment plans, to provide adequate discharge planning and to provide required individual and group therapy.

Despite this punitive payment and financial hit, Mr. Hunter had this to say, “The allegation that Acadia systematically holds patients longer than medically necessary is false and goes directly against everything we do and stand for when it comes to patient care.”

It is curious that Mr. Hunter believes those claims to be false after Acadia agreed to pay almost $20 million to make those claims go away.

Of course, karma was just beginning for Mr. Hunter. Since Mr. Hunter focuses on the financial bottom line alone, we can assume he must be greatly concerned that Acadia’s stock hit a 52-week low of $42.56 on October 31, 2024. Acadia shares are down more than 44% since the beginning of the year. In fact, Acadia’s stock price has not been this low since November 2020.

Even still, karma was not through with Mr. Hunter. In September 2024, the Justice Department and Inspector General, through Robert DeConti, the inspector general’s chief counsel, stated that the $20 million settlement does not impede investigators from exploring allegations regarding more recent activities.

And so, on September 27, 2024, Acadia disclosed that it received a request for information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, and that it expects similar requests from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the Company’s patient admissions, as well as its length of stay and billing practices.

On October 18, 2024, the New York Times published an article titled “Veterans Dept. Investigating Acadia Healthcare for Insurance Fraud.” The article stated that the Veterans Affairs Department is investigating whether Acadia is defrauding government health insurance programs by holding patients longer than is medically necessary. The New York Times also stated that several former Acadia employees in Georgia and Missouri have also been interviewed by agents from the F.B.I. and the inspector general’s office of the Health and Human Services Department. 

In a separate press release, Acadia Healthcare said the company is cooperating fully with authorities in response to that on-going government investigation.

Naturally, Mr. Hunter a/k/a Captain Smith continued to steer the HMS Acadia toward the iceberg. In addressing these reports, he stated they are inconsistent with Acadia’s policies and do not reflect the medical complexities involved in behavioral healthcare. Dear Captain Smith… An organization is defined by its conduct, not by its CEO’s words.

Karma had one last present for Mr. Hunter. Acadia, its former CEO, its current and former Chief Financial Officers, and of course, Christopher Hunter were all named as defendants in a recent class action lawsuit filed in Tennessee. Acadia, Mr. Hunter and the other defendants were sued for allegedly violating securities laws following Acadia’s September 27, 2024 announcement about the federal grand jury subpoena.

Not coincidentally, Acadia’s stock price fell 16% alone on September 27, 2024, wiping out over $1 billion in market capitalization.

$1 billion in market capitalization.

It gets worse.  When Captain Smith was brought aboard the HMS Acadia on April Fool’s Day in 2022, the market capitalization of Acadia was $6.04 BILLION.  Market capitalization is regarded as the most accurate value of a publicly listed company.  What was Acadia’s market capitalization at the close of business Friday, November 2, 2024? $3.9 billion. So, after ramming into the side of the iceberg, Mr. Hunter/Captain Smith steered the HMS Acadia to a $2.14 BILLION dollar, 35% loss in the company/stock value.

As the HMS Acadia fills with water and starts to list, we are certainly justified in asking Mr. Hunter / Captain Smith, “Is it overly material now … that is, from a financial standpoint to begin with?”

Karma can be oh so cruel.

And as the HMS Titanic plunges toward the bottom of the icy ocean, shouldn’t families, patients and people suffering from any mental illness ask themselves, “why in the world would I subject myself to the HMS Acadia after it plowed into the iceberg and is sinking to the bottom of the North Atlantic?”

Get someone else to rearrange the deck chairs.

$$$

“And so it’s also not overly material from a financial standpoint to begin with.”

            Chris Hunter, CEO, Acadia Healthcare, August 1, 2024

Mr. Hunter’s statement was made to investors at an Acadia quarterly meeting. The statement pertains to Acadia’s response to a scathing report issued by the Senate Committee on Finance.

The question and answer were as follows:

Ben Hendrix

“And just if I could ask 1 on the legislative and regulatory backdrop. Your peer, UHS, noted little fallout to date regarding the Senator Wyden investigation into RTC. So I was just wondering kind of what you’re preparing for or expecting could come down the line from a legislative perspective, whether it be transparency, oversight, minimum staffing, et cetera?”

Chris Hunter

“Yes. I would say we just haven’t seen any real impact from the Senate hearing in the report. I think we believe that the people that deal with this patient population every day, and that certainly includes our referral sources, as well as the various regulatory oversight bodies that are routinely in these facilities, understand that this is just a really difficult population. I think they also understand that our facilities are providing high-quality care to this population, and we demonstrate that routinely with the outcomes that we’re able to achieve. And so we just haven’t seen impact. I’d also point out that our RTC business is small. We only operate 9 facilities. It’s about 11% of our revenue. And so it’s also not overly material from a financial standpoint to begin with.”

This statement was made on August 1, 2024.

Mr. Hunter’s statement was made approximately six (6) weeks after a scathing report was issued by the Senate Committee on Finance. A few of the more alarming conclusions were as follows:

  • Children suffer routine harm inside Residential Treatment Facilities (“RTF”). The risk of harm to children in RTFs is endemic to the operating model. 
  • Horrific instances of sexual abuse persist unremediated inside RTFs. 
  • RTFs often employ unqualified or inadequately trained staff and that staff routinely fail to discharge their duties. RTF staffing failures have led to tragic incidents, including child fatalities, and childrens’ repeated exposure to risk. 
  • State and federal oversight authorities fail to effectively identify and address harm to children in RTFs. When RTFs correct deficiencies, their efforts are remedial rather than company wide.

Mr. Hunter made this statement after he knew or should have known of the existence of 194 pages of statements made by victims, parents and former employees of residential treatment centers. These 194 pages are embedded here:

Click to access survivor_testimony_submitted_into_the_record_by_chairman_wyden_during_hearing.pdf

Mr. Hunter made this statement after he knew or should have known a patient in Timberline Knolls was allegedly raped three (3) times by an employee of Timberline Knolls in May 2024. These alleged rapes were reported to the staff at Timberline Knolls that same month.

Mr. Hunter made this statement even though a record of 911 calls for service to Timberline Knolls obtained by CBS News Chicago Investigators showed dozens of calls related to criminal sexual abuse or sexual assault since 2018.

Mr. Hunter made this statement even though the Lemont Police Department stated that it had received 546 calls for service from Timberline Knolls from 2023 – 2024.

Mr. Hunter made this statement even though on at least eight occasions since 2020, the Lemont Police Department received reports from patients saying they had been sexually assaulted or abused, many of which involved juveniles.

I have not yet verified the veracity of the statements from the Lemont Police Department nor the Chicago CBS News Investigators. But what incentive would they have to prevaricate?

“And so, it’s not overly material from a financial standpoint to being with.”

With the reports and allegations of abuse from third parties, I can scarcely envision a more damning statement proving that patient safety takes a back seat to profits.

546 calls for service from Timberline Knolls from 2023 – 2024.

Dozens of 911 calls related to criminal sexual abuse or sexual assault at Timberline Knolls since 2018.

194 pages of statements made by victims, parents and former employees of residential treatment centers.

At least 1 daughter raped three times by an employee of Timberline Knolls before Mr. Hunter’s statement.

“And so, it’s not overly material from a financial standpoint to being with.”

Acadia and its feckless CEO are evaluating human suffering utilizing a measuring stick marked with dollars and cents alone.

And they have determined that human suffering, assaults, rapes, and egregious conduct are not material if they do not impact the bottom line.

From a financial standpoint.

Obstacles, Self-Awareness and our Humanity

When people, organizations, and yes, even nations have strong disagreements, it seems to be human nature to focus on the need to be right. We look at existing problems myopically. It has become ingrained that we must be correct. We listen to reply … not to learn. And somewhere along the way, we lose our humanity.

Our humanity.

The essence of who we are, who we complex, yet fragile people are, becomes secondary if not lost altogether.

Our humanity.

This reality was recently brought home in an unexpected way. While on vacation, I was bobbing around in the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern most island in the Caribbean. I got this feeling of being a speck really, at the mercy of a force far greater than me. The ocean, its deep mysteries, its majestic nature, its unique characteristics, was made manifest as wave after wave pressed its might against me. Unstoppable. Unrelenting. I was in the presence of an overwhelming force, filled with its own living organisms and truth be told, I was helpless and at its mercy.

One individual. One human. Overwhelmed by the reality that the forces around me could take a life, any life, my life, without hesitation or delay. There was no humanity that I could see.

And yet, it is humanity about which we must be keenly aware. Especially in times of conflict, strife and crisis.

By now, most people know or have heard about the lawsuit involving Bonnie Harken, iaedp and the three (3) directors overseeing all of the corporate chapters. People may know the lawsuit alleges and illegal tying agreement involving certification and iaedp membership and mandatory attendance at iaedp’s symposium. This by itself would be a large obstacle.

But that is not the only huge obstacle being faced.  Complaints have also been directed against iaedp regarding BIPOC membership and lack of BIPOC leadership. The petition involving those topics (and certification) and calling for Ms. Harken’s resignation, is now up to 208 signatures. This number is incredibly significant when considering the size of the eating disorder community.

Then there is the issue pertaining to the demands for dissolution from iaedp corporate chapters. Baltimore. New Haven. St. Louis. Denver. Central Coast. Baltimore. Phoenix. All wishing to disassociate from the national chapter.

Any person facing these significant obstacles alone would surely question their own motivations and conduct. Your membership and chapters demanding disassociation and your resignation. The heartache knowing that an organization for whom you toiled for 22 years no longer wants you is shattering to the ego of any person.

And now, the stakes have escalated and exposure is far greater. With this added reality, the pressure must be nearly inconceivable. These added stakes now include complaints and requests for investigation being made to:

The Internal Revenue Service

The U.S. Department of Labor

The California Franchise Tax Board

California Senator Dan Cortese

The same Senator Cortese, the Chair of California’s Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee who stated, “An independent contractor is a specific designation for self-employed people or businesses engaged in contract work. It’s not a gimmick for organizations to avoid paying for employee healthcare and other benefits or reducing their tax liability. Any company found breaking the law will be brought to justice, and they would certainly have no business advising other companies on labor law.”

If my reading of the law and its interpretation is correct, the tax issues facing not just Bonnie Harken and iaedp, but iaedp’s national board of directors could be momentous.  And result in draconian measures against one and all.

Ms. Harken believed she could run all operations of iaedp and remain outside the purview of state and federal administrative agencies. Most tax-exempt organizations, such as iaedp, are required to withhold and pay federal income tax with respect to wages of their employees in the same manner as for-profit organizations. These organizations are also required to withhold and pay these taxes, also known as Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes, in the same manner as for-profit organizations.

California requires employers to withhold state income tax from wages paid to employees. There are also three other state payroll taxes.

Presumably, Ms. Harken believed she could get avoid these taxes by classifying herself as an independent contractor and utilizing her dissolved corporation as a “go between” entity.  If she is wrong, the consequences for not just her but iaedp’s board of directors could be financially, mentally, and emotionally catastrophic.

With all of these issues, I cannot begin to fathom the pain, the fear, the uncertainty, the anguish experienced every day by a person facing those insurmountable objects. As the twilight of our existence on this plain overtakes us, most of us hope to be able to look back upon a life well lived and filled with happiness, purpose and love. To be thrust into numerous battles against state and federal agencies would test the resolve and strength of any person. In the twilight of our life and career though? Devastation.

We are all but specks of living tissue. Fragile bodies. Throughout our lives, we face forces so much greater than us. What we are left with as we fight our on-going and dying battles is our humanity.

Humanity.

And grace that must be extended to those in such pain. For in extending grace, we embrace our own humanity. Accountability? Yes, absolutely. But that should never color or diminish extending grace and embracing our humanity.

And the humanity of others.