Releases

The desire to act swiftly to help victims of the Haitian earthquakes has resulted in unintended, possibly criminal, consequences. This was most evident in Idaho-based New Life Children's Refuge's attempt to take 33 children out of the country to establish an orphanage in the Dominican Republic despite the fact that not all the children were orphaned. "There was no true urgency to remove these children from Haiti," says Elizabeth Durso Branch, who focuses on child-related issues as a partner at the Family Law firm of McCurley Orsinger McCurley Nelson & Downing, L.L.P. "While Port-au-Prince is devastated, there are other physically safe locations within the country to set up an orphanage or refugee camp. The group may have had good intentions, just far too little guidance." To interview Ms. Branch, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.