Arizona State DES Child Support Enforcement Never notified or paid my child support paid by my x husband, denied ever receiving any Phoenix Arizona

My child support was stolen by the state of AZ between 1977-1985 when my daughter turned 18. I was told my ex never paid. I found out he had paid in 1997. We had no contact during the earlier period.

I filed a suit with the state after being ignored by everyone but the press. This was in 1998. In 2003 the case was settled for $9,000 from the state. This was way below what it should have been.

My original lawyer died in the process after he told me he had filed a 22 page brief demanding the state hire a computer specialist to locate my funds. He died immediately after this document was filed.

The original judge in federal court died before the case even started. The state moved to dismiss. We ended up in Superior local county court as a result.

Six years after I made the discovery of unpaid funds the case settled with no interest paid whatsoever. It was not the correct amount either but we never had access to state documentation.

My second lawyer ended up running Legal Aid and was a community lawyer. I was told my case would help others. Ha!

There were two other women who joined my suit. One was paid $1500, the other $2500, I believe. I held out and wouldn't settle. I was originally offered under $5000.

I was told by the first lawyer that he had uncovered suspense funds in Maricopa county with 10 million dollars in them with child support money that was never paid out. So I knew I was not the only case!

Three newspaper stories were done on my case. Two were in the Tucson Citizen one in 1998 June, I think. Another before the case settled. The third, The Tucson Weekly in Nov. 13-19, 2003 by Chris Limbiris. It's on the web, archived. He also died right after the article came out. He had had another form of cancer and developed a new one.

Janet Napolitano, who is now Governor of Az was Attorney General then. She is pro child! Ha! Certainly not family!

I never understood why Pima County was not included in the suit. They managed the child support and the Pima County Attorney's Office was the enforcer. They received Social Security Title 4 monies to operate the program. I dealt with Pima County not DES. DES had the physical money and somehow was the top of the food chain for this program. I suspect they were more untouchable.

I basically feel I got ripped off but at least I'm alive.

Linda
Tucson, Arizona
U.S.A.