F4J NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION – DAN IAGATTA

This was the first call for help message: We have an emergency situation wherein F4J team member Dan Iagatta of Massachusetts is slated to be forcibly removed from his home this Friday unless we are successful in petitioning Governor Deval Patrick to issue a stay on the order. If you are not already familiar with Dan, he is a father and quadriplegic who is fighting to keep his home which has been modified with wheelchair ramps, etc. in order to accommodate his disability. The courts would rather sell Dan's house, give his ex the profits and commit Dan to a long term care facility which is unacceptable.

We need EVERYONE to call Governor Patrick's office to beg for him to step in to help Dan. We're counting on YOU to help us flood their switchboards! Tell them F4J sent you!!


This is the follow up: Thanks to everyone for the overwhelming response from F4JÂ’s previous National Action Alert concerning the plight of Dan Iagatta! Your calls, faxes and Web postings got the attention of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Governor Patrick is the first African American to be elected as Governor in that state, and he is also a strong proponent for civil rights issues. Follows is the update so many of you have been anxiously waiting!

Dan and team secured a meeting yesterday (1/24/07) late afternoon with the GovernorÂ’s office. Following lengthy discussion with the GovernorÂ’s top aides, they were only willing to offer Dan access to legal aide (for which he had already sought counsel previously) and they assured him that he would be provided some sort of temporary housing versus simply being kicked to the curb. Today (1/25/07), Dan was notified that the 1/26/07 deadline for eviction would be stayed for two weeks. Yet, the GovernorÂ’s office claims they donÂ’t have the authority to stay the Order. If that is the case, how did they stall it for two weeks. This smells like a cop out. Hence our plea for assistance in bombarding the GovernorÂ’s office to take immediate and further action on DanÂ’s behalf. In addition, we want to set our sights on the Attorney General. Two weeks is a reprieve but will be gone before we know it, so the time to act is NOW! .

Contact the GovernorÂ’s office:
State House
Office of the Governor
Boston, MA
Phone: (617) 725-4005
(888) 870-7770 (instate use only)
FAX: (617) 727-9725
TTY: (617) 727-3666
Online comments link:

xhttp://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3terminal&a...&csid=Agov3

Office of Massachusetts Attorney General
Martha Coakley
Phone: (617) 727-2200

Contact the following major local media outlets:

WBZ-1-617-787-7000 fax 1-617-254-6383

WCVB 1-781-449-0400 fax 1-617-449-0260

WHDH 1-617-725-0777 fax 1-617-723-6117

Please -- spread the word to everyone you know to do the same! You can go to www.f4j.us for more information about DanÂ’s story. Our last call to action was heard around the world from Italy to South Africa to Australia and beyond!! LetÂ’s keep up the momentum and help Dan obtain the justice that he deserves!! On behalf of Dan Iagatta and F4J U.S., we thank you for your continued support!!!!!!

Judi Smith-Phelps
National Board of Directors
Fathers-4-Justice/U.S.*
FIGHTING FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE & EQUALITY IN FAMILY LAW
(614) 448-3276

*Fathers-4-Justice-US is a federally recognized 501©(3) charitable organization.
Please consider making a 100% tax deductible donation to F4J U.S. today by visiting
our Web site at xhttp://www.f4j.us