US Modern-day Slavery Advocate Demands Restitution for Illegal Detainment

Woman takes action against local hospital to fight what appears to be part of pattern of retaliation by organized crime

(PRWEB) January 28, 2005 -- An anti-modern-day slavery activist has presented an interim retribution list to a US hospital that includes payment of $255,990, claiming illegal detainment, illegal disclosure of medical, family and other personal information to unauthorized parties and other continuing harassment. Calling for public apology, the list also seeks steps toward medical license revocation of three doctors, and similar punitive action against a hospital social worker and other hospital personnel, stating it must be significant and publicized.

Upon apprehending her in August 2004, Marianne LaBrecque said police began asking her for names of people helping her in her efforts, which she did not supply, and questioning her regarding her emails about local modern-day slavery activity and supporting infrastructure corruption and/or mismanagement. She says a progressive pattern points to the likelihood that the detainment was orchestrated as part of organized crime retaliation against her which began on 8/16/02 when, with no prior police record, she was falsely arrested for calling for police help in what she describes as a victim rescue attempt. She says that what also appears part of the retaliation is two subsequent false arrests - court cases pending - and open action against a proposal she submitted to the Town pertaining to a quality assurance program for town management and police awareness training in modern-day slavery, including criminal schemes currently being used by local perpetrators. She said specific disclosure against the work proposal was made to her in an 8/29/03 meeting with Waterford CT First Selectman Eccard, Deputy Police Chief Thiel and Detective Sergeant Depasquale.

LaBrecque holds an MBA and ordinarily works as a corporate resource consultant, which she defines as "consulting with focus on enhancing organizational performance through project management, change management, human resource management, information management and managerial accounting and analysis." She says that her advocacy work is within the scope of her career and qualifications and, although she is not receiving pay for it, nonetheless holds value. The list also includes the hospital coordinating with other entities to try to rectify the incident, which would further tax her work and resources if she were to take those actions herself.

A written statement claiming that LaBrecque had been found wandering around a neighbor's back yard with a flashlight looking for abducted people had been supplied by a Waterford, CT police officer to the hospital upon her arrival last August and used as the hospitals' basis for detaining her. During the second session of LaBrecque's probable cause hearing eight days later, the off-duty police officer of another town who had recently moved into the house across the street from LaBrecque's and the first town police officer to arrive at the scene in response to his call said that the statement was not true.

Doctors responsible for LaBrecque's detainment refused to reverse their "diagnosis" and the presiding probate judge upheld detainment. LaBrecque managed to be released the next day "against medical advise" and states that the doctors' and judge's stand represents a conflict of interest, due to possible use as defense against malpractice and other charges.

LaBrecque's decision to formalize demands is based on L&M failing to take such action on it's own since 8/17/04, when hospital liaison Celia Robert asked LaBrecque if not being charged hospital costs associated with the illegal detainment would satisfy her and LaBrecque responded that she would also want compensation for the lost time in her work, for the additional mental anguish and possibly other items she may not yet be identifying, at the time, due to the trauma of the previous nine days. The only indication LaBrecque has had of hospital attempt of restitution is it's business office being unable to provide her with an invoice for the $10,970 in detainment charges, which doesn't include $425.40 billed to her for the 1.89 mile ride to the hospital.

"Management negligence is the core of such incidents. If organized crime couldn't count on such faulty practices, people would not be able to conduct the practices in which they become involved." Due to evident corruption and negative impact of advocacy efforts on her finances, LaBrecque is representing herself against L&M and in her pending court cases.

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