Friday, April 19, 2013

Jenny Hatch gets new attorney


from WAVY 10:
Jenny Hatch, a young woman with Down Syndrome, has gotten a new attorney in hopes of moving out of a group home.
Hatch, 28, has been in and out of courts for months. Her mother fought to keep Jenny in a group home, but Jenny has repeatedly said she wants to live with her friends, Kelly Morris and Jim Talbert, who say they will gladly take her in.
The implications of Jenny's case are gaining statewide attention. The State of Virginia was recently sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for putting too many people like Jenny into group homes, instead of single family homes like Morris and Talbert's.
This week, Jenny was appointed an attorney provided the by the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, who will co-counsel Jenny's case with Robert Brown.
Legal Director Jonathan Martinis specializes in cases like Jenny's and says he will fight for her freedom starting with the guardianship trial in May.

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