1. Glasgow couple suing Child Protective Services
2. Couple in Glasgow accusing Child Protective Services of deception in court.
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The family of a teenager who was taken by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services’ Child Protective Service has filed a federal lawsuit against the agency, alleging multiple civil rights violations. The parents, Todd and Krista Kolstad of Glasgow, have accused DPHHS social workers Cyndi Baillargeon and Crystal Whitmore of removing their child without due process or a warrant and infringing on their religious freedoms.
The lawsuit, filed in Billings, claims that the social workers placed the teenager in a psychiatric facility in Wyoming, where the parents were prohibited from communicating with their child. The Kolstads argue that their strong religious beliefs led them to object to their child’s desire to transition to a male identity, which ultimately led to the intervention of CPS.
Background of the Case
The teenager, identified as “H.K.” in court documents, expressed a desire to transition to a male gender identity, but the Kolstads refused to allow the transition due to their religious beliefs. When H.K. exhibited signs of suicidal ideation, the teenager was admitted to a hospital for psychiatric care. The Kolstads were concerned about the possibility of their child being sent out of state for medical treatment, as they believed that Montana law prohibited medical support for youth seeking to transition.
Despite the Kolstads’ objections, the DPHHS social workers removed H.K. from their custody without a warrant, citing concerns about the teenager’s safety. H.K. was taken to a psychiatric facility in Wyoming, where the parents were not allowed to have contact with their child. The Kolstads claim that the social workers misrepresented the situation to the court and violated their due process rights.
Legal Arguments and Court Proceedings
In the federal lawsuit, the Kolstads’ attorney, Matthew Monforton, argues that CPS acted unlawfully in removing H.K. from their custody. He contends that the agency did not have sufficient cause to intervene without a warrant and that the Kolstads’ religious beliefs were not taken into account during the proceedings.
The court documents also reveal that the Kolstads were supportive of finding appropriate psychiatric care for H.K. in Montana but were blindsided when the state decided to send the teenager to a facility in Wyoming. The parents maintain that the out-of-state placement violated their rights and conflicted with their religious beliefs.
Criticism and Response
Valley County District Court Judge Yvonne Laird criticised the Kolstads for focusing on their child’s gender identity rather than addressing the underlying issues at home. However, the Kolstads argue that their objections to the transition were based on religious grounds and that they were supportive of appropriate medical care for their child.
Despite the state’s concerns about H.K.’s well-being, the Kolstads maintain that the removal of their child was unjustified and that CPS did not have the legal authority to intervene without a warrant. The lawsuit seeks to hold the DPHHS social workers accountable for their actions and to protect the Kolstads’ rights as parents.
As the legal battle continues, the Kolstads remain determined to defend their religious beliefs and parental rights in the face of adversity.
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– Glasgow couple sue Child Protective Services for deceiving court
– Lawsuit accuses Child Protective Services in Glasgow of deception.
