Action 9: Collection courts failing those who deserve restitution

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — An Oviedo mother claims that a man who was ordered to pay restitution after her son's accidental death is making her feel like a victim all over again. He's been fighting the court-ordered restitution for years.
    
Four years ago, Darlene Raimondi buried her 24-year-old son, Robbie. He collapsed on the job and was hospitalized on life support.

"I had to make the decision to end my son's life. No mother should have to do that," Raimondi said.
 
Her son's employer, Jeffrey Parker, did not have workman's compensation insurance and was found guilty of attempted workman's comp fraud.
 
Parker avoided a stiff sentence if he paid Raimondi $7,000 in restitution to cover her son's burial cost. She's been fighting for it ever since.
 
"He's deciding what he can pay and when," Raimondi said.
 
Parker was ordered to pay by 2012. Instead, at Collections Court, he asked for leniency, and a judge said he could pay just $50 a month for 15 years.
 
"Someone died here, and it's unconscionable. You're given 15 years to repay your debt," Raimondi said.
 
Action 9's Todd Ulrich found that Parker still operates his company and is signing up new accounts.
 
"It's four years later. You still owe her restitution," Ulrich told Parker.
 
"I've been paying her restitution," Parker said.
 
Court records show that he has paid $2,900 so far, but one-third of that went to court fees.
 
"You can't pay her more than what you're paying?" Ulrich asked.
 
"You don't know the circumstances behind that," Parker replied.
 
Action 9 checked Orange County records and found that several hundred crime victims must fight for the money they're owed.
 
Ulrich attended a collections hearing and in the first 20 cases, everyone who asked for lower or postponed payments was approved. Most said that without jobs, they have trouble making payments.
 
Judges can impose probation or suspend a driver's license to enforce payment, but Ulrich found that that rarely happens.
 
"Will she be paid?" Ulrich asked Parker.
 
"Yes, she will be paid," Parker said.
 
"I want to put this to rest," Raimondi said.     
 
Parker told Ulrich that the court allowed lower payments over many years, and he's done nothing wrong. He said he's paid what he can afford.

Cox Media Group