Grandparents sued for raising granddaughter in retirement community

buttmunch · April 1st, 2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

A Florida homeowners association is suing a couple that's letting their 3-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter live with them.

Kimberly Broffman has lived with her grandparents Judie and Jimmy Stottler since she was just 6 months old. Trouble is, they live in a 55-and-older community and no one younger than 18 is allowed.

The association objected soon after the child showed up. An agreement was reached in April 2005 that the Stottlers would be in compliance with the rules by Oct. 1, 2006.

The Stottlers had planned to give Kimberly back to her mother, but the mother has a drug problem and took off.

They tried to sell their home, but haven't gotten any serious interest.

"We just want a chance to sell our house for a decent price, so we can afford to move," Judie Stottler told the St. Petersburg Times.

They say they can't afford an attorney but refuse to put the girl in foster care just to stay in their home.

"I am not going to get rid of Kimberly to stay in this house," Judie Stottler told the Times.

Bennett L. Rabin, a lawyer representing the homeowner association, declined comment.

FOXNews.com - Grandparents Sued for Raising Girl in Retirement Community - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

Ahhh...the milk of human kindness. Throw the fuckers out for breaking the rules and common sense bedamned!

McJag · April 1st, 2007, 01:26 PM

Bad situation. How much ruckus can one child cause while they wait to sell?

darksithbunny · April 1st, 2007, 01:48 PM

My friend's MIL moved into a place and my friend was pissed at her because they have rules about how many hours a child can stay and forget about them staying the night! I wouldn't move into one if I had grandchildren. More for the nonchildren folk, I think.

McJag · April 1st, 2007, 01:49 PM

I hope I never get that "grown up".

MgMMD · April 1st, 2007, 03:53 PM

Gosh,
I hope to be a grandparent someday. I don't think I would ever move into a place like that. What if god-forbid my child died and I had to take care of my grandkids ( which I would...in a heartbeat).

I say leave these places to the non-child people.

I hope someone buys their house.

msdeb · April 1st, 2007, 04:43 PM

so, lets see, she's been there since she was 6 months old and is now 3 and a half? what on EARTH has this place been doing all this time? they are just NOW upset? so sad.

pinklilycat · April 1st, 2007, 04:59 PM

What a sad situation. I hope they work something out - the poor family's had enough bad luck.

UndercoverGator · April 1st, 2007, 06:41 PM

What a sad situation! One of the great joys of being a grandparent is allowing the young 'uns to come stay for a week or two and indulging in things like hopscotch, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, rollerskating, etc, things grownups don't usually do and I can guarantee they don't do in retirement communities.

The board there needs to have some compassion on these folks because I'm betting when they bought into the community they had no idea they would eventually end up with custody of the grand daughter.

Common sense surrenders again, beaten to a pulp.

A*O · April 1st, 2007, 07:22 PM

I'd like to know why the grandparents have been landed with raising the kid in the first place. I'm guessing they are the mother's parents? Where is she? Languishing in jail or a crackhouse somewhere, or did she just feel like going to back to work and so doesn't have time to raise her own kid??

UndercoverGator · April 1st, 2007, 07:32 PM

Says in the article that the mother is hooked on drugs. Glad that someone stepped up and kept the kid out of crack houses and drug dens while momma chases her high.

Grimmlok · April 1st, 2007, 10:46 PM

... can't they just eat her?

celeb_2006 · April 1st, 2007, 11:02 PM

Sad.

southernbelle · April 1st, 2007, 11:12 PM

I understand both sides of the argument. While their situation is very unfortunate and I do understand the dilemma that they find themsevles in and sympathize with them, I also understand why other people in the community are upset. I find it hard to believe that in 3 1/2 years they haven't been able to sell (or lease) the house. Many real estate agencies will buy your house from you if they're unable to sell it after a certain period of time.

The people who move into these communities (which often cost a fortune) do so with the understanding that it is an adults only community. As a person with very little patience for children, I know that I would be extremely annoyed if I lived in one of these areas and a child was living with her grandparents. Especially if she's using the amenities, like the pool, tennis courts, dining facilities (if they have any). I would imagine that many of the people who live in these communities choose them because, like me, they don't particularly care for children, and the last thing they would want is a child living there with them. In allowing the child to live there, I'm sure the community is in violation of their contracts with every other resident, which presents them with a huge problem.

buttmunch · April 2nd, 2007, 03:51 AM

Quote:

... can't they just eat her?

This reminds me of your famous line '...mmmm...babies...the other other white meat'. Classic.

crumpet · April 2nd, 2007, 10:40 AM

I understand both sides of the argument. While their situation is very unfortunate and I do understand the dilemma that they find themsevles in and sympathize with them, I also understand why other people in the community are upset. I find it hard to believe that in 3 1/2 years they haven't been able to sell (or lease) the house. Many real estate agencies will buy your house from you if they're unable to sell it after a certain period of time.

The people who move into these communities (which often cost a fortune) do so with the understanding that it is an adults only community. As a person with very little patience for children, I know that I would be extremely annoyed if I lived in one of these areas and a child was living with her grandparents. Especially if she's using the amenities, like the pool, tennis courts, dining facilities (if they have any). I would imagine that many of the people who live in these communities choose them because, like me, they don't particularly care for children, and the last thing they would want is a child living there with them. In allowing the child to live there, I'm sure the community is in violation of their contracts with every other resident, which presents them with a huge problem.

Agreed. Not to mention, what happens when somebody else wants to bring their gradkids to live there,too? How do you say no to one when you let someone else do it?