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Executive Order Reflects Commitment to Making Life Better for Mentally Ill

(TRENTON) – Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today signed an executive order creating a task force that will recommend ways to better help the mentally ill lead normal lives.

“Nowhere is the need for help more prevalent than in the area of mental health,” said Codey. “If there is anything that my administration will stand for, it is compassion and standing up for those who may not be able to stand up for themselves.”

Codey, a long-time advocate for the mentally ill, dedicated his first day as Acting Governor to mental health issues, starting the morning with breakfast at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains.

Prior to signing the executive order, Codey met with mental health advocates from across New Jersey, who joined him for the signing ceremony in the Governor’s Outer Office.

The executive order establishes an 11-member Mental Health Task Force that will examine issues ranging from housing to jobs to access to care for the mentally ill.

Under the order, the task force is required to convene a statewide Mental Health Summit, hold at least three public hearings and form advisory committees that may include non-members of the task force.

The task force will submit a final report to the Acting Governor and the Legislature by March 31, 2005.

“This task force is not to be perceived as an excuse to study something to death,” said Codey. “Its members are independent, fresh thinkers who bring national expertise. They will recommend how we can better help the mentally ill lead normal lives.”

The Acting Governor appointed the following as members of the task force:

Robert N. Davison, Chairman:Executive Director of the Montclair-based Mental Health Association of Essex County. Davison is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a comprehensive community mental health facility serving 1,000 individuals daily. Davison is a resident of Caldwell, Essex County.

Martin D. Cohen: President and CEO of MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation, Inc., a community health philanthropy that provides grants and other support to community health care organizations that meet the unmet health needs of a 25-town area west of Boston. Cohen is a nationally recognized expert on mental health issues. Cohen is a resident of Needham, Mass.

Christopher Kosseff: President and CEO of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Behavior Health, which delivers mental health services to New Jersey’s prisons. Kosseff is a resident of Monroe Township, Middlesex County.

John V. Jacobi: Seton Hall Law School Professor and Associate Director of the school’s Institute of Law and Mental Health. Jacobi previously served as New Jersey Public Advocate.

Sylvia Axelrod, MA: Executive Director of NAMI New Jersey (formerly New Jersey Alliance for the Mentally Ill), a leading self-help support, education and advocacy organization for individuals and families affected by serious mental illness. Axelrod is a resident of Basking Ridge, Somerset County.

Linda Goldwater Gochfeld, M.D.: Medical Director of SERV Behavioral Health System , Inc. a private, not-for-profit behavioral healthcare organization serving adults and children working to recover from and cope with a serious mental illness or developmental disability. Gochfeld is a resident of Princeton, Mercer County.

Ange Puig, Ph.D.: Head of Puig Associates, a full-time psychology practice based in Cherry Hill, Camden County. Puig is a resident of Cherry Hill, Camden County.

George H. Brice, Jr. MSW: Team leader for Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, which provides consumer driven mental health services that support recovery and promote community living. Brice is a resident of Lindenwold, Camden County.

Jerome J. Johnson: President and CEO of Family Service Association, which provides services such as outpatient counseling, day care, partial hospitalization, and work programs. Johnson is a resident of Egg Harbor, Atlantic County.

Kevin Michael Martone: President and CEO of Advance Housing Inc., in Hackensack, a non-profit provider of affordable housing and support services to the mentally ill. Martone is a resident of Jefferson Township, Morris County.

James M. Davy: Commissioner of New Jersey Human Services, an agency that serves more than 1 million of New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens. Under Davy’s leadership, the Division of Mental Health Services contracts with 120 community mental health agencies and operates six psychiatric hospitals throughout the state. Davy is a resident of Pennington, Mercer County.

Codey also named Kimberly S. Ricketts, M.Ed., as executive director of the Mental Health Task Force. Ricketts, who served in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for more than two years, will leave her position as chief of staff to work for the task force. Before joining DCA, Ricketts spent 11 years working in behavioral health and social services with families, children and provider organizations in North Carolina, Florida and New Jersey. Ricketts is a resident of Highland Park, Middlesex County.

The executive order is attached:

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 1

WHEREAS, population growth, economic stresses, emergency and disaster needs, and other factors have increased the demand for community-based mental health services and hospital treatment throughout New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, these demands have placed undue stress and strain on community-based mental health services for New Jersey citizens, increased the number of persons seeking inpatient treatment in local community hospitals and at county-operated facilities, and increased the census at state adult psychiatric hospitals; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for greater access to safe and affordable housing, community-based mental health services, and supportive social services that has resulted in increased lengths of stay in hospital settings, utilization of substandard community housing and homelessness; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the citizens of this state to provide a comprehensive mental health services system so as to assure the availability of, and access to, treatment, rehabilitation, and supportive services necessary to assist persons with mental illness reach and maintain their highest level of functioning in the least restrictive setting;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD J. CODEY, Acting Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. There is hereby created a Governor's Task Force on Mental Health (hereinafter "Task Force") which shall (a) undertake a comprehensive review of New Jersey's mental health system, and (b) make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature concerning legislative, regulatory and administrative changes that are needed to improve the delivery of and access to mental health services in New Jersey.

2. The Task Force shall consist of 11 members appointed by the Governor to serve at his pleasure. The Governor shall designate a Chair and Vice-Chair from among the members of the Task Force. The members may be professionals or advocates experienced in the field of mental health or related services.

3. The Task Force shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of its members. Vacancies on the Task Force shall be filled by appointment by the Governor. The members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation.

4. For the purpose of assisting it in meeting its responsibilities under this Executive Order, the Task Force shall (a) convene a Statewide Mental Health Summit; (b) hold at least

three regional public hearings; and (c) form advisory committees that may include non-members of the Task Force.

5. The following State Departments or agencies are authorized and directed, to the extent consistent with law and within budgetary constraints, (a) to appoint a liaison to the Task Force, (b) to cooperate with the Task Force and (c) to furnish it with such information, personnel and assistance as are necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order:

· NJ Department of Corrections

· NJ Department of Health & Senior Services

· NJ Department of Community Affairs

· NJ Department of Transportation

· NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development

· NJ Department of Education

· NJ Department of Law & Public Safety

· NJ Department of the Treasury

· NJ State Parole Board

In addition, the Department of Human Services shall furnish the Task Force with such staff, office space and supplies as are necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order.

6. The Task Force is charged with the responsibility for reviewing and evaluating the following:

· the current effectiveness of the mental health system in New Jersey;

· the availability, accessibility and gaps in the mental health services and insurance provided;

· mental health housing needs;

· employment, training and education needs;

· community support services and inpatient services

· the current State hospital system, including capital needs; and

· ways to redirect more services to the community and to divert hospitalizations.

7. The Task Force shall develop specific recommendations concerning the following:

· increasing bed capacity at the State psychiatric facilities;

· a strategy that addresses housing and services for people with mental illness;

· enhancing and correcting the Residential Health Care Facilities/boarding homes/single room occupancy serving the mental health population. In this regard the Task Force should consider (a) increasing licensing monitoring by the Departments of Community Affairs and Health & Senior Services; (b) creating a fund for maintenance for owners under determined criteria; (c) expanding case management services for residents; (d) expanding training for operators in areas such as substance abuse, nutrition, first aid and the like; and (e) increasing the SSI State supplement for homes meeting an established standard.

· increasing the community capacity for behavioral health services, which will include, but not be limited to, mobile outreach services;

· diversionary programs, outpatient services and outreach to the criminal justice system

· "Wellness and Recovery" services in the community and in the hospital setting; and

· parity for mental health services.

8. The Council may meet and hold hearings at such place or places as it shall designate and shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by March 31, 2005.

9. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this day of November

in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Four, and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Ninth.

Richard J. Codey

Acting Governor

Attest:

Paul T. Fader

Chief Counsel to the Governor

To: The Honorable New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine

John “Jack” Cunningham Grievance Against NEW JERSEY’S OFFICE OF ATTORNEY ETHICS

Theft of MY constitutional rights and due process under the law, by deception.

Office of the Governor
State House
P.O. Box 1
Trenton, NJ 08625

Dear Honorable Governor Jon S. Corzine,

I’m requesting that the State of New Jersey investigate my Ethics Complaints against New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics, their own Vice-Chairman Robert Correale, his political and legal supporters for a possible cover-up; and his Law Firm Maynard & Truland.   It’s been a five (5) year battle for me trying to receive my DUE PROCESS.

The NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT's Office of Attorney Ethics can not properly investigate my complaints due to a major Conflict of Interest.   They have already proven that they can not fairly judge one of their own Vice-Chairman. Currently, there are no active court cases going on in the State of New Jersey over my Ethics Complaints against New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics, their Vice-Chairman Robert Correale and his Law Firm.

Vice-Chairman Robert Correale and his law Firm, Maynard & Truland were able to use their tremendous influence and power to their advantage in both a New Jersey Supreme Court Office of Attorney Ethics investigation as well as a Civil case for Legal Malpractice.   My evidence is clear about their use of their tremendous influence around the State of New Jersey.

Former Governor James McGreevey personally thought enough about my evidence that he even supplied me with the phone number of the Director of New Jersey Supreme Court's Office of Attorney Ethics.  Governor McGreevey’s Attorney General office also sent communications to Director Johnson asking that I receive DUE PROCESS for my ethics complaints.   Please read Governor McGreevey's letter to me at: EVIDENCE: GOVERNOR JAMES McGREEVEY AND NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE    http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id11.html

      On September 6, 2000, I hired the law firm Maynard & Truland, LLC of Morristown, NJ to represent me in a divorce case initiated by my former wife. I was informed by the firm’s partner Joe Truland, Esq. that he had recently hired a divorce attorney.    (Custody of our two minor children were both their mother's and my concerns.)

I signed the Maynard & Truland Contract and paid the accepted $750 retainer http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id9.html .   Six days later, my $750 Retainer Check cleared my checking account. Twenty-two (22) days later, due to the Gross Negligence of the Maynard & Truland divorce attorney Edward Buschio, I was placed in a divorce default for lack of activity on my Law Firm's part.   (My own Law Firm placed me in default, where I could actually lose custody of my two daughters. I was extremely worried... I'm sure most fathers or mothers would be extremely worried too!)

At the time of the default, the Sussex County Superior Court and my former-wife's attorney didn't even know I had retained a Law Firm.   My Law Firm, which had cashed my $750 retainer-check weeks earlier, failed to send out the required document to the concerned parties.    (HOWEVER IN A SWORN CERTIFICATION TO NEW JERSEY'S SUPREME COURT OFFICE OF ATTORNEY ETHICS, ROBERT CORREALE, ESQ. STATED THE PROPER DOCUMENTS WERE PREPARED.   THIS LIE WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ROBERT CORREALE THAT HE LISTED IT AS HIS HISTORY EVENT 6.   PRESS HERE TO READ THIS PIECE OF PERJURY, ALONG WITH HIS OTHER PERJURIOUS STATEMENTS TO NEW JERSEY'S SUPREME COURT.)    http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id3.html

During those twenty-two (22) days leading up to the default, I phoned Maynard & Truland’s divorce attorney Edward Busichio a number of times reminding him of the approaching Default Deadline. Each call, I spoke to the Maynard & Truland office manager and I requested a return phone call. However, no calls were returned by Maynard & Truland.   This is all well-documented in both New Jersey Supreme Court and Superior Court filed letters and documents as well as in my Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) official medical records.   http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id5.html

After I was placed in Divorce Default, in spite of my letters and phone calls to Partner Joe Truland and his divorce attorney Edward Busichio, the law firm did not start work on my case until sixty-nine (69) days after I signed their contract and paid them the $750 Retainer. The evidence of this fact is found on three different formatted Maynard & Truland Invoices. The first work the firm billed me for was 69 days (11/14/2000) after the contract was signed, which was, believe it or not, Default Removal.   http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id2.html

The default was due to the Maynard and Truland divorce attorney's negligence for not filing the necessary papers to New Jersey's Superior Court. Why the law firm was charging me, I was not sure. I questioned these charges (At the over-charged rate) even in my first letter to New Jersey's Supreme Court Office of Attorney Ethics.

Sometime after the Default and before the start-work-date (69 days into the contract ), the Maynard & Truland supervising partners, without my prior approval or my notification, switched my divorce case representation from their divorce attorney Edward Busichio to one of the law firm’s general practice attorney Robert Correale.    EVIDENCE: MAYNARD & TRULAND SWITCH REPRESENTATION TO VICE-CHAIRMAN OF ATTORNEY ETHICS    http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id20.html

What made this so secretive switch, so interesting is that Robert Correale was the Vice-Chairman of New Jersey’s Supreme Court Attorney Ethics. I never did receive notice why this switch took place, so eventually through evidence, I started thinking that the switch was to use Vice-Chairman Robert Correale’s influence around the State of New Jersey, if I brought up ethics complaints against the Maynard & Truland law firm.    I was up against the reputation of a distinguished attorney and state government official, and the reputation of the New Jersey’s Supreme Court Office of Attorney Ethics.

SOME OF THE ETHICS PROBLEMS:

New Jersey’s Supreme Court Attorney Ethics Vice-Chairman Robert Correale did the billing for Default Removal at an over-charged rate. Although the Divorce Default was due to divorce attorney Edward Busichio’s gross negligence, the Vice-Chairman of Attorney Ethics felt that I should be charged at a $175 an hour rate.   The Maynard & Truland Contract states that the first 10 hours of attorney work was to be charged at the $150 per hour rate.   All work after the first ten hours were to be charged at the $175 rate.
     Although I brought these two billing problems to Maynard & Truland partner Joe Truland and Robert Correale’s attention in writing, Robert Correale continued to over-charge me and never removed the charges for Default Removal.   The three different formatted invoices in conjunction with the Maynard & Truland Contract are all extremely clear.

In December 2000, I first started complaining about Maynard & Truland’s ethics problems to New Jersey’s Supreme Court Office of Attorney Ethics.    I wrote to their District X Ethics Committee that covers both Morris and Sussex Counties of New Jersey. My letter and the evidence I attached to it, clearly highlighted the amount of pain I was under due to ongoing ethics violations. However, I got no where, since Vice-Chairman Robert Correale was the Vice-Chairman of that same committee.   EVIDENCE: LETTER ONE TO NEW JERSEY'S OFFICE OF ATTORNEY ETHICS (CORREALE'S DISTRICT X )   http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id8.html

A Conflict of Interest was never mentioned in their return letter to me.    They must have known that the Morris County New Jersey Law Firm, Maynard & Truland was the same law firm of their Vice-Chairman Robert Correale. Two of my evidence letters that were attached to my complaint letter to District X Attorney Ethics were addressed to Robert Correale, himself.    EVIDENCE: LETTER TWO AFTER MAYNARD & TRULAND'S NEGLIGENT DEFAULT    http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id6.html

One of my favorite ethics violations of Robert Correale was the day of Divorce Arbitration in Sussex County Superior Court on February 14, 2001.   Robert was a general-practice attorney and he gave me the impression that he had not served on too many divorce cases.     EVIDENCE: DIVORCE ARBITRATION STATEMENT     http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id4.html

The last time I received DUE PROCESS from the New Jersey Court Systems was March 11, 2003.   Maynard and Truland, LLC brought me to New Jersey Superior Court for a Civil Case for refusing to pay the remainder of their open bill of $1,600. The Law Firm served their papers for this Superior Court Civil case to me in December 2002, a few days before Christmas.     Within days, I counter-claimed on the same docket for Legal Malpractice.

OrignalIy, the Maynard & Truland firm had a collections law firm representing them in their open bill collections case. However, I sent the collections law firm some of my legal malpractice evidence I had against the Maynard & Truland firm.

March 11, 2003 was the court date in New Jersey Superior Court in Sussex County.   Vice-Chairman of Attorney Ethics Robert Correale, Esq. was there representing himself and his Law Firm MAYNARD & TRULAND, LLC.   The collections law firm was no longer part of the case.
       I had to represent myself PRO SE, because no attorney wanted to go against the local Vice-Chairman of Attorney Ethics without big money up front.
      I was a nervous wreck that day, but Honorable Superior Court Judge Ronald Graves had much of my evidence before him.   My evidence is what beat Vice-Chairman Robert Correale, Esq. and his law firm. He couldn't go against his own Law Firm's own contract, invoices, court documents; court filed letters and statements, my VA medical records, etc. (He had supplied the court no evidence to prove me wrong.)
     After Robert Correale’s objections, Judge Graves decided that my Malpractice Counter-claim warranted the New Jersey Superior Court Law Division for damages.

That same day, in a Sussex County hallway, Robert Correale informed me that I should NOT bring my Ethics Claim through District X due to a CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I informed him that I did not have a choice. The decision was NOT mine.
I asked Correale to please inform Trenton’s Office of Attorney Ethics about his Committee’s Conflict of Interest.

      Sometime after Honorable Judge Ronald Graves made his decision that my Legal Malpractice complaints warranted the Law Division for damages; strangely the court transcript went missing within Sussex County’s Superior Court before it could be typed.    EVIDENCE: SUPERIOR COURT HONORABLE RONALD GRAVES' COURT TRANSCRIPT GOES STRANGELY-MISSING     http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id18.html

Since there were no record of Superior Court Judge Graves’ Law-Division-Merit-Decision, the Maynard & Truland attorneys were able to perjure themselves verbally in open court; as well as perjure themselves in official court documents.     EVIDENCE: MAYNARD & TRULAND ATTORNEY COMMITS PERJURY IN SUPERIOR COURT    http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id19.html

Serving as PRO SE, my Legal Malpractice civil case against Maynard & Truland went all the way up to New Jersey’s Appellate Division in Trenton, but was thrown out for lack of merit since Honorable Judge Graves’ decision in my favor couldn’t be used. The transcript was still lost within Sussex County Superior Court and was never found by the court stenographer.
Also, since I could not use Honorable Superior Court Judge Ronald Graves civil court decision as an outside opinion on my Office of Attorney Ethics complaints against Correale and his Law Firm, I did not have much chance of DUE PROCESS. The New Jersey’s Supreme Court Director Johnson’s Office assigned the complaint case to Robert Correale’s own committee that he was Vice-Chairman of.   The Conflict of Interest was not admitted by the Office of Attorney Ethics until hundreds of my letters went out.    Both Governor McGreevey and the New Jersey Attorney General office sent written correspondence and some of my evidence to Director Johnson. Governor McGreevey even supplied me with Director Johnson’s direct phone line and I called him a couple of times, but Johnson never returned my phone calls.

      After hundreds of my letters, the Office of Attorney Ethics finally switched the investigation from Correale’s District X to his neighbor in District XI.
District XI went through some minor motions.

In early May 2003, MAYNARD & TRULAND attorneys Edward Busichio, Robert Correale (Vice-Chairman of DISTRCT X) made sworn CERTIFICATIONS to District XI, Secretary Robert Stober. James Maynard supplied a cover letter with his own type of certifications. For unknown reasons, Joe Truland, Esq. (defendant and junior partner) did NOT supply a CERTIFICATION to District XI. EVIDENCE: MAYNARD & TRULAND'S OWN CERTIFICATIONS TO NEW JERSEY'S SUPREME COURT   http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id3.html

Although these Supreme Court CERTIFICATIONS were sworn to, they were vague, misleading and at times, perjurious. None of the Maynard & Truland attorneys attached any evidence to their sworn Certifications.    Their written words were stronger than their Law Firm's own Contract and Invoices, Court filed documents, letters, statements and Federal Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Records.

Instead of supplying evidence to their Certificiations, Vice-Chairman Robert Correale was allowed to openly mock my military PTSD disability in his Certification. EVIDENCE: "HIDING IN THE BACK OF THE COURTROOM"     http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id21.html

       On the other hand, I had sent to the District XI Ethics Committee, Maynard & Truland’s own contract, their own invoices, my Federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical records, court filed documents, court filed statements, court filed letters, etc.   It was pretty much the same evidence that I sent the Honorable Sussex County Superior Court Judge Ronald Graves, which he determined my Legal Malpractice evidence warranted the Law Division for damages.

Since one of my ethics complaints is related to MAYNARD & TRULAND, LLC over-charging for the first ten hours of the CONTRACT, both District X Vice-Chairman Robert Correale and Senior Partner James Maynard addressed MAYNARD & TRULAND, LLC billing procedures. Although both their interpretations were perjurious statements, their CERTIFICATIONS were accepted and NOT questioned by Secretary Robert Stober in spite of my sending a great deal of follow-up evidence. However, they did supply me with needed communications. Prior to these CERTIFICATIONS, MAYNARD & TRULAND, LLC never addressed my letters of October, November and December 2000.   Also, Busichio’s CERTIFICATION was the first time I heard the reason for my DIVORCE DEFAULT was “A SURPRISE.”    EVIDENCE: CERTIFICATION OF EDWARD BUSICHIO TO NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY ETHICS     http://www.americans-working-together.com/attorney_ethics/id15.html
      A professional divorce attorney admitting the reason why I fell into Divorce Default was a surprise to him. His law firm did not start work until sixty-nine (69) days into the Contract. Edward Busichio, Esq. has been lucky that the general-practice attorney, who replaced him on my representation in my divorce case, was a Vice-Chairman of New Jersey’s Supreme Court of Attorney Ethics.

WHEN VICE-CHAIRMAN ROBERT CORREALE WAS TRYING HIS FELLOW    NEW JERSEY ATTORNEYS FOR ETHICS VIOLATIONS... WAS HE SO LAX WITH FOLLOWING SUPREME COURT GUIDELINES FOR TELLING THE TRUTH?

Isn’t five years too much to ask a PTSD Disabled Vet to battle for his DUE PROCESS?

Even in New Jersey, Deception should only go so far…

Like I already wrote, it has been a five (5) year battle. But I won’t give up until I get my DUE PROCESS.

Theft of MY constitutional rights and due process under the law, by deception.

PLEASE READ JACK'S LETTER TO GOVERNOR JON CORZINE

PLEASE SIGN JACK'S PETITION