That Must Be Some Sliding Scale

Marp2 · ‎01-31-2012

Excerpts from article:

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The family of a Texas teenager sentenced to probation after killing four people in a drunken-driving wreck will pay for just a fraction of his court-ordered treatment, a court official testified Friday.

Ethan Couch's parents will be charged $1,170 a month for his treatment at the North Texas State Hospital in rural Vernon. That amount would cover less than two days of treatment, which costs $715 a day, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported (http://bit.ly/1qoRLts ).

Debbie Spoonts, placement supervisor for Tarrant County Juvenile Services, said the facility decided what Fred and Tonya Couch would pay based on a sliding scale.

A message from The Associated Press seeking comment from Spoonts on the facility's payment policy was not immediately returned Friday.

The teen's family previously had offered to pay for Couch to go to a $450,000-a-year rehabilitation center near Newport Beach, Calif. Boyd rejected that request.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/12/affluenza-teen-texas-couch/7633643/?utm_source=...

Preds · ‎12-17-2012

Wow! So the state pays.

Fate whispers to her, "You cannot withstand the storm." She whispers back, "I am the storm."

lovescats · ‎03-10-2010

I really can't see the state taking the offer for him to go to a rehab center in CA even if the parents were going to pay 450,000 a year for it. He must have had a real good lawyer. I bet the sliding scale stopped at a level a lot lower than the parents income.

from the article

Couch's case drew national attention due in large part to his defense's argument that his wealthy parents had coddled him into a sense of irresponsibility — a condition that a defense expert called "affluenza."

Couch, 17, killed four people last year when his vehicle rammed into a crowd of people trying to help the driver of a disabled vehicle south of Fort Worth. Investigators said he was driving his family company's pickup truck while drunk and with traces of Valium in his system.

Couch admitted to causing the wreck and received 10 years' probation from State District Judge Jean Boyd rather than prison time, as prosecutors and Couch's victims wanted. Several of his victims have since sued the Couch family, with most of them reaching confidential settlements.

croemer · ‎03-10-2010

Why are these people being coddled? It has to be more then money...they must have connections?

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**Careful... I have caps lock and I am not afraid to use it.**

Free2be · ‎03-10-2010

I'm guessing here but it is possible that because the program the parents were willing to pay an arm and a leg for was so very cushy and indulgent that public outrage caused the change for a state program where coddling is far less likely to occur.

The parents who can afford to pay full fee were given a reduced fee as an offer to save the family from further public outrage -- in other words, coddle the parents' checkbook as a means to not have their son placed where he would be coddled -- a means to save this kid from his parents money.

? Like I said, it's just a guess.

croemer · ‎03-10-2010

On 4/12/2014 Free2be said:
I'm guessing here but it is possible that because the program the parents were willing to pay an arm and a leg for was so very cushy and indulgent that public outrage caused the change for a state program where coddling is far less likely to occur.

The parents who can afford to pay full fee were given a reduced fee as an offer to save the family from further public outrage -- in other words, coddle the parents' checkbook as a means to not have their son placed where he would be coddled -- a means to save this kid from his parents money.

? Like I said, it's just a guess.

Makes perfect sense Free. ${#emotions_dlg.thumbup1}$

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**Careful... I have caps lock and I am not afraid to use it.**

Buck-i-Nana · ‎09-28-2010

On 4/12/2014 Free2be said:
I'm guessing here but it is possible that because the program the parents were willing to pay an arm and a leg for was so very cushy and indulgent that public outrage caused the change for a state program where coddling is far less likely to occur.

The parents who can afford to pay full fee were given a reduced fee as an offer to save the family from further public outrage -- in other words, coddle the parents' checkbook as a means to not have their son placed where he would be coddled -- a means to save this kid from his parents money.

? Like I said, it's just a guess.

It's a possibility I suppose, but if that's the case then that's just more "BOO" on Texas. The justice system sets the punishment, period. Appeasing parents, especially wealthy parents, is not required and if it is done, it's just further evidence how much power money has.

lovescats · ‎03-10-2010

Editorial: In tale of two teens, we’ll go with Lucas McConnell over Ethan Couch

Lucas McConnell, 13, speaks during a news conference with his attorney Todd Clement (left) and his father Kevin McConnell. The McConnells declined a legal settlement from the family of Ethan Couch in hopes of getting him and his parents to testify.

RainCityGirl · ‎12-16-2012

There's a rehab for the coined psychobabble condition ""affluenza?""

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

If this is the 16 year old who's attorney came up with a new non-medical term called "affluenza"? This kid should be in a prison cell somewhere and for a whole lot of years. Could I say more? Yep, but it would get deleted.

hckynut(john)