Monday, January 7, 2013

Mom files lawsuit after former custodial dad allowed unsupervised visitation with murdered sons (Edmonton, Canada

We've posted on this case before. Still left unanswered: why this father with so many mental problems was granted custody in the first place. And then after that, why was the same guy granted unsupervised visitation when it was already established that he was a full-blown nutcase?

Once again, a sicko daddy was coddled while Mom was ignored.

Who is being favored in custody decisions again? (HINT: It ain't Mom)

The convicted killer dad is identified as JASON BRUCE CARDINAL.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/01/04/mother-of-edmonton-boys-murdered-by-father-to-sue-province-for-1-million

Mother of Edmonton boys murdered by father to sue province for $1 million

By Tony Blais, Edmonton Sun

First posted: Friday, January 04, 2013 06:50 PM MST | Updated: Friday, January 04, 2013 07:04 PM MST

The mother of two Edmonton boys murdered by their father while under the care of Child and Family Services has launched a $1-million lawsuit against the province.

According to a recent statement of claim filed in Court of Queen’s Bench, Andrea Badger alleges Child and Family Services had allowed Jason Bruce Cardinal to have unsupervised visits with the boys despite knowing he suffered from various psychological disorders.

On Dec. 19, 2010, police found the boys’ drugged and strangled bodies lying on either side of Cardinal in the bedroom of his north Edmonton townhouse. One had a towel around his neck and the other a pillowcase.

On Nov. 2, Cardinal, 33, was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility of parole for 25 years after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.

Court heard at the time that Cardinal had planned to kill the boys – Caleb, six, and Gabriel, nearly four – and himself because he was upset over losing custody of them.

According to the statement of claim, Child and Family Services apprehended the boys from Cardinal on Feb. 22, 2010, and placed them in the primary care of Badger.

In March 2010, Cardinal was allowed supervised visits with the boys, and, in August 2010, access was changed to give him unsupervised overnight visits on weekends.

Badger alleges she objected to Child and Family Services about the unsupervised visits due to Cardinal’s medical conditions and his improper treatment of the boys.

According to the statement of claim, Cardinal had an obsessive compulsive disorder, a personality disorder, an anxiety disorder, an anti-social personality disorder with sociopathic tendencies and a unipolar disorder. He was also allegedly required to take medications daily to address his conditions and to control his behaviour.

Badger alleges there was a hearing on Dec. 6, 2010, to address Cardinal’s access to the children, but it did not conclude and was adjourned to April 26, 2011.

On Friday, Dec. 17, 2010, Cardinal was given unsupervised overnight weekend access to the boys. Two days later, Badger and a family support worker went to his home to pick up the boys, but there was no answer at the door or on the phone. The following day they were found dead.

The defendants in the wrongful death lawsuit are Cardinal, the province of Alberta, the Edmonton and Area Child and Family Services Authority Region 6, the director of Child and Family Services, Todd Weekes, and the family support worker involved, Dan Taylor.

Badger alleges the defendants had a duty to ensure the boys were safe and properly taken care of at all times and they negligently breached that duty by failing to take the necessary steps that were reasonable under the circumstances to prevent their wrongful deaths.

Statements of defence has not yet been filed.

Statements of claim and statements of defence contain allegations which have not been proven in court.