Globe: Department of Health and Senior Services added as defendant in civil cases

In a story in today's edition, the Joplin Globe notes that the list of defendants in the series of wrongful death lawsuits filed against Joplin River of Life Ministries and owner Robert Dupont in connection with the November fire at the Anderson Guest House in which 11 people were killed, now includes Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services.

It should be noted that while Governor Matt Blunt quickly came out in favor of adding sprinkler systems to group homes, he also rewarded Jane Drummond, the department's lawyer who allowed the group homes to remain in operation despite recommendation after recommendation to close them. The governor promoted Ms. Drummond to director of the Department of Health and Senior Services.

My new book, The Turner Report, features chapters on the Anderson Guest House, how the government and media overlooked Dupont's operations and allowed them to continue, and how some of our legislators have done their best to gut legislation designed to protect those in group homes.