Elizabeth Morgan case

The Elizabeth Morgan case was a high-publicized child custody struggle initially located in Washington D.C. and later in New Zealand. Over 1000 news articles were published on it. It cost the litigants in attorneys fees, expert witness and court costs etc. a combined total of over $4 million. As the struggle stretched out over many years and beyond the borders of the USA, it involved two Acts of Congress.^[1]^[2]

The U.S. Congress intervened twice to see that the existing laws did not apply to Elizabeth Morgan. Once in 1989 and again in 1996. See below. After being freed on September 25, 1989, Morgan traveled to New Zealand and rejoin Hilary and the grandparents. Foretich searched and was able to locate Hilary in Christchurch in February 1990. After attempting to resume the custody struggle under New Zealand law, Foretich gave up, in part because of the financial burden of pursuing the matter. Morgan and family returned to the USA in 1997 after the second congressional intervention, freed of Judge Dixon's jurisdiction.

Elizabeth Morgan was later involved in the Elsa Newman case.

Notes

↑ Carbone, June and Harris, Leslie J., 2007, "Family Law Armageddon", Chapter in "Family Law Stories" Sanger, Carol, ISBN 1599410206 https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=983770
↑ http://www.laweekly.com/news/morgan-vs-foretich-twenty-years-later-2158156

Work section

This is material yet to be worked into the article

From: http://amorrow2.wikidot.com/elizabeth-morgan-case

Elizabeth Morgan

American plastic surgeon and mother

Abstract

Elizabeth Morgan and the two national laws passed for her

Case lead section

Jean Elizabeth Morgan, M.D., Ph.D. Psychology (b. 1946 in Washington, D.C.) is a plastic surgeon who was involved in a widely publicized and long-running child custody case over her daughter Hilary Foretich (now known as Elena Mitrano). Morgan claimed that the father, Eric Foretich, an oral surgeon, had sexually abused Hilary. During the course of the case, Morgan was incarcerated for two years, and following her release from prison she went into hiding overseas. After Morgan sent Hilary into hiding, Foretich never regained custody of his daughter. The Congress of the United States passed two laws as a result of this case, the latter of which was declared unconstitutional.

Family background

Both of Elizabeth Morgan's parents are trained as clinical psychologists.

William J. Morgan was a clinical psychologist and former member of the Central Intelligence Agency staff who had written of his World War II years as a soldier and member of the OSS as a spy trainer. William was involved in the Cold War, preparing spies as bait where real spies watched as Russian counterintelligence agents studied the unwitting decoys. http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/05/us/william-morgan-85-part-of-famed-child-custody-case-dies.html

Antonia Morgan grew up in Britain and was an activist for women's rights. Antonia Mary Farquharson Bell was born October 5, 1914, in Twickenham, near London. A survivor of the 1918 flu pandemic at the age of 4, she was home-schooled until she was 10. As a senior at the Wimbledon School for Girls, she won full academic scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge on the same day http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/20/AR2006042002023.html

William and Antonia met during World War II, married in 1944 and settled in Washington, DC in 1946. They had their children. They divorced around 1980.

Media coverage before Hilary

Morgan was the medical columnist for Cosmopolitan under Helen Gurley Brown’s editorship.

Morgan, as a surgeon in Washington, D.C., in 1980 published a successful book titled ”The Making of a Woman Surgeon”, which recounted the rigors of her training in this predominantly male profession. The publication of the book was covered by Reader’s Digest. Morgan wrote the ”Reader’s Digest” article, “Give the Lady a Knife”; the title was presented as having been said by a male surgeon. She would later appear on the cover of People magazine and at about the same time in a Life Magazine article with an extensive set of photos. Her story was also covered in the June 1990 edition of Vanity Fair Magazine as the “Elizabeth Morgan case”.

”The Making of a Woman Surgeon” (Putnam Publishing Group, 1980) ISBN 039912361X. “Give the Lady a Knife” (”Reader’s Digest”, June 1980) "Give the lady a knife" by Morgan, Reader's Digest 116:209-14+ June 1980

Hilary Morgan Case

Morgan had already published a book entitled The Making of a Woman Surgeon and was the medical columnist for Cosmopolitan magazine from March 1973 to March 1980.

Morgan first met Foretich in 1981 at the hospital where they both were on the staff. Foretich’s second marriage was breaking up at the time; after dating Foretich for a two months, Morgan became pregnant, and the two flew to Haiti and were married.

When Morgan moved in with Foretich, she brought her mother Antonia Morgan along to live with them. Elizabeth and Antonia spent many nights locked in the upstairs bathroom just talking as Elizabeth's pregnancy progressed.

Elizabeth and Antonia together left Foretich in early August and their daughter Hilary was born August 21, 1982. Morgan filed for divorce in Haiti in November. On March 11, 1983, Morgan filed for custody of Hilary.

By August 1983, her father, William Morgan, first suggested that Foretich might be sexually abusing Hilary. William was first to suggest abuse. Morgan at first resisted such suggestions that sexual abuse was involved when the only evidence was what appeared to be diaper rash, but she later agreed with her father.

After a trial in November 1985, the judge awarded custody to Morgan and overnight visitation rights to Foretich. In 1985, Morgan accused Foretich of sexually abusing Hilary and started another custody case. The primary psychologist on each side in the ensuing cases, Mary Froning and Elissa Benedek had different fears: Froning claimed to fear for Hilary’s safety but Benedek claimed to fear for her own safety when dealing with Morgan.

Eventually, Morgan even accused both of Foretich’s parents of sexually assaulting Hilary.

The Public War over a Child Ugly Sandra G. Boodman August 26, 1986 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1986/08/26/the-public-war-over-a-child-ugly/b5c71965-9420-46ac-bdcc-fc8545dd67ec/

Morgan published in 1986 a book entitled Custody: A True Story, about her initial custody struggle with Foretich.

Froning had over 70 sessions with Hilary over a period of 18 months. Another Morgan expert, psychiatrist David Corwin, spent over 200 hours evaluating Hilary’s case. After a trial, a jury found in favor of Foretich and his parents. Around this time, Foretich’s daughter from another marriage also said she was sexually abused by her father. Her therapist advised not to let the other daughter to see Dr. Foretich. In the subsequent TV movie (see below) of the case, the daughter’s name was “Hayley.”

http://www.psych.med.umich.edu/alumni/profile/elissa-benedek.asp https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-corwin-a2163b11

Via Washington Post article of circa 1994-11-15:

“To many, Morgan came across as an unpleasant woman: vindictive, manipulative, messianic.”

Republished in these newspapers:

Custody Battle Spans Nine Years, An Ocean, Most Of Girl's Lifetime November 15, 1994 http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19941115&slug=1942041

Happily Ever After? December 5, 1994 http://articles.latimes.com/1994-12-05/news/ls-5235_1_elizabeth-morgan

Hiding Hilary and jail

After other inconclusive motions and appeals, the presiding family court judge, Herbert Dixon, in 1987 ordered unsupervised visitation for Foretich. Dixon then found Morgan to be in contempt of court and in August 1987 sent her to jail.

Morgan had sent Hilary into hiding with her parents, who had remarried. The grandparents and child fled the USA, traveled to several places around the world and settled in 1988 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Hilary’s name was changed to Ellen Morgan.

For the next two years, Morgan’s incarceration received a great deal of publicity. She convinced famous and influential people, including Charles Colson that abuse had indeed occurred. Morgan’s legal expenses approached $1 million. A great deal of press coverage ensued. In August 1989 a reporter sympathetic to Foretich wrote, “a media-savvy Elizabeth Morgan is winning in jail what she couldn’t win in the courts – the public relations battle to have Hilary’s father presumed guilty.” Morgan would be released in September 1989 by an act of Congress.

Morgan then went to New Zealand to join her parents and "Ellen Morgan". Unable to practice medicine, she studied for and obtain a PhD in psychology.

ERIC FORETICH: LOSER IN DR. MORGAN'S WAR by Cathryn Donohoe The Washington Times https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/soc.men/c77HsrGpKUQ/0JyCUtg2MGgJ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Colson

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104920/ A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story (TV Movie 1992) Bonnie Bedelia, Terence Knox,

http://www.examiner.com/article/a-mother-s-right-the-elizabeth-morgan-story-based-child-abuse-custody-case

https://ballotpedia.org/Herbert_B._Dixon,_Jr%2E

Review of film: November 27, 1992 http://www.ew.com/article/1992/11/27/mothers-right-elizabeth-morgan-story

Jailing

Dr. Morgan had been incarcerated by Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. for contempt of court in her custody dispute. Since she showed no signed of obeying Dixon’s orders, she seems destined to remain in jail indefinitely. For the next two years, Morgan’s incarceration received a great deal of publicity. In much of it she was portrayed as a model prisoner, and a woman of fortitude. Chuck Colson visited her in jail and she convinced him that Dr. Foretich had sexually abused Hillary. Colson had a wide array of powerful Republican, conservative and religious connections at his disposal and used them. Morgan and Colson convinced many famous and influential people came to believe in Morgan’s accustaions and this effort lead to the passage of the Act. As Richard Doyle put in 2002 in his web blog entitled “Conservative Blunders”: :

“”I can understand liberal columnists going ga-ga over the celebrated Ms. Elizabeth Morgan and the fawning articles in such pop magazines as Glamour and People. What troubles me is that several normally sensible conservatives did likewise, e.g. Charles (Chuck) Colson, James Dobson, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Sen. John Heinz, Lt. Col. Oliver North (although he merely attended a party and said “God Bless”) and H Ross Perot. Strange bedfellows, indeed. Then, in a monument to political pandering to public ignorance, Galahads in Congress unanimously passed and President Bush, the elder, signed a bill freeing this demonstrably prevaricating maternal child molester. Republican Rep. Tom Davis sponsored a bill to let her bring her daughter back from New Zealand without facing the consequences of her defiance of the court.””

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Perot

As James Jewell, Colson former chief-of-staff at the time, recently put it: :””Without Mr. Colson’s involvement, Morgan would have stayed in prison much longer. It was his influence with members of Congress, such as Congressman Wolf, as well as his rallying of the evangelical Christian community, including James Dobson, that resulted in the bill that forced Judge Dixon to release Elizabeth Morgan.””

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dobson

First Congressional Intervention

”’District of Columbia Civil Contempt Imprisonment Limitation Act”’ was an act of Congress passed in 1989 to alter local law in Washington, D.C. An individual citizen, Elizabeth Morgan, was mentioned frequently during the deliberations. The Act allowed Morgan to walk out of local jail, where she had been incarcerated after she refused to share custody of her daughter, Hillary, with Hillary’s father. Dr. Eric Foretich. The Act only applied to custody cases, rather than to all cases of contempt, permanently complicating contempt issues in Washington D.C.

Rep. Frank Rudolph Wolf sponsored, and the U.S. Congress passed, the District of Columbia Civil Contempt Imprisonment Limitation Act of 1989, a bill that limited to twelve months the time that a person can be jailed on civil contempt charges in custody cases in Washington, D.C. (which has limited home rule ). As example of those supporting Morgan was Prof. Doug Rendleman of Washington and Lee University School of Law, who said that although Congress had engaged in “legislative adjudication,” it was proper for Congress to get involved in the Morgan case, because the checks and balances within the judicial system had, in essence, failed. On the other hand, he was disappointed by the lack of preparation before the deliberative process commenced, and the narrowness of the resulting law. On 1989-09-25, Morgan was released from prison.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Wolf_(politician) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_home_rule

HR 2136 (District of Columbia Civil Contempt Imprisonment Limitation Act of 1989)

Stan Parris(co-sponsored bill.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Parris

Bob McEwen(compares Dixon actions against Morgan’s brother, Robert toTiananmen Square. ) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_McEwen

Alfred A. McCandless https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_McCandless

John Glenn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Glenn

Legal journals

Prof. Doug Rendleman httpS://law2.wlu.edu/faculty/profiles/Rendleman.asp https://law2.wlu.edu/faculty/profiledetail.asp?id=39&showsec=publications wrote “Enough is Enough” article

Prof. Paul Butlerwrote “Taking Lessons from Elizabeth Morgan”

Other web sites

Photographs & Other Evidence for Child Abuse http://www.custodyprepformoms.org/dycc.htm

Conservative Blunders http://www.intellectualconservative.com/article1068.html

Congressional Action On Behalf of Another Daughter by James Jewell (Colson's former Chief of Staff) 2005-03-24 blog archive http://www.stonescryout.org/archives/2005/03/congressional_a.html

Second Congressional Intervention

Having previously passed the District of Columbia Civil Contempt Imprisonment Limitation Act (see above),Congress was persuaded to pass yet another law on Dr. Morgan’s behalf. By 1995, Morgan, who had fled to New Zealand with Ellen and other relatives, had developed cancer . Ellen, then 13, indicated to Rep. Thomas M. Davis that she wanted to return to the U.S. In September 1996, Davis sponsored the Elizabeth Morgan Act as a rider on a major transportation bill. While this new legislation was worded to focus on Ellen’s needs, it effectively shielded Morgan from all of the judicial custody orders that were still in force, and the Morgans returned to the U.S in 1997.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_M._Davis

”’The Elizabeth Morgan Act”’ was an act of Congress, as a rider, on behalf of Elizabeth Morgan. This was a second act of Congress in which Morgan’s case was mentioned during the deliberations. The first had been a modification of local D.C. law. The act allowed Morgan and her daughter, Ellen, to return to the United States without having to share custody of Ellen with the girl’s father, Dr. Eric A. Foretich. The act was overturned in 2003 only after Ellen had reached adulthood as a rare bill of attainder .

Foretich claimed that the damage to his reputation from the Act reduced his professional practice in the D.C. area and made it difficult for him to find comparable work anywhere else in the nation. He dropped all further attempts to gain visitation and focused on the undoing of the Act. On 2003-12-16, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit ruled that the Elizabeth Morgan Act was unconstitutional, as it was a rare bill of attainder, but the decision was moot as Ellen was no longer a minor . In finding that it was a bill of attainder, the Court’s logic was that the Bill was not about the Morgans but about Dr. Foretich and that it penalized him. Precedent had established that only bills which penalize a party can be found to be a bill of attainder. Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor who represented the Foretich family, said the government will have to pay for legal fees in the case—about $1.5 million. He added, “I would hope this would be the final chapter, but such hopes have been dashed many times in the case.” He also said (in a ” USA Today ” editorial in March 2005): “The bill negated 10 years of orders in the husband’s favor and effectively labeled him a danger to his daughter.” Comparisons regarding congressional intervention in the judicial system can be drawn between the Elizabeth Morgan Act and the Palm Sunday Compromise of the recent Terri Schiavo case .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_of_attainder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Turley

Compare to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Sunday_Compromise

For more information on the Bill of Attainder clause in the U.S. Constitution, see The Rule of Law and the Origins of the Bill of Attainder Clause By Jacob Reynolds, J.D. http://amorrow2.pbworks.com/f/Reynolds_Final.pdf

Post-return events and current status

William Morgan returned to the USＡ in 1995 due to illness and died in 1996.

Morgan returned to the USA and Washington D.C. in 1997. While in New Zealand, she had earned a PhD in psychology. In Washington D.C., as of 1997, she re-built her medical practice (plastic surgery), prominently noting her new PhD, which segued nicely with promoting her practice as a plastic surgeon.

During this time, Morgan resumed her public speaking.She offered herself as a “beacon of hope” that protective parents can free their children from harm.Since her return from New Zealand, Morgan has made public appearances and speeches, focusing on custody issues, child abuse and mother’s rights. An organization called The Friends of Elizabeth Morgan"(later known as ARCH) was on watchlists of groups that monitor child custody issues. Morgan compared Maryland’s family-court judges to the Spanish Inquisition in their potential to inflict cruelty.

ARCH: The Alliance for the Rights of Children http://web.archive.org/web/20010419230630/www.springfield.va.us/organizations/arch.html

In her own words Morgan said publicly that “Osama bin Laden had nothing to teach me about evil on September 11.”

In 2005, Morgan moved to Los Angeles to be with Hilary (now known as Elena Mitrano). Ellen Morgan changed her name again, this time to Elena Mitrano and became a singer with music focusing on abuse issues. In September 2005, Dr. Morgan moved her practice to Los Angeles to spend more time with Elena.

Foretich lives with his fourth wife and their two boys.

Antonia Morgan returned to the USA in 1997 with the others and died in 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/20/AR2006042002023.html

Elena Mitrano lives in Los Angeles and attempted a career in singing and now works in manufacturing.

http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/elena_mitrano

https://myspace.com/emitrano https://twitter.com/ElenaMitrano

https://www.youtube.com/user/ElenaMitrano She released a CD in 2008 entitled "Rescue Me".

http://www.mtv.com/artists/elena-mitrano/

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/elena-mitrano-mn0002127901

https://www.amazon.com/Elena-Mitrano/e/B001LHCEYG

"Voiceless" music video by Elena Mitrano April 8, 2008 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKkwefBUtxs

October 28, 2008 Little girl smuggled to NZ now a singer http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/693088/Little-girl-smuggled-to-NZ-now-a-singer

Custody battle girl finds a voice at last October 29, 2008 http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/archive/national-news/693791/Custody-battle-girl-finds-a-voice-at-last

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-mitrano-b3287414

In 2009, Elizabeth Morgan moved to the Atlanta, Georgia. She is still a practicing surgeon and maintains a practice in Atlanta, Georgia.

http://www.morgancosmeticsurgery.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-morgan-md-phd-facs-007a207

Morgan describes herself as: "As an internationally known plastic surgeon with an PhD and MPH, I have a life long interest in providing the best possible cosmetic plastic surgery and cosmetic treatments, combined with education of my patients and the public in anti-aging beyond plastic surgery."

https://www.facebook.com/Elizabeth-Morgan-MD-Cosmetic-Plastic-Surgery-150567768289628/

Best Cosmetic Surgeon in Atlanta, GA | Dr Morgan (404) 941-3200 February 20, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjnhbongGKA

http://www.locateadoc.com/elizabeth-morgan-md/about

Morgan was involved in a hearing in Atlanta involving another surgeon:

Doctor at risk of losing license following patient deaths September 22, 2015 http://www.cbs46.com/story/30092495/doctor-at-risk-of-losing-license-following-patient-deaths

http://www.whitepages.com/business/jean-elizabeth-morgan-md-atlanta-ga

Foretich still practices oral surgery in McLean, Virginia:

http://www.mcleanoralsurgery.com/meet-us/meet-the-doctor/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mclean-oral-and-maxillofacial-surgery-mclean

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericforetichddsma

https://www.facebook.com/TheElegantFace

Publications by Morgan

”Solo Practice” (Berkley Pub. Group, 1982; reprinted 1984) ISBN 0425059715. , JAMA review http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=375823

Custody: A True Story 1986 ISBN 0316582948 https://www.amazon.com/Custody-True-Story-Elizabeth-Morgan/dp/0316582948

”The Complete Book of Cosmetic Surgery: A Candid Guide for Men, Women, and Teens” (Warner Books, 1988) ISBN 0446513709

“To Save My Child: The Elizabeth Morgan Story” (1997)ISBN 0060175036 https://www.amazon.com/Save-My-Child-Elizabeth-Morgan/dp/0060175036

Other source not yet integrated

Vol. 14 No. 13 (p. 44+) Elizabeth Morgan says she learned women surgeons don’t have to be as good as men – they have to be better September 29, 1980 http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20077509,00.html (Mentions that Morgan planned to do volunteer work at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in the Republic of Haiti)

Morgan v. Foretich / 528 A.2d 425 (1987) June 30, 1987 http://law.justia.com/cases/district-of-columbia/court-of-appeals/1987/86-1137-9.html

Charges of Parent Sex Abuse, And a Family Left in Tatters November 14, 1987 http://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/14/us/charges-of-parent-sex-abuse-and-a-family-left-in-tatters.html

Mother Cites Sex Abuse, Won't Let Father See Child December 20, 1987 http://articles.latimes.com/1987-12-20/news/mn-29965_1_sexual-abuse

(Same AP story as above) The Fight For Hilary December 25, 1987 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19871225&id=tLpNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LfwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1428,4526115&hl=en

846 F.2d 941 May 17, 1988 https://law.resource.org/pub/us/case/reporter/F2/846/846.F2d.941.87-2559.87-2558.87-2550.87-2549.html

Rallying for a Woman August 24, 1988 http://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/24/us/washington-talk-briefing-rallying-for-a-woman.html

Abroad at Home; Judgment of Solomon December 15, 1988 http://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/15/opinion/abroad-at-home-judgment-of-solomon.html

Vol. 31 No. 3 Running for Their Lives January 23, 1989 http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20119407,00.html

Defies Judge in Dispute With Ex-Husband May 7, 1989 http://articles.latimes.com/1989-05-07/news/mn-3463_1_hilary-s-mother-morgan-and-foretich-hilary-s-father

WHO’S TO JUDGE? May 21, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/21/magazine/who-s-to-judge.html

Vol. 31 No. 23 Vowing to Protect Her Child from Rape, Elizabeth Morgan Faces Her 23rd Month in Jail June 12, 1989 http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20120524,00.html

Mother Who Hid Girl Must Stay Behind Bars June 22, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/22/us/mother-who-hid-girl-must-stay-behind-bars.html

House Acts to Free Woman Held in Child Custody Case June 29, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/29/us/house-acts-to-free-woman-held-in-child-custody-case.html

Votes in Congress; Tally Last Week in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York July 2, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/02/nyregion/votes-in-congress-tally-last-week-in-connecticut-new-jersey-and-new-york.html

HEADLINERS; Legislating Disputes July 2, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/02/weekinreview/headliners-legislating-disputes.html

Woman Held in Custody Case Is Out of Punitive Detention July 16, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/16/us/woman-held-in-custody-case-is-out-of-punitive-detention.html

Panel Overruled on Freeing Mother in Capital August 23, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/23/us/panel-overruled-on-freeing-mother-in-capital.html

NEW BILL COULD AID A JAILED MOTHER September 21, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/21/us/new-bill-could-aid-a-jailed-mother.html

Senate Puts Limit on Child Custody Jailings September 22, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/22/us/senate-puts-limit-on-child-custody-jailings.html

FOR MORGAN BILL, A QUICK TRIP THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL MAZE September 23, 1989 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/09/23/for-morgan-bill-a-quick-trip-through-congressional-maze/82363dc4-38bb-46e2-b66d-9be3480b1874/

Bush Signs Bill to Release a Mother September 24, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/24/us/bush-signs-bill-to-release-a-mother.html

PRISON RELEASES A DEFIANT MOTHER September 26, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/26/us/prison-releases-a-defiant-mother.html

ELIZABETH MORGAN FREED AFTER 759 DAYS IN JAIL September 26, 1989 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/09/26/elizabeth-morgan-freed-after-759-days-in-jail/c898793c-90c0-4579-bb92-da0ab8aa5f45/

CUSTODY STRUGGLE PRESSED IN CAPITAL September 27, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/27/us/custody-struggle-pressed-in-capital.html

Morgan, Foretich Go At It (WP) September 27, 1989 http://articles.dailypress.com/1989-09-27/news/8909270126_1_foretich-s-visitation-rights-william-and-antonia-morgan-morgan-s-parents

Readjusting To Life After Jail Elizabeth Morgan Talks Of Her Plans September 28, 1989 http://articles.philly.com/1989-09-28/news/26100732_1_eric-foretich-morgan-contempt

An Absurd Case Reveals Flaws In Our Legal System September 28, 1989 http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-09-28/news/8901170740_1_dr-foretich-sexual-abuse-unsupervised-visits

HEADLINERS; No Compromise October 1, 1989 http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/01/weekinreview/headliners-no-compromise.html

A Test Of Wills Over Hilary October 1, 1989 http://articles.philly.com/1989-10-01/news/26119831_1_mary-froning-elizabeth-morgan-eric-foretich

The Man Who Stood Beside Elizabeth Morgan, October 5, 1989 http://articles.latimes.com/1989-10-05/news/vw-884_1_elizabeth-morgan

Vol. 32 No. 16 October 16, 1989 A Mother’s First Taste of Freedom http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20121427,00.html

Elizabeth Morgan: Life After Jail October 24, 1989 http://articles.latimes.com/1989-10-24/news/vw-716_1_elizabeth-morgan

This issue was the cover story, with a cover title of What She Did For Love Vol. 32 No. 26 Elizabeth Morgan as an “Intriguing Person of 1989” edition (again, small photo shown on cover) December 25, 1989 http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20116442,00.html

Girl in Custody Case Emerges in New Zealand February 24, 1990 http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/24/us/girl-in-custody-case-emerges-in-new-zealand.html

Custody-case Missing Child Is Found In New Zealand February 24, 1990 http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-02-24/news/9001260211_1_foretich-hilary-morgan-new-zealand

Custody Battle Shifts From Washington to New Zealand February 24, 1990 http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1990/Custody-Battle-Shifts-From-Washington-to-New-Zealand/id-1233120cc4919b543a569b02daad456b

Child’s 15,000-Mile Odyssey In a Troubling Custody Case February 25, 1990 http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/25/us/child-s-15000-mile-odyssey-in-a-troubling-custody-case.html

A Life of Strangers and Seedy Motels February 26, 1990 http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/26/us/a-life-of-strangers-and-seedy-motels.html

Efforts Grow to Shield Girl in Custody Battle February 28, 1990 http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/27/us/efforts-grow-to-shield-girl-in-custody-battle.html

At Embassy, a Clue to a Missing Girl March 1, 1990 http://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/01/us/at-embassy-a-clue-to-a-missing-girl.html

Morgan Receives Passport, Can Go to New Zealand March 3, 1990 http://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-03/news/mn-1412_1_elizabeth-morgan

What Becomes of Hilary Foretich? March 4, 1990 http://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-04/opinion/op-2496_1_sexual-abuse

As Far Away as You Can Get: Hilary Foretich March 5, 1990 http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,969511,00.html

Vol. 33 No. 10 The Little Girl in the Middle March 12, 1990 http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20117053,00.html

PARENTS SEE GIRL IN CUSTODY FIGHT March 19, 1990 http://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/19/us/parents-see-girl-in-custody-fight.html

Separation Ends for Morgan, Daughter March 19, 1990 http://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-19/news/mn-552_1_elizabeth-morgan

Mother Seeks New Zealand Home, TV Report on Custody Battle Says March 27, 1990 http://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/27/us/mother-seeks-new-zealand-home-tv-report-on-custody-battle-says.html

Foretich Denies He Will Give Up Fight for Return of His Daughter June 6, 1990 http://articles.latimes.com/1990-06-06/news/mn-661_1_eric-foretich

RULING ON CUSTODY ENDS BITTER CASE December 1, 1990 http://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/01/us/ruling-on-custody-ends-bitter-case.html

Hilary’s father won’t contest latest ruling December 1, 1990 http://articles.latimes.com/1990-06-06/news/mn-661_1_eric-foretich

With Hilary Foretich's half-sister, a parallel battle has turned on issue of abuse December 21, 1990 http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1990-12-21/news/1990355062_1_foretich-father-and-daughter-hilary

FORETICH v. LIFETIME CABLE November 7, 1991 http://www.leagle.com/decision/1991824777FSupp47_1809/FORETICH%20v.%20LIFETIME%20CABLE

Girl Wins Damages Over Program March 24, 1992 http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/24/us/girl-wins-damages-over-program.html

Custody Battle Spans Nine Years, An Ocean, Most Of Girl’s Lifetime November 15, 1994 http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19941115&slug=1942041

Title? December 5, 1994 http://articles.latimes.com/1994-12-05/news/ls-5235_1_elizabeth-morgan

William Morgan Dies; Aided Daughter in Custody Fight March 4, 1996 http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/doc/307958729.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=&type=current&date=&author=&pub=&edition=&startpage=&desc=

Suit Contends Congress Acted Illegally In Child Custody Case April 27, 1997 http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-04-27/news/9704270122_1_vincent-foretich-elizabeth-morgan-eric-foretich

Jonathan Turley Takes His Case to TV July 30, 1998 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/turley073098.htm

McDougal Trial Raises Questions of Contempt March 22, 1999 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/contempt032299.htm

Foretich vs. ABC December 28, 1999 http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-dc-circuit/1136247.html

37 F.3d 1541 63 USLW 2292, 22 Media L. Rep. 2353 Foretich vs. ABC Decided October 17, 1994 http://openjurist.org/37/f3d/1541/foretich

Vol. 54 No. 12 Releasing the Rage September 18, 2000 http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20132350,00.html

FORETICH v. UNITED STATES December 16, 2003 http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-dc-circuit/1173471.html

2nd Trial of Lawyer Accused in Plot to Kill Husband Opens September 28, 2005 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/27/AR2005092701839.html

The Doctor Is Out and Heading West November 10, 2005 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/10/AR2005111000055.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/10/AR2005111000116.html

Antonia Morgan; Fled U.S. With Granddaughter April 21, 2006 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/20/AR2006042002023.html

Antonia Morgan, 91; Worldly Matriarch Hid Grandchild in Famed Custody Fight April 22, 2006 http://articles.latimes.com/2006/apr/22/local/me-morgan22

Antonia Morgan, 91; aided daughter's custody battle April 25, 2006 http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2006/04/25/antonia_morgan_91_aided_daughters_custody_battle/

Morgan vs. Foretich Twenty Years Later February 4, 2009 http://www.laweekly.com/news/morgan-vs-foretich-twenty-years-later-2158156

Other web pages and copies of legal docs

Custodial parents, child sexual abuse, and the legal system: Beyond Contempt. March 1, 1989 Prof. Susan Apel (see lengthy“Beyond Contempt”article) MORGAN V. FORETICH EDITORIAL/CRITICAL COMMENT The following Law Review article is presente http://www.skepticfiles.org/conspire/morgfort.htm

Antonia Morgan dies April 1, 2006 http://manwithblackhat.blogspot.com/2006/04/madame.html

Elizabeth Morgan Act and Legislating Family Values November 20, 2007 https://jonathanturley.org/2007/11/20/elizabeth-morgan-act-and-legislating-family-values/

Book review in blog of "Making of a Woman Surgeon" April 20, 2014 https://knifebeforewifebeforelife.wordpress.com/2014/04/20/the-making-of-a-woman-surgeon-by-elizabeth-morgan-md/

These images are no longer freely available at life.com, but are cached at Google images: http://www.google.com/images?q=elizabeth+morgan+surgeon

Work area for web links

Searching by keywords / collections (these newspapers seem to use the same keyword scheme)

http://articles.dailypress.com/keyword/elizabeth-morgan

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/keyword/elizabeth-morgan

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/keyword/elizabeth-morgan

http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/elizabeth-morgan Note: four pages of results

http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/paul-r-michel

http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/dr-elizabeth-morgan

http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/hilary-morgan-foretich

http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/eric-foretich

Many older titles and article leads are available

Morgan and Froning published an article about how sexual abuse might lead to an improper desire for cosmetic surgery of some sort:

Morgan, Elizabeth M.D.; Froning, Mary L. Psy.D.; Summit, Roland C. M.D. Child Sexual Abuse Sequelae and Body-Image Surgery http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Abstract/1990/09000/Child_Sexual_Abuse_Sequelae_and_Body_Image_Surgery.15.aspx Image of first page of above http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Citation/1990/09000/Child_Sexual_Abuse_Sequelae_and_Body_Image_Surgery.16.aspx

Retaliation Against Professionals Who Report Child Abuse By Katherine Hine, J.D. http://www.nafcj.net/Retaliation.htm

Good 1999 review of Morgan case: In Full Bloom: Tales of Women in Their Prime By Sharon Creeden 1999 ISBN 0874835763 http://books.google.com/books?id=E2DyOCFDrcwC&pg=PA35 Notes: http://books.google.com/books?id=E2DyOCFDrcwC&pg=PA174

Medicine and the Family: A Feminist Perspective By Lucy M. Candib (1999) ISBN 0465008259 http://books.google.com/books?id=0hsnNXCaLDsC&pg=PA286 Newsweek. 1990. Little girl lost and found (March 13): 115:78-80

Fingernail Moon: The True Story of a Mother's Flight to Protect Her Daughter Janie Webster ISBN 0307553299 https://books.google.com/books?id=M-Py-cgkhjQC&pg=PA23

Recent photos of relatives/reunion in Hawaii: Pic 1, Pic 2 http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hPZp-GTQfrAsADVHX6oILg http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wl1Ckp4woaDhKZQpDk5zMA

Legal journals

Prof. Christine Alice Corcos http://faculty.law.lsu.edu/ccorcos/

(see comment in“Legal Fictions”article)

After 20 Years, New Twist in Custody Case by J. Groner http://web.archive.org/web/20070930204310/http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1071719744487

Prof. Lawrence Solum comments via his blog that he initially felt that the logic of the 2003 decision was “weak”. http://lsolum.blogspot.com/archives/2003_12_01_lsolum_archive.html

General Press

Court strikes down law passed for mother who hid daughterCNN/AP December 16, 2003 http://web.archive.org/web/20071203173505/http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/12/16/jailed.mother.ap/

Here is a mention about the possible previous relationship and/or affinity of William Morgan with Chuck Colson, both of whom are now dead:

http://www.backlash.com/content/gender/1996/10-oct96/afc09.html

Here is a comparison by Chuck Colson’s former Chief of Staff of some recent Congressional activity that might also be Bills of Attainder with the Elizabeth Morgan Act and the earlier Act of Congress with got Dr. Morgan out of jail:

http://therooftopblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/congressional-action-on-behalf-of-an-individual-remembering-the-elizabeth-morgan-case/

Books

Harsh Punishment: International Experiences of Women's Imprisonment By Sandy Cook ISBN 1555534112 Page 32-46 https://books.google.com/books?id=5xiuK0L14jcC

https://latrobe.rl.talis.com/items/7FFDC291-3879-0844-2E3F-4FD986060C90.html

When Parents Kidnap By Geoffrey L. Greif ISBN 1451602359 https://books.google.com/books?id=Ag6LAm-1Ky8C&pg=PA7

You Wake Me Each Morning: The Final Chapter Connie Lawn ISBN 1491753285 https://books.google.com/books?id=TCOaBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT259

Elizabeth Morgan case

Contents

Further reading

Notes

Work section

Elizabeth Morgan

Abstract

Case lead section

Family background

Media coverage before Hilary

Hilary Morgan Case

Hiding Hilary and jail

Jailing

First Congressional Intervention

Second Congressional Intervention

Post-return events and current status

Publications by Morgan

Further reading

See also

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General Press

Books

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