Introduction to the Lawsuit
A South Florida woman is taking legal action after she says she spent nearly two weeks in mental health institutions for no legitimate reason. Demoree Hadley claims in a recently filed lawsuit it was all orchestrated by her own mother and says others who should have protected her failed her. Hadley shared body camera video and dozens of pages of her medical records, she says, support her case.
‘YOU’RE BEING BAKER ACTED’
“Legally, I can’t go home?” she asks Broward Sheriff’s deputies on the body-camera video she shared with NBC6 Investigates. “No, you cannot. Because you’re being Baker Acted,” one deputy responds. The video shows the moments in a Dania Beach parking lot when BSO deputies encouraged Hadley to get into a gray pickup truck with people, she says, she didn’t know. Earlier in the video, they identified themselves as a mobile crisis unit. Demoree says they took her to a Memorial Regional Hospital for a mental health evaluation after a doctor at the scene signed paperwork saying she was a risk to herself.
The Incident Unfolds
“What he told me was we received a call from your family that you tried to OD the night before,” she explained, adding she had never met that doctor before. That doctor was Daniel Bober, the chief of psychiatry at Memorial Regional Hospital, who also runs a private practice. “I spoke to your mom,” Dr. Bober tells her in the video, “I spoke to your aunt.” According to Demoree, it’s her own mother who is behind the incident. In a lawsuit, she claims her mother, Desiree Perez, “used unlawful means” to have Demoree “falsely detained under Florida’s Baker Act and Marchman Act.”
Legal Fight
The complaint alleges a conspiracy, saying Perez used her “money, power and influence to tear apart” Demoree and her husband Javon Hadley. And “created an enterprise of individuals to effectuate her plot.” “To essentially try to separate me from my husband and to falsely accuse him of domestic violence,” Demoree said. Perez has repeatedly denied these allegations in court filings. A month before Demoree filed her complaint, NBC6 Investigates found Perez filed her own lawsuit against Demoree’s husband Javon, citing evidence Perez says shows he has abused her daughter for years, something the couple has denied in court records. In that lawsuit, Perez says she moved to Baker Act her daughter, “Fearing she was at risk of suicide and abusing prescription drugs.”
Transport to Second Facility
While Demoree was at Memorial, Perez further petitioned to have her transported to a different facility under Florida’s Marchman Act, claiming again in court records that Demoree suffered from severe drug abuse. A judge granted that petition. “They ran the test. They knew that she had no drugs in her system, and she was not abusing drugs,” said Napoleon, “And the fact that you can’t do anything about it is scary.” Demoree was sent to a treatment center in Deerfield Beach called Life Skills, where Dr. Bober serves as medical director. A representative for Dr. Bober told NBC6 that he evaluated Demoree for 38 hours as part of the Baker Act process and had no involvement in the decision to transfer her to Life Skills or her care afterwards.
Conclusion
Demoree’s case highlights the potential for abuse within the system designed to protect individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The allegations of conspiracy and misuse of power and influence to falsely detain someone are serious and warrant thorough investigation. As Demoree herself questions, “Where are the people that are supposed to protect me from this happening?” The outcome of this lawsuit and the internal review by BSO will be crucial in addressing these concerns and ensuring that the system is used appropriately to safeguard individuals, not to manipulate or control them.
FAQs
- What is the Baker Act? The Baker Act is a Florida law that allows law enforcement and mental health professionals to involuntarily commit individuals who are deemed to be a risk to themselves or others due to a mental illness.
- What is the Marchman Act? The Marchman Act is another Florida law that allows for the involuntary commitment of individuals who are substance abuse impaired and are likely to cause harm to themselves or others.
- Can the Baker Act and Marchman Act be used improperly? Yes, as alleged in Demoree’s case, these acts can be misused if false information is provided or if there is a conspiracy to commit someone against their will without a legitimate reason.
- What are the implications of Demoree’s lawsuit? The lawsuit could have significant implications for how the Baker Act and Marchman Act are applied, particularly in cases where there are allegations of misuse of power and influence.
- How can individuals protect themselves from improper use of the Baker Act and Marchman Act? Individuals should be aware of their rights, seek legal counsel if they believe they are being improperly committed, and ensure they have support from trusted individuals who can advocate on their behalf.
