Where Addiction meets Self-Advocacy...

Sometimes when a traumatized person reaches out for help they get taken advantage of because victimized energy only seeks to further itself. This is quite unfortunate for the individuals in this class because they tend to already share commonality in an inability to make their voices heard or advocate for themselves.

That's why it's rare for these types of stories to find their way to the public, and when they do it's usually after much has been suffered and some level of irreversible damage has occurred.

And so, I offer this letter to my attorney to hold space for anyone who at once found themselves in a similar place to enjoy for the redemptive feelings of triumph it creates!

Ms. Alton,

It is very unfortunate that we did not have the opportunity to meet today. Following your telephone call to me yesterday to confirm my ability to meet with you at 11:00 am this morning to discuss the details of my Family Law case, I was sure that we were on the same page as far as the appointment was concerned. When I arrived at your office for the appointment Ms. Barclay (CC'd on this email) informed me that you were not available and that she did not expect you in the office today at all.

I've composed the following in efforts to document the elements of what we have already discussed so far. Besides our initial meeting when I disclosed all of the information regarding my case, our brief discussion after my last court date when you accepted a notebook from my husband's lawyer Mr. Hosford and told me you needed to review it prior to our next meeting, and our conversation on S unday when you yelled at me about being on drugs during labor, we have not had the opportunity to discuss the details of my case at length nor have we been able to determine the best course of action. I have also mentioned the importance of mediation and visitation to you twice and you said you would make sure they were arranged before my next hearing. I have CC'd Stephanie Barclay and Deena Gustafson and attached screen shots of our written correspondence to dispel any confusion regarding miscommunication and make sure we remain on the same page going forward.

As a woman, a minority of color - that particularly being of African descent, an individual diagnosed with mental illness, a person from an impoverished socioeconomic background,and a military veteran struggling with PTSD, homelessness, and sexual trauma, and a victim of abuse and domestic violence, I am all too familiar with society's overall propensity to place a higher regard on the stereotypes associated with a class than verified behaviors displayed by any such individual the class is said to represent.



Still, I have become adept at minimizing the negative influences of illogical, fear based reasoning through honesty and sincerity, intellect, and effective communication. However, I have never received such unequivocally discriminate responses to a limiting factor as I've experienced being a Mother struggling to overcome the disabling disease of addiction.

At no point in time am I unaware of the gravity of my own decisions and behavior. In fact, it is quite the opposite since I've been required to live with the unusually severe consequences of my actions every single minute of every hour in each and every day for the last 32 days that I have not been permitted to hold and comfort or even lay eyes on my 4 month old son.



I efinitely need the representation of an experienced attorney to guide me through this difficult process. I appreciate the opportunity to receive legal services at no cost to me. Up until now I have felt confident in your advise and counted myself lucky to have such a passionate and compassionate attorney. To the best of my ability, I have demonstrated my continuing willingness to do whatever is necessary to rectify this situation.

Yet at the risk of loosing your commitment to see me through this,it is absolutely imperative to the continuity of our working relationship going forward that I let you know that I refuse to allow my shortcomings as an individual and/or my failures as a mother be the focus of what began as the culmination of many sincere and determined attempts on my part to receive the help that I needed to ensure the health safety and well being of both Kieran and I.

I am aware of what is at stake here and the challenges I face attempting to persuade anyone involved to actually honor their responsibility to simply listen to me, hoping at least one might consider my position. I stand beneath the blaring Sirens of the title Addict; underneath this title I am considered untrustworthy. This not only makes me vulnerable, but has the dual consequence of opening me up to discrimination and mistreatment on a level that is overwhelmingly unbearable as well as serving to protect perpetrators of such behavior, who vehemently deny all allegations and dismiss my requests for help and adjudication as accusatory attempts conjured up to avoid accepting responsibility.

This only strengthens my resolve to stay the course going to any lengths to receive fair, impartial, and unbiased treatment from the many agencies involved and have my case heard by a fair, impartial, and unbiased court representatives. The truth, facts, and evidence of this case have yet to be fully disclosed yet it would seem thatI have already been determined the offending party and treated as such.

I will not allow my husband's contributions to this situation to be overlooked, nor his feigned care and concern for our son and I to be used as excuses for actions taken to circumvent justice. I'd like to again request mediation and ask at this time my son receive the benefit of having his own attorney. One who would have only his best interest at heart to help ensure the best possible outcome for his welfare. I also need a copy of discovery and all documents you've received in regards to my case.

Besides the efforts I've already made, I began a new search for rehabilitation programs today at your behest and after speaking with a representative from Bryan's House in Paso Robles, I've received a list of recovery facilities that accept women with children seeking treatment. I've contacted quite a few of them and began coordinating my efforts with probation, in order to see that this process is completed as swift and efficiently as possible. Please give me a call or email me at your earliest convenience so that we might finally have the opportunity to meet again and discuss the best course of action moving forward.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kindest Regards,

Brittany Hulbert-Miller