Mother and Daughter File Suit

Dolores Forste and her mother, Emma France, both filed lawsuits against officials with the Jasper County public administrator's office. The women allege the actions that led to France becoming a ward of the county were not handled properly. Forste's lawsuit was filed in Jasper County Circuit Court, while France's was filed in federal court.

Forste, 67, was arrested in November at her home in Needles, Calif. She has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 21 in Jasper County Associate Circuit Court. Richard Crites, attorney for Forste and her mother, said the situation that led to France being placed in county custody and Forste's subsequent arrest show that Jasper officials "can't follow the rules." "I've never seen anything this terrible," Crites said.
Source: Woman sues over mother's custody

The lawsuits were filed by a Springfield law firm on behalf of Emma France, 95, formerly of Carthage, and France’s daughter, Delores Forste, 67, of Needles, Calif. Both actions name Hunter, as public administrator, and attorney John Podleski, as attorney for the public administrator’s office.

The federal suit filed on behalf of France seeks $1 million in compensatory damages, plus punitive damages and other costs. The suit filed in Jasper County Circuit Court on behalf of Forste seeks “fair and reasonable” compensatory damages, plus punitive damages and costs.
Jury trials are being sought in both filings.
Source: Mother, daughter file suits against public administrator

More information: An alleged kidnapping

Copy of Complaint: France vs. Hunter