Hilary's Trial: The Elizabeth Morgan Case: A Child's Ordeal in America's Legal System

by Jonathan Groner

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671691767
• ISBN13: 9780671691769
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 290 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

excellent non-fiction book

this is an appalling, but fascinating story about the child custody case from hell. the massive-ness and unbelievable bitterness of the litigation, with various suits proceeding simultaneously in d.c., virginia, and federal courts, is truly astounding to read about. and elizabeth morgan, the cause celebre at the center of it all, comes across as flat-out nuts. the dad is not very likeable himself, but he gets screwed so royally, it's hard not to end up feeling sorry for him. especially since he never did end up getting any visitation w/ the daughter and was permanently written out of her life. of course the girl herself, obviously, was the huge loser in this dickens-like custody case, which spanned the decades and the various courts. the sheer number of psychiatric tests, court-ordered evaluations, and vaginal exams makes you weep for the this toddler. in a postscript to the case, a federal appeals court finally ruled in 2003 that the Congressional act freeing morgan was unconstitutional. which was a victory for the dad, but only a symbolic one, since he never did get any sort of relationship w/ the daughter. the girl at the center of the dispute is 22, as of 2004, and goes by the name ellen morgan (birth name was hilary foretich). it's incredible story, and an excellent non-fiction book. there's also a fascinating side angle about the d.c. superior court judge, a young african-american named herbert dixon jr., who wound up in the stalemate w/ elizabeth morgan. he refused to budge, even in the face of a national firestorm over his contempt order. i don't know what kind of judge he has turned out to be, but he was right on the money in this case and caught a lot of flak for it.

behind the headlines

Groner's book is a painstakingly detailed, but highly readable account of the history of the custody dispute which riveted America in the late eighties and early nineties. The principals were a successful DC area plastic surgeon--Elizabeth Morgan--and an almost equally successful dental surgeon--Eric Foretich. Almost as important as the principals in the case were the army of lawyers and experts each enlisted to support their cause. Groner does not conceal his conclusions about where the truth lay in the dispute. I think if one had to rely on what the parents or their experts said it would be nearly impossible to decide what was true. Both sets of grandparents were actively involved with Hilary and with the dispute, however. The contrast between the role, character and testimony of Eric's parents and Elizabeth's was persuasive for me. I'm sorry to see this book is now remaindered or available only used. I think it would be worth reprinting.