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'Bad Mothering' Lawsuit: Kids Sued Mom over Empty B-Day Card

By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on August 31, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Steven A. Miner claims that, before helping his grown children file a "bad mothering" lawsuit against his ex-wife two years ago, he conducted a significant amount of research.

But one look at the dismissal orders issued by Cook County Judge Kathy Flanagan and then a panel of judges that sit on the Illinois Court of Appeals, and you're likely to wonder just how in-depth that research was.

And what exactly made him think that a check-less birthday card equates to intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Miner, divorced from his wife since 1995, helped his children sue their mother for a variety of offenses that, even at the ages of 20 and 23 , still bother them immensely.

The complaint alleges that she failed to send birthday cards, but when she did, they were inappropriate.

"Inappropriate" is a euphemism for a goofy card depicting tomatoes, a typical birthday message, and no present, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The "bad mothering" lawsuit also alleges that the children were subjected to embarrassing curfews, clothing budgets, seat belts, and mom's forgetfulness.

Outrageous!

Or not.

Even if he did tell the Tribune that he tried to dissuade them, one has to wonder just how much influence Steven. A Miner had over his children's decision to sue.

And why Judge Flanagan declined to slap him with sanctions.

This "bad mothering" lawsuit has all the marks of frivolity. Especially in light of the appellate court pointing out that there's simply no way this conduct could have met the requisite standard.

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