Re: Cryonics, Cult Movement or Ligit Science???
Posted by:
Anon1
()
Date: July 16, 2009 11:54PM
Just out. Alcor lost their little lawsuit against two elderly siblings of the man who they (Alcor) claimed wanted to be frozen. YEAH! Now the Richardson family needs to file a countersuit. That’s one for the good guys and zero for the ghouls in Arizona.
[www.thehawkeye.com]
Judge denies request for man's remains
Brother, sister win legal battle with cryonic foundation.
By JOHN MANGALONZO
jmangalonzo@thehawkeye.com
Orville Martin Richardson died and was buried in February at the age 81, and on Wednesday, he may finally rest in peace.
District Court Judge John Linn ruled in favor of Richardson's brother and sister, denying a motion from Alcor Life Extension Foundation, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based non-profit corporation, to have Richardson's body disinterred so it could be suspended in a cryonic process.
The ruling signals what may be the end to a legal battle, which started last month, for Richardson's remains. The hearing was June 8.
Linn addressed many issues, including that "Alcor's request for the equitable relief" that the court compel David Richardson of Ohio and Darlene Broeker of West Burlington, Orville Richardson's brother and sister "consent to the issuance of a permit for disinterment is an effort to side-step or make an end-run" around Iowa law.
Attorneys for the foundation said Orville Richardson decided to donate his remains "not only in the hope of potential revival, but also to prove and perfect the process" of cryonic suspension -- the preservation of human remains at very low temperature in the hope that future science can restore them to life, youth and health.
Orville Richardson signed a membership with the foundation in 2004 and chose neurosuspension. He executed a series of documents later that year, including contracting Alcor for the transfer of his remains after his death, paying the foundation $50,000 for a lifetime membership.
In return, Alcor was supposed to freeze his brain or entire head, then cremate "and dispose of the non-suspended portion" of his body.
In the ruling, Linn pointed out that the foundation did not appear to be pursuing a petition for disinterment but rather a court order compelling the siblings to give consent for the exhumation.
The judge said the dispute between Alcor and David Richardson and Broeker does not involve Iowa law covering anatomical gifts nor disinterment, but a code section that deals with who has the right to control final disposition of a decedent's remains.
Upon Orville Richardson's death, his brother and sister had the right to control the body since he had no surviving spouse, children, parents or grandchildren.
That particular law also says that an alternate designee can exercise control if a declaration is executed "on or after July 1, 2008."
Orville Richardson in December 2004 made a declaration relating to his contract with the foundation, giving Alcor full custody on his remains "by whatever legal means may be available for the purposes of placing them into cryonic suspension."
"Alcor cannot qualify as a designee," Linn said in the ruling, adding Alcor cannot seek the remedy if it is contrary to state law. "Iowa law vested David (Richardson) and Darlene (Broeker) the right to control disposition of Orville's remains."
Furthermore, Alcor did not establish that the decision the sibling's made to embalm and bury their brother was the result of "fraud or mistake."
"David and Darlene simply made a family decision as to the final resting place of their brother," Linn wrote, noting that it was a lawful decision.
Even if the motion was not a petition for disinterment, Linn addressed the issue and cited that disinterment has two requirements: if there is an autopsy needed and if the body will be reburied.
And since the body already is buried, a permit from the Department of Public Health must be obtained.
Alcor can seek the permit, but it eventually will be denied because the purpose of the disinterment is not for autopsy or reburial. It also will be denied because Iowa law requires consent from next of kin.
"Cryonic suspension of Orville's brain and head, so that Alcor can perform experimental procedures in the hope that at some future date the science of medicine will have advanced to the point which permits restoration of life, is not reburial," Linn said.
In the suit, Alcor wanted a judge to "compel or force" the siblings to give their consent.
Linn said consent must be voluntary, adding "consent that is forced or compelled by court order is not consent."
Now that Alcor has lost, it will be liable for the cost of the proceedings.
Case background
To understand the case is to look back at the life of Orville Richardson.
He was reared in Burlington with his brother and sister and was a trained pharmacist. He had no children, and his wife died before him.
Orville Richardson entered his membership with Alcor in June 2004. In December that same year, he signed a consent for cryonic suspension and a last will and testament for human remains and authorization of anatomical donation, paying the foundation $50,000.
David Richardson and Broeker said in court papers that their brother discussed with them the notion of donating his brain or entire head for cryonic suspension.
The siblings apparently tried to talk their brother out of the idea and "emphatically told him they would have nothing to do with his plan."
In the fall of 2007, Orville Richardson's health -- physical and mental -- deteriorated, and he was admitted to the hospital where he was evaluated as having dementia. This limited his capacity to care for himself, including making financial decisions.
In May 2008, the court appointed David Richardson and Broeker as co-conservators for Orville and soon after, Broeker was appointed as guardian.
Alcor would, at times, issue a check to Orville Richardson, which amounted to interest from his $50,000 prepayment account.
Broeker and David Richardson, after their brother died, found a $2,374.39 uncashed check made out to their brother. In May 2008, they requested Alcor to reissue the check and asked if there were other uncashed checks made out to their brother.
In April, David Richardson, citing that his brother did not use the foundation's services, demanded Alcor refund the $50,000.
Alcor responded by asking why it was not notified of the man's death and demanded the siblings "deliver possession, custody and control of Orville's remains."
The brother and sister "violently opposed" the demand and asked Alcor not to disturb their brother's final resting place.
They said, since they are not parties in the contract, the believed the court cannot "impose upon them a duty to perform an action they never agreed to undertake."
Attorneys for the siblings said Alcor did not make any steps to see if any of Orville Richardson's family would cooperate with his wishes, not even when they found out that the brother and sister were appointed to handle the estate.
It is not known whether David Richardson and Broeker will pursue trying to get the money their brother paid Alcor. Contact numbers for them could not be located Wednesday.
[www.thehawkeye.com]
Judge denies request for man's remains
Brother, sister win legal battle with cryonic foundation.
By JOHN MANGALONZO
jmangalonzo@thehawkeye.com
Orville Martin Richardson died and was buried in February at the age 81, and on Wednesday, he may finally rest in peace.
District Court Judge John Linn ruled in favor of Richardson's brother and sister, denying a motion from Alcor Life Extension Foundation, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based non-profit corporation, to have Richardson's body disinterred so it could be suspended in a cryonic process.
The ruling signals what may be the end to a legal battle, which started last month, for Richardson's remains. The hearing was June 8.
Linn addressed many issues, including that "Alcor's request for the equitable relief" that the court compel David Richardson of Ohio and Darlene Broeker of West Burlington, Orville Richardson's brother and sister "consent to the issuance of a permit for disinterment is an effort to side-step or make an end-run" around Iowa law.
Attorneys for the foundation said Orville Richardson decided to donate his remains "not only in the hope of potential revival, but also to prove and perfect the process" of cryonic suspension -- the preservation of human remains at very low temperature in the hope that future science can restore them to life, youth and health.
Orville Richardson signed a membership with the foundation in 2004 and chose neurosuspension. He executed a series of documents later that year, including contracting Alcor for the transfer of his remains after his death, paying the foundation $50,000 for a lifetime membership.
In return, Alcor was supposed to freeze his brain or entire head, then cremate "and dispose of the non-suspended portion" of his body.
In the ruling, Linn pointed out that the foundation did not appear to be pursuing a petition for disinterment but rather a court order compelling the siblings to give consent for the exhumation.
The judge said the dispute between Alcor and David Richardson and Broeker does not involve Iowa law covering anatomical gifts nor disinterment, but a code section that deals with who has the right to control final disposition of a decedent's remains.
Upon Orville Richardson's death, his brother and sister had the right to control the body since he had no surviving spouse, children, parents or grandchildren.
That particular law also says that an alternate designee can exercise control if a declaration is executed "on or after July 1, 2008."
Orville Richardson in December 2004 made a declaration relating to his contract with the foundation, giving Alcor full custody on his remains "by whatever legal means may be available for the purposes of placing them into cryonic suspension."
"Alcor cannot qualify as a designee," Linn said in the ruling, adding Alcor cannot seek the remedy if it is contrary to state law. "Iowa law vested David (Richardson) and Darlene (Broeker) the right to control disposition of Orville's remains."
Furthermore, Alcor did not establish that the decision the sibling's made to embalm and bury their brother was the result of "fraud or mistake."
"David and Darlene simply made a family decision as to the final resting place of their brother," Linn wrote, noting that it was a lawful decision.
Even if the motion was not a petition for disinterment, Linn addressed the issue and cited that disinterment has two requirements: if there is an autopsy needed and if the body will be reburied.
And since the body already is buried, a permit from the Department of Public Health must be obtained.
Alcor can seek the permit, but it eventually will be denied because the purpose of the disinterment is not for autopsy or reburial. It also will be denied because Iowa law requires consent from next of kin.
"Cryonic suspension of Orville's brain and head, so that Alcor can perform experimental procedures in the hope that at some future date the science of medicine will have advanced to the point which permits restoration of life, is not reburial," Linn said.
In the suit, Alcor wanted a judge to "compel or force" the siblings to give their consent.
Linn said consent must be voluntary, adding "consent that is forced or compelled by court order is not consent."
Now that Alcor has lost, it will be liable for the cost of the proceedings.
Case background
To understand the case is to look back at the life of Orville Richardson.
He was reared in Burlington with his brother and sister and was a trained pharmacist. He had no children, and his wife died before him.
Orville Richardson entered his membership with Alcor in June 2004. In December that same year, he signed a consent for cryonic suspension and a last will and testament for human remains and authorization of anatomical donation, paying the foundation $50,000.
David Richardson and Broeker said in court papers that their brother discussed with them the notion of donating his brain or entire head for cryonic suspension.
The siblings apparently tried to talk their brother out of the idea and "emphatically told him they would have nothing to do with his plan."
In the fall of 2007, Orville Richardson's health -- physical and mental -- deteriorated, and he was admitted to the hospital where he was evaluated as having dementia. This limited his capacity to care for himself, including making financial decisions.
In May 2008, the court appointed David Richardson and Broeker as co-conservators for Orville and soon after, Broeker was appointed as guardian.
Alcor would, at times, issue a check to Orville Richardson, which amounted to interest from his $50,000 prepayment account.
Broeker and David Richardson, after their brother died, found a $2,374.39 uncashed check made out to their brother. In May 2008, they requested Alcor to reissue the check and asked if there were other uncashed checks made out to their brother.
In April, David Richardson, citing that his brother did not use the foundation's services, demanded Alcor refund the $50,000.
Alcor responded by asking why it was not notified of the man's death and demanded the siblings "deliver possession, custody and control of Orville's remains."
The brother and sister "violently opposed" the demand and asked Alcor not to disturb their brother's final resting place.
They said, since they are not parties in the contract, the believed the court cannot "impose upon them a duty to perform an action they never agreed to undertake."
Attorneys for the siblings said Alcor did not make any steps to see if any of Orville Richardson's family would cooperate with his wishes, not even when they found out that the brother and sister were appointed to handle the estate.
It is not known whether David Richardson and Broeker will pursue trying to get the money their brother paid Alcor. Contact numbers for them could not be located Wednesday.
Crynonics, and new con-game targeting vulnerable seniors
Posted by:
The Anticult
()
Date: July 17, 2009 02:35AM
That is good news for the family. Hopefully that is the end of it.
That is interesting about how some of the interest checks from the $50K were not cashed? And that there are questions about where the other interest money went?
And since the cryonic company didn't do anything, why do they have the $50K? For what?
Cryonics is really shaping up to be a new type of con-game targeted at aging seniors. Groups like AARP, and other seniors organization should be warned, and then they could give out warning that there are "cryonics" groups targeting vulnerable seniors, making false promises, and seeking huge amounts of money.
And of course the experts in cryonics know that all the local laws around death and burial are COMPLEX, and they just gloss right over that, whent they convince and persuade people to sign-up. They just get them to pay the money.
Now watch as Alcorians, the Venturists, and the usual suspects go berserk and try to spin this to their own advantage.
They will try to use their spin-doctoring, to try and convince people to turn over their entire Estate and all their money to the cryonics Orgs, and make them the executors, and also give them power of attorney, and everything else they can get their hands on. And as some of them have mentioned, even get restraining orders against one's own family.
And as the cryonicists have mentioned, they will continue to try and set up some type of cryonics community, where old folks can go before they die. That is a recipe for disaster.
The potential for the abuse of seniors is very severe.
Elder Abuse is on the rise, and elder abuse includes financial exploitation of vulnerable seniors. Who is there to protect them, other than their own family and loved ones?
These cryonics Orgs problems are not going away, but sadly are just going to get worse and worse.
That is interesting about how some of the interest checks from the $50K were not cashed? And that there are questions about where the other interest money went?
And since the cryonic company didn't do anything, why do they have the $50K? For what?
Cryonics is really shaping up to be a new type of con-game targeted at aging seniors. Groups like AARP, and other seniors organization should be warned, and then they could give out warning that there are "cryonics" groups targeting vulnerable seniors, making false promises, and seeking huge amounts of money.
And of course the experts in cryonics know that all the local laws around death and burial are COMPLEX, and they just gloss right over that, whent they convince and persuade people to sign-up. They just get them to pay the money.
Now watch as Alcorians, the Venturists, and the usual suspects go berserk and try to spin this to their own advantage.
They will try to use their spin-doctoring, to try and convince people to turn over their entire Estate and all their money to the cryonics Orgs, and make them the executors, and also give them power of attorney, and everything else they can get their hands on. And as some of them have mentioned, even get restraining orders against one's own family.
And as the cryonicists have mentioned, they will continue to try and set up some type of cryonics community, where old folks can go before they die. That is a recipe for disaster.
The potential for the abuse of seniors is very severe.
Elder Abuse is on the rise, and elder abuse includes financial exploitation of vulnerable seniors. Who is there to protect them, other than their own family and loved ones?
These cryonics Orgs problems are not going away, but sadly are just going to get worse and worse.
Re: Cryonics, Cult Movement or Ligit Science???
Posted by:
Anon1
()
Date: July 18, 2009 11:20AM
Just a couple of hours ago the great news personality (Walter Cronkite) passed away. He was 92 years of age. Myself like many others grew up listening to him. Instead of appreciating this gentleman's life and not to mention his status as a worldwide news icon, the sicko cryonics people make this post:
[www.network54.com]
Look how they refer to him as “probably fresh enough.”
These people absolutely have no conscious whatsoever. They are so obsessed with celebrity deaths. They look at it is if they just missed another opportunity to siphon large amounts of cash from another rich person. These people are beginning to make me absolutely sick.
[www.network54.com]
Look how they refer to him as “probably fresh enough.”
These people absolutely have no conscious whatsoever. They are so obsessed with celebrity deaths. They look at it is if they just missed another opportunity to siphon large amounts of cash from another rich person. These people are beginning to make me absolutely sick.
Re: Cryonics, Cult Movement or Ligit Science???
Posted by:
Anon1
()
Date: July 18, 2009 09:42PM
It looks like even Walter Cronkite got in on writing about what the Alcorian cult did to Ted Williams.
[www.ryanmcbain.com]
[www.ryanmcbain.com]
Re: Cryonics, Cult Movement or Ligit Science???
Posted by:
Sparky
()
Date: July 19, 2009 11:49AM
Wait for it....wait for it....BREAKING NEWS FROM ALCOR! Walter Cronkite is to be cryonically preserved so he may once again read the news in 2257AD!!!! Mr. Cronkite being the great reporter that he was had researched Alcor and the entire Cryonic movement and has a 'secret will' with the attornies at Alcor that state he wants to give his entire fortune to Alcor so they can further life extension. Walter Cronkite "America's Newsman" will live again in 'just a few years' once we get this nasty 'frozen strawberry mush' thawing out thingy solved.
(sarcasm/off)
(sarcasm/off)
Re: Cryonics, Cult Movement or Ligit Science???
Posted by:
Anon1
()
Date: July 20, 2009 01:25AM
I like that Sparky. Good job!
Re: Cryonics, Cult Movement or Ligit Science???
Posted by:
Sparky
()
Date: July 29, 2009 03:38AM
Tonight, July 28th at 10PM (EST)[USA] the History channel is running a special on immortality featuring cloning, etc. and....ALCOR! This is sure to be a puff-piece.
Re: Cryonics, Cult Movement, on the History channel
Posted by:
The Anticult
()
Date: July 29, 2009 04:08AM
Quote
Sparky
Tonight, July 28th at 10PM (EST)[USA] the History channel is running a special on immortality featuring cloning, etc. and....ALCOR! This is sure to be a puff-piece.
Its awesome to have psychic powers!
;-)
[forum.culteducation.com]
"The next step for cryonics is to hire some "documentary" producer, to make a "controversial" doc about them, that of course is an infomercial. Its probably being done right now."
Are the cryonics company people promoting it?
It will be interesting to look at the specific producers for that program.
That's Impossible Episode: Eternal Life [www.history.com]
"That's Impossible!" Eternal Life (2009) [www.us.imdb.com]
What some TV and media networks do now, is allow "free" programs to air on their channel. So a group makes their own "shill-documentary" and the channel gets to air it, without the production costs.
Cheap content for the network. [www.us.imdb.com]
Re: Cryonics, Cult Movement or Ligit Science???
Posted by:
Anon1
()
Date: August 14, 2009 11:43PM
The latest on Alcor trying to dig up a guy who has been buried for seven months so that they can freeze him. They are now trying to appeal the judge’s decision to the Iowa Supreme court. These freaks are unbelievable.
Mr. Ross, please add this link to the Alcor archive.
[www.azcentral.com]
Mr. Ross, please add this link to the Alcor archive.
[www.azcentral.com]
Re: Cryonics, Cult Movement or Ligit Science???
Posted by:
Anon1
()
Date: August 18, 2009 04:38AM
Looks like Melody Maxim who I have referred to in the past continues to stir the pot heavily in the seedy world of cryonics. She is questioning the practice of a cryonics company in Florida called Suspended Animation. Someone had given Ms. Maxim the “20 Question” challenge, so she obliged. So far no one has answered her questions. It seems that this is common practice on this particular discussion board called “Cold Filter” to ignore posts that make known some very legitimate concerns.
Here is the post:
[www.network54.com]
Also, Maxim makes an interesting post about the Orville Richardson case in Iowa. She writes:
“Right now, we have Alcor insisting on digging up a man who has been buried for many months. I understand the point of view that they may feel they have an obligation to carry out Mr. Richardson's wishes but, in my opinion, they are doing so at the risk of perpetuating the public's opinions of them as a bunch of "cult-like" lunatics, who are possibly just trying to keep Mr. Richardson's money from his family. (I'm not saying that IS their intention; I'm saying that is what most people will think.) In my opinion, as a medical professional, Mr. Richardson's brain is beyond repair, at this point, so I don't understand Alcor putting their reputation, (and, therefore, the fate of their future membership), at risk. People are going to read those news articles and think they are a bunch of ghoulish nuts.”
[www.network54.com]
Ghoulish nuts??? That's putting it lightly Ms. Maxim
Here is the post:
[www.network54.com]
Also, Maxim makes an interesting post about the Orville Richardson case in Iowa. She writes:
“Right now, we have Alcor insisting on digging up a man who has been buried for many months. I understand the point of view that they may feel they have an obligation to carry out Mr. Richardson's wishes but, in my opinion, they are doing so at the risk of perpetuating the public's opinions of them as a bunch of "cult-like" lunatics, who are possibly just trying to keep Mr. Richardson's money from his family. (I'm not saying that IS their intention; I'm saying that is what most people will think.) In my opinion, as a medical professional, Mr. Richardson's brain is beyond repair, at this point, so I don't understand Alcor putting their reputation, (and, therefore, the fate of their future membership), at risk. People are going to read those news articles and think they are a bunch of ghoulish nuts.”
[www.network54.com]
Ghoulish nuts??? That's putting it lightly Ms. Maxim
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