Opinion
AP-11-41
02-01-2012
JOHN A. LITWINETZ, Petitioner v. STATE OF MAINE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent
PLAINTIFF: John A. Litwinetz, pro-se DEFENDANT: Christopher C. Leighton AAG
PLAINTIFF: John A. Litwinetz, pro-se
DEFENDANT: Christopher C. Leighton AAG
ORDER
Paul A. Fritzsche Justice, Superior Court
Mr. Litwinetz has appealed from a decision after hearing of September 19, 2011 which determined that he owed $2, 483.24 in "medical debt" and $58, 507.23 in back child support. The parties have submitted written arguments and waived oral argument.
The State is correct that the agreement between Mr. Litwinetz and Ms. Elizabeth Johnson, the mother of his children, to modify the court ordered child support was not effective, as it was not approved by the District Court. The fact that the existence of the agreement was made known to a support enforcement agent does not eliminate the requirement that court approval is necessary to make the proposed modifications effective.
Other arguments raised by Mr. Litwinetz were rejected in the very recent Law Court case of Cloutier v. Turner, 2012 ME 4 (January 19, 2012).
While Mr. Litwinetz is understandably frustrated, the decision of the Department was legally correct. The entry is:
Decision of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services of September 19, 2011 is affirmed.