Press release from Terri's Fight:
Following a court hearing today before Judge George Greer in the Pinellas County FL Probate, Robert and Mary Schindler, parents of Terri Schiavo, made public a settlement offer that was proposed by their attorneys to attorneys for Michael Schiavo on October 26, 2004.Although Mr. Schiavo's attorneys have verbally rejected their proposal, the Schindlers will continue to keep their offer on the table and remain hopeful that they will one day be allowed to bring their daughter home.
The settlement offfer (in pdf form) gives Michael everything in return for his agreement to allow the family to care for Terri at their own expense. Here are a few excerpts:
The Schindlers sole desire in making this proposal is that they be permitted to take their daughter and sister home to care for her with their family. The Schindler family members would take on this responsibility at their own expense. In consideration of your client permitting them to take Terri home with them, they would be willing to provide him with any legal guarantees he would desire, ...The document continues by promising that the Schindlers will take care of Terri at their own expense and not pursue Michael in any legal matter. In addition, they agree to sign any necessary legal documents to enable Michael to divorce Terri and yet allow him to receive "any of Terris estate that he would inhereit were he to remain husband." The document concludes,
Now that Michael is a father himself, the Schindlers are pleading with him to consider their love for their daughter and sister and to permit them to take over Terris care, with their blessings on Michael as he continues to live his own life with his new family.After reading the proposal I understand why the Schindlers are asking, "Why won't Michael Schiavo just let Terri go home?"
[HT: LifeSteward]
Of course, he can't take them up on the offer because he'll lose face. He has to keep fighting to kill her. I think that when the money totally runs out, things will change. At least I pray that they will.