Extreme Makeover orphans now homeless

[Co Pilot]

Family's ending not so happy...
Orphans given house on 'Extreme Makeover' show now homeless.

By Dan Laidman
Staff writer

LOS ANGELES — Five orphaned siblings whose sad story got a Hollywood ending on a reality TV show filed a lawsuit Wednesday that aims to rip the happy facade off the popular genre.

Months after losing both parents, the Higgins siblings were showered with gifts and presented with a new mansion on the ABC hit "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

ABC is continuing to air the episode, the lawsuit alleges, even though the siblings, who range in age from 15 to 22, have been forced from the house and are effectively homeless.

"What we're really seeing is the collision between 'reality TV' and the perception reality TV seeks to create in the minds of the general public," said Patrick Mesisca, the Higginses' lawyer.

Ultimately, the lawsuit stems from a break in the relationship between the siblings and the couple that took them in after the death of their parents. When relations soured, the siblings left the couple's home, which viewers saw constructed on television.

Filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the lawsuit targets ABC, the program's production companies, the firm that built the house, and the couple who helped the siblings, Phil and Loki Leomiti.

"We were promised a home," said Charles Higgins II, 22. "They broke that promise."

ABC officials said they do not comment on litigation.

However, the network issued a printed statement saying, "It is important to note that the episode was about the rebuilding of the Leomiti family's home to accommodate the inclusion of the five Higgins siblings, whom the Leomitis had invited into their lives following the death of their parents."

The Higgins family lived together in an apartment in Downey until April 2004 when the mother, Charis Higgins, died of breast cancer. The father, Charles Higgins Sr., died 10 weeks later of heart failure.

The plight of the siblings drew media attention and help from the Leomitis, who knew the Higginses from church.

The Leomitis took the Higgins siblings into their Santa Fe Springs house in July 2004.

Meanwhile, producers of "Extreme Makeover' learned of the Higgins siblings' situation from a newscast and were interested in doing an episode on them.

Crews traveled to Santa Fe Springs in February and demolished the Leomitis' house. In its place, Pardee Homes built a nine-bedroom home while show producers arranged for the siblings to receive cars, groceries, computers, stereos and gifts.

Pardee paid off the mortgage on the new house, according to the lawsuit, while the Leomitis retained the title.

Difficulties emerged around the time the episode aired, March 27. The complaint alleges that the Leomitis engaged in "an orchestrated campaign' to drive the siblings from the house with insults and poor treatment.

A relative who answered the phone at the Leomiti residence said "they don't have any comment at this time."

The lawsuit alleges fraud and breach of contract, among other things, although Mesisca acknowledged that the siblings were never promised a house in writing.

The lawyer contends, though, that the network's statements and actions could be considered a promise for legal purposes.

The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

[jesster]

That show is rediculous. Its funny when the sappy music comes on and each host with a tear in their eye says "It is so wonderful to have the opportunity to help out such a wonderful family"
:cry:
:cry:
:sob:
:sob:

[DaGimp]

Another BS lawsuit.... The show had the right intention.

[Dieselmh]

Life...tough...helmet.

[rockota]

"We were promised a home," said Charles Higgins II, 22. "They broke that promise."

BS - the owners of the home were promised a new home and they got it. No promises broken.

[HighToy]

I can't believe some people. They were fortunate enough to have something amazing happen for their family and the people who helped to take care of them.

it sounds from the article they need to be focusing on the Leomitis and not the organization who tried to help. It's definately a misguided lawsuit.

[Priest]

Show fulfilled their obligation and did a great thing for those people. Too bad the couple turned out to be turds.

[Co Pilot]

Originally Posted by HighToy

I can't believe some people. They were fortunate enough to have something amazing happen for their family and the people who helped to take care of them.

it sounds from the article they need to be focusing on the Leomitis and not the organization who tried to help. It's definately a misguided lawsuit.

ayup!!

[mike]

I think the lesson here is.. if you're offered an extreme makeover, and cant afford the additional taxes and associated bullshit... say NO.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Priest

Show fulfilled their obligation and did a great thing for those people. Too bad the couple turned out to be turds.

Either the couple turned out to be turds, or the kids did - or perhaps some combination of both


TEX

[HighToy]

The key statement....

"It is important to note that the episode was about the rebuilding of the Leomiti family's home to accommodate the inclusion of the five Higgins siblings, whom the Leomitis had invited into their lives following the death of their parents."

[76Cruiser]

Originally Posted by mike

I think the lesson here is.. if you're offered an extreme makeover, and cant afford the additional taxes and associated bullshit... say NO.

That doe not have anything to do with THIS case. I would like to hear the Leomidis side of this story. The lawsuit is BS. Suing the network, and the builder is just dumb.

[Co Pilot]

Originally Posted by mike

I think the lesson here is.. if you're offered an extreme makeover, and cant afford the additional taxes and associated bullshit... say NO.

did you even read the article??

[mike]

Dammit Rose, I need cliffnotes So why the fawk are they suing ABC

[jesster]

Originally Posted by mike

Dammit Rose, I need cliffnotes So why the fawk are they suing ABC

Can't figure out anyone else to sue I suppose...

[Co Pilot]

Originally Posted by mike

Dammit Rose, I need cliffnotes So why the fawk are they suing ABC

cliff notes

* 5 kids ages 15-22, lost both parents.. mother to cancer, father 10 weeks later to heart failure.
* nice family from church takes in all 5 kids.
* shows execs hear about it
* abc builds family that took them in a 9 bedroom house and pays off the mortage
* abc gives orphaned kids cars, games, and other nice things they would have never had.
* nice family now slowly but surely kicking out all 5 kids....
* kids want the damn house they was promised
* kids sue ABC and home builder because they aint got no house.

[rockota]

Originally Posted by Co Pilot

* nice family now slowly but surely kicking out all 5 kids...

I think this is the only sticky point - were they kicked out or are they leaving on their own and making it out to be worse than it is? Hard to tell from the article.

[Co Pilot]

Originally Posted by rockota

I think this is the only sticky point - were they kicked out or are they leaving on their own and making it out to be worse than it is? Hard to tell from the article.

your right...

"Difficulties emerged around the time the episode aired, March 27. The complaint alleges that the Leomitis engaged in "an orchestrated campaign' to drive the siblings from the house with insults and poor treatment."

doesnt sound like they were kicked out..

I think these kids want more than what they got.. end of story.

[welndmn]

Wow, Fuck those greedy ass kids!

Also, remember a show they to to a house in Livermore, CA?
I used to live down the street from it, that house is now trashed.

[mike]

Originally Posted by welndmn

Wow, Fuck those greedy ass kids!

Also, remember a show they to to a house in Livermore, CA?
I used to live down the street from it, that house is now trashed.

dude that was right over yonder by my old pad there.

Thanks for the cliffnotes!

[qwiksilver]

Never shock the poor with too much stuff...they can't handle it.

[surveyboy]

I sadly caught part of that show while stuck at my parents house. Most of those damn kids were over 18 as it was. don'tcha think they shoulda started supporting themselves at all?? wah wah wah in 22 and there's no one to take care of me.... get a job you fawking lazy ass bitch.

yeah they were crampd in that house, but hell, 3 of them shoulda been on their own already as it was.

[qwiksilver]

Originally Posted by surveyboy

I sadly caught part of that show while stuck at my parents house. Most of those damn kids were over 18 as it was. don'tcha think they shoulda started supporting themselves at all?? wah wah wah in 22 and there's no one to take care of me.... get a job you fawking lazy ass bitch.

yeah they were crampd in that house, but hell, 3 of them shoulda been on their own already as it was.

When I was 19 and found myself suddenly homeless...as in kicked out of the nest...I found a place to live. They didn't give me an new car or video games, but I got fed, had a place to sleep and they even gave me new clothes and an allowance to go blow on beer and stereo equipment:

THE ARMY!

[bspencer]

the ones over 18 should be on their ownto begin with ...fawk em!

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally Posted by Co Pilot

* not so nice family now slowly but surely kicking out all 5 kids so they can enjoy their new huge free house without having to take care of any stranger's kids...

This is how I read it. My interpretation might be wrong though. Even if I guessed right I don't see what it has to do with ABC or the builder.