From WCPO Ch 9 Cincinnati

Thanks for this post. As I said there if a lot were are not hearing and I'm not going to judge him until everything comes out.

Ive heard this is the issue, might be true, might not.

 

When Still was added to the practice squad of the Bengals, the child was put on his insurance (the NFL plan) like we all heard in the story. Still petitioned for adjustment of support because he was paying for the insurance for the child. (apparently the child had been on Moms insurance during the offseason at some point.) Mom counter petitioned for a higher support amount and the child to still be on the NFL insurance plan. After a few hearings, an agreement between parties on new child support amounts wasn't reached and it was left up to the courts. The courts have yet to make a final determinations, and since the last hearing Still has been paying the insurance, plus an adjusted amount, but not the full amount petitioned by the mom.

 

So it sounds to me like he may not be paying mom $$$, but is paying the insurance (or getting it, however the NFL insurance policy works) which could be more than he was paying in just straight cash.

 

Agreed, until we know more details, hard to say.

Exactly as I suspected.

Still has not paid any child support for months for Leah Still, his sick 4-year-old daughter who was honored on the field during the Bengals' 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati earlier this month, according to Channing Smythe, Leah's mother.

 

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, whose relationship with his cancer-stricken daughter has been the NFL feel-good story of the season, has not paid child support for four months, according to the sick girl’s mother.

Channing Smythe, the mother of 4-year-old Leah Still, said she has been pushed to the brink of homelessness because Still refuses to provide child support.

“I don’t consider him a deadbeat dad,” Smythe told the Daily News on Wednesday. “I know he loves and cares for his daughter and he is there for her. I just need him to help me financially.”

Civil rights attorney Gloria Allred, who represents Leah’s mother, delivered a letter to the NFL on Tuesday asking the league to investigate if Still has violated its Personal Conduct Policy by failing to pay child support for the girl, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer in June.

Smythe said in her declaration that she is unable to work because Leah’s treatment and care require full-time attention, adding they would be homeless if a friend of her mother’s had not permitted them to move in with her. Smythe claimed she had to accept food stamps from July through October in order to feed herself and her daughter.

Smythe and Leah live in Delaware, and Smythe said she has to borrow cars from friends and relatives to take the girl to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia for treatment.

Allred’s letter said Still has paid some child support in the past. The letter also said Smythe has a family law attorney who recently demanded that Still immediately pay his outstanding child support. Still, who is expected to earn about $570,000 for the 2014 season, then allegedly called Smythe and told her he would not pay any amount at all and would see her in court.

“I have an outstanding medical bill for Leah for an ambulance for her,” Smythe said in her declaration. “I have been unable to pay the ambulance bill, and it is not covered under insurance. If I were receiving child support for Leah I would be able to pay this bill, but since Leah’s father is refusing to provide child support I am unable to pay the bill for the ambulance.”

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/i-team/leah-mom-bengals-devon-deadbeat-dad-article-1.2024259

 

Regarding the bolded, isn't it called CHILD SUPPORT to support the child? As Leah's mother said, Devon clearly cares about his daughter. Is he legally obligated to pay for her [the mother's] needs?

 

For another thread, but the breakdown of the family is arguably the root of every problem in America.

Regarding the bolded, isn't it called CHILD SUPPORT to support the child? As Leah's mother said, Devon clearly cares about his daughter. Is he legally obligated to pay for her [the mother's] needs?

 

For another thread, but the breakdown of the family is arguably the root of every problem in America.

 

No he's not obligated to pay for the mother's needs but I think the part about being pushed to the brink of homelessness means that she is having to pay for Leah's care instead of being able to pay rent or a mortgage.

I think there is more to this than just simply "not paying child support." I also think media headlining it that way is crap, but when is media not crap?

 

WCPO jumped on this as quickly as they could.

They both submit their income on the worksheets and pay their portion. She may not have a child support order and might have been collecting a payment he agreed too and has possibly stopped.

I am going to be mad at someone, I just don't know who yet but I suspect it isn't going to be Still, but not sure...

I want to add, I hope the whole truth comes out, either Still's "ex" is something I can't say on here without violating the rules or Still is not the man we think he is.

 

It pretty much has to be one or the other.

A lot of athletes give their baby's momma a fixed sum. Randy Moss was paying a very large figure monthly. There is definitely more too it, I just want to know if he cut her off or isn't paying what he's ordered too.

A lot of athletes give their baby's momma a fixed sum. Randy Moss was paying a very large figure monthly. There is definitely more too it, I just want to know if he cut her off or isn't paying what he's ordered too.

 

You and I are on the same page JA.

I can't help but think that this is an underhanded tactic on the part of the mother to gain some leverage in what appears to be an ongoing court battle. I'll reserve judgement.

I'd lose a ton of respect for Still if it turns out that he intentionally didn't meet his commitment. More to the story but believe it could be a 'revenge' tool by the ex as well.

And according to Smythe, who was interviewed by TMZ this week, Still had stopped paying child support because he wanted both of them to move to Cincinnati.

 

"I don't feel that it was right for me to move her," Channing says via TMZ. "[Delaware] is where all her friends and family are and this is where we have been building our life. He was very upset about that and that’s when he stopped giving me money."

 

The child support that Still was paying was a voluntary agreement and not court-ordered, Smythe said. She has initiated the process to take it court. However, her lawyer, Gloria Allred, argued that Still is taking steps to avoid court.

 

"Channing does have a family law attorney who represents her in Delaware on the child support issue and who has been in communication with Mr. Still’s attorney in reference to the child support issue and other family law matters," Allred said in a letter to the NFL. "This attorney has asked that Mr. Still’s family law attorney accept service for Mr. Still, but Mr. Still’s attorney has declined to do so."

 

Child support agreement between Devon Still and Channing Smythe was voluntary agreement - Cincy Jungle

Devon Still not legally obligated to pay child support, daughter's mom says - Story

 

CINCINNATI – Leah Still's mother cleared up one thing about her claims that Devon Still has not been paying child support.

 

The Bengals player is not legally obligated to, Channing Smythe told TMZ.

 

Smythe said the two had a "voluntary agreement" - not a court order - that Still would pay support for Leah while Smythe cared for her in Delaware and Still lived in Cincinnati. She said he stopped paying her because he wanted her and Leah to move to Cincinnati and she refused.

 

Smythe expressed regret on social media Wednesday night that the letter her attorney sent to the NFL, complaining that Still has not paid support for his daughter since July, went public Wednesday.

 

WCPO obtained a copy of the letter from Smythe's attorney, Gloria Allred. Read it here or below.

 

"Nothing was ever supposed to go public …" Smythe posted. "Channing did not put it out to the press. Devon knows what's going on. #THE FACTS. Devon is a great dad. I NEVER SAID HE WASN'T."

 

Still, posting on social media, said he didn't know who to blame, his ex-girlfriend or her attorney:

 

Statement put out by Leah's mom...although I don't know who is to blame between her and Gloria Allred… http://t.co/zPghuWndlq

 

— Devon Still (@Dev_Still71) November 27, 2014

Still responded on Instagram by saying, "I don't know who to blame between her and Gloria Allred for lies put out on me. The one thing that I do know is that I'm nowhere near a dead beat. I was raised by two amazing parents, including an outstanding father that showed through his actions with me and my siblings what it meant to be a FATHER."

 

Smythe said Still is a loving and caring father but she needs money from Still because she can't hold a job while she cares 24/7 for Leah. The 4-year-old was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last June. She has been getting treatment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

 

Still flies to Philadelphia to be with Leah when she undergoes treatments, like she did Monday, and on weekly football off-days.

 

It has been a tough year for Still, as he said in a Thanksgiving Day post, but he still has a lot to be thankful for:

 

This may not be my ideal thanksgiving especially not being able to spend it with my daught... http://t.co/c7Dnh8a2Vc pic.twitter.com/CtA5kc6u9d

 

— Devon Still (@Dev_Still71) November 27, 2014

"This may not be my ideal thanksgiving especially not being able to spend it with my daughter due to work responsibilities, nonetheless I still have a lot to be thankful for," Still posted. "I am thankful for being blessed with a beautiful strong daughter, having family and friends that are beyond supportive, the way the world has gravitated to my daughter's story and stepped up to help raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer, and being a part of an organization that continues to have my back through everything. No matter what your going through, there's always something to be thankful for..if not just thank God in advance for what he's going to do for you. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE"

 

In the letter to the NFL, Allred wrote that Smythe has to rely on food stamps, family and friends for food for Leah and herself, that they had to move into a friend's apartment because Smythe can't afford to pay rent, and that she has to borrow a car to take Leah to the hospital for treatments because she doesn't have one.

 

Allred also wrote that Still and his lawyer have been ducking attempts to serve him with notice that Smythe is seeking a child support order in Delaware, where she recently moved with Leah.

 

The letter did not say Smythe did not already have a court order - and Still, in a brief written statement Wednesday, did not point that out.

 

Still's statement said that a newspaper report about his failure to pay support was "untruthful" and he would let Smythe's claims play out in court.

 

"My daughter's battle with cancer has been inspirational to many all over the world. When she gets older, I want her to be able to look back and read about her positive impact on the world, not about the private issues her parents were going through. I am not going to retaliate against the mother of my daughter, and the untruthful reports in the New York Daily News article, by criticizing her character. I am going to continue to allow the court system to handle this matter, as it has been doing these past couple of months."

 

Allred's letter asked the NFL to investigate whether Still violated the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.

 

The NFL has not commented publicly.

 

MORE: Bengals back Still against child support claims