LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- One day after federal prosecutors indicted Danielle Ross on tax fraud charges, there are all kinds of questions about her job and what happens to the parents and children in the cases she handled for Family Court in Lackawanna County.
A statement from the Lackawanna County Common Pleas Court announced Danielle Ross`s suspension as full-time Guardian ad Litem, and warned that many custody cases now before the court will be delayed.
On Tuesday afternoon, Lackawanna County court issued a statement on her job status,
"Her contract to provide and all services has been suspended and she is to refrain from any further contact with existing or new gal (Guardian ad Litem) clients."
That means Ross is essentially suspended without pay.
"This is a long time in coming," said Bill Burrell of Honesdale.
He says he`s one of many parents who believe Danielle Ross billed unfairly, and made unfair recommendations in their child custody cases.
Because Ross is now accused of a crime, Burrell said her custody recommendations should be considered tainted, and that hundreds of cases that Ross handled should be reopened.
"It's about the appearance of impropriety," said Burrell. "But I think if there`s an honest and fair look into those cases from independent sources, I think you`re going to find a litany of unethical behavior."
As of now, state court officials say there is no plan to reexamine cases that Ross worked on in Lackawanna County Family Court.
Judges in Lackawanna County have not made any moves to replace Ross as Guardian ad Litem.
On Friday, Danielle Ross is scheduled to make her first appearance in Federal Court and several people who feel wronged by her work as Guardian ad Litem say, they will be there.