Posted on 12/21/2004 8:54:13 AM PST by flixxx
Slain officer's widow, parents at odds over photo
BY KEVIN COLE
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER Stacy Pratt has filed a lawsuit to prevent her former in-laws from using a picture of her 4-year-old daughter on a Web site.
Pratt is the widow of Omaha Police Sgt. Jason Tye Pratt, who was killed while on duty on Sept. 11, 2003. She said in the lawsuit that she had not consented to the use of her daughter Madison's picture on the site.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Douglas County District Court, claims that the use of the girl's picture is an invasion of privacy.
The Internet site run by the slain officer's parents, Mike and Rita Pratt, promotes the sale of "Tye Bands." The wristband carries Jason Pratt's picture, his dates of birth and death and his badge number.
The bands sell for $28.50, with proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Omaha and the Officer Law Enforcement Family Assistance Fund.
On the Web site, a smiling Madison Pratt is shown modeling a "Toddler Tye Band" on her right arm.
"Madison is proud of her dad and she's proud of her Tye Band," said Mike Pratt. "The picture is one that I took of her. What's wrong with Madison showing off a Tye Band to raise funds for the kids in the community?"
Felicia Collins, a spokeswoman for Stacy Pratt, said the lawsuit was filed "after she had exhausted other efforts to resolve an ongoing conflict."
According to the lawsuit, Stacy Pratt had demanded that her daughter's picture be removed from the Web site, but the Pratts refused. She is seeking a temporary injunction to keep the photo off the site until the lawsuit is resolved.
Mike Pratt said he was "disappointed and saddened" to hear that his former daughter-in-law had filed a lawsuit.
Mike Pratt acknowledged there has been a growing rift between Stacy and her in-laws since the death of Jason. He and his wife last visited with Madison and her sister, Jordyn, about a month ago.
Rita Pratt said Monday she was shaken by the lawsuit.
"It's just a shame that it would come to this," she said.
The in-laws should have asked if it was ok before they did it. I'd expect my family members to consult me before posting a picture of my daughter on the internet.
I went to the website. It's sort of weird, IMO
On one hand, I can understand them wanting to do this in memory of their son. The site itself is poorly designed in layout and color. I personally wouldn't want to buy a $28 wristband with various poses of a dead cop, but that's just me. I'd rather just donate the money in the officer's memory...the wristbands seem kitschy.
The site has a highly detailed biography of the officer's PARENTS. Not the officer - his mom and dad's lives are featured in a 6 page spread of newspaper clippings and self-written memoir. Plus frequent mention of their current business venture - that sort of rubs me the wrong way.
There are 800+ pictures of the slain officer, from birth up through adulthood. There is no narrative or biography of him from what I could see. There is little mention of his wife and children. I still have no clue about Officer Pratt, or how he died. Thanks to the site, I do know far too much about his parents' financial success and business ventures.
His widow is referred to on the site as his "former wife" and not "widow." I certainly would like to think that if something happened to my inlaws, they wouldn't refer to me as his "former wife" - I would tend to think that a "former wife" was an ex-wife, not a widow. I am wondering if perhaps this lawsuit from the widow is not indicative of some existing familial issues.
Like it or not, the child's mother is the one who may decide if her daughter's picture is on a website - not her grandparents. There are a lot of weirdos on the internet!
The in-laws were representing her father and they should have some say also.
I understand that, but the mother is the living parent and she should have been consulted before they did it.
Sniff do I smell fraud?
My first cynical impression, cashing in.
Well, they've apparently given $5000 to the local Boys and Girls Clubs from this wristband charity.
If I were doing a similar venture, I'd do the website differently and have it focus on the slain officer, not on me! Like I said, the biography/memoir of the parents seemed really weird to me. I don't want or need to read about the parents' life stories in a 6 page spread. If I'm at a site to contribute in memory of a fallen policeman, I want to know about HIM and his wife and daughters, not that his parents have run X number of local businesses and have been financially successful.
And the reference to "former wife" really, really bothered me.
I'm just starting to look over the website now.
Question - in that one picture of his gravesite where they say "something wonderful happened" - does anyone have any idea what they are referencing to? (Yes, I clicked on the picture - I still don't see it).
No.
I agree with you 100 percent; they can do whatever they want with their son's image (although as the widow, I would be upset with that), but they have no say in anything the child is involved in.
It sounds like it won't be long before they won't be seeing little Madison OR his sister, period.
The mother should have the final say, absolutely.
Prayers for the dead and the living that loved him.
Agreed. There are some real psycho's out there and if the mother doesn't want the childs picture on the site then it shouldn't be on the site.
The in-laws should have respected her wishes.
Like I said above, it sounds like they might not be seeing either grandchild before too long -- if they don't back off.
Apparently the light glinted off the tombstone so that it looks like a small cross is right next to his eye, allegedly in the area where he was shot (left temple). I didn't get it for a minute, either.
Weird.
These grandparents are clueless, you NEVER post your kids pictures on the net.
It is NOT their kid. It is the mother's child.
Oooh! Ok, thanks....
Did I miss something? Anyone have the link to the website in question?
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