He adopted a child?
Richard H. Hatch Jr. v. Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families
Filed: July 3, 2000
United States District Court, Providence, Rhode Island
Status: On March 1, 2001, a federal judge in Providence, Rhode Island, dismissed Hatch's suit. U.S. District Judge Ernest C. Torres ruled that officials acted reasonably when they took Hatch's son because the boy had told the same story to a half-dozen different people and a doctor had found there was physical evidence consistent with Chris' charge that his father abused him.
Then on August 16, 2001, Judge Torres tossed Hatch's claim against Middletown police that they falsely arrested him and that they invaded his privacy by releasing his arrest report to the news media. The judge did, however, allow Hatch to move forward with his invasion-of-privacy beef with several unnamed "John Does," after they leaked a police mug shot and a witness statement to the National Enquirer.
The Case: He's known as "that naked gay guy" on Survivor--the pudgy corporate trainer who helps lead the never dull Tagi tribe. But before CBS' hit castaway show invaded our living rooms, Richard Hatch says police unfairly labeled him a child abuser in front of the national media.
Hatch is now suing, claiming he was falsely arrested for child abuse by Middletown, Rhode Island, police and that the state's Department of Children, Youth and Families violated his civil rights by taking away his 10-year-old adopted son, Christopher.
Hatch, 39, was arrested April 27, 2000--two days after he returned from his 39-day adventure on the Malaysian island of Pulau Tiga. This came after Christopher told police that Hatch--who was reportedly upset the kid had gained weight while he was gone--woke the boy up at 4:30 a.m., forced him to go jogging and roughed him up when he disobeyed an order. Police said Hatch grabbed his son by the ear and neck when he became tired, then forced him to do push-ups.
But Hatch claims in his lawsuit that the child fabricated the tale because he was angry. "I love my son, and I've done whatever I can to keep him safe," Hatch says. "There's no foundation to any of the original charges. The only thing true is that we did go for a run, a very slow jog...but Chris had already been running six miles a week with me before I left."
According to Hatch's suit, "[The child] exhibited extremely serious behavioral and emotional problems as a result of his past abuse and neglect. This behavior manifested itself in part through numerous fits of uncontrolled rage resulting in self-injury and repeated acts of lying and deceit."
The suit then adds, "As a direct and proximate result of DCYF's unwarranted separation of [Chris] from Richard's care, custody and control...[the child] has suffered an extreme regression in behavior and great psychological and emotional harm, and Richard's relationship with [Chris] has been grievously damaged."
After a closed family hearing May 25, a judge ordered the child returned to Hatch. But felony charges are still pending, and prosecutors reportedly have not decided whether to pursue the case.
Hatch also filed a complaint against Middletown police, saying they falsely arrested him and leaked information about the case to the national media. In a letter to the Middletown Town Council, Hatch's lawyer, Joseph Palumbo, said the police department's actions "have caused grievous and irreparable harm to Mr. Hatch's standing and reputation." Hatch is seeking $1.5 million in damages from police.
"[W]ith absolutely no effort by police to conduct any semblance of any investigation, the police precipitously arrested Mr. Hatch and locked him up," Palumbo writes. "To add extreme insult to injury, the police department subsequently released information and details of the unfounded allegations of child abuse to local and national media."
Sidebar: Hatch, who is not married, adopted the boy about three years ago, and the child stayed with relatives while Hatch flew off to the land of immunity challenges, Tribal Councils and rat-kabobs.