Originally Posted - July 27, 2006

return home

Follow the money.

The fate of Terri Schindler-Schiavo was ironically decided over a meal of fried chicken and salad in a Tallahassee restaurant when former Senate President James E. King Jr. and eight other Republicans of the Florida Senate met and resolved not to support legislation being introduced by Sen. Daniel Webster to help save the 41-year-old disabled woman from her death by court-ordered starvation and dehydration, the death penalty verdict rendered by Pinellas County probate court judge George Greer.

Michael Schiavo, her estranged husband and guardian, living with another woman by whom he has two children, had waged a contentious court battle before Greer since 1998 against her parents trying to end the brain damaged woman's life, saying that she wouldn't want to be kept alive by a feeding tube. She had left no living will and the husband's self-serving hearsay and that of his family was far from clear and convincing.

On March 18, 2005, by order of Judge Greer, food and water of Terri Schiavo was removed. She died 13 days later on March 31.

"I believe that there is a heaven and that's where Terri Schiavo is going to go and that's a trip that's long overdue", King (R-Jacksonville) was quoted as saying as he blocked the legislation from proceeding after the House had passed a bill which would have reinserted the feeding tube withdrawn from her on March 18 and would have saved her life.

"Had God not wanted what happened today to happen, He would have intervened", King said.


King is seeking reelection to the Florida Senate and is being challenged by anti-abortionist Randall Terry. King's has raised more than three times than Terry in contributions, netting $356,267 to Terry's $107,769.

One of King's contributors is none other than the wife of Schiavo Judge George Greer, which creates an overwhelming appearance of impropriety and smacks of Greer rewarding King for helping ensure that his death edict in the Schiavo case was upheld by King blocking legislation that would have caused her feeding tube to be reinserted.

What interest does Gail Patricia Greer who lives in Clearwater have in supporting a candidate who doesn't represent her and who in fact represents Jacksonville and environs, a district far removed from Clearwater and Pinellas County?

According to the Florida Division of Elections, Mrs. George Greer, listing an occupation as an interior designer and using a post office box instead of their address at 200 Dolphin Point, Unit 201, in Clearwater, donated $250 to King's campaign. She also donated $500 in separate $250 donations to former Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice's failed campaign for Attorney General. Rice, the former employer of the mother of Schiavo's 10-year live-in lover, hired Michael Schiavo prior to leaving the sheriff's office to become a member of Florida's House.

Mrs. Greer also contributed to Stan Blake, seeking election unopposed as a circuit court judge in Circuit 11, Miami.

In 1988, King had sponsored the Death With Dignity law that provides that oral declarations of a patient's wishes are valid. The law provides that Floridians can refuse medical treatment and allows family members or loved ones, even friends, to withdraw life support. However, in 1988, nutrition and hydration was not considered to be medical treatment.

The law wasn't applicable in the Schiavo case anyway because she left no living will and the oral declarations she allegedly made weren't witnessed by anyone and were supposedly heard only by Michael Schiavo, an individual who had more to gain by the disabled woman being dead than alive. Although his hearsay wasn't supported by anyone at the time of depositions prior to the 2000 trial which resulted in Terri's death warrant, by the time of the trial two of Michael's relatives, a brother and a sister-in-law, had also suddenly had their memories jarred and claimed that Terri had made statements to them about artificial life support.

Greer found that the Schiavo family was credible and that her family members or friends were not.

In 2003, when Senate president, King had yielded to intense public and political pressure to support Terri's Law which was championed by Gov. Jeb. Bush and saved the woman's life but was later ruled unconstitutional. King later said that that "was probably the worst vote I ever made in my years of being a legislator". He said there was "no question" that he would not vote that way today and had pledged that "if it comes up again, I will not do it".

And he didn't.

"I don't want anything on the floor in that Senate that is going to give platforms to people who want to roll back the hands of time for whatever reason", King said. "As soon as you put something on the floor, as well-intended as it may be, anybody can amend it. Then all of a sudden I'm sitting there facing a bill or bills that can dismantle what I consider to be my legacy".

A look at the financial backing of Jim King and campaign contributions show that his refusal to help save Terri Schiavo's life was driven more by money and influence than any legacy.

In 1999, after Michael Schiavo had petitioned the Pinellas County Probate Court of Greer to remove the feeding tube of his incapacitated wife and while he was living with his fiancé Jodi Centonze in an adulterous affair, criminal by Florida statutes, the Florida Legislature----including Sen. King-----changed the law. Prior to that time a feeding tube providing nutrition and hydration was not considered medical treatment.

Michael Schiavo's attorney, Deborah Bushnell, told Judge Mark Shames in May, 1997 that it wouldn't be proper to remove Terri's feeding tube without notification to her parents, Mary and Robert Schindler. According to public record, as of May, 1997, Schiavo had already intended to move Terri to a hospice where his new attorney, euthanasia advocate George Felos was a member of the board of directors, and remove her feeding tube to end her life. Shames granted permission for Felos to represent Michael Schiavo, to be paid with monies from Terri's trust fund which had been earmarked for her rehabilitation and therapy.

In August, 1997, Felos notified the Schindlers of the intent to end Terri's life by removing her feeding tube and in May, 1998, Felos and Schiavo filed a petition before Greer to remove the feeding tube----albeit at that time, gastric tube feedings were not defined as "medical treatment".

Introduced in April, 1999, by the Florida Elder Affairs and Long-Term Care Committee, the amendment changed the legal definition of life prolonging procedures to add "including artificially provided sustenance and hydration which sustains and restores or supplants a spontaneous vital function". It became law on October 1, 1999.

Among the co-sponsors of the bill was Gus Bilirakis, member of the Hospice of Florida Suncoast board of directors which owns Woodside Hospice where Terri Schiavo lived her last five years although not eligible for hospice care, admitted at a time when Michael Schiavo's attorney, Felos was also a member of the hospice board with Bilirakis.

Another hospice board member was Pinellas County Sheriff Rice, long time friend of Judge Greer and employer of Eleanor Centonze, mother of Michael's live-in girlfriend---another recipient of Mrs. Greer's funding.

Also among the co-sponsors of the 1999 bill was Sen. Nancy Argenziano, (R-Dunnellon) one of the nine Republicans who joined with King to prevent Sen. Webster's bill to save Terri's life from even getting a fair hearing on the Senate floor.

King was a member of the House of Representatives at the time 1999 House Bill 2131 was introduced and was director emeritus and executive board member of the Hospice of Northeast Florida Inc. of Jacksonville which changed its named to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida Inc. in February, 1999. After the bill was passed, King received the Hospice Hall of Fame Award.

King was elected to the Senate on March 9, 1999, having served in the House since 1986, and later served as Senate majority leader from 2000-2002 and Senate president from 2002 through 2004. He was a member of the Senate when Bill 2228, the companion bill to HB 2131, was passed and signed into law on Oct. 1, 1999.

According to published reports, Jodi Centonze may have met Michael Schiavo before the fateful night of Feb. 25, 1990, when Terri collapsed under mysterious circumstances at their home with only Michael Schiavo as a witness. Although admitting that he knew CPR and that he had found Terri lying face down, gulping for air, he admits that he did not administer CPR and he apparently didn't even take steps to move her head so she could breathe easier.

The reports say that Jodi Centonze had left her first husband, Scott Blough, soon after New Year's Day of 1989. They had been married in October, 1986. Her father, Joseph, was an auto mechanic and was killed at age 54 in 1988 as the result of an automobile accident. Her mother, Eleanor, was working for then Pinellas County Sheriff Rice as a clerk at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department, a position she held for 20 years until her retirement in 1999.

Jodi Centonze had been injured in two automobile accidents, one in December, 1987 and another eight months later. At that time she was already working in insurance full-time, becoming employed in an insurance agency while in high school and continuing full time after her graduation from high school in 1983. She currently holds licenses with several insurance companies
http://www.fldfs.com/Data/AAR_ALIS1/dl/get_detail.asp?idno=A044177&name=CENTONZE%2C+JODI+ANN

Michael Schiavo was born in 1963 in Levitttown, PA. Terri was born the same year and grew up in Huntington Valley, PA., a suburb of Philadelphia. The couple met at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA. in 1982 while both were students there and five months after meeting, Michael Schiavo proposed. They were married on Nov. 10, 1984, in Southhampton, PA. and in 1986, moved to St. Petersburg, FL., and Terri's parents, Mary and Bob Schindler moved there for early retirement. Terri had worked for Prudential Insurance Co. in Pennsylvania and continued with the company in Florida, employed by Prudential at the time of her collapse in February, 1990.

After Centonze sustained her neck and shoulder injuries in the 1988 auto accidents, she got 19 cavities in a year and was seeing a dentist regularly. She reportedly met Michael Schiavo at the orthodontist's office in July, 1993, possibly even before February, 1990 as the orthodontist, Alan Shoopak, was a good friend of Schiavo's by Schiavo's own admission.

Gloria Centonze, 53, wife of Jodi's brother, John Centonze, claims that she was a nurse for Terri at the Sabal Palms nursing home in the early 90s. Terri was a resident at Sabal Palms from July 1991 until March, 1994 when she was moved to Palm Gardens. However, according to the licensing records for Florida medical professionals, no nursing license is on file in Florida for the woman under either Centonze or her maiden name of Cassaro. According to Florida marriage records, John Centonze married Cassaro on June 22, 2002.


In his book, "Terri: The Truth", Schiavo reveals that John Centonze worked at Sabal Palms at the time that Terri was a resident and at the same time that Michael was dating Jodi Centonze.

Close friends of Terri Schiavo and family members say that just prior to her suspicious collapse, Terri had been talking about divorcing Michael Schiavo and they report seeing bruises on her and speak of Michael Schiavo's controlling, abusive nature.

Liberty American Insurance Co. was organized on Oct. 28, 1997, under the name of Mobile United Property and Casualty Insurance Company and commenced writing business on Dec. 30, 1998, according to Florida insurance records. The name was changed to Liberty American Insurance Group on Feb. 18, 2000, with the home offices at 7785 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, the same address as the Jerger corporations.

The company was formed as part of the Jerger Companies and was included in the sale of the Jerger Companies to Philadelphia Consolidated Holdings Inc. in July, 1999 for a reported cash and stock deal of over $40 million. The company is a member of the Liberty American Insurance Group, a subsidiary of Philadelphia Consolidated Holdings Inc.

A published report at the time said Philadelphia Consolidated, a commercial lines specialty underwriter, had bought the Jerger Co. Inc. of Pinellas Park and its subsidiaries. It was reported that the buy brought Philadelphia Consolidated about $70 million of mobile home, homeowners property and casualty and floor insurance premiums. Besides $20 million in cash and more than 1 million shares of stock, Philadelphia Consolidated agreed to a $5 million additional payment, "depending on how well the new businesses perform".

Philadelphia Consolidated Holding specializes in designing and underwriting commercial property and casualty insurance for clients such as rental car companies, not-for-profits such as hospices, health and fitness centers and day-care facilities. Specialty lines cover such professionals as lawyers, accountants and insurance agents. The company also sells mobile homeowners policies, mainly in Florida.

The Liberty American Insurance Group Inc. markets on behalf of their wholly owned subsidiaries Liberty American Insurance Company, Mobile USA Insurance Company and the Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company, all of which both Centonze and Jerger have associations. In addition to marketing for these companies, Liberty American Insurance also partners with other companies to market their products, according to their website.

According to a report filed in March, 2003 with Florida's insurance department, Liberty American Insurance Group operated under the leadership of P. Daniel Eldridge, president and CEO. Other officers of the insurance company in 2002 were Bruce Meyer Sr., vice president and CFO; Charles B. Sadler, vice president of underwriting and compliance; Ward Westbrook, assistant vice president of underwriting; Ken Meyer, assistant vice president and director of marketing and Shawn McVeigh, vice president of information technology.

According to filings made with the Florida Division of Corporations Jodi Centonze was listed as a director for the Liberty American Insurance Agency in a filing with the state on April 26, 2001 indicating that Jerger and Sons had been changed to be known as Liberty American in August, 2000. However, at the time of the annual filing for 2002 on April 28, 2002, Centonze's name had been removed as a director but the change was not noted on the report.

She had been added as an officer of Jerger and Sons in April, 1998, using an address of 2027 Warwick Dr., Oldsmar. Fla., property where she and Michael Schiavo had built a home together in 1995 with Schiavo using the money he had received in the 1992 medical malpractice lawsuit for "loss of consortium" at the same time he professed that he was honoring his wedding vows with Terri. Other officers and directors listed for Jerger and Sons in April, 1998, the month prior to Schiavo/Felos filing their petition with Greer in May, 1998 to end Terri's life, were Richard M. Jerger Jr., Thomas Jerger, Dean Jerger, Bruce Meyer and Raymond Blacklidge. Blacklidge, a lobbyist with the Florida Legislature, was also the registered agent of the corporation.

Centonze remained as a listed officer and director of Jerger and Sons on the 1999 and 2000 filings. However, in the 2000 filing, Thomas and Dean Jerger and Bruce Meyer had been replaced as officers by P. Daniel Eldridge; James G. MaGuire Jr. of Fort Washington, PA; and Craig Keller of Haverton, PA.

In the April, 2002, filing, Centonze's name had disappeared as a director as well as all the Jergers, and the corporate officers were listed as Meyer, Keller, Eldridge and MaGuire. Eldridge replaced Blacklidge as the registered agent.

According to the website of Liberty American Insurance Group, The Hospice Foundation is among the organizations for which the company conducts fundraisers.

A review of Florida's corporate records indicates that the same individuals, all associated with Jerger and Centonze, are connected to six corporations with Eldridge and Blacklidge as registered agents.

These corporations all use the same mailing address of 7785 66th St., North, Pinellas Park, home of the Jerger and Centonze business interests.

They include the Mobile Adjustment Company, the Mobile USA Insurance Co. Inc., , the Mobile United Property and Casualty Insurance Co., the Mobile Homeowners Insurance Company, Jerger and Sons Inc. and The Jerger Company.

A seventh corporation, the Liberty American Premium Finance Company at the same Pinellas Park address, was formerly known as the MHIA Premium Finance Company and was renamed in March, 2000. Eldridge is the registered agent of that corporation with McGuire, Eldridge, Meyer, Keller and Sadler listed as corporate officers in the last corporate filing in 2004. In 2000, the corporate officers had been listed as Richard, Thomas and Dean Jerger along with Blacklidge.

But what is even more significant is that all of these companies associated with Jerger and Centonze contributed to James E. King Jr.'s Senate campaign in 1999, each corporation writing King's campaign a check for $500 for a total of $3,000 all on Jan. 20, 1999, shortly before the bill was introduced in the house to make nutrition and hydration medical treatment. However, King does not represent the district in which Jerger resides and does business.

According to election records, none of these entities or associated names have thus far contributed to the 2006 King campaign.

After the name change of Jerger and Sons to Liberty American in August, 2000, on Jan. 11, 2001, a certificate of incorporation was filed for the Jerger and Centonze Insurance Agency Inc. with an address of 2807 Marrie Court, Clearwater, the home of Centonze and Michael Schiavo, property owned by Centonze according to Pinellas County assessment records.

Listed as officers and directors of the corporation were Richard M. Jerger Jr., Michael Schiavo and Catherine M. Quinn-Jerger. Registered agent for the corporation was G. Barry Wilkinson of St. Petersburg, an attorney and partner in a firm known as Lefter, Cushman and Wilkinson, now known as Lefter, Wilkinson and Sandorf. The law firm specializes in individual and corporate taxation, estate planning and administration, probate litigation, wills, trusts, pensions and tax controversy.

According to state records, both Jerger and Centonze are licensed insurance agents. However, no insurance license is on file for Michael Schiavo.

The corporation was administratively dissolved on October 4, 2002.

In July, 2002, Michael Schiavo had petitioned Greer to place his estranged wife on Medicaid which Greer approved.

The Liberty American Insurance Group is a holding company for two personal lines insurance companies and has licenses in 10 other states. Holding companies are a common way of hiding assets for insurance executives.

In March, 2004, the Jerger Holding Corp.,28 Street North, St. Petersburg, was registered with Florida's Division of Corporations. Raymond Blacklidge is listed as the registered agent with Thomas Jerger as the sole officer.

A view of King's campaign contributions for 2002 indicates that a total of $5,000 was also filtered into his campaign by a lobbyist for Florida's hospice industry at the time of the 1999 legislation.

Thomas Panza of the law firm Panza, Maurer and Maynard of Tallahassee, is a registered lobbyist with the Florida Legislature and is the registered agent for the Florida Coalition of Hospice Care. Inc., South Florida Hospice Inc. and Hospice of the Palm Coast Inc. During King's last Senate campaign in 2002, Thomas Panza contributed a sum of $1,000 to King's campaign, his law firm, $500 and members of the Panza family donated $3,500 to King.

In 1999, Panza contributed $1,000 to King, a sum matched by his law firm.

Hospice of Palm Coast Inc. with an address listed as Dallas, Texas, has contributed the maximum $500 to King's 2006 campaign as has Thomas Panza and the Panza, Maurer and Maynard "operating account". Contributions from other members of the Panza family total $1,500.

As of this date, it has not been determined if there are any existing life insurance policies on Terri Schiavo nor has it been determined what insurance company underwrites coverage for the Hospice of Florida Suncoast.

Perhaps another reason that Michael Schiavo and attorney Felos took steps to have Terri placed in a hospice, albeit she was ineligible as she was not terminal and the proper physicians' certification was not completed, was that of a viatical settlement. A viatical settlement is the sale of a life insurance policy of a terminally ill individual to a third party. Typically a viatical settlement involves a person who has a life expectancy of less than two years. This assessment is based on the nature of the illness or condition and a review of the particular person's records by doctors.

The owner of the policy, who is typically, but not necessarily, the individual with a life-threatening illness, receives cash for the policy and the owner transfers the policy to the person buying the policy. In these transactions, the viatical settlement provider becomes the new owner and/or beneficiary of the life insurance policy and is responsible for paying all future premium payments and collecting the entire death benefit of the policy upon the death of the insured.

In many cases, the process is handled by a broker who serves as the intermediary between the person with the life threatening illness and the person buying the policy.

In most states, sales of policies of persons who do not meet the definition of "terminally ill" are not subject to regulation.

The return depends upon the seller's life expectancy and the actual date he or she dies. If the seller dies before the estimated life expectancy, you may receive a higher return. But if the seller lives longer than expected, your return will be lower. You can even lose part of your principal investment if the person lives long enough so that you have to pay additional premiums to maintain the policy. 7-27-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette