Wow, that's amazingly atrocious behavior. If nothing else, that family should be shamed in public.

They should go through a "to the shame" as illustrated in The Pricess Bride.

Perfect !

I remember that episode and was very touched by the way the two families pulled together. it is a shame about what happened. I feel that abc should make it right in compensation in some way to the higgins family. the purpose of the show is to provide a new home and better life for the individuals involved. in the instance that occured between these two families abc should have factored that possibility into there contract either way.

no matter what it is really a shame that the two families have two go thru what is about to happen in court

I remember this case and thanks for the update from the CA appeals court. I am so glad this family of orphans (a heroic real life version of "Party of Five") is going to be able to sue.

I only hope that couple who took them in and used them to essentially get a new free loaded house end up homeless and hated by everyone they pass by.

I think that it is wrong. The Higgins used those kids to get a new home. The show should help or take the house back. The house was remodeled under false pretenses meaning the expansion was due to take care of the large family. Kids do not worry because when those taxes kick in those people will loose the house due to tax default.

HA!!! thats what they get!

I really hope those children get justice. I also hope the parents also get justice by loosing their home that was meant for those children not as their real estate investment.

And to think, this was a couple from CHURCH that took in these poor kids.

The Higgins kids were lucky they weren't sexually abused. You know those holier than thou church folk.

I do not remember that episode . I think that the premise of the show is meant to be a wonderful and humanitarian jesture for all involved.So with that in mind and the renovation /makeover was also done with the intent that to provide some security for the Higgins.The folks who took them in have had the mortgage paid off then it is and would seem equitable that the Higgins famly recieve a portion of that equity because had it not been for the circumstances and Misfortune of the Higgins family the Host family would never have gained the equity in the new home had it not been for the Higgins.So share in the wealth and show good will.

Like they say the devil walks in many forms. There's good and evil. Hope their own children never have to walk the same path that the Higgins Children are going through. Prayer is very stong, Higgins Children keep praying and I will do the same. And you know, if worst comes to the point where you can't get the house (although, it belongs to you all-which was also part of the reason on your parents lost), just see it like they needed it more than you all. Because, family is the most beautiful thing one can have. Never seperate and always love one another. As long as we have Jesus in our lives we have everything, especially our health. In the meantime stay together and fight for what is yours. My God, there's enough child abuse everyday on the news for adults to act in such a vicious way. That's what you call WICKED!!! That's abandonment in my eyes.

WE DIDN'T SEE THE SHOW, BUT ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT. UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE HIGGINS CHILDREN, THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THE BANK. WHAT COMES AROUND......GOES AROUND!!!!

There is a saying "God don't like ugly". If the home was built as a result of the Higgins tragedy and as a result of one of the Higgins contacting Extreme Makeover. Why did the Higgins not have some sort of contractual agreement towards ownership of this house?

ABC and the companies who donated products did nothing wrong to these people. They should not be held liable for the grievous actions of another. What this article doesn't truly say is WHY they were kicked out. But it wasn't ABC, et al, who kicked them out. Their only fault was in not protecting themselves fully enough from these frivolous, deep-pocket lawsuits.

The house may be deeded to the unscrupulous foster parents, but weren't the rooms custom designed for the kids? Weren't the products in each room and the rest of the house given to the kids?

The home should be stripped of all of its contents, and everything put in storage until the case is settled. That stuff belongs to the Higgens family !

I have seen this show a lot but not this episode and I hope this story shames the show into doing what is right for the kids that are who the home was really built for.

I like that blogcritics comments do not want to have personal attacks but this is exactly what this kind of story is going to rile up in the readers of it.

The show--simply as a gesture of goodwill--ought to purchase a new property outright for the Higgins family, and do an extreme makeover on that property just for them. And after they do it, they should ensure the deed shows equal ownership by each Higgins child.

The show can't take away the home from those "good and charitable" folks that sheltered the Higgins orphans, because they were the owners of the original home and property that underwent the makeover.

Because this family seemed willing to share their smaller and more humble home with the orphaned kids, one must wonder why they were unwilling to share their home when its size and amenties were better suited to such a large group.

At the very least, I am sure the show has learned a valuable lesson from this, and--hopefully--will give close consideration to the circumstances of each family they assist, accommodating their needs and ensuring their best interests accordingly. I truly hope the show will see it is best, all the way around, to give the Higgins kids a home of their own.

If they jump outside the framework of their usual format and do this, Extreme Makeover will not only follow through on their original intent and "promise" to help this family, they'll bring peace and resolution to the kids' aching hearts, and they will do much for their own image and that of ABC. Everyone's interests would be best served--even the corporate machine's.

Kinda sad what someone would do to cause much pain to someone else.

It's an unfortunate ending. However the companies involved with the rebuilding of the home did so as a charitable contribution and now they are being sued. So now not only are they out of pocket for their materials and labor they have to defend themselves for being charitable. As a business owner if asked to help with a donation like this I would have to think twice and I would probably decline based on this situation. It is sad when good intentions get turned into an ugly mess.

I think the house should be taken away from the people that kicked the Higgins out, after all that house probably never would have remodeled by ABC if it weren't for the Higgins kids.

Gotta love Christians! hahaha

A few comments:

First, I have a problem with folk who bash Christians as a whole just because of what happened to the 5 Higgins who were "adopted". There are fakes everywhere! Dishonesty by someone who "claims" to be a Christian does not make all christians bad. In fact, the offending person is probably NOT a christian, but just "pretending" to get something. Obviously, in this case, their deception worked. How sad for the family who really needed the help.

Second, Extreme Home makeover was operating on the assumption that everyone was dealing honestly, therefore, their lapse in judgement as to NOT include the higgins family on the official paperwork, was just that, a lapse in judgement. They did what they came to do, took down a house too small for the needs of the ocupants, built a house that DID fix the need, and paid off the mortgage to help with finances. They could have had no idea what was to come, or the hardship that would once again, be placed on the 5 orphaned members of the Higgins family.

Third, the couple (with 3 kids) that took the others into their home were NOT named Higgins. That was the 5 orphaned. That being said, I think the only "right" solution would be for the couple who got the new house through dishonesty to be evicted, and the house go to the family for whom it was actually built...the Higgins. With no mortgage, they would be fine. What about the couple that suddenly had no house? Well, they too, also have no mortgage, and they can go elsewhere and get another home. The Higgins family can't. The older children (very yound adults) could never find jobs that allowed them to afford a 9 bedroom home. Since the "intent" of the show was to provide for the family that had been orphaned, that is what the courts should do.

That's just my 2 cents!!!

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

If there is justice in the world, the oprhans will get that house, while the couple will somehow (if possible) be forced to buy a house resembling their original house BEFORE Extreme Makeover did anything.

its religious people like this that give us christians a bad name

All Christians are fake, as far as I can tell Christianity is all about being fake. Pretend to be generous so you can criticize and feel superior to those whom you "helped". Pretend you don't need sex because you're devoting your life to god, then rape children. Pretend to be holier than others, but hate people who are different from you. The people who took in the Higgins kids just to get a free nice new house don't seem like atypical Christians to me.

1 ABC should go in that house and get all the higgins stuff that they put in it.
2. abc should sue that family for all the new rooms that was added.
3. put a lein on that house, so that family does not try and sell it.
4. I will pray for that family, and hope they do not get crushed by our creator above.

Bush is a Christian. Case and point.

What a shame that people can be so cruel. These children have been through so much in their short lives, then to have this happen. The companies that helped abc build this house are not at fault neither is abc. Children, don't give up your faith in humanity,not all people are this way. God is in control, he will find a way. You children have a great gift, That of each other and your faith in the One that matters. Somehow this will work out in your favor. God be with you as you go through this unfortunate mess.

People, people - there is no justice in this situation. What the 5 kids will learn if they take this to court is that their "benefactors", however dispicable, possess the deed to the property and the house.

What the 5 kids should do, rather than sue ABC and the others, is team up with ABC and all of the contractors and sue their "benefactors" for fraud. Embroil them in so much litigation that they will have to take out a loan on that beautiful new house they swindled out of ABC. Sully their name and reputation in the courts and community so that they would not be able to show their faces in their "church" again -- if they ever did go to church in the first place. With a sympathetic jury their "benefactors" may have to cough up the costs for building and furnishing the house and pay restitution to the kids -- talk about a mortgage - on a 9 bedroom home -- ouch! That would be the happy ending to this evil deed.

Unfortunately, bad people often win in this world and with any luck the 5 kids won't use their "benefactors" as an example on how to live their lives.

As much as I've hated jury duty in the past, sitting on the jury to hear this case would be my pleasure.

well the family should all fucking die for being such dicks no place needs people liek that and they should be fucking ashamed to call themselves people (not the higgins people) i believe they had every right to sue those greedy stupid fucking cunts

this is sad,really but i've been there,i lost my parents,and adopted myself into a ready made family,now i really believed that they love me,what i found was that the minute u step out of bounds,u find how much in the family your not,now where these people just a temporary home,and were the kid a were of this if that was the case...the house should be sold and another house build,for those kid,it only fair!!!...penny-pen

First of all, please stop attacking Christians. There are bad people in this world, and they come from every single background imaginable. For example, someone in Europe could read this story, and say, "Now that's Americans for you! All Americans are wicked, etc. etc." That wouldn't be fair, would it? Please do not generalize about others. And just a note, Christian only means "like Christ," so this family is obviously not a family of Christians. Their actions are nothing like that of Christ's.

This situation is definitely a terrible injustice on those poor children. I have faith that they'll be taken care of though. And like so many others said, what goes around, comes around. I'll certainly be following the case as much as I can.

This will be a good court case because the donations were gifts the suit will ask at least two guest ions, "Was the gifts given to the orphans and the property owners; 2) How much of the sale price will the evicting family have to pay to the Higgins because their presence in the house is the reason for the giving.

Gifts are tax deductible if the gift giver by definition does not reap reward (thus the paying off of the mortgage), the contractors are safe but ABC and Sears are wishing that they had a better contract if you can attach a monitory value to advertisement fees and exposure.

Don't stop giving.

The contract should state to whom the gifts were given. If the house was given to the land owner then the property owner can evict the non-property owner. If the evicted can prove that they have a vested interest in the property they can sue for their portion of the fair market value.

Don't stop giving.

On the surface it appears the family is totally immoral and that ABC lawyers are totally inept. But the question that pounds at me is where do the Higgins children get all this money for lawsuits? I can't help being cynical in thinking there is a lawyer out there looking for another deep pocket. If a lawsuit is successful in gaining an astronomical amount of money for 'suffering', the children will be no better off than they were, the lawyer will strike it rich, and Extreme Home Makeover may close its doors. That would be a pity.

I agree with the sentiment that it would be best, if not cheapest, to just build the children a home. The 21-year-old is no child and could be the legal owner (but something should be in the contract about all the children being equal owners). As some have said, ABC could even take all the furniture that was earmarked for the children out of the first house and put it in the new home.

Who are these "Higgins" people , and their team of loathsome Trial Lawyers to interfere with a properly incorporated Red White And Blue American entertainment business? And why are they harassing a Good Christian Family that managed to find a way to improve their lot in life? Some people just don't know when to accept their place in life!

The law will do what is provided for in the contract. Its that simple. If the contract sucks, thats too bad. The host family will in all probability keep the house and contents as provided for in the contract. The kids will get nothing, as provided for in the contract. The legal language will decide the issue.

Calling yourself a Christian doesnt make you one. I happen to be an atheist, yet I try very hard to follow the example set by christ. Far more than most so-called christians I know. And most of them can rationalize even the most outrageous behavior alowing themselves to think they are morally superior to the rest of us. I'm sure the host family is patting themselves on the back for how much God loves them by having ABC renovate their house for them. And rest assured, when they win the lawsuit in court, they will accept that as Gods judgment PROVING that He was on their side all along. This is what is meant by "family values" by the right wingers.

This is so very sad! However, it is NOT the fault of ABC or Extreme Home Makeover. It is unconcionable that someone could be so cruel to others. However, don't forget there are two sides to every story, so we must let the courts decide and hear both sides. We have already made up our minds what horrible people those church-goers are. They better say their prayers and hope that they will be forgiven. They're very lucky that we have a wonderful judicial system and that stones don't get thrown at them!

So we are assuming that all who go to church are Christians???? Should we all assume that everyone that goes to a bar is a drunk? Nowhere in the above article does it mention that these people were indeed Christians. The Bible says that "you will know them by their fruits" meaning that Christians will be recognized by their life. They were simply church attending people. Judas also sat at the feet of Jesus, that no more made him a christian than someone driving their Ford to a Audi dealer thinking they now have an A8. So let's get it straight. What happened to the Higgins children is a sad and true commentary of comtempt and greed that is bred here in America because of our bend towards an incredibly materialistic society. It has little to do with the fact that this family atended some church. What I don't understand is how (with all the legalese that we have in America) provisions were not included on behalf of the Higgins. One would think that ABC would have thought past the ratings of the show and considered the fact that this family had no legal reason to keep these kids around. ABC - tear down your walls and build these kids a home! Talk about a great show! The rating would probably surpass American Idol.

Do we know everything to make such quick judgements as you all are doing. Has the trial been completed? Has everything about this situation been heard from. Allevidence is in? It seems almost everyone here has gotten the full facts and have made your own decisions as to just who is right. I've seen friends become enemies to often to think a friendship like this was going to last. Maybe the kids gotto abve the fact that the property (land/original house) was really not theirs. Let the court decide what occoured. Watch courtTv. maybe.

I don't know why the show should be sued! If anyone should be a target for a suit, the host family is the one to shoot at. I hate that everyone wants to sue the deepest pockets. The show did something great for someone, now someone wants them to pay more! I'll wait until I have more information about why they were told to leave before I pass judgment.

its a shame that it happened, but theres good and bad in everyone. my wife watches this show-personally, i can't stand it. they get one family, tell their tale, and then you have 50 minutes watching the teary eyed hosts tell you how great they feel by helping those poor people,and in the end,a poor family of 4 ends up with a 20 room mansion full of overblown items and a $40,000 suv. i'm sure all the stuff they put in the kids rooms end up in the trash after one or two years after the kids interests change. if abc wanted to do a good deed, they should have an extreme makeover for a whole block of katrina victims ! i'm sure all the money they waste on one house could have made a real impact in new orleans and helped a dozen families down there. sure, it may not be a ratings giant, but all those millions would be put to good use

To whom it may concern,

I love that show "Extreme home make over" . I believe that the producers acted in good faith on that episode. I remember it. It was heart wrenching to say the least. I would agree 150% that the so called "christians" that took this family in and then used them to get a new paid for home.Should loose the house. I hope that the courts find in favor of the children and give them the house.To use children as a weapon for their own personal gain is horriable.Im sure that the parents of these children are looking down from heavon and casting stones at these people.I personally wish I could help these children. My family and I may not have much but we have never turned a child in need away. I was taught to help thy neighbor as thy friend. I believe that what goes around comes around.I know that these evil people will get their just deserts.God will repay them ten fold.
God Bless the little ones they are our tomorrow!

Unfortunately, I have to agree with these comments about the family being Christians. It's not their choice of faith that is at issue, but the fact that there is a whole base of people that are so dead set on pushing their way of life on others and 99% of the time they justify it with their faith. The people in this thread who are unhappy with that fact should take it to their congregations and try to affect change from the inside. The rest of us are tired of hearing empty preaching. And I'm sure these poor kids are too.

this site needs a moderator prior to posting. ref # 31

I loathe organized religion in general, and dislike Christianity in particular, but I must say my dear neighbors are Christian, and demonstrate the very best of what practitioners of that religion should be. Whenever I'm inclined to bash Christians, I have to stop & think of them. Of course, they're human, too, and have their "bad" days, but on the whole, they are exemplars of their faith. It's a pity more people don't seriously practice the religion the way my neighbors do.

EMHE looks for families who are giving back to their community, going above and beyond, doing the right thing, but need help with the home they own. The family already owned the home, it was their's before the makeover and after the makeover. They were chosen for the show because they had reached out to the Higgins family and taken them in, at their own expense and the result was a very cramped house that really couldn't hold all of them. It is easy to see why EMHE chose this family. What caused the family to ask the Higgins' to move out? Was it just greed or something else? The sad part is that the house is and always was the family's and the makeover was done to help them out because of taking in the Higgins. All of it was true at the time. I don't think the courts will have any recourse but to dismiss the case because the Higgins' have no legal standing. Where is the social justice?

There's something fishy here. How come we haven't heard more about this case? Was there actually an episode as described? Why isn't the name of the adopting family mentioned? And why isn't the congregation doing something? With all the outrage these actions deserve, I would expect the new family would be tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail.

I don't see where the full story has been told here. All of these "I think they should do this or that" is based on what little information is given here. Which isn't much. And as far as the Christian bashing goes, you act like Christains are supposed to be good people and ignore the fact that the bible that their religion is based on says Rom 3:10-12 "There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." So therefore if you know a "christian" who is self righteous maybe you should remind them of Romans 3:10-12. It it were possible for us to do good, we wouldn't have needed Jesus in the 1st place

First---I find it disturbing that #31 must find it important to us such vulgarity. To share such thoughts to me this is lack of knowledge and ignorance and inexsperian.I have a fowl mouth of my own at times,but I am at least or try to be civil.Time and place for everything but not here.

2nd---The Host family may supposedly practice being Christians or Agostic-Athiest-Muslim and with respect to any of the other religions out there or if they are Heathens.This is not the point.They are people for what ever reason have had a change of heart and perhaps learned they had made a mistake or just saw $$$$.They are only Human, we do do strange things and greed plays a major role world wide so it is not just religion

#3. The Host family owned the home originally. The intentions hopefully meant well but for some reason things did not work. This does not mean they are bad people nor does it say the Higgins were Angels.All of the contributors and program people should not be penalized for trying to do a kind Humanitarian jesture and reap profit at the same time that is their business along with all the sponsors.
Focus---there is a Moral and Ethical issue and I know contracts dont reconize that at least most of the time .The intent was to do good.
Bottom line---Host family owned property.They should get their investment back and some equity that they made or should have made on the original homestead and a portion of the new equity.
once again the Higgins are displaced for whatever reason and deserve a portion of the new equity as it was because of their misfortune others have reaped in a round about manor whether it be intentional or not.
So just hope the courts make the wrong right and fair all around and others dont be so judgemental as we do not know all the facts legal or not. Crap happens.

The show does not exist to do great humanitarian deeds for unfortunate families - it exists to make money for ABC and it's advertisers. If this story gains traction I'm sure they will schedule a new episode building the orphans a new house.

Producing one of these shows is dirt cheap compared to a top drama or sitcom show with high-paid actors. It's basically a giant product placement for Sears with a tear-jerker plot edited in.

Call me cynical, but the resolution to this case will have little to do with christian values, and a whole lot more to do with bottom-line.

Kay wrote: On the surface it appears the family is totally immoral and that ABC lawyers are totally inept. But the question that pounds at me is where do the Higgins children get all this money for lawsuits?

Attorneys usually work on contingency; that means they require no payment from their client and instead collect a percentage (something like 33%) of any settlement. If they lose in court the attorney collects nothing. So attorneys are very careful, of course, in selecting contingency cases they are highly confident about winning.

That said, I think there will be justice for the orphan kids and a suitable comeuppance for the other family. It will take time but it will in all likeliness happen. I believe it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said "Beware the wrath of a patient man."

The kids were all minors, no? So it's difficult to include them in contracts, which is probably why ABC didn't.

The folks with the title to the house are morons, though. Their church should shame them, ABC should shame them, let's all get a nice long look at the fraudsters.

I really feel terrible for the Higgins. The horribly cruel "people" who took them in may have done them a favor by giving them a home at first, but those monsters have, essentially, left those poor children "orphaned" once again. As a mother, I wouldn't care if those children were biologically mine or not. They are still in my home, still looking for my guidance and love, and still needing me. The children will wind up in far better shape then if they had stayed with the family, and the family will get what's coming to them. What goes around, comes around. And the Lord works in mysterious ways.

And as for no. 31, please don't use such language. It is not appropriate or called for.

This is unbelievable. How atrocious!!!! Those people should be ashamed of themselves. Church going people? I think not. If they were members of my church I'd get everyone together to tell them they were no longer welcome. A Christian would have left and let the children stay in that home and given it over to them. Of course if Extreme Makeover had just put the house in the oldest Higgins child's name this wouldn't be an issue. I think the show ought to put clauses in their contract for situations like this one so that if a family takes in an orphaned child that the house will automatically go to that child if that family decides they don't want to care for them anymore. I am appalled that these people have done this to these children. They lost their parents, this family took them in, they got a dream house built for all of them and then the family decided not to care for them anymore and kicked them out and now they don't have a family or a house. PATHETIC! ABHORRENT BEHAVIOR! It just makes me sick. My thoughts and prayers are with those children and I hope they win their case. What happened to morals????? There ought to be someway to get those people out of the house since it was built specifically for the Higgins children. Is there no loophole somewhere? Technically that home was built for them, not this wonderful Christian family who decided to take them in out of the kindness of their heart. Guess that family pulled one over on Extreme Makeover as a way of getting themselves a big, brand new house. SHAME, SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
God Bless you Higgins children. Hang in there. Everybody who's anybody will be on your side on this one.

Kerry was also a Christian. Case and point.

I think 3 were minors. The eldest was guardian for them. From the Court of Appeal decision, it appears that the producer met for an hour with the host couple only. The host couple stepped out and handed the 24 single-spaced page contract to the eldest, who signed it in "5 or 10" minutes, not enough time to read it.

The Court of Appeal was very very clear though that they were throwing out only the arbitration clause, not the whole contract, though.

If I were to say hateful things about Jewish, Islamic, African-American, or gay people as several of you have said about these supposed Christians, I would be condemned as intolerant and bigoted. Why is it OK to bash Christians when it is unacceptable to bash anyone else?

What a gready thing to do for the family that took them in. The only reason that the family got their mortgage paid off and a new home was because of the 5 kids. They always say what comes around goes around, I hope so. Unfortunately not soon enough for the 5 children. I do really hope that the family who took them in really, really has to pay. I hope now that the 5 children keep their faith that not everybody is like that! I hope the best for the 5 children. How wonderful they are with all there tragedy that they are still together. Take it one day at a time, and something will workout.

Lets just keep this simple, what goes around comes around. The show should step in and do whats right by building the Higgins another home. That is what the shows all about, right? And if Karma plays its part then the former host family's shiny new deck out home will burn down.

Well there's your church people for you. I know that statement will probably get me flogged, but it seems to be a pattern as of late on these shows. First it was the florida family on the Amazing Race that showed their true colors, now its the the Fogals on Treasure Hunters. I wonder how they sleep at night?

Welcome to almost reality TV. Although it is unfortunate, it was not unscripted. the Higgins were evected before the show aired, but the producers choose the "Happy Ending". I am sure the producers wish this would just "go away", they are at fault for not revealing the truth. Maybe they will decide to air this saga on an episode of The Peoples Court, or Oprah.

WOW! I feel really bad for those kids. They were promised a home, a family and an opportunity to live a full normal life like we most of us have. The family that did this should be very guilty and ashamed for what they have done to these kids. And I also think that ABC should do something about this, putting there financial greedy minds aside to do something that is humanly and morally right. These kids are victims and they do not deserve such wrongful treatment.

Here's some more information on the lawsuit, including an interview with the eldest Higgins child.

I believe in Karma and what comes around goes around. Shame on that family for using someones elses tragedy for their personal gain. They will get what is coming to them eventually.

although this sounds terrible, we haven't been given the whole story. many of you seem to be condemning this family without knowing all the facts. they may be bad people, but they may also have valid reasons. i think we should get the complete story with boths sides arguments before we start name calling.

Hmmm - has anyone heard the OTHER side of the story? Maybe the Higgins kids were absolute, horrible destructive brats who beat up the family's kids, etc etc - maybe they had a reason and everyone is jumping to conclusions too quickly??

Let's go burn their house down. ;)

I think that the Higgins will rise in the end. Be the better people. And it is true, what goes around comes around. For #31, you can say things without the bad words.

Does anyone care to comment on #59?

I love this show, but this is so sad that someone would do this to these kids. This house was built because of them. Kick out the family and let the Higgins kids move back it, for had it not been for them this house would have never been built. I hope this couple realizes just how selfish and stupid they actually are.

I think that the real suite should be with the owning family. They are the ones who made the implicit promise to take the Higgin's family into their home. Maybe a lesson learned by ABC and other families they help, is to make sure every possible (with reasonable probability) outcome is covered in the contract. This is one of the cases that involves two families and one home. Advice for future episodes, be careful about who you are actually helping and make it clear up front.

People like those are fake and deserve no affection; I hope the Higgins do win their case and get the house back...they deserve it!

I used to visit this site a lot, as a matter of fact I was contributor. I came here from popurls.com because I was interested in the Home Makeover story, but reading the comments in this thread remind me why I left and still stay away from this site. I think you'd actually have to find an athiest themed website to see a more hateful group of people when it comes to Christianity.

Vic

we can ask why and will never recv an answer. The truth is that there is no rhyme or reason just the fact as other comments stated that there is dishonesty everywhere and just think How can they sleep at night. Sick. Just sick.

TRUMPETER....#59 is absolutely correct. unfortunatly, it seems that only white christians know that. if white people say or do anything bad about another race, it's racism. this is only for white people though. nobody else has to worry about being called racist. i guess we can thank the liberal media for that. i can't figure out why christians are attacked so much. there are bad people in every religion, however, it seems the muslims are the only ones killing innocent people and bragging about it.

The point is not that these people were supposedly Christians, bad and good people come from all walks of life. I believe the most important thing is how we treat other people. It is ignorant to say that all Christians are bad people or fakes and also ignorant to say that atheists, agnostics, etc. are terrible for not believing in or ignoring God. The point is what kind of person we are and what we are trying to become. These companies should not be penalized for trying to be "good samaritans." We can only hope that they try to make things right for these poor children.

I did not see the segment nor do I know all the facts. However, I have suspicions that this so called "church family" had ulterior and selfish motives in their so called "christian" assistance. It is a great disservice to those persons who truly give unselfishly to others. This "church" family should not be able to continue to have the benefits of a new home at the expense of the Higgins children. The Higgins children have undergone a traumatic experience in initially losing their family and home only to be subjected to a second tragedy of rejection and possibly being taken advantage of by this "church" family.

One must always use intelligence, logic, reasoning, and judgment and when evaluating "church" people. There are many selfish and "unchristian" people wearing the guise of "church affiliation." This church should stand up and be counted -- for the Higgins Children AND seriously question this family who took advantage of the situation.

#59 is right. It is acceptable in this day and age to bash Christians and wrong to do so to any other religious group. Being a jerk is something you can be when you are of any faith or of no faith. Lets remember that here, people. Leave the host family's faith out of it and leave bigoted thoughts where they came from. What it sounds like they did was unacceptable. Do we know both sides? No, not yet, and because we were not in the home, the real truth will never be known. We were not there. One good lesson I learned in church was judge not lest ye be judged yourselves. It is up to God to judge. What I learned in government class was all charged are innocent until proven guilty. Remember that one?

In the gist of many of the angry responses were some good points. ABC and the show itself may have their hands tied due to the contract, however, misrepresentation (fraud) is a crime on any front, especially if someone profits from it. I say receiving a brand new, newly furnished mansion (that's what we call a 9 bedroom house in my part of the US), with no mortgage, constitutes profit. The local, state and federal governments should tax them heavily, especially, since the conditions by which this gift was received no longer exists. Also, whoever volunteered their time and energy, be it neighbors, friends, etc., should consider some action if they are not bound by the show's contract. They, too, have been victimized. As for the Higgin's children, they should sue for the personal property that was donated for their own use plus a percentage of what was donated for shared use, including any cash. I've seen the show on occassion and I know they spare no costs for those in need. If the victims were elderly, every government agency, or subsidiary would look into this.

As for the show, keep up the good work!! Just try to be more protective of the innocent.

You know, I just scrolled up and saw that what was there as #59 is now #58.

"I don't know why the show should be sued!"

I do. ABC is in the business of making money off of the misfortunes of others. Check out Smoking Gun, there is an e-mail where an ABC Casting Director is told to find certain ailments to depict on the show. They are told they want kids with diseases, etc, etc.

Anyways, in this situation, ABC aired a repeat of this show at a time after the Higgins had been kicked out of that house. If I were a Higgins kid, being kicked out of the pimped out house was bad enough, but to see the episode re-aired is deplorable.

The blame also is two-fold. The horrible couple that should be killed, along with ABC not making sure this situation would not happen. I agree with the statement that ABC lawyers are inept. Since this was a case where there was no relation between the couple and the orphan kids, ABC should have mandated that the couple deed to the house to the Orphan kids + couple, as tenants in common (it's a legal term).

Then the couple would not have been able to evict the kids, but rightfully have their fair share of ownership in the house. This way the couple would not own the whole house + improvments, but rather just a piece of it. In fact it would have been fair if the couple's ownership stake was 50%, and the orphan kids' stake all together was 50%.

Of course ABC goofed by not doing this (the lawyers should have thought of this!), and now ABC has some blame, even though the lionshare of blame goes to that awful couple.

Vic, you're missed. And rest assured that we've got plenty of Christians around to help balance out the ardent anti-theists. It's all about an open forum.

typical christian family...takes them in, then throws them out....man, i want to be a christian.

TYPICAL AMY ANSWER..WHAT AN IDIOT..ARE YOU TWELVE YEARS OLD?

Firstly, I'm a Christian and I have no problem doing for others, even if it means I use the last of what I have. This family was not Christian, believe me. I saw the episode and I have to say that since they used the Higgins family tragedy for their gain, the Higgins family should reap the benefits. Those children lost their parents within months of each other and then they lost their home too? No. I say give them what is theirs: the house and everything inside of it.

The devil does not come in form of a green-eyed monster with 7 horns and a tail. The devil operates through people!!

I hope this whole mess ends well.

I hate kids!

Personally, I would have thrown them out too. They think they are entitled to the house just because they are orphans? Please!

Don't become a victim

Christian, in this day is a lable, and it does not reflect the contents, Just like Harley rider in the 60 is not the same as today, the image is put on like a piece of clothing, few look any deeper that the surface image, and miss the vanity of the wearer. Gripe about Christian bashing being invogue while other remain unscathed? Might it not be that people are comfortable doing so, knowing that a christian will "turn the other cheek". Is this bad? People are offended when others criticize their children, but are guilty of the same deed. What ever the outcome, I hope the Higgins's can laugh about this someday, and the rest need to wake up, the image on your screen is a source of revenue, not a source of truth.

Since the host family owned or was paying for their home before the show, they should keep the 'new' home, although the free mortgage should be taken back and they should have to pay for it. With all of the empty bedrooms maybe they could rent them out to pay the house payments. The original mortgage should be used to build the Higgins kids a home of thier own, with a 'free' mortgage and clear, unmistakeable contract.

An absolutely horrible turn of events for those orphan children. They have already been through enough. Whether they were pawns used in a sophiticated scam by the "foster family" or not, the end result was still heartbreaking for them. Some pointed comments were made about "Christians" and there you are. Wake up people, scumbags cut across all religions, races and creeds. It is unfair to "whitewash" all people of a certain group because of the deplorable actions of the few!

The classic of how everyone uses everyone to get gain.

This is an amazing series of comments. Wouldn't it be better to wait until the facts are known before damning the family that took the kids into their home. Isn't it possible the kids were sore that the house wasn't in their names and left the house, while claiming to have been evicted? On the other hand, maybe the family that took in the kids is as venal as everyone seems to think. The point is that it's too early to know the right or wrong of the situation. The truth may be different than everyone seems to think it is. I'm withholding my judgment for now.

The knee jerk reaction to this is to understanably side with the kids. But...what REALLY HAPPENED to get these kids evicted...? This day and age CHILDREN think they have a RIGHT to tell an Adult WHAT TO DO. The OWNER of the house is an adult and the Higgins are CHILDREN. They live by the Adults (Owners) Rules. Once you turn 18 you are LEGALLY AN ADULT. Charles Higgins is an ADULT. He and his siblings might have been ungrateful little brats once they moved in, in the first place. My guess is that He and the owners got into a heated argument over who was exactly in charge around there. So now that push has come to shove he was shown the door, and miscalculated that he was also in charge of his siblings. Did they get out of line ALSO...? Who knows...? Then you might want to consider at what point do the owners say "OK Kids time to move out" once the last one turns 18. What happens then...? Bottom line is, is that it's NOT the Higgins' house. PERIOD! Going to church has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with this case. I'll bet they Have a Driver's license and are right handed also, but that doesn't have anything to do with the house either does it...? So why bring it up...? One way or another THERE WILL BE JUSTICE. If the owners are found to be the monsters that they are accused of being then they WILL PAY. Just don't ASSume anything until you know ALL the facts. Sounds like ABC will be doing a follow-up show during sweeps week, eh?

This will be a good court case because the donations were gifts the suit will ask at least two guestions, "Were the gifts given to the orphans and the property owners; 2) How much of the sale price will the evicting family have to pay to the evicted Higgins because their presence in the house sparked for the giving.

Gifts are tax deductible if the gift giver by definition does not reap reward (thus the paying off of the mortgage), the contractors are safe but ABC and Sears are wishing that they had a better contract if you can attach a monitory value to advertisement fees and exposure.

Don't stop giving.

The contract should state to whom the gifts were given. If the house was given to the land owner then the property owner can evict the non-property owner. If the evicted can prove that they have a vested interest in the property they can sue for their portion of the fair market value.

Question? Does that state require gift tax payment?

Don't stop giving.

This really does not surprise me. I have found that almost without exception that church going people are among the most evil and corrupt people in the world. Anyone that needs moral guidance from an external entity is inherently untrustworthy.

ABC should start a new show, Extreme Make Over: Demolition Edition.

It just goes to show you that not everything we see on reality TV is real.

I'm lovin' it!!! This is damn funny! I guess the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.
I feel sorry for the homeowners, they are stuck with a house full of Sears furniture! lol

While my initial reaction was to consider the logistics of getting my friends (professional house movers) to 'relocate' the house, I have to wonder what we're not being told here. Sure it's bad that the Higgins are no longer in the home that was expanded specifically to make them more comfortable, and the way the story is presented makes the Leomiti family look like grade-A jerks, but it's easy to jump to conclusions when you only know one side of a story.

Something similar happened when my family took in a family from our church who (we thought) had been evicted from their home unfairly. At the time we had a second house and we let them live there for several months without charging them rent or utilities. They trashed the house and the parents regularly left their 3 kids (all under 7) home alone for days at a time with little or no food. They'd go to neighbors asking for food cause they were hungry, but the parents were always back just before the police. When my dad went to see for himself and found the kids alone, he called the cops as well. The parents returned while he was waiting and they tried to have my father arrested as a burglar (the cops knew he owned the house though). The kids were taken by CPS and we evicted the parents (who tried to burn the house down before leaving but got caught), so they went on TV and claimed we kicked them out and lied to CPS because we were racists and they were a 'mixed race' family (no explanation for why they lived there for almost 6 months without problems). We suffered death threats and my father was attacked twice before the truth became widely known.

Last I heard they went on to do pretty much the same thing at least twice more in other parts of the country, glomming off someone trying to be nice, then trying to claim they were the victims of prejudice when they got in trouble. Each time they severely damaged someone's reputation with their false claims.

All I'm saying is that there's two sides (at least) to every story, and it's usually bad to make judgements when you only know one side.

Sucks for them.

Latest update:
Charles Higgins is now claiming that the house is legally owned by the Higgins family and not the family that bought and paid for the house.
He claims it is the shows responsibility to find a home for the displaced family.
The trial will loads of laffs.

I agree with this reply:

"Since the host family owned or was paying for their home before the show, they should keep the 'new' home, although the free mortgage should be taken back and they should have to pay for it. With all of the empty bedrooms maybe they could rent them out to pay the house payments. The original mortgage should be used to build the Higgins kids a home of thier own, with a 'free' mortgage and clear, unmistakeable contract."

Now, regarding why are so many people attacking Christians? Because so many of us have suffered under them for decades (I can sadly carry on for hours with my personal injustices, but will refrain), and FINALLY have a chance to stand up and fight back, just as they are gaining so much momentum, and are about to run our country into ruins. Bonnets versus burkas, what's the flaming difference?

Religion is a ruse of the powerful to distract the populous while their pillaging runs rampant. Look, Fido, gay marriage! Go get 'em, boy, while I take away your health, job, land, house, resources below your soil, and personal freedoms! Good boy, praise the Lord, Amen Ra! Pat, pat.

None of the other groups named above ever trashed my life like the Hypocrites have. That's why I never bash them. I absolutely abhored being forced to say "Under God" every day in school. I would fall silent for those two words. Not after what they were doing to me and my family and my friends. Forcing someone to pay lip service to you, and live their lives according to your choice, not theirs, is not very Christian, but it's exactly what so many of us have had to endure for years, and damned if I'm not going to fight back with every thread of my being. I give and give and give and the hypocrites take and take and take and think they deserve more and more and more.

It's called TACIT ACCEPTANCE. If you don't instantly excommunicate someone for their trespasses, they assume that you support them. If a member of the KKK in Indiana lynches someone, and their fellow Klansmen in Ohio don't immediately stand up and object to his actions, they are JUST AS GUILTY. Individuals act assuming the support of the silent. Enforce the rules, among yourselves, that you use to tell the rest of us that we are inferior.

UNTIL YOU CLEAN YOUR OWN HOUSE, AND UNTIL YOU STOP ELECTING CROOKS WHO SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF OUR COUNTRY, DON'T EXPECT OUR RESPECT. We could have established a complete country wide infrastructure or two for alternative fuels with the money we've spent in Iraq (I'm an automotive engineer, I KNOW), funneling the cash into the hands of the few. Viet Nam flaming all over again. We never learned a blessed thing.

There are a few wonderful countries that have balanced budgets and wonderful health care, yet aren't overwhelmingly strangle held by either Muslims or Christians. I plan to retire in one of them the second it can recover from being raped by the price gouging of the very same US oil barons who didn't have to take an oath before testifying.

Oops, typo ... Religion is a ruse of the powerful to distract the _populace_ while their pillaging runs rampant.

I am very disturbed by this article. That family got their house rebuilt for taking in 5 children that needed a home. They should not be allowed to keep it. They probly adopted the kids so they could get on the show. If this can be proven these people should be held accountable. Someone needs to help these kids make sure their case is proplerly made! Help the Higgins!

Thank you, Megan #64, for that useful information provided in the Abrams interview, which I just read.

Here is my take on the situation.

1. The Host family would not have received so lavish a home expansion (mortgage paid: Thank You) were it not for the 5 childrens' dire need. The host family, therefore, was "Unjustly Enriched" - Something is owed to the 5 children.

2. For those amoung us, including Abrams himself, who believe that ABC should not be held liable, as they were only trying to "do a good deed" Consider this: ABC chose to air this heart-rending show, as the Abrams interview indicates, several times, in spite of the "true ending", of which they were aware. ABC, therefore, was "Unjustly Enriched" by the extra advertising revenue this (fraudulent) episode generated. Therefore, don't decry the "deep pocket" chase of the, all too many, attorneys. They work hard for the money. ...And they assume the initial risk. - Again: Something is owed to the 5 children.

I agree with the California Court of Appeal's finding portions of the contract "unenforceable and "unconscionable". This legal phrase has been a long-standing contractual remedy. Nothing new.


3. ... And this is indeed sad. The children have now been forced to live apart. Surely, something should be done on their behalf.

4. My complements to the person suggesting a solution worthy of Solomon, himself. The best way out of this for ABC is to build another home for the 5 children. Agreed. The ratings would be though the roof.

Thanx for reading.

To: #106
Lived Next Door to Them 4 Decades.

Great post. I agree. Christians (and other tighty rightys) Please, WAKE UP! There's more work to do on the "right to life" agenda than just defending it's endpoints ...

OMG ... it is stories like this which validate my faith in humanity.

I agree with 106 - sorta. We Christians neglect certain responsibilities. Like leaving bible tracts instead of money for tips. The heart of Christ, the serving, the giving is dead in religion. Greed catches so many. Temptation is not quick to leave. This family will end up blessed with more character, the stuff money cant ever end up buying. Like the story of Joshua in the bible. He was thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, tossed in jail; nearly king by the end of his life. Thats justice. These other dudes will end up serving at their feet. Doing the right thing never goes unnoticed.

"No good deed goes unpunished" -Clare Boothe Luce

1. Christianity has never been about charity without some gain. Look at the WEALTH of the CATHOLIC CHURCH.

2. The Media has never been charitable without expecting something in return "YOU SORRY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO WATCH STUPID TV...GET A LIFE !!!

3. The AMERICAN GOVERNMENT DOES NOTHING CHARITABLE either, without TAXING THE HELL OUT IF IT'S CITIZENS to PAY FOR THEIR "CHARITABLE CAUSES!!!"

WOW! And I thought American people could get any more ****ed up. I hope the orphans take it to 'em in court and get the house for themselves. And as for the parents... I think they might need a good 'ol Irish lesson in manners.

It sounds like this couple obviously used the Higgins childern for their own gain. Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens all too frequently to kids placed into foster care, etc..

It doesn't matter what religion these people were though, as bastards can be found in all of them. A lot people just use religion as a front for a good con. It happens all the time.

I do hope the Higgins childern win in court though, but I dont feel ABC is really to blame for their situation. Even so, it would be good PR and ethics for ABC to 'do right' by the kids by building them their own home and suing the con-artist couple.

People! Gotta love 'em. ;)

Happiness and Ease to you all,
Nirodha (Bill Gray)

A Cat in the hand is a bird in the bush.

The Lord giveth....The Lord taketh! Your time will come! You foster parents should be ashamed of yourselves kicking out those poor orphans after getting what you wanted from extreme makeovers! I bet a lot of people wish they could bash your faces right smack on the walls of your house! But instead it is best to leave it in God's hands! As it says in one of the scriptures in the bible "Vengeance is mine, only I will repay says the Lord" Every room in your house is now possessed with demons besides yourselves! You are now cursed! How could you sleep at night and live filthy lives?

Higgin Family...As you can see, all of us here writing comments one way or another feel for all of you. We pray for all of you! The family friends that took you in are in the wrong! They are nobody! You've been through a ENOUGH hell losing both parents. Your family friends have no right to make it worse and add salt to your wounds! I pray that God will help you all through this and bless you all with a more beautiful house that your family friend's. Your house will be blessed. And your family friends will have to answer to God! I don't understand how people can do other people wrong as though they will get away with it! They think they can deliberately commits all the sins they want or do people wrong, because God or the people they did wrong HAVE TO forgive them! NOT!

Admittedly, I haven't read every comment to this post, but from what it looks like, I've made it down to #120 or so without one single person noting that it might not be the foster parents' fault.

For all we know, the Higgins kids are pyromaniacs, and they had to be asked to leave because they kept setting the new house on fire.

I don't know what's going on at all, but it isn't necessarily fair to just assume that the foster parents are to blame when we only know part of one side of the story. It just seems unlikely to me that the same people willing to adopt in cramped conditions would evict their tenants willy-nilly after the fact. Yes, it's possible they just did it to game Extreme Home Makeover and get a new house, but the likelihood of that is slim, considering they never had any guarantee that EHM would even bother to visit them.

Despicable. It's obvious that the Higgin's were kicked out so the owners of the House could sell of their newly remodeled house, make a fortune to live off, and buy a cheaper house that suits them and their 3 kids.

I think that ABC should sue for Fraud, put the house on the Auction block, sell it, and pay back the owner's the same amount as they paid for the original house. All the extra money for the new fittings and new rooms and all extra added value that the EHME makeover would add to the house should be given to those poor Higgin's kids to buy their own house with. That way the other family gets what they had originally, and EMHE would give the additional benefits to the Higgin's kids as they originally intended, just in a different way.

The home owner's should also be named and shamed in their community for being the money grabbing evil manipulative bastards that they are.

I didn't see this particular episode, but it seems to me that if they hadn't taken in the five children the house would never have been remodeled. So those children should be entitled to something. If they were true Christians then they wouldn't have done what they did. I myself being a Christian am appalled that a fellow "Christian" would have done something so repulsive.

This is a prime reason why people are very reluctant to help anyone. You try to help and you end up getting sued. People have a weird sense of entitlement that breaks all laws of reason or morality and only adds to the countless other heartbreaking stories that are out there. This isn't some "Christians are bad" story; it's a story that proves that people more often than not seek their own personal gains. I'm not even sure why those old people being Christians or whatever makes any difference... they aren't perfect, and that's a fact no Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, etc will deny. The need to always turn something against Christians only makes me think people feel uneasy about their own place in the world... If they are so obviously hypocritical and evil as some people here perceive, then it would probably be a universally accepted fact that doesn't need to be reiterated. People are people, God is God, let's not get them mixed up.

There is far too many posts so i couldnt read them all. But did the Higgins family win their court case?

dont hate one the church going couple there comes a time and a place when it is time for others you are helping to PUSH ON .HELP -- doesnt always mean perminant i wish they would drop the lawsuit its very petttttyyyy!!! REMEMBER WHOSE HOME IT WAS be thankful for the time they stayed and received hepl because some people will not step forward to help they would have been in a shelter.I only say this because i once lived next to a christian young couple with 3 children who took in a couple with 7 children so a total of 14 people were living in a 3 bedroom home with a finished attic .they had to be TRUE christians because the 9brought them roaches so bad all the iinsulation had to be pulled outta the home.they knew the couple had roaches before they moved them in i dont think i could have tolerated it myself .THATS WHAT LETS YOU KNOW THE LORD SURLY CAN WORK IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS . I think there is a time and a place for everything and maybe it was time for them to go their separate ways CHURCH GOING FOLKS OR NOT.BUT DONT PUNISH A SHOW THATS DOING GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE IN NEED BECAUSE I WANTED TO TELL THEM OF SOMEONE WHO IS IN DIRE NEED OF HELP MYSELF

When this episode originally aired, the eldest Higgins was20 at the time, and the siblings wereall minors. From what I have read elsewhere, the Leomiti parents started calling the Higgins kids all sorts of vile, racial slurs and negative names, and started essentially evicting them. Sounds like real nice people huh? Phil Leomiti says in the beginning of the episode that Samoans are 'proud, humble people'...PROUD in the wrong ways...humble - apparently not. ABC/EMHE gaves each of the kids - Higgins too - theme specific rooms, clothes, cars, etc. The Higgins at the very least, should go back to that house with a police escort, and get everything that is rightfully theirs. The cars all had personalized plates on them. Humility isn't in the Leomiti's venacular. Greed, however, apparently is.

Of all the human weaknesses, I would think the most common weakness in capitalism is the lust for money. The fact that Christian church people took these kids in at all says alot. This blog proves that Christian persecution is still alive and well. Lets add up the capitalism. ABC makes money, the owners of the house make money, and the kids who had nothing are allowed to sue the two parties with money. Aint America great!

Yeah, some 'Christians' took the Higgins in, only to untimately take unfair advantage of a sad situation (Higgins kids are orphans) just to get a new house, mortgage paid, and new everything, including cars for the Leomiti kids. The Leomitis even kept the cars that were clearly designated for the Higgins. It is sad that so much greed exists, and do this to a family that lost everything. The Leomitis saw a situation and their greed and sel;fishness took over HUGE and they ran with it. I hope the Higgins win in court. And then some.

I'm surprised that ABC didn't see this possible outcome. The contract should have been written with this possible result, and the house should have been sold with the proceeds split between the two families, with maybe 25%/75%, the kids getting the 75%. I hope the kids that were kicked out are awarded the full price of the house. I'd also like to know why the kids were kicked out.

ABC is loaded, and makes millions from sponsors of this show. Local builders probably donate most or all of the house which is excellent PR for their companies. Then there's all those no-cost volunteers from the community. Except for Ty, I bet the rest of the cast is paid modestly by Hollywood standards and told they are easily replaceable. I'm surprised ABC didn't immediately fork over the money to these kids, putting it in some kind of fund for them, just to protect their image, knowing this would be a big splashy story that would not reflect well on the network.

In the early 60's, I used to watch a show called Queen for a Day. Three ladies would vy a price for telling the biggest sob story. The audience would clap for the most deserving and the winner, getting the highest on the applause meter, would take home a washer/dryer or a new TV set. The losers would go back to their famlies of six and jobless husband with a carton of DASH (or some soap powder).

What I love about Extreme Makeover is that the gift the families are given can make a significant difference in their lives. It is very moving although sometimes I'm a little suspicious of the before video condition of some of the homes, wondering if people sometimes contribute to the problems of the home to gain sympathy.

At the end of the episode, two weeks ago -- a repeat I think -- when they posted at the end that the father of the family they built the Craftsman-style home for, died of his battle with cancer, I wept. How bittersweet for the family.

I sometimes wonder when it comes to cleaning time, whether some of the mothers wish their kids rooms didn't have all the junk hanging off the walls, with some of the over-the-top fantasy rooms they do.

Buford -

The episode with the Craftsman tools and such was indeed a repeat. It was a Season 3 episode. Prior to the repeat I had read a blog post someone made indicating the father in the episode - Gordon Harrison - had passed away. Then, I saw at the end of the episode what you and everyone else saw, the post script note indicating the Mr. Harrison had indeed passed away. I have the episode taped from when it aired originally, and I doubt I will be able to watch it any time soon, knowing what we all know now. My heart goes out to his wife and kids.

AS for this other family who kicked the Higgins kids out...I have yet to see what the Leomiti's justification was for calling the Higgins kids vile names and such. If it weren't for the Leomiti's taking them in in the first palce, ABC would have never bothered. But, because they used a double tragedy for their own greed, they got a brand new home, mortgage paid, and stocked full of stuff, and new cars.

PhatJack - yes therewas/is such an episode about these 2 families. The reason why you will not find it listed in any of the seasons (I think they are a Season 2 or 3 families) is because of the pending litigation. Thus, on the official EMHE website, if you look through all the seasons thus far, you won't find this episode in question, because ABC was/is listed in the Higgins' lawsuit. The reason was because the Higgins said that they got kicked out/evicted and called all sorts of names by the Leomitis, and that ABC was continuing to show their particular episode, and list them on the EMHE site, making it like all was well and good, when it wasn't. Thus, nothing on them on the EMHE site. I have the episode in question on videotape.

Alot of people are blaming ABC for all of this... ABC was only trying to help all of the people involved. As stated in earlier comments...maybe none of us know what really happened between these two families...however if the "host" family would have had hearts at all they would never leave anyone without a place to call home and without any of the things that were given to them. I have had numerous of people/friends live with us. Some have worked out and some have not. Regardless of the situations ..I would never leave someone out in the cold. That is not the human thing to do. The thing is about what is going on now a days with all of these reality shows is that everyone wants it to be them. If the economy was not so bad then people would be able to build things for themselves and not have to lie or manipulate people. Maybe that was not their intentions were in the beginning, however that is what seems to have happened. Do NOT blame ABC, they were only trying to do the right thing. I hope that the Higgins family finds a place to call "home" regardless if they do it on their own or if someone helps them again. EVERYONE needs a home...Do on to others as you would want done onto you. If everyone thinks about those words before doing anything then this world would be a much nicer place.

There are liars and cheaters in this world...it does not matter of what relgious background they have. I believe their is a heaven and a GOD. However I am not a bible thumper, I do not attend church every week or anything of the sort, however I do not agree with the people who slander people. You believe what you believe and let others believe in what they believe. No matter what this family has gone through it is up to them on how their future plays out. I feel really bad for the Higgins family. It seems like now a days a lot of people are hiding behind their religion to do dirty things to people. My mom lost her family when she was young,..there were no reality shows then to help her or her siblings....hopefully they will find it in their own hearts to try their hardest to get a good job and come together as a family and make their home together. You do not need a 9 room home to be a family or to be happy. Those are all "materialistic" items...love and family makes a "home" not the size or the amount of items in it.

I did not see this episode but have enjoyed what I have seen. I cannot believe adults would use children to prosper. I believe these people will get what they deserve. The children should not have to worry about being together and growing up as a family, the adults should be the ones to suffer. Extreme Makeover has done their best to bring these children a future, but due to this misforune they still have to worry. I hope justice will prevail.

this whole situation is sad honestly. i feel really bad for the kids who were left without a home. i can only imagine how hopeless they must feel to be put through such a double tragedy.

i hope they are blessed with a beautiful home.

i hate this show. It's total bullshit. They give a person a house so they can make a shit ton on ratings. Yes it's wrong. Don't tell me it's not. I know it is. It's exploitation, manipulation, and lots of other -ations I'm sure. I hate the host too. I hate all of you for liking it. Bunch of pawns.

what's so awesome about living in a massive expensive house in the first place/?? those low income people are just gonna trash it in the end. Low income people are low income for a reason. They mostly choose to live that way and don't mind it too much. quit giving them big houses that they won't really care for in the long run. the houses are probably built to shit anyways. It will probably collapse in a strong wind. wtf guys come on. this show is CRAP.

damn straight. a bunch of "hosts" claiming to be humanitarians giving their best Oscar performances on camera. They ain't got love for little handicapped people or low income black people. They have more love for their own haircuts. The main host/fucker has more love for his six pack and tan than he does for any of those duped families. what a bunch of tripe.

In the end, giving people lots of "stuff" isn't doing shit for them. It's all a big horrible show and it puts me in a bad mood.

the ends don't justify the means...

....ESP. if the ends aren't virtuous to begin with.

For what it's worth, the last four comments came from one IP address so it may well not be four different people...

"I hate this show/you guys" - guess what...I could so care less if you hate me. I have been hated by far more important people than some little loser like you. You are just jealous because you aren't the one getting a new home for free. As for choosing to live low income, nice try there. Not all jobs pay $10 + per hour nor the salary of a Donald Trump buttmunch type, ok? So get over that one. Besides your posts have nothing to so with what really is going on between the Leomiti and Higgins families.

Here's the update, for now: Enjoy...

To bad I can't read the article because there is a big advertisement from your menu going right through the middle of it.

We should go on strike against Extreme Makeover until they make the Higgins Children/family a home of their own.

We will never view Extreme Makeover with the same respect.

Julie - the page looks okay to me, hope you can read it ok now..

Justene - Big Hi from España! Miss you!!

I hate my house. Everything that I try to fix only leads to more problems discovered. Everything that composes my house has issues. I would love to have this show do an episode on it. Send me on vacation, pay off my mortgage, and rebuild by money pitt. It would be a dream come true. Better than winning the lottery. I would sell it for a nice profit and move to a place that is more suiteable for raising my family. I might even do whatever it takes to provide a better home for my children....But not what appears to have been done to the Higgens Children.

I do not know all of the facts but it does look like greed on both ends. The Leomiti family for using the children (if that is what happened) and the Higgens Family for suing the builders. It appears that we all want something for nothing.

Keeping in mind that the facts are not completely revealed to us. We do not know the true intentions of anyone involved. It is a rather sorry picture though.

I feel for the Higgins children. I do what I can to make a difference and help others. I follow God's will and read the Bible regularly. However, my children and I no longer go to church because of past experiences.

Back when my daughter was a toddler, we went to church. Back then she couldn't hear and her eyes could not focus. She was a quiet, reserved, well-behaved child and never gave anyone any problems. The nursery staff made comments that because she is disabled that she was a "devil child". The minister did not want her in "his church". I tried taking my children to other churches and recieved the same type of comments. My daughter had extensive medical treatment and now leads as close to a normal life as she can but she still has limitations.

My daughter is one of the best behaved children in school. She has never been a problem child. We still don't attend church because too many pretend to be christians in our society yet they are quick to judge and put others down because they want to prove they are better they everyone else. But in reality they are worse than everyone else because they do not live by the standards true christians do.

The standard that is a priority to me is

God First
Others Second
Myself Last

I also follow the ten commandments. If you walk into any church in America on Sunday Morning, you will sadly find that almost everyone there only cares about themselves. They are not there to worship God, they are there to show off and put others down. God's house no longer belongs to him. I choose not to get caught up in the unchristian environment that church has become. I choose not to bring my children to a church that can't accept everyone. BUT WE ARE STILL CHRISTIANS!

The family that used the HIGGINS children for their own gain are the same type of people we encountered in our attempts at attending church. That is the reality of many churches in America.

I think that it is terrible what this foster family did to those children. How can they call themselves Christians? I hope that the saying "what goes around comes around" certainly rings true in their case. Their house was ill-begotten and may they have nothing but heartache within it.

ABC ought to make a future episode featuring the further hardship that the Higgins Family have gone through. Of course, we are assuming that there isn't a reason why the family chucked them out. They do seem to be out for a free ticket, suing ABC is a bit on the crappy side after all they tried to do for them.

I totally understand ABC broadcasting the episode complete with Happy Ending. You have to realise that EMHE helps a lot of people and that relies on the continuing good name of the show. If they updated the episode with the subsequent bad ending, you wouldn't have nearly the support that they currently enjoy.

Even the bits that are a bit forced or the dodgy editing, or the sports stars that get 2mins face time on the show just because they donated a jersey or something crabby like that despite earning multi-million dollar salaries are not so bad because we realise that these things are what allow Ty and the team to keep helping people!

Its amazing how many people are prejudiced in this world..... true there are alot of people who claim to be Christian and do horrible things....there is no doubt.. But there are many that are real Christians who do live their lives according to the teachings of Jesus. But these people who rag on Christians and claim they are all "evil" are the very same people who claim to be so enlightened and feign unbiased belief systems and equality for all...... How your true colors show..... saying Christians are all evil is like saying all blacks are criminals and lazy and all Mexicans irresponsible breeders..... Society really has not crept up from the ooze as it claims to have... Christian bashing is just another form of racism...... It just has another face..... But is still ugly just the same...... This has nothing to do with my personal beliefs about Christians one way or another..... I just see it for what it is.....

All the facts should be known before judgement... but the kids are definetly entitled to something, i think ...because them being orphaned was the whole reason for the show... they shouldnt be left homeless

i beleive in my heart GOD has a purpose for everyone. Not just the higgin's family but things like this happen for a reason to show us everything that glitter's aint gold but this family has had enough turmoil in their lives like none of us probably we can judge them all we want but the meaning of this whole show is to help families. And in this one case something like this could change others lives. In life decisions we choose to make day to day GOD help us ALL!

It is with a heavy heart that I have learned of the tragic events of this episode of Makeover.
As far as I am concerned the Higgins family was delt another bad hand which appears irreversible because of the ownership of the original house.
Having said that, I am not aware of the cause of eviction of the Higgins children but I would be interested in seeing them compensated for all the
material things that were donated out of the goodness of caring people who were duped under false pretense. These items should be removed from the home and stored until such time that the Higgins' have proper living facilities. Obviously
compensation should be persued for this family through the court system and hopefully some kind of restitution will be made.
PS: Please don't let this setback hinder the continuation of the work being done by the Makeover crew. You are a blessing and a Godsend
to so many deserving people. One bad apple won't spoil the hole barrel if it is removed in time.
Keep up the great work.

In referance to comment [ #10 -- June 29, 2006 @ 23:19PM -- charles almon ] WHAT DOSE THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AT HAND? Frankley I'm suprised you would post your name associated with such garbage!

Another referance [#26 -- June 30, 2006 @ 04:01AM -- Conrad] WHAT'S WITH THIS ALSO? How about school teachers, social workers, Doctors? Why do you stereo-type Christians?

For the love of God, it's "LOSE", Not "LOOSE". You LOSE your house, your dog gets LOOSE.

I feel very bad for the Higgins Family. What is embarassing is that these people used their church membership to make themselves appear to be caring people but, they took advantage of this situation and had a house built for themselves. The home was intended to reward the family that took the Higgin's family in but, also to help provide for the Higgins family and to help them heal from life's pain. Then these vultures took and kicked the Higgin's family out. They put on a great show but, God says when you get a megaphone and shout out your good deeds you have received your reward. They are all about show and they used people down on their luck to get what they did not deserve. This house should be sold and the original owners should get fair market value for their original house and the rest go to the higgins family. The sad part is they will not get to enjoy that home. God will return the favor because vengence is God's. He will settle this because Lies and deception are very wrong, Shame on you!!

The foster parents could not have known that they would end up on Extreme Makeover, so I don't think this STARTED with deception. Greed being greed, it grew inside. (For God's sake, I hope they're tithing.....LOL).

I would be honor bound if I were those foster parents to make no moves with those children without discussing it with them and selling the house. Certainly, the "kind hearted" foster family should keep SOME of the equity, but more of it SHOULD go to the Higgins children, in trust if necessary.

My .02 cents.

This story is difficult. I can't help but wonder if there were other compromises in the home after the show. When I have helped someone by bringing them into my home, I set boundari