The true story of the abduction of a three-year-old child from Bristol, England, to San Francisco, California, and its appalling consequences.
11 Oak Street is the true story of how the Queen’s bankers, Coutts & Co, sent two cashier’s cheques to the law firm of Urie Walsh in San Francisco with the wrong address on the envelope (11 Oak Street instead of 1111 Oak Street), setting off a chain of events that led to the abduction of a three-year-old child from Bristol, England, to San Francisco, California.
It is a horrifying story of greed, ineptness, corruption, stupidity and wasted years as the father tries to seek justice and access to his son in the midst of a thirteen-year nightmare that even Kafka could not have thought up. If you want to read about the seven California lawyers involved in this story who either went to jail, were disbarred, or resigned with charges pending, and inept judges who broke all the rules or were disciplined, this is the book for you.
This is a story that would never have happened if those concerned had fulfilled their duties correctly and not broken the law. If Graham Cook, the author, had known then what he knows now, there would have been no story and he would not have gone bankrupt, become homeless or, through the actions of his own brother, ended up in a California jail. This is the book the California Judges Association refused to let the author promote to its members, since it reveals in detail the judicial abuse by some of their past and present members whose conduct will shock and disgust any right-minded person.
SAMPLE AMAZON REVIEWS
By Robin Payne
“11 Oak Street” is an interesting and thought provoking true tale of corruption and malpractice by judges and lawyers in Napa County, California, which one might expect from a legal system in a third world country, but not the United States of America. The entanglement with the legal system was brought about in the first instance by dishonest and deceitful women with whom the author had the misfortune to become involved. It would be hard to believe that the story was true were it not for the fact that some of the relevant court documents and letters have been reproduced. It is a tragic story of a once wealthy and successful British entrepreneur being brought to his knees by being made bankrupt, spending time in prison and losing his children as a result of deceit, corruption and injustice. It is an easy read and fascinating story.“
By Alison Collin
“In a world seemingly rife with with “deadbeat” dads it is ironic that here we have a father who desperately cares for his son, who wants to have access to him and take part in his life, yet is thwarted in these attempts every step of the way by a vindictive wife together with an inept legal system. We follow the author’s initial desperation, and eventual obsession as he doggedly battles with the courts, gradually becoming mired in legal proceedings and losing a fortune to lawyers in his quest. As the story unfolds one hopes that a ‘Rumpole’ will magically appear to champion the underdog and take on the legal establishment. The book is nicely written, engaging in content, and thought provoking. “
By David Gregory
”This book is a startling expose of the endemic rottenness at the heart of the American Justice system. It is a harrowing account of corruption and incompetence, and of the tragic consequences the author suffered as a result of him putting his faith in a process of law that came close to utterly ruining his life. He frankly admits to naivety and many errors of judgement, both of misplaced trust in inappropriate people, and in some of his actions – the latter largely stemming from the stress and desperation into which he was regularly thrown. It was a long battle against daunting odds. Not the least remarkable aspect of the book is the fact that, despite the long drawn out struggle, and the appalling experiences he went through, the author still has some use for the litigation process. It is particularly poignant that, after all these years of sacrifice, constant setbacks, and his stubborn refusal to accept defeat, the main purpose of his long crusade, once finally attained, proved to be an ephemeral triumph. This book should be compulsory reading for anyone contemplating legal action in the USA” .
‘11 Oak Street’ is published by WRITERSWORLD and is produced entirely in the UK.
It is available to order from most bookshops in the United Kingdom, and is also globally available via UK based Internet book retailers as well as www.amazon.com discounts and free worldwide delivery at www.bookdepository.co.uk.
Paperback ISBN 978-1-9041810-0-2 £9.99 Hardback ISBN 978-1-9041812-0-0 £14.99 Amazon Kindle £5.99. Book size: 234mm x 156mm and 210 pages with colour insertions.
