Rosa Parks institute, caretaker lose appeal

DETROIT (AP) -- The Michigan Court of Appeals says the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development and a woman who cared for the civil rights icon should pay more than $120,000 to Parks' relatives for not honoring a confidentiality agreement. The Detroit News reported that the court this week affirmed a 2009 forfeiture judgment against Elaine Steele and the institute. The court cited a violation of the agreement as part of a 2007 settlement relating to who owned and controlled the institute. Institute attorneys argued that Steele, who cared for Parks and helped run the institute, was denied due process. Parks died Oct. 24, 2005 in Detroit at age 92. Parks left virtually all her estate to the institute, which was founded to teach young people leadership and character development. Published: Fri, Apr 22, 2011