Support Michael's Legal Battle for Justice
Donation protected
Hi, I’m Michael’s momma, Kim and I’m raising funds to help Michael recoup some of his and his dad’s business assets kept from him after the unexpected loss of his dad earlier this year. The funds will be used for legal expenses. Michael hired an attorney to fight for his dad’s wishes to be carried out after so many of you responded and reached out to us suggesting he get a second opinion and even start a GoFundMe to help with the cost.
Michael had been working alongside his dad all of his 22 years, literally. Michael's dad was teaching him the family business. Phillip, Michael's dad had started Phil-dirt Industries when he wasn't much older than Michael is now. He loved that Michael wanted to follow in his footsteps. He had been telling Michael and anyone else he came across that Michael would take over the family business once he retired or passed away. He started the process of changing his will, which Michael has emails stating his wishes and other steps to treating Michael as a partner. Steps that employees would not be a part of. Phillip treated Michael as a partner in Phil-dirt.
That all changed for Michael on the night of Tuesday, January 9th, 2024. Michael's life as he knew it was about to drastically change, and not for the better. Michael finished work that cold Tuesday night and while he and an employee were unloading tools and equipment, he noticed a firetruck at his dad's house. He went in the house to see them trying to save his dad. But they couldn't save him. A police officer told me later that they tried to make Michael go outside while they were working on his dad, but he wouldn't leave. He stayed right there the whole time they worked to revive him.
Things were different for Michael from that moment in time. Not only did he lose his dad, his business partner, his best friend, the person that he looked up to the most, but he was about to lose everything else too.
That night, while his dad was still at home, before the funeral home came to get him, Michael asked Phillip's wife about an autopsy. He was denied an autopsy to find out what happened, what would cause his dad's life to end at only 60 years. He wasn't supposed to go yet, while Michael was this young. He won't be here to see Michael get engaged, get married, have a baby of his own, none of it. Michael will miss all of life's milestones without his dad to share it with. Michael has health issues and wants to KNOW why his dad died. Michael has already had a cardioversion and an ablation and now he is unsure how short his own life will be. I can tell he gets a little bit of anxiety when he has heart episodes because he doesn't know why his father passed away. This is something we all want to know, our family's health history.
The next day during the funeral planning, Michael and Lalie were told there was no Will. A little more than 2 weeks later they were served with a Will that was completed in 2019 and probate proceedings had already been started. At the time this Will was completed, Michael was still in High School, so he was still a minor.
In less than 2 months after Phillip passed away, Michael would find the locks changed at their hunting camp, which was being sold, and he was told the property was sold as a hunting camp so his deer stands and hog pen that he and Phillip built together was being sold with the property and if he had receipts for them then he would be reimbursed.
Michael continued to work to finish jobs that he and his dad started together for another month or so. We were meeting together on a regular basis to discuss business. Phillip's wife assured Michael and me that she knew Phillip's wishes for Michael and that she was going to make sure she fulfilled his wishes. We had no choice but to believe her.
In April (a little over 3 months after Michael lost his dad), Michael was kicked off the property. Michael had lived at the pit for more than 3 years.
A week later, Michael was served with Trespass Warnings on all his dad's property and the job sites that were finished with the exception of punch lists to complete. Then Michael receives a text from Phillip's wife terminating his employment effective immediately. (I don't believe Michael could have quit on his own because he just didn't have it in him to walk away and quit on his dad and let him down.)
On the first week of June, we see the advertisement of an Estate Auction that would take place later that month. Some of Michael's things were listed for sale in the auction. Michael sent an email to her attorney, asking for permission to attend the auction to be able to bid on and purchase some of his and his dad's things and was told no. We attended the auction online and were able to bid on a few things. I purchased Michael's baby bed for $10.00. Well, a friend bid on it and bought it for us.
So, like I said, Michael's life has been turned upside down and his heart has been ripped apart to say the least. In a matter of a little more that 3 months of losing a parent that he worked with every single day he has had to rehome and reemploy himself on top of losing his dad. I've always been told to make any life changes for 6-12 months after someone passes, well that has been thrown out the window and not by choice. This has been the hardest thing I have gone through as a momma. Seeing your children treated the worst I could even imagine has been unbearable at times. While I just have to sit and watch and not being able to do anything or enough to help.
We really struggled with how to either proceed or accept this but we all know that Phillip would die all over again if he knew how his children had been treated. And I know that if the situation was reversed and he were here for Michael and it was me that had passed he would be moving mountains to support and stand behind him. I have waited to start this GoFundMe because I was hoping that she would do what is right and Phillip's wishes would be fulfilled.
With that being said though, we have been truly blessed and surrounded by friends, family and our community who continue to show support. Everything is in God's hands, and I have faith that whatever is in happens is all His plan. My prayer is that Michael will see some sign of justice and his dad's wishes fulfilled on any level and to any degree.
My only ask of you is that each of you reading Michael's story you pray for he and Lalie to have peace and comfort and remember all the good memories with their dad always. If you are able to donate any amount towards Michael's efforts just know it is appreciated so much. And please share this page to reach as many as possible.
Thank you for taking the time to visit Michael's GoFundMe page!
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (2)
Kimberly Bowman
Organizer
Crestview, FL
michael bowman
Team member