DRUG TEST AT ISSUE IN BABY T CASE

On the eve of a court hearing to discuss whether Tina Olison should be
allowed unsupervised visits with her son, known as Baby T, an attorney for
Olison confirmed Monday that her client recently tested positive for
opiates--but attributed the results to sloppy lab work and said Olison has
not been taking drugs.

Lawyer Anita Rivkin-Carothers said she will ask the court on Tuesday to
approve more sophisticated tests for Olison, to demonstrate she is
drug-free. Rivkin-Carothers said Olison has complained the clinic collecting
her urine specimens does not handle them correctly, possibly confusing them.

Of more advanced testing, Rivkin-Carothers said, "They definitely can't fool
with that."

Olison, who had an extensive history of drug abuse but has been drug-free
for the past several years, had until recently been locked in a custody
battle with Chicago Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) and his wife, Illinois
Appellate Judge Anne Burke, over the 3-year-old boy.

The Burkes have served as foster parents since shortly after Baby T was born
with cocaine in his system.

In March, Circuit Judge Judith Brawka decided that Olison should regain
custody of Baby T within a year.

As part of the ongoing transition process, Olison is undergoing periodic
drug testing.

Cook County Public Guardian Patrick Murphy, whose office represented Baby T
in court, on Monday called the disclosure of the positive tests "serious,"
but agreed that Olison should submit to more extensive testing.

Murphy said that he was notified last week by the Department of Children and
Family Services that Olison's test had come up positive.

While DCFS said Olison tested positive for opiates, the results ruled out
certain narcotics, such as heroin, codeine and morphine, Murphy said.

"It just doesn't make any sense," Murphy said. "It sounds like something is
awry to come up with a test result like that."

Because of the test, however, Murphy said he would recommend at the hearing
Tuesday that Olison not be allowed unsupervised visits with the child until
the meaning of the results could be determined