Mr. Corsi, Wake Up!

Ne. Dept. of Health and Human Services is AWOL!

Update2: Apparently the computer-generated name was made in Iowa. Also, the child now has a Social Security number (https://omaha.com/news/local/article_a7d92508-f619-11ef-9dd8-6f1cc02c246e.html#tracking-source=home-top-story).

Update: Unakite is not only a computer-generated name but a word for a specific form of rock (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unakite).

One thing so comical about Nebraska is how inept people are with digital technology, but nothing makes it more severe than government. Enter in the case of Unakite Thirteen Hotel (https://www.wowt.com/2025/02/20/fallen-through-cracks-nebraska-man-working-get-daughter-new-name-valid-birth-certificate/). Yes, Nebraska Iowa used a computer to give a child such name.

Steve Corsi became the director of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services back in 2023. He should resolve this problem by issuing a birth certificate without the restrictions so the child’s family can move on, but he appears to be dragging his feet and pondering how a child ends up with a computer generated name.

So I asked Grok, what he thinks Mr. Kilburn, the father of Unakite, should do. The response (https://grok.com/share/bGVnYWN5_688c8d16-62c3-4522-b2b5-cb3250dc3788):

Since Kilburn already has legal custody of his daughter following a paternity test, he has a strong foundation to demand action from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Reports indicate DHHS has been unresponsive or slow to provide the necessary documents despite acknowledging the issue. The first practical step is to escalate pressure on DHHS through formal legal channels:

1. File a Formal Complaint or Request with DHHS: Kilburn, with his attorney Josh Livingston, should submit a written demand to DHHS, citing their duty to provide a birth certificate and facilitate an SSN application for a child who was in their custody. Nebraska law requires DHHS to ensure proper documentation for children in foster care, and their failure to follow through after assigning "Unakite Thirteen Hotel" could be framed as negligence.

2. Request an Administrative Hearing: If DHHS remains unresponsive, Kilburn can request an administrative hearing under Nebraska’s Administrative Procedure Act. This would force DHHS to justify their inaction before an administrative law judge, potentially compelling them to issue a corrected birth certificate or coordinate with Iowa (where the child was born) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).

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Also, Kilburn could ask the courts to address this matter. As Grok suggests:

Court Action: Petition for Name Change and Declaratory Relief

Given the Catch-22—needing a birth certificate and SSN to change the name, but needing a name change to get usable documents—a direct court action seems the most effective route:

Petition for a Minor’s Name Change in Nebraska District Court: Under Nebraska law (Revised Statute 25-21,270), a parent with legal custody can petition the district court in their county of residence to change a minor’s name. Typically, this requires a birth certificate, but Kilburn’s attorney could argue an exception due to the state’s error. He’d need to:

File a Petition for Name Change of a Minor (form available via the Nebraska Judicial Branch).

Provide evidence of custody and paternity (which he has).

Explain the lack of a birth certificate as a result of DHHS’s actions, attaching any correspondence or court orders from the foster care period.

Request a court order waiving the usual publication requirement if privacy is a concern (though not explicitly needed here).

Pay the filing fee (around $80-$100, depending on the county).

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The court can grant the name change to "Caroline" and issue an order that serves as a legal substitute for a birth certificate, which can then be used to obtain an SSN.

Seek Declaratory Judgment: Simultaneously, Kilburn could file for a declaratory judgment in district court against DHHS, asking the court to:

Declare the child’s current legal name invalid due to it being a nonsensical placeholder.

Order DHHS to issue a corrected birth certificate reflecting the new name and assist with the SSN application.

This leverages Nebraska’s Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act (Revised Statute 25-21,149), which allows courts to resolve disputes over legal rights or status.

Now, while Grok is smart, it is not smart enough. The ideas Grok suggests are expensive. Here is a better idea. How about you make a polite call to Steve Corsi at his office at 402-471-9433 and tell him to issue a birth certificate Unakite can use to get a name change and Social Security number? And if you can’t get Corsi, leave a message with his Executive Assistant Jena Scully at 402-471-9433.