Last week my wife was involved in a car accident. She was at a stop sign and, from her account, the driver traveling on the road she was turning onto was stopped and waved her into the road. As she was finishing her turn the other car struck her front passenger side. Once they pulled into a gas station the other driver immediately gets out claiming this accident is my wife's fault. She then goes on to say that she doesn't want to involve insurance or call the police. This accident occurred in Tennessee where contacting the authorities for almost all accidents is required. She called me and I told her to hang up and call 911 because things just didn't seem right (this was her first accident so she was very frazzled to begin with). On the phone with the 911 operator they both gave their name, tag numbers (the other driver gave a fake tag ID, and both drivers said there were no injuries. Once 911 informed them they would dispatch someone to the scene the other driver said she was getting a lawyer and fled the scene without giving my wife contact information for herself or her insurance. We immediately filed an insurance claim and sent them all the information we had including a blurry picture of the other driver's license plate my wife got as the other car fled.
After some research I believe this could have been a driver trying to take advantage of my wife who was alone, in her 20's, and not in the best part of town. Because my wife would technically be at-fault the driver tried to pressure my wife into just paying cash because it "would be cheaper." The over $2000 worth of damages to my wife's car would say otherwise.
Now comes the fun part where I need some advice from people who have dealt with any situation similar to this just so I know what to expect and any possible things I need to prepare for. Today insurance contacted my wife to let her know the other driver went to the police station to file an amended police report and that they have a lawyer and are claiming an injury. Is there any chance that this driver actually would have a case against my wife even though she committed a hit-and-run by definition of Tennessee laws? I know in legal terms my wife was at fault, but the other driver committed an actual crime (at least I assume it is even though they identified themself later). On the amended police report the other driver still has not provided any insurance information.
So: Is there an actual case here? Should we go ahead and look into getting an attorney? Do we need to worry about pressing charges against the other driver for the hit-and-run or will insurance deal with that?
All help and advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Are you planning a dream trip but feeling a little anxious about what could go wrong? Potential risks involve lost luggage, medical emergencies, and trip cancellations. There's a lot that can throw a wrench in your trip plans. That's where multi risk travel insurance plays a vital role. But with so many options out there, how do you pick the right policy? Let’s explore how to do that below in this piece.

What Even Is Multi-Risk Coverage?

Think of it as an umbrella protecting you from a lot of potential travel mishaps. Multi-risk policies bundle together coverages like:

• Trip cancellation/interruption protection
• Emergency medical
• Baggage loss/delay
• Travel delay
• Rental car collision

Basically, it's a one-stop shop for shielding you from those "well, I wasn't expecting that" moments. No more juggling separate policies for every scenario.

Choosing Your Multi-Risk Travel Insurance Plan

So you know the tip - but how do you find the right plan that's just right for your trip? Well, start by evaluating a few key factors:
Travel Dates & Costs: Obviously, longer international trips with lots of pre-paid expenses require more comprehensive coverage compared to a cheap domestic weekend getaway.
Ages of Travelers: Let's be real, younger travelers may not need the same level of medical coverage as seniors exploring abroad. Know what makes sense for you.
Activities: Going scuba diving, rock climbing, or planning any other rad adventures? Double-check check they aren't excluded from coverage.
Compare, Compare, Compare: Don't just choose the first Multi Risk Travel Insurance plan you see. Insurance providers and coverage levels can vary drastically. Get quotes from a few different companies and read those policy docs thoroughly.

Check The Fine Print

Speaking of policy documents, don't just skip them! Travel insurance has tons of rules, exclusions and limits hiding in the fine print. A few things to look out for:

• Pre-existing condition coverage rules
• Deductible amounts for different coverages
• Exclusions for risky activities or destinations
• Reimbursement processes for claims

At the end of the day, a great multi risk travel insurance plan lets you kick back and enjoy your trip without stressing every "what if" scenario. Do your research to find a reputable multi-risk policy tailored to your needs. It will ensure peace of mind for you on a highly desired trip.
Website - https://multirisk.ca/

I hope this can be discussed. It certainly needs to be.
I have been in medical malpractice for years on the insurance brokerage side. I have seen lots of claims data and hear all of the wild stories.
IMO and others in the business, health care is getting worse. The data shows this as well so it is not just subjective.
It can be down right dangerous to be in a hospital or ER without a willingness to advocate pro actively during one's or a loved ones care.
I discuss this topic with associates and we all have our theories. This leaves me very curious as to the thoughts and consensus among nurses.
Thoughts ??

I got an accident a couple days ago and don’t know the process of filing a claim. Do I call my insurance or the insurance of the person who rear ended me? And how do I request a rental car for the time being while my car is in the shop? Do I have to call them or can I do that on a website or something?

I'm in Minnesota. There was damage to our house from a hail storm last August. We were solicited by a construction company to fix the damage, where they would work with our insurance company and the only thing we would have to pay is our deductible. The damage was: roof, windows, interior damage from leaking, garage door, gutters.
When the construction company/general contractor (GC) got into it, they said that there was more damage to the roof and windows than our insurance company (IC) was providing funds for. The GC and IC couldn't come to an agreement, so our GC told us that it would need to go to appraisal. The GC provided us with the appraiser they use in these situations and told us everything we should communicate to our IC. We made sure to get a supplement to our contract with the GC to ensure we would not have to pay for the appraiser. An award was given from that appraisal and the GC seemed happy with the result.
The GC then scheduled a subcontractor to do the work on the interior damage (drywall/etc.). When that subcontractor came, he said there was much more damage than what was provided in the scope of the claim, about $3,000, so he went back and worked out a new estimate/invoice with the GC, about $10,000, and then the GC and I went to our IC to get an addendum to the claim. Our IC refused, saying they wouldn't allow any addendums. The GC said this was odd since it's fairly standard to get addendums when additional damage is found. The GC suggested I talk with my IC agent to see if he could help.
I did that, and my agent seemed confident that an addendum would be possible and he went off to talk to the claims department. When he finally came back, he said he was previously confident because he didn't realize an appraisal was done, and that since the appraisal was done everything awarded in it was now set in stone. Since only $3,000 was awarded in the appraisal for the interior work, that's what we have to work with.
Our GC has now sent us an invoice for the balance due for work completed (roof and windows), but I explained if we paid them that invoice in full ($33,000) we would not have enough money to fix the interior damage (we only have $38,000 left from the claim money). He said that doesn't matter, you need to pay for work we've completed. We offered to put the money that's supposed to go towards the garage door and gutter replacements towards the interior work since the former is only superficial dings/etc and that the interior damage is more important to get fixed. They also talked to the drywall subcontractor and he was willing to come down too, but we were still $3,000 apart.
I asked why we were expected to pay for this out of pocket when we were only supposed to have to pay our deductible, and the GC said it's not their fault the appraiser didn't come on site to inspect the interior damage. I said it was the GC that said to do an appraisal and to use this appraiser, and we were never asked to coordinate anything so it should fall to the GC to make sure that happens. The documents the GC sent us from the appraiser also states the GC should be onsite with the appraiser when the appraisal happens. The appraisal also awarded some Overhead and Profit, and I suggested the $3,000 that we're apart should come from that since it was a failure in coordination which what Overhead is supposed to be. The GC said there was no O&P awarded in the appraisal, so I screenshotted where the appraisal award states that, and he replied he's not going to argue with me anymore about it, and that we need to pay for work done or "next steps" will be taken.
The only recourse the GC has suggested for us is to file a claim with the state commissioner. Our IC agent was skeptical this would do anything since everything the IC has done is above board.
The Payment Terms in our contract says that we need to pay them the initial insurance check plus the deductible upon delivery of materials, and then the balance is due upon completion of the work. I replied to their invoice email saying that work has not been completed since there's still the interior, garage door, and gutter work that is not done yet. They said they only invoiced for work they've done (true), and that they don't do everything listed on the claim, that they are an exterior construction company that does roof and window work, and don't do that other work. They work with our IC to get monies for us to so we can have that work done. That we need to pay the invoice for work done or penalties, interest, and liens will be issued.
I said their contract says that they will fix all damages laid out in the insurance claim, quoting back their contract to them that says:
"By signing this contract, you authorize [GC] to discuss the damage to your real property with your insurance company for the purpose of coming to an agreement on project scope and price. Upon agreement by [GC] to the scope and price as defined on the insurance loss statement provided by your insurance company, you authorize [GC] to complete the replacement of said damaged property with ~no additional cost to you except for the insurance deductible,~ subject to terms and conditions on the reverse side. Payments will be made as outlined above.
ADDITIONAL TERMS - Page 2

1. Performance Guidelines. Contractor agrees to complete the Work set forth in this Contract in accordance with manufacturers' specifications for installation of all materials and all applicable construction codes. You acknowledge receipt before signing this Contract of these Performance Guidelines as required by Minnesota Statute 326B.809(b)."

I have not gotten a reply back from them after I sent that on Friday. Today is Tuesday.
I spoke with the appraiser and asked why an onsite inspection wasn't done so the interior damage could have been inspected and a appropriate award given for the damage. He said that even if the appraisal was done onsite, he would not have been able to award any more money than the $3,000 because the bid the GC put in for the appraisal only had $3,000 for the inside work. He's legally not able to award more than that bid the GC gave him.
So to me, it sounds like the GC made the mistake of asking for an appraisal without first getting an accurate estimate of the inside work, and because of that, we are stuck with only $3,000 for the inside work when it'll cost $10,000 to complete.
The contract says that we can pay contractors to complete work and deduct that cost from the contract price. The email from them discussing the invoice also says as much, that we can use the claim money to get the work done ourselves.
So I was thinking about saying we will do the rest of the work ourselves, and subtracting from the contract price ($85,000 that was awarded in the appraisal) the garage and gutter work that's in the claim, plus the interior estimate that the GC worked out with the subcontractor ($10,000), leaving a balance of $25,000 instead of the $33,000 they invoiced for. I'd send this check in the mail and consider the project with them complete.
I assume they'll file a Mechanic's Lien after that and will have to sue us in civil court to enforce it, and after researching it looks like I don't need an attorney in Conciliation or District Court to defend myself in MN. I feel fairly confident in presenting my side of things before a judge. The only concern I have right now is if the judge decides in favor of the GC and we have to pay for the GC's attorney fees. Otherwise I'm fine leaving this to a judge to decide. I understand where the GC is coming from, that they want to be paid for the work they've done, but to me it seems like it was their mistake that got us in this situation, and we're entitled to have our house's damage repaired just as much as they are entitled to being paid for work done.
What advice would you give me in this situation? Should I follow through with paying them $25,000 and allow them to file a lien? How much in attorney fees would you guess I'd be on the hook for if the GC wins before a judge? Is there a better option for me to take?
Thank you for reading if you've made it this far.

TLDR Version: I need clarification on my total loss situation. I was involved in a car accident in Illinois, where I am not at fault. My car has been deemed totaled, and the damage exceeds what I paid for it new. I provided the other party's insurance company with information for a higher valuation, as I had recently made repairs and added features to my car. However, I'm not satisfied with their second offer, which has only increased by $400. I also want to address the impact on my partner and myself. We didn't sustain major injuries but sought medical care for pain and swelling. My partner has been offered chiropractor care and cash by the insurance company. I have anxiety, which has resurfaced after the accident, that and lack of a vehicle is affecting my ability to attend important upcoming events and work my second job. I've consulted with lawyers, but I'm unsure of the best course of action as they are not following up with me.
FULL Version: Hi all I’m hoping to get some clarification on how to go about my total loss. I’ve never been in this position before thankfully but need some guidance. I am located in Illinois dealing with Geico (other party) and Farmers Insurance (mine).
My partner and I were involved in a car accident last week. Not at fault, however, the damage to my car far surpasses what I even paid for it new so it has been deemed totaled. I provided the other parties insurance company with information for a higher valuation after they came back with the first one as I had some repairs done 6 days before the accident with new breaks, new fog lights, and AC repair. And then within the last couple of years I added a Sony head unit for Apple/android CarPlay and backup camera plus tinting all the windows and new tires.
I understand they can’t pay me out retail value to replace my car (which is total bs if not at fault IMO) and it would cost me double what they are offering me to get the exact same model year and close in miles to what my car had with less features. I’m not happy with their second offer increasing only by $400
I’m sorry this is a little long but I figured details would be important. We didn’t have any major injuries so we are lucky in that regard. My partner and I were both seen by immediate care a couple of days after the accident as pain was settling in for both of us. Nothing broken but just swelling in my neck muscles from what they could see. I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon for further evaluation but the doctor didn’t seem too concerned about anything major being an issue. Insurance offered my partner $5000 in chiropractor care and $1200 cash. He’s held off on responding until I get something through to them.
I have anxiety and before the accident it was well managed. Since the accident I’ve had panic attacks again. I’ve been speaking with my therapist and working on getting back on track. I don’t take meds anymore for anxiety as it was well managed prior to this accident. I have so many once in a lifetime events coming up the next month I’d have to miss not having my car and also missing wages from my second job. I’m fortunate enough my main job is from home 100%.
I’ve tried to get opinions from some lawyers on what I should ask for, for this type of thing as it’s not something you can really put a price on. Or how to even calculate out a monetary amount but my case, I have a feeling isn’t something someone would take or it wouldn’t be worth taking. So that’s why I’m here for guidance. I’ve written a professional letter to send to the insurance company along with a letter from my therapist outlining my anxiety and panic attacks, doctors notes about the physical injuries, and the announcements/invitations for the events I’m missing. Also I have documentation of pay from both of my jobs.

i was hit by a car yesterday while riding a bike. (they were trying to make a right turn on red while i was crossing the intersection at a green light) i went to urgent care right away because my foot was injured and left with a boot. they told me at urgent care not to pay for the treatment myself since it would complicate the drivethe driver’s insurance paying for it. i have the driver’s name and contact info along with the fact that they have Allstate insurance. i filed a police report today and the officer told me to contact their insurance. i don’t have a car or car insurance so i just don’t know how it works when it comes to contacting their insurance. i tried calling their non-customer number but couldn’t get past the automated voice because it kept misinterpreting what i was saying. do i need to file a claim? how do i go about calling them? what are the next steps? as you can probably tell i’m very confused about the situation overall so any advice is appreciated

Hello, I've been trying to sign my wife up for part D. She was on my employers health insurance until I retired in January. When signing up, there was a question asking if she had recently lost insurance, which she had. Days go by and nothing happens. I speak to someone who says she is rejected because it wasn't open enrollment. I try another plan and that one says something to the effect that even though it not open enrollment period, she still may be eligible because she recently lost access to insurance, and I might have to pay a little extra. 10 days go by and we receive a letter saying that she was rejected again because it wasn't open enrollment. My question is, is it ever possible to get enrolled outside of the open period? Why can't it tell us it's not possible while we are filling out the application? Why must we wait 10 days for a letter saying it's been rejected?
Thanks for any input.

TL;DR Partner and I were involved in a car accident last year. We were fully stopped at a red light when two cars collided and smashed us at full speed. Accident was serve enough to deem all three cards totaled. We submitted Bodily Injury claim for my partner. We received ~$3000 in Pain and Suffering. Need help estimating a fair counteroffer.
Details below: Injuries: my partner had a concussion without loss of consciousness. His head, neck, and back were smashed. No broken bones. He went to the ER after the accident and had scans done. He was referred to physical therapy by a Primary Care Provider. After attending 6 physical therapy sessions, range of motion improved, but he is still suffering from pain 6 months later. After 2 months of physical therapy, he stopped as he was no longer benefiting from it and it was causing work interruptions, and continued doing PT exercise at home. He is having difficulty sleeping, and was not able to lift weights or engage in sports for all this period. Total medical bills is around $10,000 (mainly due to the high ER bill) which was covered by the car insurance Medical Coverage and personal health insurance. I was in the car too and suffered from minor injuries from the shattered glass and I was too afraid to drive for two months following the accident. Insurance company denied a bodily injury claim for me as I did not go to the EPCP, which, although inconvenient, is understandable.
Based on the medical treatment he received, they are offering a little less than $3000 in pain and suffering, and covered his lost wages for 3 days. However, we want to negotiate this offer as they did not fully take into account his current situation and the ongoing impact of the accident. Once we gave them more information, they acknowledged the impact of the accident on his daily life and have asked us to make a counteroffer.
Our hope is not to take advantage of the insurance company and try to benefit from this awful accident. However, we want to be fair to ourselves too. I understand insurance company cannot make us whole. However, we feel that $3000 is very low considering the pain he went through and the uncertainty of future recovery and this justifies a higher compensation. We are concerned that issues with neck and back can sometimes reappear years later and we will be left on our own once the claim is closed. I would appreciate your thoughts on a fair counteroffer amount? Note: We feel that perusing a lawyer at this stage is already late. This was our first car accident and weren't aware of the correct course of action early on. Thank you!

Edit: Here is a copy of the EOB I have and the most recent bill from medexpress.
I've posted this before and am so confused! I don't want to have the bill go to collections.
Son went to MedExpress. Paid copay. Provider sends me bill for remaining. Independence BCBS denies claim because it wasn't sent to the right BCBS. EOB states "T5428 - This service was performed by a network provider. This claim should be submitted to the Home Plan directly."
Tons of 3 way calls, back and forth, paper claims, with instructions on where to send the claim. This has been escalated by insurance (Independence BCBS) and I have in writing saying they've had education calls to inform provider on how to send the claim correctly. Medexpress keeps sending the claim to Hallmark BCBS instead of Independence BCBS every time.
I just got a new statement dated 5/1/2024 from MedExpress that I still owe and it says "Your insurance provider, BCBS-PA Independence BC, notified us that you were not covered under their plan. This balance is your responsibility. If this is incorrect, contact your insurer." Huh? EOB says in-network.
I sent the bill back with a copy of the EOB that says I don't owe. I told Independence BCBS this and they said they have no record of Medexpress resubmitting the claim.
What do I do? I am dumbfounded on how this cannot be easily solved.

Last week it was announced to the entire company that they ran out of money and will stop operations this week. It was a surprise to the majority of us but it turns out that the leadership made some poor decisions that left us exposed financially. Additionally, the company moved locations and offered me relocation just over a year ago, a lot of my professional network is 2000+ miles away. The big kick in the rear was the fact that they are giving us next to no severance (2 weeks).
At the same time, my wife (33) is 40 weeks pregnant with our first child. I (33) was the breadwinner and my wife left her job when she got was in the 3rd trimester. The plan was for her to stay home for 4-6 months at first and look into part time jobs after that. My salary was enough to cover our basis . For the birth, the we went the midwife route, but that wasn't covered under insurance and we paid cash for it not to long ago.
Right now, we will have 22k in savings if I include my last paycheck. Below are what I already budget on a regular basis.

• Rent is 2300/mo. Lease through EOY
• Car: 630/mo - 2 cars, one paid off but much older, the other is 2 years old .
• Insurance: 240/mo - full coverage on the new car, basic on the other. Also includes renters insurance.
• Utilities 200-300/mo.
• Internet 80/mo.
• Gym: 40/mo - I do use this regularly and find it therapeutic.
• Food/Groceries/Household Items: 800-1000/mo (thats 125-150 on weekly food+ once per month 250-400 on costco food+household items) - I am a hobby chef and BBQ a lot , its for sure an area we can trim on.
• Subscriptions: ~40/mo - Youtube Premium and Amazon prime are the only subs we have, all media is consumed between those 2 platforms.
• I do have student loans but am currently getting them put on pause (500/mo)

So with things kept the same "as-is", its approx 4600/mo in expenses, or just shy of 5 months of expenses. I think I can trim my budget down to 4200/mo with just my food expense being scaled way back I can push it past the 5 month mark. I will qualify for unemployment, just unsure of how much yet, it looks like between 1700/2200mo if my research is correct. Until that is all in place though, I worry lol. I also know that we will have more expenses once the kid is born, but we do have a nice stash of diapers from family/friends. My overall plan is this:

• Update Resume (done) and Cover Letter (not done).
• Submit for unemployment.
• Enjoy the next 4 weeks with my recovering wife and new son, figure out how to be a father. Maybe some minor networking.
• Start to seriously look for work. I am assuming that it will take 2-4 months to do on this.
• Dont take the first job, take the right job. I have a semi-specialized focus (R&D) and would like to continue that trajectory. Changing industries will be a setback, but not the end of the world.
• Enjoy family time between look for work time.
• Keep this more streamlined lifestyle and bolster savings back up.

I know that I am nowhere near "desperate", I have seen some posts here that easily qualify as way more precarious than the situation I find myself in. I cannot ignore the fact that this all goes belly up if for some reason we were to have a medical issue or unexpected expense. I cannot ignore the stress/anxiety I have after moving across the country, about to have a kid any day now and then to lose your income. I welcome any and all feedback/experiences/ideas.

I'm trying to get my insurance to cover a gender-affirming hysterectomy. They need two therapist letters.

"No, just something something informed consent! Easy peasy! Teehee!"

My post is about insurance coverage. I'm trying to get insurance coverage for a gender-affirming hysterectomy.

"You can get a prescription and just pay cash! That's what I did!"

Wait, are you talking about HRT?

"Yeah, I just had to read through a packet of forms and sign it. I got my prescription after that."

OK. I'm looking to get a hysterectomy-

"Why don't you start with HRT, get those changes first, and then get surgery later?"

Because I don't want the changes from HRT. I want to get a hysterectomy-

"Just use the childfree doctors list!"

I'm not looking for a doctor. I already have a doctor who is happy to do my hysterectomy. I'm asking about insurance coverage for it.

"Then I don't understand what you're asking. If you already have a doctor, what's the problem?"

I'm asking about insurance coverage for hysterectomy.

"I don't know anything about that! I haven't looked into it at all! I have no experience or knowledge to share, but I'll comment anyway! Teehee!"

/uj Every. fucking. time. I should learn my lesson and stop posting about this topic. I should just keep it to myself, quietly get a hysterectomy, never mention it outside of therapy/medical settings, never date or make friends with whom it might come up, and take my secret to the grave.

Both my spouse and I now have extended health plans - different companies and different insurers. I understand the basics of how CoB works but have a specific question about how it works if one of the provider requires a doctors referral/letter on file for Massage Therapy? I.e: both plans cover $500 per practitioner. Plan B (spouse) requires a letter for RMT. Do we both have to get letters going forward, if we want to max out RMT coverage? What if I (no letter requirement) don't care to max it out, but want go use only $500 while my spouse doesn't use any?

As many of you may have read, there is a case of two missing adopted kids in North Carolina, where remains have been found. The news has reported that their adoptive “mother” is Avantae Deven.
I’m a curious person and started digging up information on Avantae Deven when I first read the story in my news feed and could not believe what I was reading. It seemed like whomever this woman is must have be using an alias; Avantae Deven is not a name like Kim Jones or Mackenzie Smith.
The more I dug, the weirder it seemed to get. I found a property deed to a place in Sedona, Arizona, and figured out that whomever this Avantae person is, she at one point in time had owned a home together with someone named Nicole Adams. So I dug into who Nicole Adams was, and learned that she was the widow of a spiritual leader named Robert Adams. It appeared to me that there would be no way to identify who Avantae really was, unless I could also identify the true identity of Robert Adams.
*******
I've done investigative work for many years, including skip tracing. I can conclusively state that there was absolutely no person actually named Robert Adams born in New York State on January 21, 1928. This is demonstrated by the New York Birth Index. I have combed the census records for 1930, 1940, and 1950, and cross-checked them against multiple databases, and am confident that nobody with the birth name of Robert Adams was born anywhere in the United States on January 21, 1928.
Moreover, there was absolutely no person with the true name of Robert Adams who died anywhere at all in the United States, let alone Sedona, Arizona, on March 2, 1997. This is demonstrated by the Social Security Death Index.
I began this research largely by performing exhaustive searches on the known addresses that are associated with Robert, his wife Leonie (who used to use the alias Nicole), and Avantae Deven (who turns out to be their daughter Michelle who began using the alias Avantae in the mid-1990’s or so). Most of the addresses are PO boxes. Those that are PO boxes are all *private* PO boxes, not PO boxes that one can rent from the United States Postal Service. To me, that spoke volumes. The family were clearly using aliases.
As I explain further below, I eventually determined that “Robert Adams” was Robert Spiegel, born 21 January 1932 in New York. “Nicole Adams” was actually Aileen Beverly Leonie Maxwell, born February 2, 1929, in Jamaica. “Avantae Deven” is actually their daughter, Michelle K. Spiegel, born on October 1, 1960, in California.
One of Robert’s many false stories about Robert’s life that my research has refuted is Robert’s claim that his mother was Jewish and his father was Catholic. That was a lie. Both of his parents were Jewish. It’s also interesting that he claimed that he was “raised Catholic.” There is absolutely nothing to suggest that. His mother always, in New York, lived in Jewish neighborhoods. Moreover, as will be discussed below, his parents had a Jewish wedding. It’s also downright absurd that he would tell people that he was “half Jewish.” If your mother’s Jewish, you are Jewish, pure and simple. Even if Robert’s father had truly been Catholic (which he wasn’t; his name was Samuel Spiegel and he immigrated to America in 1907, lived with his Jewish, Yiddish-speaking cousins, and spoke Yiddish himself), Robert would have been Jewish because the status of being a Jew comes from the mother. Robert’s mother’s name was Fannie (nee Fleisfeder) Spiegel. Fannie’s parents were Itzik Fleisfeder and Esther Libke (nee Rifkin) Fleisfeder. Esther’s parents were Mendel Rifkin and Sarah whose maiden name is lost to time and the disappearance of the shtetls. Robert’s claim to having had a Catholic father was utterly false, but is part and parcel of his ongoing compulsive daily lying about anything and everything.
Here is the story.
*******
Kolomyia, formerly known as Kolomea, is a city currently located in the Western Ukraine.
On January 21, 1892 (the same year that Kolomea tallis¹ workers went on strike for better pay and working conditions), Kolomea resident Rachel Katz, wife of Abraham Spiegel, gave birth to a son, who was given the name Schmuel.
On the date that Schmuel Spiegel entered the world, Kolomea was ruled by the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and almost half of the city’s residents were Jewish.
In June of 1907, fifteen-year-old Schmuel² boarded the Zeeland, which sailed from Antwerp, Belgium, arriving at New York Harbor on June 18, 1907. The ship’s manifest states that Schmuel’s father had paid for his transport, and that Schmuel intended to reside with his father, Abe, in Brooklyn. Schmuel was granted entrance, and took up residence with his cousin Charles Fetner, who resided at 353 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, in Apartment A with his wife Jennie and their baby daughter Ettie. The sparse record that exists suggests that although Schmuel’s father was, indeed, named Abraham, Abraham lived and died in Europe, without immigrating to America.
The 1910 census describes Samuel’s cousin Charles as a carpenter, who had been married to housewife Jennie for six years, and a father of three children-- Ettie age four, Nathan age two, and baby Jacob, who was not even a year old. Eighteen-year-old Samuel was identified by profession as a “Foreman Sailmaker” in an industry described as “pocket-books.”
Three and a half years after being granted admission, on a bitterly cold winter day, January 4, 1911, Schmuel (now employed as a pocket-book maker, and having Anglicized his name to Samuel) signed and submitted his declaration to become a United States citizen. He stated, in that declaration, that he was born on January 21, 1892.
By 1915, Samuel had left his cousin’s abode and was residing as a lodger in the home of a widow named Rose Hammer, who lived with her two adolescent sons, Meyer and Louis, at 531 E. 5^th Avenue; Samuel was now working as a “driver.”
Two years after the 1915 state census was taken, Samuel had moved back to Myrtle Avenue, but this time at building no. 849. On June 15, 2017, Samuel registered for the draft, and described himself as being a pocketbook maker, working for “A. Shoenfeld,” at 101 Crosby Street, New York. He was single. He stated, in his draft registration, that he was born on January 21, 1892.
*******
A woman named Fruma Fleisfeder was born in Beltz, Bessarabia, sometime between July 1, 1893, and 1901, to Itzik Fleisfeder and Esther Lieba Rifkin. Fruma (not living up to her pious given name) provided different dates and years of birth to different authorities on different occasions, making it impossible at this point in time to know her true position in the birth order of her family. Regardless, Fruma, who began using the name Fanny upon her entrance to the United States, did have three brothers and a sister who also came to America-- Louis Fleisfeder who was born April 10, 1890, Max Irving Fleisfeder who used October 10, 1892 as his birthdate, Hersch (later known as Harry), whose official birthdate was December 15, 1901, and Sylvia who was born in approximately 1906.
On December 1, 1919, Fruma arrived in New York Harbor on the ship La Touraine, declaring her intention, at entry, to become a United States Citizen. The ship’s manifest describes her as five feet five inches tall, with fair hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. The ship’s manifest states that she was, at that time, age 24. If that were correct, she would have been born in 1895.
Fruma (then going by Fanny) took up residence with her cousin Ethel (nee Ruchlin) and Ethel’s husband Samuel Steinberg, on 15^th Street, Brooklyn. Soon thereafter, Ethel gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Theresa. The 1920 census states that Fanny was Russian, didn’t speak English but, rather, spoke Hebrew, and worked as a milliner in a millinery store. The 1920 census also states that Fanny was age 25, which lines up with her being age 24 in the prior year’s ship manifest.
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Sam and Fanny married in Manhattan on January 24, 1925. Their marriage certificate (signed by each of them) identifies Sam as being age 32 (contradicting, by one year, his immigration records which would have placed him at age 33), and identifies Fanny as age 24, the same age that she had claimed to be six years prior, and also contradicting an immigration petition that she would file two decades in the future, which generally placed her birth year at the mid-point of 1893.
If Fanny’s immigration records (which included a petition with her signature on it) were correct, Fanny would also have been age 32 as of her marriage to Samuel, not age 24.
So did Fanny lie in her marriage certificate? Or did she lie in her immigration petition?
The marriage certificate identifies Sam as having been born in Kolomea, Austria, and his father being Abraham, and his mother being Rachel Katz. It identifies Fanny as having been born in Beltz, Russia, to a father named Isaac, and to a mother named Esther Rifkin.
The marriage certificate does not identify Fanny as having any profession, but identifies Sam as being a pocketbook maker.
Sam and Fannie were married at 125 E. 4^th Street, Manhattan, a six-story apartment building with retail units on the ground floor that is now an expensive co-op, with three-bedroom units selling for over $900,000. Present-day real estate advertisements alternatively state that the building was built in 1894, 1903, and 1905.
The first name of the rabbi who officiated was Harry. His surname starts with Reid, but the remaining letters of his signature are illegible. Rabbi Harry identified his residence as 232 Broome Street, which, at the time, was a four-story mixed use building that, among other things, housed Chevrah Ahavath Zedek Anshei Jaskinover.
Witnesses to the marriage were Mayer Budmon and Samuel Steinberg.
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Sam and Fanny’s existence was documented next in the 1925 New York State census by census. They were living at 205 S. 2^nd Street. Samuel was still working as a “pocketbook maker.” Fanny was identified as a “housewife.”
Fanny was identified as age 25. This was in accordance with her age as stated on her marriage certificate, but not in accordance with her immigration documents or the 1920 census.
Sam was identified as being age 28, which conflicted with all prior records.
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In 1930, the couple were again enumerated, this time in the Federal census. The enumerator, whose signature appears to be “Max Krahn” (or something like that) stated that he obtained the information on April 16, 1930.
Sam was identified as a “framer” of pocketbooks. He was identified as being 36 years of age, which conflicts by two years with the age that he provided to immigration authorities. Perhaps the enumerator was simply sloppy; Samuel was also incorrectly identified in the 1930 census as having been born in “Poland,” with parents who were both also born in “Poland,” notwithstanding other governmental records having identified him as being Austrian. The language he spoke? “Jewish,” according to the enumerator. Was that to mean Hebrew? Yiddish? Both?
Fannie was identified as age 30 (directly in conflict with the information she supplied in her immigration petition, which bears her signature) and as being “Russian,” with parents born in “Russia.” The 1930 census enumerator incorrectly wrote that her year of immigration was 1921. Fannie, too, was identified by the enumerator as speaking the “Jewish” language.
Although later records reflected that Sam and Fannie had a son named Irving who was born in 1926, Irving was not recorded in the 1930 census. Was he missed by the enumerator? Or was he a later-adopted son?
The couple also had a boarder, identified by the 1930 enumerator as one Esther “Larson,” age 40, born in Russia, and similarly a speaker of the “Jewish” language.
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The New York Birth Index identifies a baby boy, Robert Spiegel, as one of many babies having been born in the city on January 21, 1932.
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On May 21, 1936, Samuel committed suicide by hanging in the family residence, a tenement apartment located at 1168 Union Avenue, in the Bronx. Although, based upon the date of birth that Samuel used for official governmental purposes he was age 44, the death certificate stated that he was age 43.
Fannie engaged the Gordon Funeral Home to prepare him for burial.
Strangely, although Samuel’s headstone accurately identified him in Hebrew as Schmuel Spiegel, son of Avraham, it inexplicably incorrectly stated that he died at age 40.
Fannie of course knew her husband’s real age; both of them signed the marriage certificate that had Samuel’s correct age listed. Furthermore, Samuel had petitioned for citizenship in 1911, and stated that his date of birth was January 18, 1892.
Why would Fannie commission a headstone with a false age? Perhaps she, like her son, was a compulsive liar. Maybe that’s where Robert got it from.
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The 1940 census has Fannie (identified as age 38), Robert (identified as age 8), and Fannie’s son/Robert’s brother, Irving Spiegel, age 13, as living with Fannie’s 72-year-old mother, Esther Fleisfeder, at 1537 Fulton Avenue, in the Bronx. Fannie and Esther were identified as widows. Esther was identified as “U” (unable to work), while Fannie was identified as engaged in housework. No source of income for the family was identified.
No explanation is obvious regarding where Irving was living in the census taken a decade previously. Was he adopted?
There is no “Irving Spiegel” listed in the New York Birth Index for either 1926 or 1927. There is an “Irving Spiegal” listed, who was born April 29, 1926. But he is not Irving Spiegel.
I initially thought that perhaps Irving might be one of the unnamed Baby Boy Spiegels born in New York in 1926 or 1927, and that he left the hospital unnamed because his parents were waiting for his bris before naming him. However, Robert left the hospital with the name Robert. Why wait until the bris to name one child, but not the other?
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Slightly less than two years after she was enumerated in the 1940 census, Fannie’s mother Esther died, at home, at 1537 Fulton Avenue. The causes of death were “Coronary Thrombosis, Pulmonary Oedema Nephritis, Hypertension, Arteriosclerosis.” Esther left this world on February 6, 1942, the same day that the W. L. Steed was torpedoed, shelled and sunk less than a hundred nautical miles east of the mouth of Delaware River by a German submarine.
She was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Fairview, New Jersey, the same cemetery where her son-in-law Samuel was interred.
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On November 12, 1943, Fannie, now residing at 1985 Bathgate Avenue, in the Bronx, petitioned for citizenship. She claimed, in that document bearing her signature, to be fifty years of age, meaning that if she was telling the truth, she would have been born in approximately 1893.
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On January 19, 1948, Robert (having assumed a false date of birth, that being January 18, 1931), enlisted in the New York National Guard. On paper, he had turned age 17 the day before his enlistment. In reality, he would be turning age 16 two days after his enlistment.
On December 9, 1949, Robert was discharged from the national guard, apparently for having been AWOL.
The discharge document identifies his address as being 1985 Bathgate Avenue, New York City.
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The 1950 census places Robert again at 1985 Bathgate Avenue, New York City. It correctly identifies him as age 18, and states that he worked as a shipping clerk for a newspaper company.
According to the 1950 census, Robert resided at the Bathgate Avenue address with his mother Fannie, who was purportedly still age 50 (seven years after she had previously claimed to immigration authorities to be age 50), and Robert’s brother Irving, age 24.
Irving was listed as unemployed and moreover, according to the census record, had not worked for the prior year. Fannie was employed full-time as a milliner in a hat factory.
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Military records reflect that Irving J. Spiegel, born in 1926 and a resident of 1985 Bathgate Avenue, who had completed two years of high school education, had flown bomber planes over Germany during the war. In his military documents, Irving described himself as single, with two dependents.
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On February 2, 1929, a baby girl given the name Aileen Beverly Leone Maxwell was born in Lucea, Hanover, Jamaica, to William Maxwell and Daisy (nee Tibbits) Maxwell. Her birth was registered by her parents.
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In 1954, Robert Spiegel and Aileen Maxwell were married in New York City. Their marriage license was given License No. 10284.
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The following year, the Kingston, Jamaica, Gleaner reported on June 6, 1955:
Miss Leonie Maxwell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Maxwell, was married recently in New York City to Mr. Robert Spiegel of the U.S.A. Both the bride and groom are students at the New York Institute of Dietetics. The bride left the island nearly two years ago for New York. Her wedding gown was chantilly lace and nylon tulle. The bodice was fashioned with a wide, scalloped neckline and elbow-length sleeves. Her three tier skirt of chantilly lace was over pleated nylon tulle. Her fingertip-length veil was adorned with pearls.
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If the claim regarding the couple studying at the New York Institute of Dietetics was even true, their studies at this institution didn’t last long. In May of 1956, a number of advertisements bearing Robert’s photograph appeared in the Kingston, Jamaica Gleaner. The advertisements described Robert as a psychologist, author, lecturer, and “practitioner in auto suggestion,” and identified him as “Dr. J. Robert Spiegel.” Readers were invited to come meet Robert on May 21, 1956, at Record Plaza, where he would be autographing his “latest” “world-wide” 33 and 1/3 RPM record, “How to Stop Smoking in 7 days by Auto-Suggestion.”
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On May 1, 1959, three residents of 1985 Bathgate Avenue, Bronx, New York, came through customs, having returned from a trip to Jamaica. They identified themselves as “Robert D. Spiegel” born in New York (in addition to giving himself a false middle initial, Robert neglected to complete the I-94-A fully, specifically by leaving his birthdate blank), “Leonie A. Spiegel” born in Jamaica on February 2, 1929, and their minor daughter, and “Sharon S. Spiegel,” born in New York. Someone also neglected to fully complete Sharon’s I-94-A, specifically by leaving her birthdate blank.
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Leonie had taken Sharon to Jamaica two years earlier. There are no publicly available records pertaining to their outbound transport from the United States to Jamaica. There is, however, a record pertaining to their return to the United States. That publicly available record does not provide their address, but Sharon is identified as weighing 1 stone 5 pounds (a total of 19 pounds), and Leonie is identified as weighing six stone 5 pounds (89 pounds). Interestingly, Leonie used the name “Aileen Spiegel,” and the records assert that Aileen has no middle initial. Aileen was / is her true legal first name, but it is a lie to say that she has no middle initial.
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Almost two years later, on January 5, 1958, the Kingston, Jamaica Gleaner reported:
Staying at the Tamarind Hotel are Mr. and Mrs. Bob Spiegel and daughter Sharon of Miami, Florida. Mrs. Spiegel is the former Leonie Maxwell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Maxwell of Lucea and has been in the United States for several years. A welcome party in their honour was given last Saturday night by Messers. Horrace, Ray, and Dennis Maxwell, brothers of Mrs. Spiegel. It was a very enjoyable affair.
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In 1963, roughly five years after their 1958 visit to Jamaica, Leonie petitioned for naturalization, in Louisiana. Although I am in possession of the index showing that she petitioned in 1963, I do not possess the petition itself. However, the fact that she petitioned for naturalization in Louisiana demonstrates that that at least she was residing in Louisiana at the time. Since she stated that she didn’t leave Robert’s side for over 40 years, presumably Robert, young Sharon, and also baby Michelle were living in Louisiana at that time.
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People who knew Robert personally relate that he stated that Leonie was a Cayman Island heiress. She wasn’t. Not only was she not born in the Cayman Islands, Leonie’s father’s estate was litigated (with the judge ruling against her) long before Robert started telling people that his wife was a Cayman Islands heiress.
Leonie’s father did leave an estate, but not to her. On November 9, 1967, the Gleaner reported that the Supreme Court had upheld the will of the late William Josiah Maxwell, the father of Horrace, Ray, Dennis, and Leonie, and the husband of Daisy Maxwell, who had contended that William’s signature was a forgery and that the person to whom his estate had been bequeathed had exercised undue influence. The court disagreed. The article reported:
The estate, which one of the executors described as “a sizeable one,” included 112 acres of land at Paradise and three houses at Lucea, Hanover.
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Robert apparently wasn’t banking on Leonie’s inheritance in any event. In May of 1966, advertisements appeared in the Houston Chronicle with Robert’s photo on them, selling a record that would purportedly assist people in stopping smoking in seven days. He identified himself as “Dr. J. Robert Spiegel.”
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On page 55 of the November 15, 1969, San Antonio, Texas Express and News, was an advertisement stating:
SCIENCE OF THE MIND
Dr. J. Robert Spiegel of Houston, director and founder of the Science of the Mind Foundation there, is conducting Sunday evening meetings at 7:30 p.m. in the Sheraton Inn, 1400 Austin Hwy.
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On page 4 of the July 10, 1970 edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was a photograph of Robert, with a brief local news blurb:
GUEST – Dr. J Robert Spiegel of Houston, Science of Mind Foundation director, will speak at the 10:45 a.m. service tomorrow in First Church of Religious Science, 2001 6^th Ave. His subject is “What Religious Science Teaches.”
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On page 8 of the June 18, 1970 edition of the Houston Daily Cougar was this advertisement:
HOME OF UNIVERSAL LIFE
“Teaching Aquarian Meditation For The New Age
Meets Every Sunday, 11:00 A.M. At The World Trade Center Auditorium
Houston, Texas
DR. J. ROBERT SPIEGEL (BRAHMADANDA) DIRECTOR - FOUNDER
Aquarian Meditation Initiation for the first time offered through correspondence. For those sincere students wishing to bypass evolution and enter the 5th Kingdom. Initiation includes meditation technique, Mantra, how to "live” 24 hours a day, and much more. Write for application today:
P.O. Box 53328 Houston, Texas 052
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From the Galveston Daily News, May 02, 1971, Pg. 31:
AQUARIAN MEDITATION SOCIETY PRESENTS DR. J. ROBERT SPIEGEL AN AUTHOR, LECTURER, TEACHER OF YOGA & SELF DEVELOPMENT WILL SPEAK ON MAN, MIND & THE UNIVERSE WEDNESDAY, MAY 5th AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE RECREATION CENTER HARRIS COUNTY PARK, NASA RD. # 1 ALL WELCOME — DONATION $1.50
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The 1972 Spiritual Community Guide lists Robert twice, in the San Diego area. First, on page 117, using his alias “J. Robert Spiegel”:
THE TEMPLE OF METAPHYSICAL ABUNDANCE. J. Robert Spiegel, 1118 Torrey Pines Rd., 92037. Teaches yoga, nutrition, ESP, metaphysics, psychology, mind control
Second, on page 124, in which he, as one might have predicted, was masquerading as some sort of medical man or scholar:
"AQUARIAN MEDITATION SOCIETY, U. S. Grant Hotel, Attn: Dr. Robert Spiegel, 453-7588"
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Also in 1972, Volume 25 of San Diego Magazine published in November advertised gift certificates for the “Astrology Research Center.” “Give your loved one the gift of love. Only $50” said the advertisement. Where was this entity located? At 1118 Torrey Pines Road, the same address as Robert’s Temple of Metaphysical Abundance. The advertisement purported that person identified as “Lil Canaan” was the director. The telephone number was 459-6400.
In 2013, the San Diego Union Tribune published the obituary for Lillian Mulonas, who founded the La Jolla “Astrology Research Center.” At this point in time, unless Robert Adams’ only surviving daughter, Michelle/ Prentiss/ Avantae knows the answer and talks, we will not know what relationship, if any, existed between Robert’s Temple of Metaphysical Abundance and Lilian’s Astrology Research Center, both of which were located at 1118 Torrey Pines Road in 1972.
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From the July 12, 1973, San Diego Reader:
BRAHMADANDA FOUNDATION
“Teachings of the Cosmic Way” meets Sundays, 11:00 a.m., U.S. Grant Hotel, Crystal Room. Free admission, refreshments served. Call 453-7588 for more information.
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On page 51 of the June 29, 1974 edition of Phoenix’s Arizona Republic was the following advertisement:
Speaker from San Diego
Dr. J. Robert Spiegel from San Diego, a traveler and lecturer, will speak at 8 p.m., Friday in Universal Series Center, 4340 N. Seventh Ave., on the topic “Science of Being.”
He is the founder of the “Aquarian Meditation Society” in Jamaica and is founder and publisher of “Equinox,” a philosophical newspaper.
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The family (Adams or Spiegel, however one might want to refer to them) have resided in (that I know of) New York, Miami, Jamaica, Louisiana, La Jolla, Los Angeles, Houston, New Mexico, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Sedona, and a number of cities in North Carolina.
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In at least the 1990’s, before he left for Sedona, Robert Adams used the address PO Box 7210, Jordan Avenue, D-30, Canoga Park, CA. He used that address on correspondence he wrote, and on at least one published document. Who else used that address? The data aggregators show that this address was also used by a Michelle K. Spiegel, and a person going by the name Leonie Maxwell. Michelle and Leonie also used other addresses associated with Robert, those being 1815 Willis Avenue Panorama City, and 21551 Burbank Boulevard, Woodland Hills.
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The California Birth Index shows that Michelle K. Spiegel was born on October 1, 1960, in Los Angeles County, to a mother with the maiden name Maxwell.
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In later life, Michelle used the addresses above that are associated with Robert and Leonie, as well as an address of 12004 Vanowen Street #14, North Hollywood. This is the same address at which Denniston Keith Maxwell, one of Leonie’s younger brothers, resided at, after his immigration to the United States. Denniston was one of Michelle’s uncles.
In a recent Facebook posting, Michelle/Avantae stated: “Never knew anything personal about said uncles, etc. Never asked, never cared.” Really? She shared an address with an uncle? Her uncle lived within a few minutes’ drive from her parents, and Michelle/Avantae never knew anything about him?
As an aside, Michelle/Avantae alleged (or admitted) that she “never cared” about anything personal regarding her uncles. If that is true, what does that tell us about Michelle/Avantae’s fundamental character? Antisocial? Psychopathic? Narcissistic in the extreme?
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On August 2, 1996, Michelle, going by the name Avantae E. Deven, married Tyson Ruben Alvarez in Las Vegas. The two had addresses in common in Arizona, Nevada, and Montana.
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Robert “Adams” died on or about March 2, 1997, in Sedona, Arizona.
Shortly after that, in the spring of 1997, “Nicole Adams” and “Avantae Deven” (both aliases; the correct legal names are Aileen Beverly Leonie Spiegel and Michelle K. Spiegel) purchased a home together in Sedona, on Navahopi Road. Shortly after the purchase, “Nicole” quit-claimed her portion to “Avantae.”
On July 17, 2001, Tyson, still married to “Avantae,” quit-claimed any interest in the Navahopi property to “Avantae,” and had the county recorder send the deed to “Avantae” in care of the Infinity Institute, at that time located at 9101 W. Sahara Ave. Suite 105 C29 (in other words, a private post box), in Las Vegas.
Avantae divorced Tyson in 2006. She had, by then, moved to North Carolina. She “served” Tyson via publication summons, claiming that she was unable to find him, despite his information being on multiple data aggregators.
You can go to various Facebook groups, and other sources, to pull up the documents that people have uncovered showing who is associated with the "Infinity Institute," and in what fashion, and also the addresses that they have used over the years.
In any event, this is the information regarding Robert that I think that people need to be aware of.
Why turn to a known liar and con man for spiritual guidance?
1A tallis is a prayer shawl.
2The ship’s manifest states that he was age 14, which conflicts by one year with what Samuel identified as his date of birth. These errors are not uncommon; his fare could have been purchased when he was age 14 and the records not updated.

Background: my neighbor and I got in a fight several months ago. They hit me, I hit back- that was the end of the fight because we were pulled away from each other. The cops came, we both didnt file for charges and no one got arrested or cited that day. They escalated it the county (CA resident) and there was an attempt to charge me for battery and the judge dropped it with the agreement we stay away from each other. I dont have a criminal history so i am assuming thats why it was also dropped.
I dont think my neighbor liked that the charge was dropped and in addition I didnt have to pay them anything. I received a letter from my neighbor saying I owe them $20k due to xyz and if I dont pay by a certain date, they will file with small claims court.
I am over my neighbor and just wish they would leave me alone. I wish moving was an option but I dont have the financial capability of doing so. The stress over the initial case was enough for me to enroll in therapy and I have been closely monitoring overall health, but Im not over here charging them for my sessions. Im ignoring the letter because 1. apart of the agreement was for us to stay away from each other and 2. this has to be a joke right?
I feel like I cant catch a break. Would this letter be considered harassment and a form of extorsion? Do I have to find a lawyer to prepare for when they do file it?

John 1:1 is hardly a Trinitarian proof text.
Various translation have the c part as “and the Word was a god.” Other translations have “and the Word was divine.”
A Contemporary English Translation of the Coptic Text. The Gospel of John, Chapter One (From 2nd/3rd century):

1In the beginning the Word existed. The Word existed in the presence of God, and the Word was a divine being. 2This one existed in the beginning with God.

Diaglot NT, 1865:

“In a beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and a god was the Word.”

Harwood, 1768:

"and was himself a divine person"

Newcome, 1808:

"and the word was a god"

Thompson, 1829:

"the Logos was a god”

Robert Harvey, D.D., 1931:

"and the Logos was divine (a divine being)”

Greek Orthodox /Arabic translation, 1983:

"the word was with Allah [God] and the word was a god"

John J. McKenzie, S.J., in his Dictionary of the Bible, says: “John 1:1 should rigorously be translated ‘the word was with the God [= the Father], and the word was a divine being.’”—(Brackets are his.) New York, 1965), p. 317
“In John 1:1c, the Word is not the one-and-only God, but is a god, or divine being.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament, pages 115, 122, and 123.
Joseph Henry Thayer, a Unitarian scholar who worked on the American Standard Version says of John 1:1: “The Logos [or, Word] was divine, not the divine Being himself.”
Even Vine in his dictionary admits 'the literal translation is, 'a god was the Word'.
The Word, was in the presence of God. The Word was alongside of God, near to, in front of. John tells us, this divine being, came to the earth, this divine being, became flesh, for prior to this he was a spirit being. The Word, is a title, given to a specific being, and not God's speech or expressions… Jesus, the Word, the Logos, is not God.
However, even without arguing grammar, we can read from the same letter and see the frame of mind John had Jesus, the Word, in.
Notably John 1:18 says that “no man has seen God at any time.” This occurs many times and isn’t a one off idea. (Ex 33:20; John 6:46; 1 John 4:12)
If we read previously at John 1:14, we see that the Word became flesh. Jesus was clearly seen by many thousands of people. That easily concludes that Jesus is not God.
John 1:23, “I am a voice of someone crying out in the wilderness.” Jesus is quoting Isaiah 40:3. This isn’t a new idea, Malachi 3:1:

1Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith [YHWH] of hosts.

There is the temple again, not Jesus physical body. But! Lord, whom ye seek. We see this distinction between God and Lord at 1 Cor 8:5-6:

5 For even though there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” 6 there is actually to us one God, the Father, from whom all things are and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and we through him. (KJV says the same)

So, John had the same mindset that Paul wrote about here. The Word was certainly not God, because we have seen Jesus. Jesus claims to be the messenger, the answerer of the ones crying out in the wilderness. John, nor Paul, thought Jesus was Almighty God, YHWH.