Thursday, July 12, 2012

Santa Clara County Court-Appointed Estate Manager Quits Case After Questions About Fees, Judgment

Two years after a Los Gatos Jesuit center settled an explosive sex-abuse lawsuit, a Santa Clara County judge entrusted Russ Marshall to oversee the $2.5 million awarded to one of two mentally disabled dishwashers molested for decades by clergy.

Such a delicate and high-profile assignment seemed a natural fit for Marshall, one of Silicon Valley's premier estate and elder-care managers, overseeing $76 million in assets.

But late last year, with questions mounting over his billing practices, Marshall resigned from the case as court officials made a troubling discovery: The $50-an-hour personal companion he had hired to take his long-abused client on outings turned out to be a former priest.

"Appalled" that a former priest had been anywhere near the traumatized man, Judge Thomas Cain blocked Marshall from charging his client's estate $19,406 for the companion's trips to ice rinks, ballgames and other events during a 22-month period. Cain said hiring the companion "shows all kinds of problems with regard to not only background checks but judgment and everything else. He never should have been there to begin with."

A deeper look into Marshall's background shows this wasn't the first red flag.

Full Article and Source:
Santa Clara County Court-Appointed Estate Manager Quits Case After Questions About Fees, Judgment

See Also:
The Mercury News' "Loss of Trust" Series (Anchor article)

4 comments:

Betty said...

If only more of these vultures would just quit when the spotlight shines on them....

Sue said...

This is a national problem. All of us who are reading in fear, beware unless you have no $ you are a target of the greed the entire system is designed to enrich the protection industry. Created by lawyers who draft legislation to guarantee they will have guaranteed income for eternity. We are nothing but future income unless there is major change, national database, accountability and consequences we are doomed.

Mindy said...

It sounds like judge Thomas Cain is getting a real education, too. I hope so, for the sakes of the other wards in Santa Clara County.

StandUp said...

I was thinking the same thing, Betty!