The estate of Vicki Peterson is suing the Department of Human Services, alleging that her financial assets were depleted during a guardianship.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the estate whose personal representative is Carl R. Peterson, her husband.
The filing in Tulsa County District Court alleges a conspiracy to defraud Vicki Peterson, "a vulnerable adult," of money and property.
Defendants in the civil action include the state Department of Human Services; Debra Roberts, a DHS employee identified as an Adult Protective Services specialist; and Judith Upjohn, in whose home Vicki Peterson lived.
The suit, filed by lawyer Wendell Clark, also alleges negligence and breach of a duty on the part of DHS and Roberts in failing to protect Vicki Peterson's property and assets.
The suit requests an unspecified amount of damages — exceeding $10,000 — and an accounting of Vicki Peterson's income and expenses while DHS was her guardian.
Clark said: "The purpose of the suit is to bring an uncooperative DHS into the light."
Vicki Peterson died in January. She was 71.
Full Article and Source:
Estate drained during guardianship, suit alleges
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the estate whose personal representative is Carl R. Peterson, her husband.
The filing in Tulsa County District Court alleges a conspiracy to defraud Vicki Peterson, "a vulnerable adult," of money and property.
Defendants in the civil action include the state Department of Human Services; Debra Roberts, a DHS employee identified as an Adult Protective Services specialist; and Judith Upjohn, in whose home Vicki Peterson lived.
The suit, filed by lawyer Wendell Clark, also alleges negligence and breach of a duty on the part of DHS and Roberts in failing to protect Vicki Peterson's property and assets.
The suit requests an unspecified amount of damages — exceeding $10,000 — and an accounting of Vicki Peterson's income and expenses while DHS was her guardian.
Clark said: "The purpose of the suit is to bring an uncooperative DHS into the light."
Vicki Peterson died in January. She was 71.
Full Article and Source:
Estate drained during guardianship, suit alleges
4 comments:
Let's hope and pray this suit is successful and also brings alot of media attention!
Best of luck to the plaintiffs for demanding accountability.
In all probability the estate has been denied answers and were stonewalled by DHS. It is very likely, the estate believes significant assets of the ward are missing, or were misappropriated, (weak politically correct term for embezzled).
In my opinion, this lawsuit is justified. The estate is seeking a reasonable request, an accounting of all assets, all income and expenditures during the guardianship.
Forced guardianship against a persons will only to drain the estate for attorney, court and guardian fees has become every day practice. I have always believed that DHS is a large part of the guardian abuse problem, not just in Oklahoma, but on a national level.
If more such suits were filed, the judicial/legislative leaders may get the message!
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