Exceeding Authority

Rita Hunter, in the final weeks of her tenure as Jasper County public administrator, wrote checks from her wards’ accounts to send thousands of dollars in voluntary payments to state health-care agencies.

Probate court records show Hunter paid more than $60,000 from the accounts of five wards — with nearly $35,000 sent to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority from the estate of one ward, and more than $26,000 to the Missouri Medicaid program from the accounts of four other wards.

During the same period, nearly $21,000 was spent in pre-need burial plans for the five wards.

At year’s end, three of the five wards were handed over to the new public administrator with no money in their estates; one had $229 and another, $200.

Gretchen Long, attorney for Angie Casavecchia, the new Jasper County public administrator, said she has written to the states and will try to recover that money sent from wards as voluntary payments.

Long: “The money that was spent was not due and the payments are not authorized by statute or the court. She (Hunter) exceeded her authority.”

Full Article and Source:
Wards' estates shrank

See also:
Lawyer Wants Lawsuits Dismissed

Hunter Removed Client Files

Attorney Fees Challenged

Jasper County OPA

Probate Judge Cannot Hear Case

Class Action Filed

Former Ward Files Suit

Undrafted Medical Certificate

France is Released

Mother and Daughter File Suit

An Alleged Kidnapping