Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Flawed Probate System

The Colorado State Judiciary is reviewing its protective proceedings, and the Silvia Tessadri case is a big reason why.

When Tessadri entered the care of guardian Ann Grasee by court order in 2003, Tessadri had an estate valued at more than $500,000 as well as a home and trust. Grasee charges $100 per hour for her care, a standard fee for guardian ad litems in Colorado.

Tessadri's son, Rudy Bush said guardian Ann Grasee and conservator, Michael Beutz, have spent the $500,000 and are now listing his mother's house on the market.

Beutz and Grasee said the profits from the sale would be used to care for Tessadri, whose estate is now nearly bankrupt.

Bush lived with his mother in the $180,000 Lakewood house until the court ordered he move from the premise. Now, the property is being rented under lease until a buyer can be found.

"When it was determined there was no belief she would ever return home, it squanders an estate asset to have it empty," Beutz said. The trust (managed by Wells Fargo) wished to sell the house and received a court order to do so.

Bush said his mother should never have been put into guardianship or moved from her house into a care facility.

"A woman who had a half-million dollar estate and a house is now broke. It's the saddest thing I've ever heard."
Protecting estates from guardians, conservators

Call7 Investigators:
System Could Drain Your Retirement Savings

Bush's mother is one of thousands of elderly people in assisted living and nursing homes in Colorado whose affairs are overseen by court-appointed guardians and conservators, who run all aspects of their lives for a fee.

7NEWS Investigators found a state audit has raised serious questions about the case.

For example, why is the lawyer in charge billing $145 an hour for purchasing a washer, dryer and television for Bush's mother? Why is he charging $145 an hour for talking to an electrician and another $145 an hour for talking to her neighbors?

Beutz said his obligation is to protect her the best he can -- whether it's inquiring about someone he thought was a threat to his client or concern about a house with faulty wiring.

Even if the charges are justified, who is checking conservators' bills? Who's watching the money?

Jefferson County District Court Judge Stephen Munsinger told 7NEWS, "We don't have the resources to do it and we don't have the time do do it."

Ferrugia then asked, "Basically you have to rely on the good intentions of lawyers?"

"Absolutely," Munsinger replied.
Investigators: No One Oversees Court-Appointed Professionals

May 2009 ~ Guardianship abuse victims recognized during Elder Abuse Prevention Month

8 comments:

  1. Don't trust Wells Fargo!

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  2. This case reminds me that people are forced to pay the person harming htem -- like having to pay the hitman who is going to kill you.

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  3. Rudy Bush the person who knows his mother Silvia Tessadri best, is also a victim of guardianship abuse gone hog wild out of control all for $$$$$.

    PLAN A in the guardianship play book is to do all that is necessary to keep the ward in a facility, unable to return to their homes or rented residences, purposely forced to drug up so the scheme can play out with the guardians selling the wards residences, most often it is sold below value reduced for quick sale to their buddies who run the real estate part of this scheme who will resell the property at a profit, splitting up the loot, their loto, between the conspirators. Thereby keeping all of this off the books and away from the IRS and the case files.

    Where is the IRS?

    Where is AARP?

    Where are the federal agents?

    We have another case where it is the word of Ann Grasee and Michael Beutz that trumps the word of the family member.

    These greedy privileged guardianship abusers learned how to twist the guardianship system into a self-serving racket, on a daily basis turning, churning people into products into wards for the best interet of....the guardians!

    Those connected to this lucrative industry learned how they can continue to redirect assets to fund the guardianship system with their guardian in place all of this under color of law.

    All being paid from the assets of their wards all of this with the judge agreeing, all of this with court approval.

    Wells Fargo is not trustworthy. Trusts in general are very risky. People unknowingly believe their wishes will be honored. To that I say: ho ho ho forget about it!

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  4. I have heard a lot of people say the same thing about Wells Fargo - don't trust them.

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  5. Thanks for this site. The cases mentioned are nearly identical to the scenarios encountered in my elder law practice.

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  6. This is standard M.O. --- force the ward in the nursing home and then sell the ward's own home, taking away the ward's liferaft.

    This ensures the ward never gets to go home again.

    Mudsinger should be disbarred. Grasee and Beutz should have nightmares every nite of their lives from now on.

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  7. Keep on fighting Rudy!

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