Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Peffer Case Summary

In the summer of 2007 Rita Denmark, a widow living with one of her Bradford daughters, was a fit 76-year-old who walked miles every day. She had cross-country skied in the winter. Her memory was not what it used to be, so she had given another local daughter, Holly Peffer, durable power of attorney responsibility, and Peffer managed her finances and bills in consultation with her mom.

An Office of Aging social worker recommended that a guardianship be arranged. The Orphan’s Court of the McKean County court system would be the court to grant that.

Accordingly Peffer set about getting guardianship in place by filing the appropriate petition in Orphan’s Court.

Even as the procedure was getting underway, two other adult children stepped in. The other Bradford daughter with whom she had been living took Mrs. Denmark to Florida to visit her son.

Early in that visit Mrs. Denmark was taken to see an attorney who had been lined up by the son she was visiting. She signed an affidavit which indicated that she had moved to Florida.

In more recent actions in McKean County Orphan’s Court, Peffer has maintained that Mrs. Denmark was tricked into her part in the proceedings, and had no intention of moving to Florida—only meaning to visit a son she had had little recent contact with. Peffer is convinced her mother was tricked into saying she was a Florida resident.

She considers the guardianship proceedings in Florida to have been based on a fraud on the court there, and the representations in McKean County Orphan’s Court to have been fraudulent as well, all intended to support the contention that the Florida court had jurisdiction in the matter.

Peffer says jurisdiction should have remained in McKean County, and the decision of the Florida court should be declared a nullity or should be overturned somehow.

As for Mrs. Denmark, she has been appointed a “professional guardian” who has worked with the two Florida attorneys. They placed Mrs. Denmark in an assisted living facility (or possibly a nursing home). Also, the attorneys and guardian got court approval of a no contact/no visitation order which keeps Peffer from having access to her mother.

“My mother is being criminally confined behind the locked and secured doors of a Florida elder care facility,” Peffer wrote to U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton, based in Pittsburgh, in September. “She is being held against her will and she wishes to return home to Pennsylvania. There is substantial, clear and convincing evidence that my mother is a lifelong domiciliary and resident of Pennsylvania.”

The Florida guardian, Jetta Getty, assisted by others, came to Bradford and took custody of Mrs. Denmark’s valuables, antiques, car and jewels. Previously they had obtained Peffer’s assistance in packing up some of the items, and transferring over $240,000 in Mrs. Denmark’s funds from Hamlin Bank to a Florida bank.

Peffer says she cooperated with Getty because Getty told her this would be the most efficient way to get things in order so that Mrs. Denmark could some home.

Was there fraud upon either or both courts? How could that be determined? Peffer, representing herself, maintained that there was fraud, and offered case law to support such a conclusion.

Peffer’s hopes for her mother’s return are pinned to the judge’s decision. But there are others interested in the outcome as well: activists who are seeking changes in how guardianship of adults is handled, across the United States.

Full Article and Source:
Martha Knight, ERA Correspondent: Guardianship of Adults Can be Tricky and Contentious, Local Family Fights

8 comments:

Steve said...

Family fights are the biggest culprits of exposure to guardianship. And what can we do about it after the war has begun? Sure, we know later what to do, but at the time, we're unaware of what's to come.

Anonymous said...

Family fights, should not even allow the judges to move against valid powers of attorney and healthcare proxies.

Was Mrs. Denmark granted ADA accommodations, my guess no because it would of uncovered she should not of been placed in a nursing home against her will.

Holly said...

FYI the pictures shown of my mom were taken about 1 - 1 1/2 yrs. ago. She IS a physically healthy woman, most definately NOT the least restrictive environment. Jetta Getty, president of Young at Heart Elderly Services in Port Orange Florida committed "fraud upon the court." She told my sister and I that she would get mom "home" promptly after sorting out the situtation. As an "officer of the court" we thought she would do just that. After all, Getty sent my sister, "home." Really what Getty did was hoodwink us to sit idle while she got a firm grip in my mothers life with court backing.
It ain't over by a long shot.
I have wonderful supporters in NASGA and we have Getty on the run!!

Larry said...

I agree Anon, but we all know the new practice is to just ignore the valid powers and do what they want. Anything to get to the money.

Wondering said...

I don't believe the ADA accomodations are practiced often - another denial of the AIP's rights.

Very good point, Anon1

determined in NY said...

Family fights should stay out of the court rooms. I am sorry and sadden that your mom has to live like this. What the hell is your brother doing? The money is gone....do the right thing William...

timlahrman said...

Irregardless of a family fight the guardinship of Rita Denmark was first filed in PA ..... Venue was fixed when these proceeding began in PA and venue is likewise fixed by statute. Florida had no business commencing another guardianship proceeding outside PA and the bogus "change of residence" is not only an extrinsic fraud which voids the proceedings in Florida .... it is likewise jurisdictional because jurisdiction is fixed in the venue of domicile.

Jetty Getty has some huge problems about to bear down on her ... and it ain't gonna be pretty. Sure do hope she looks good in an orange jumpsuit .... she is going to be wearing one a while

Jane Branson said...

A Law Must be put in place if an older American is put in a position of signing an affidavit, poa, or dpoa all the money accounts are frozen, except enough money to only pay monthly household bills and personal needs for only the older person, All the elders possions stay in place and not one dime of the elders money is spent on attorneys, court appointed guardians and conservators until all the siblings meet with their parent in front of a mediator and the goal would be to determine exactly what the elder Parent's wishes are, Not those siblings who's only interest is money motivated and those attorneys and guardians and judicial court, whose only motivation and interest is looting the elders bank accounts. It's time to give back to our older Asmericans their Rights ! after all it was their blood, sweat and tears that earned their money ! America we better wake up and understand what happened to Holly's Mother, Rita Denmark, can happen to all of us ! Wonder how Getty would like being taken out of her home and taken to another state to be held prisoner, isolated from her family while criminals rob her of her life and she's left to die alone ? This is happening to our Older Americans through out our Nation and it's time we all step up and put a Stop to it! Join NASGA to help end the needless suffering, abuse and robbing our elders of their lives and their life savings.