Known as "Uncle Fred" to diners at Spanky's Speakeasy, Fred Alander was near death in 2009 when his children asked for an emergency order to get him away from his wife of more than 35 years.What's ensued in the two years since is a battle in Collier Circuit Court pitting four children, a daughter-in-law and a stepmother, leading to a recent ruling in one case.
At the center of it all is Alander, an 80-year-old Naples restaurateur who suffers from dementia and was rushed to a hospital in September 2009, suffering from malnutrition, high blood pressure and diabetes. Wounds and sores covered his body, even penetrating to the bone.
His four children contend in court papers that his wife, Jane, locked him out of his Oyster Bay home in 2006, moved him to a house behind their Airport-Pulling Road restaurant, Spanky's Speakeasy, and made "unqualified cleaning ladies, bar maids and alcoholic waiters" his caregivers so she could save money.
Attorneys for Jane Alander, his wife of 30 years, say those are false allegations and that his children were absent for years and "seldom assisted" her. They maintain in court papers that it's the children who have neglected their father, stating:
"Jane has always been and continues to be a loving and devoted wife to Fred.
"It is Fred's children who are wrongfully attempting to take advantage of his decreased capacity for financial gain."
The lawyers also note that the couple accumulated "significant wealth" over 35 years together and he legally designated her as his guardian in old age a decade ago.
The allegations are detailed in thousands of pages of Collier Circuit Court, domestic violence and guardianship files.
Alander's legal battle illustrates the often-contentious nature of family guardianship cases, which can pit children against parents and spouses as they trade accusations over finances and the care of someone who is elderly, disabled or mentally incapacitated.
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Courtcase Becomes Anythng but Easy for Spanky's Speakeasy Owners, Family, Workers
Yes, this is unfortunately, a typical case. I hope ths Alander family finds NASGA.
ReplyDeleteTypical, for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt's the family feuding that begins the real problem - guardianship/conservatorship.
Judges have the power to put an end to bleeding of estates through litigation. Why don't they do it?
ReplyDeleteI don't know who is right here and who is wrong because we don't know the whole story. But for sure, the lawyers are the profiteers.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say this because I grew up with both families...but I know facts that I would like to make known
ReplyDelete