Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Santa Clara County judges set new curbs on fees for court-appointed care of disabled, elderly


Santa Clara County judges on Thursday took a major step toward cracking down on runaway costs that elderly and disabled adults can face for court-appointed care, setting new curbs on fees and stepping up scrutiny of inflated charges.

The proposed new rules, which would start next year, come 2½ months after an investigation by this newspaper revealed how the local court has been lax in stopping estate managers, known as fiduciaries, from running up six-figure bills on mostly voiceless adults.

"These are some of the most vulnerable members of our community, many left with very little assets to see them through their lives," assistant presiding Judge Brian Walsh said in announcing the new rules Thursday. "Our court must be the guardian of those assets by overseeing how they're spent."

Walsh said the new rules would give Santa Clara County's court "the most comprehensive rule affecting private professional fiduciaries in the state of California." Critics say the changes are long overdue. The newspaper's investigation found that, unlike other Bay Area counties, Santa Clara County has had few local rules restricting conservators' fees.

Full Article and Source:
Santa Clara County judges set new curbs on fees for court-appointed care of disabled, elderly

See Also:
San Jose: Judge rejects nearly $30,000 attorney fee to disabled man's trust

Santa Clara judge reconsiders his early ruling on a trustee excessive fee case

The Mercury News' "Loss of Trust" Series (Anchor article)

6 comments:

  1. The door to reform is opening, and it's all thanks to Mercury News and Karen deSa!

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  2. They're curbing fees for the fiduciaries but not the lawyers~

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  3. I am so glad to see the Mercury News and Karen deSa keep pounding away on financial exploitation through conservatorship. I know my fellow NASGA members stand with me and applaud!

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  4. The sunshine of the media does it again!!!

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  5. Well well well it's about time. How many lawyers et al are over billing hey wait let's part with that ***** let's call it what it is FRAUDULENT BILLING false information to the court. Now what are the consequences for lying to the judge?

    When will these LIARS be held accountable with harsh consequences with TEETH?

    THANK YOU to the press without your light and input it would be the same old garbage business as usual.

    Taxpayers are funding the protection industry's enrichment plan - wake up AMERICA you are next!

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  6. That's great news, and there's more to be done to stop the stealing!

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