Monday, May 5, 2014

Funding sought for new conservator agency


(Photo credit: George Walker IV / The Tennessean )
Davidson Probate Judge David “Randy” Kennedy says he’s confident Metro Council will approve a proposal to create a new publicly funded office of public guardian, the first of its kind in Tennessee, to increase accountability in providing services to those unable to look out for themselves.

Kennedy made the comment Thursday, the day after Mayor Karl Dean proposed the new office as part of his budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The proposal, which tracks the recommendations of a task force Kennedy appointed, would staff the new office with a full-time public guardian and an accountant. He proposed funding of a little less than $200,000.

“We are confident,” Kennedy wrote, “that members of the council, many of whom have already voiced their support for this funding, will approve the mayor’s request.”

Former Metro public guardian Jeanan Stuart resigned under fire in late May 2013 amid questions about the fees she charged. She resigned the same day Kennedy announced he would no longer appoint her.

Stuart’s position was funded not by Metro but by fees she charged to those she was court-appointed to oversee. She was required to file periodic reports to the court.

In a series of stories, The Tennessean detailed how wards were charged up to $225 an hour to be taken on shopping trips or to attend a concert. Dean cited those articles in his speech.

In proposing the new office, Dean noted that Nashville’s array of advanced health-care facilities draws a large share of those who need protection.

“Due to our aging population, we expect the number of people in need of court intervention, as a result of disability, to grow dramatically,” Dean said.

Full Article & Source:
Funding sought for new conservator agency

See Also:
Ginger Franklin's Car Towed and Sold While in Conservator, Jeanan Mills Stuart's 'Care'

Ginger Franklin, Tennessee Victim

Tennessee Public Guardian, Jeanan Mills Stuart's Fees Exceed $1.8 Million

TN:  Conservator Jeanan Mills Stuart and Judge Randy Kennedy

Jeanan Stuart Response to Questions

5 comments:

  1. Funding? Get Kennedy gone, first!

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  2. Kennedy needs to go!

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  3. Judge Kennedy should be embarrassed to say anything after being exposed for allowing conservatorships/conservators/lawyers to abuse their wards.

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  4. "...Kennedy said that pending approval of the new office he will continue to appoint a combination of private attorneys and independent agencies to serve as conservators in cases where no suitable family member or other person is willing and able to serve....."

    He will continue to appoint for profit attorneys and guardianship corporations along with independents to serve - serve for fees for services.

    While Randy Kennedy decides who is suitable - very important words the big loophole as large as a Florida sinkhole that shows the pattern continues with one judge in Davidson County.

    Thank you Walter Roche for educating the people who is waiting for them while they are alive and after they are deceased: Judge Randy Kennedy who continues in his judicial position unopposed.

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  5. And Judge Kennedy will still hold sway on how much the attorneys and guardians ad litem who secure these appointments are allowed to charge.

    So this only solves about 1/3 of the problem.

    Just waiting for the same old conflicts of interest cultivated by the unethical lawyers who do these cases to crop up again ....

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