Palm Springs fiduciary Ron Olund accused of negligence

Maxine Douglas on Dec 29, 2010, after she was back living at her home. She died Jan 8, 2011.(Photo:Courtesy of Janis Garcia)

A Palm Springs fiduciary is facing discipline from a state board on accusations he bungled a senior woman's finances.

Ron Olund was entrusted by a judge with preserving an 82-year-old's estate from 2009 to 2010, but a complaint leveled by Professional Fiduciaries Bureau Chief Julia Ansel accuses him of failing to pay the woman's bills, accruing late fees and bouncing checks.

Maxine Douglas' supplemental Medicare health insurance was canceled, her TV and phone services disconnected and her home narrowly escaped foreclosure during Olund's stint as her fiduciary, the accusation states.

According to the complaint, Olund committed incompetence, gross negligence, willful violation of duty and unprofessional conduct. The state Attorney General's Office is providing legal counsel.

Olund's professional fiduciary license may be suspended or revoked and he may have to pay the investigation and enforcement fees if found guilty by the state Office of Administrative Hearings on Tuesday in San Diego.

Olund did not return several calls for comment.

The bureau took no disciplinary action in 2008-2010, four actions in 2011, 11 in 2013, 10 in 2013 and five so far in 2014, according to its website. Punishments include written reprimands, citations, two- or three-year probation and license revocation.

"They have a relatively small licensee population of about 700," said Monica Vargas, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Consumer Affairs. "Any complaint the bureau receives is looked at and investigated, but not everything warrants a disciplinary hearing against a license."

Douglas died at home with her daughters beside her in 2011, six weeks after they agreed to be her co-conservators so they could take back control of her finances and get her out of a Palm Springs assisted living home.

Cathedral City's former Mayor Carol Joseph and her sister Janis Garcia will testify on their mother's behalf against Olund on Tuesday, after Garcia filed a complaint in June 2010.

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Palm Springs fiduciary Ron Olund accused of negligence