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| Erie, Pennsylvania VA Medical Center |
ERIE, Pa., October 22, 2016 — The guardian involved in the controversial guardianship of a former Army Ranger has acknowledged a conflict of interest and wants off the case.
Laura Eaton has been the guardian for Martin Patterson- 37 and a former Army Ranger since 2013, but that is about to end.
“Conflicts of interest have arisen which prevent Laura Eaton from continuing as guardian,” according to a filing by her attorney, Mary Alfieri Richmond. “In addition, Mr. Patterson assets (sic) that he is not incapacitated.”
The filing continues:
“A Guardianship review hearing is
necessary for the appointment of a Successor Plenary Guardian of the
Person and estate of Martin Jack Patterson and/or modification of the
guardianship.”
Alfieri Richmond told CDN that “any interested party” involved in the guardianship could bring forward a review hearing.
The conflicts were not spelled out in the filing but Alfieri Richardson also stated there were numerous conflicts in the case, namely that Eaton and Patterson don’t see eye to eye and Patterson recently moving away being just two of them.
Patterson’s controversial guardianship was first exclusively reported by CDN in August 2016.
Though still in his thirties and with several evaluations finding him competent, Patterson’s mother, Gail Patterson an employee at the Erie Pennsylvania VA Medical Center, insisted on moving forward to have Patterson, who suffered a life-threatening injury in 2003 but then subsequently returned to active duty, declared incapacitated. Gail Patterson’s position was backed up by Eaton, who was initially appointed Patterson’s VA Fiduciary.
A VA Fiduciary “was established to protect Veterans and other beneficiaries who, due to injury, disease, or due to age, are unable to manage their financial affairs,” according to its website.
Patterson was placed into temporary guardianship in 2013 without a full hearing The guardianship was made permanent after that. Patterson has alleged that since being placed into guardianship in 2013 roughly $100,000 of his savings has been misspent.
Full Article & Source:
Though still in his thirties and with several evaluations finding him competent, Patterson’s mother, Gail Patterson an employee at the Erie Pennsylvania VA Medical Center, insisted on moving forward to have Patterson, who suffered a life-threatening injury in 2003 but then subsequently returned to active duty, declared incapacitated. Gail Patterson’s position was backed up by Eaton, who was initially appointed Patterson’s VA Fiduciary.
A VA Fiduciary “was established to protect Veterans and other beneficiaries who, due to injury, disease, or due to age, are unable to manage their financial affairs,” according to its website.
Patterson was placed into temporary guardianship in 2013 without a full hearing The guardianship was made permanent after that. Patterson has alleged that since being placed into guardianship in 2013 roughly $100,000 of his savings has been misspent.
Full Article & Source:
This says it all: "Patterson was placed into temporary guardianship in 2013 without a full hearing The guardianship was made permanent after that. Patterson has alleged that since being placed into guardianship in 2013 roughly $100,000 of his savings has been misspent."
ReplyDeleteA veteran! After all he did for his country, his country screws him. It's outrageous!
ReplyDeleteGuardianship for vets is just as crooked as it is for non-vets. Very sad. I hope he is to free himself. HE deserves better.
ReplyDeleteVery sad case and I feel so sorry for him. Thank you for posting these horrible cases, NASGA. Word is getting out.
ReplyDelete