NEW BRAUNFELS - The 75 year old single, New Braunfels woman who was
guardianized by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
after falling ill with potassium deficiency has voluntarily moved U.S.
District Judge Robert Pittman in the Western District to dismiss her
federal lawsuit.
As reported in the Southeast Texas Record last
month, Thomson sued in federal court through legal counsel for alleged
violations of freedom of speech and right of association after Comal
County Judge Charles A. Stephens issued a Temporary Restraining Order on
July 3 preventing her from visiting with Attorney Phil Ross.
Thomson’s notice of dismissal with prejudice filed on Aug. 26 came on the heels of HHSC’s Aug. 23 motion to seal the case.
“The Second Amended Complaint contains Individual Defendant [Anne
M.] Angerer’s personal residential address,” wrote Benjamin S. Lyles,
the assistant attorney general representing HHSC. “It also contains her
work address and the address of her employer, Texas Health and Human
Services Commission. In the alternative to sealing, this Motion seeks
only the redaction of Individual Defendant Angerer’s personal
residential address.” Angerer is employed as an attorney with HHSC.
Following a trip to a hospital emergency room, a court appointed
guardianship was imposed upon Ms. Thomson on May 23 by Judge Stephens.
She was forced to move out of her New Braunfels home against her will
and into a bedroom in a locked section of the Colonial Manor Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center, according to a press release.
“Safeguarding our nation’s seniors from abuse and exploitation must
be a priority, and too often our current guardianship system fails to
protect older Americans,” said Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell who
is advocating against such alleged legal forms of kidnapping with the
reintroduction of HR 4174 together with U.S. Florida Representatives
Darren Soto, Charlie Crist and Gus Bilirakis.
If enacted, HR 4174 is expected to protect from the risks of abuse and neglect under court appointed guardianship.
For example, in Michigan, Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel and the
state Supreme Court launched an Elder Abuse Task Force after Attorney
Bradley Geller alleged Medicaid fraud, violations of due process and the
Americans with Disabilities Act in a federal lawsuit against each of
the state’s probate courts, all 300 professional guardians as well as
Nessel and the Michigan Supreme Court.
On Friday August 26, four Michigan public administrators, who are
named in Geller’s complaint, were removed by AG Nessel, according to a
statement online. They include Robert Kirk, who served 30 years with the
Macomb County Probate Court, John Yun, who served 18 years with Oakland
County Probate Court, Thomas Fraser, who served 14 years with the
Oakland County Probate Court and Jennifer Carney, who served four years
with the Oakland County Probate Court.
Full Article & Source;
Elder guardian suit against Health & Human Services Commission voluntarily dismissed
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