After friends win legal battle, new lawsuit filed in Manhattan guardianship case

By Sarah Wallace

A legal victory for two best friends unwittingly ensnared in a guardianship battle in Manhattan. The two are now suing the people involved in the guardianship, which was revoked several months ago. NBC New York’s Sarah Wallace reports.

On a recent day, Paulette Kohler celebrated her 95th birthday in her rent-controlled Upper West Side apartment with friends. But the retired hairdresser, who has lived in her home for 70 years, is running out of money.

In March of 2022, Manhattan Judge Carol Sharpe ordered Kohler into a court-appointed guardianship against her will, and her documented wishes. At that time, she had $870,000 in her account.

The guardianship was overturned 16 months later. Kohler says she is now left with just over $27,000.

The court appointed the guardianship amid claims from the landlord of Kohler’s condo building that her best friend, Inga Eggerud, was being investigated by the FBI for financial elder abuse. The year before, Paulette, with no surviving family, had designated Eggerud, her longtime best friend, as power of attorney and beneficiary.

There was never any documented evidence against Eggerud, who has worked for years as the housekeeper for a prominent NYC corporate executive, Barbara Goodstein.

"They were attacking me like I was the worst thing on the planet. All I ever wanted to do was to make sure Paulette could live out her final years in her home. I promised he that I would protect her," said Eggerud.

In Nov. 2023, New York’s Appellate Division ordered the guardianship reversed and reinstated Eggerud as power of attorney. The justices called the guardianship "improper."

Eggerud is now suing parties involved in the guardianship for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Paulette. The defendants, who sought to dismiss the charges, deny the allegations.

A trial court judge recently ruled that major claims can go forward against the law firm which originally represented the landlord in the guardianship petition.

Barbara Goodstein says she used her financial expertise to examine accounting documents filed in the guardianship action, which included more than a half-million dollars for home health aides hired by the guardian. Eggerud says she is paying a fraction of that amount now, for what she believes is far better care. Goodstein also says Kohler is still owed court-ordered fees totaling more than $65,000.

“There is no visibility into this entire system,” said Goodstein. “There are massive amounts of money moving around and nobody can see where it’s going. This case is going to end up breaking ground in this space because so many people have made an industry out of this.”

Charles Barbuti, an attorney who served as the court-appointed guardian, did not respond to multiple messages from NBC New York. All of the defendants in the pending defamation lawsuits have filed responses denying the allegations. The landlord's current attorney didn't respond to request for comment. The prior law firm said it does not comment on pending litigation but plans to appeal the judge’s ruling.

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After friends win legal battle, new lawsuit filed in Manhattan guardianship case

Ex-Hazlet Lawyer Sentenced to 10 Years for Massive Client Fraud

Steven H. Salami Ordered to Repay $1.18M After Defrauding Over 60 Clients in Real Estate Scheme

By Jim Lonergan

FREEHOLD, NJ – A former Hazlet real-estate attorney who embezzled nearly $1.18 million from over 60 clients has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced the sentencing of 49-year-old Steven H. Salami on Tuesday, marking the conclusion of a case involving years of deceit and financial exploitation.

Salami, now disbarred, was sentenced by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Christie Bevacqua during a hearing on Friday, January 17. As part of the sentence, Salami has been ordered to repay the full amount of the stolen funds to the New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection, which had previously reimbursed his defrauded clients.

A Pattern of Deceit

The investigation into Salami’s misconduct began with complaints from four victims, who collectively lost nearly $300,000 between April and August 2019. Acting as their attorney, Salami accepted funds for real-estate transactions and deposited the money into escrow accounts but failed to perform the required services. This led to missed closing dates, voided transactions, and significant financial losses for the victims.

Salami’s arrest in October 2019 was only the beginning. The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Unit continued its investigation, uncovering dozens of additional victims. Their efforts culminated in a 63-count indictment handed down by a Monmouth County Grand Jury in July 2021.

Legal Proceedings and Guilty Plea

The case faced delays as the Superior Court Appellate Division reviewed and ultimately restored two counts of the indictment previously dismissed by a lower court. In October 2024, Salami pleaded guilty to second-degree Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity, acknowledging his role in defrauding his clients.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Lawrence Nelsen, Director of the MCPO Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Unit, while Salami was represented by Steven E. Nelson, Esq., of Neptune.

Justice Served

Prosecutor Santiago emphasized the gravity of Salami’s actions. “Mr. Salami’s betrayal of his clients’ trust not only caused them significant financial harm but also undermined the integrity of the legal profession. This sentencing reflects our commitment to holding those who abuse their professional positions accountable.”

Salami’s disbarment and prison sentence serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of professional misconduct. For his victims, the repayment order offers some measure of restitution, though the emotional and financial impact of his crimes will likely linger.

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Ex-Hazlet Lawyer Sentenced to 10 Years for Massive Client Fraud

Dubuque man sentenced to probation for financially exploiting mother

 by Telegraph Herald

A Dubuque man has been sentenced to five years of probation for financially exploiting his mother before her death.

Kenneth M. Dean, 56, recently received the sentence in Iowa District Court of Dubuque County after pleading guilty to one count of dependent adult abuse — financial exploitation.

As part of his sentence from District Court Judge Michael Shubatt, Dean must pay restitution to his mother’s estate. If he violates the terms of his probation, Dean faces up to five years in prison.

Court documents state that a family member reported to authorities in August 2022 that Dean was a caretaker for his mother from about October 2021 to June 2022 and that Dean exploited their mother out of property, assets and money.

Dean was made his mother’s power of attorney for medical and financial decisions in October 2021.

Between then and his mother’s death in June 2022, documents state that Dean withdrew cash from his mother’s savings and checking accounts in the amount of $104,400.

He also bought gold and silver using his mother’s checking information totaling about $90,782 and wrote two $15,000 checks to both his wife and son using his mother’s information, documents state. The misappropriated funds totaled $225,182, documents state.

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Dubuque man sentenced to probation for financially exploiting mother