Put Something Back Pro Bono Project trains lawyers to tackle probate and guardianship cases

Dade Legal Aid’s Put Something Back Pro Bono Project recently held its annual probate pro bono recruitment seminar, “You Be the Judge for Newbies and Pros,” in partnership with the Miami-Dade Bar Probate and Guardianship Committee and Young Lawyers Section.

The seminar offered insight and training for staff and pro bono attorneys, engaging participants to analyze real probate and guardianship case scenarios and collaborate with the experts, while stepping into the role of judge. The seminar was free for all attorneys who agreed to accept a probate or guardianship case from Put Something Back Pro Bono Project in Miami.

Eleventh Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie and Administrative Judge Yvonne Colodny of the Probate Division underscored the importance of pro bono services and commended lawyers for handling pro bono cases.

“Navigating the complications of an aging loved one is very challenging and in today’s world a lawyer has become a luxury that not all people can afford,” Chief Judge Sayfie said. “More than ever, we need lawyers to provide pro bono services so that our courts can continue to deliver justice to all. The judges and magistrates of the 11th Judicial Circuit Probate Division are so grateful to Put Something Back and to the lawyers of Miami-Dade County for their ongoing commitment to pro bono.”

The event was moderated by Dale Noll of Akerman, chair of the Miami Dade Bar Probate and Guardianship Committee. Noll and Mark Brown, managing attorney for Dade Legal Aid/Put Something Back, introduced the panel of speakers that included Luis E. Barreto, Danielle Birman, Lotoya K. Brown, Rose Edelman, Kristen Feuer, Elizabeth M. Hughes, Michael Julian, and Stacy Rubel.

Featured presentations included Trust and Estate Litigation, Fiduciary Litigation, Demand Letters, Court-Appointed Lawyers in Determinations of Incapacity, Interested Persons, Foster Youth Guardianships, Ethics and Professionalism, The Anatomy of a Pro Bono Case, and No-fault Removals.

To accept a pro bono case or for more information, contact Lotoya Brown at Lbrown@dadelegalaid.org or visit www.dadelegalaid.org.

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Put Something Back Pro Bono Project trains lawyers to tackle probate and guardianship cases

Jay Leno gets a kick out of wife’s $847 sneakers: ‘Find your moments where you can have a laugh’

By Nardine Saad

Jay Leno isn’t keen on a pair of bedazzled $847 sneakers he bought. But if they make his wife happy, they make him happy.

The former “Tonight Show” host detailed a recent shopping trip with wife Mavis, who is battling advanced dementia, and said that he tries “to find humor in this situation.”

The “situation” refers to to the philanthropist’s declining cognitive state, which prompted Leno to file for a conservatorship early last year to oversee his wife’s affairs. In providing the latest update on Mavis’ condition, the stand-up comedy legend employed his signature wit.

The “Midas Man” actor said in a recent interview with People that to cheer up his wife one day, he took her shopping at Nordstrom.

Mavis, 78, picked out a pair of bright blue sneakers that were $24. Then Leno encouraged her to pick out another pair. This time she decided on a red-and-white pair that “made her happy.”

“[The cashier says] ‘That’s $24. And the other pair, that’s $847,’” he said. “I go, ‘No, I only had two pairs of sneakers. I thought these were $24.’ [The cashier] goes, ‘Yeah, these are $24. But the other ones were [designer sneakers]. It looked like the guy took a pair of the same sneakers and used a bedazzler on them, and they were $800. I look at my wife and said, ‘You like these?’ I go, ‘Honey, you look great.’”

Despite the eye-popping price tag on the latter pair, Leno said he was glad he could afford the footwear despite the sticker shock. And it gave him a good laugh.

“Just typical ... ,” he said. “When you’re dealing with this kind of thing, you find your moments where you can have a laugh and have fun, and my wife really likes them and felt good about it.”

Jay and Mavis Leno have been married for more than 40 years. In January 2024, the “Jay Leno’s Garage” host sought conservatorship of her estate so he could structure a living trust and other estate plans to make sure that Mavis has “managed assets sufficient to provide for her care” should he die before her. Leno’s petition also said Mavis had been “progressively losing capacity and orientation to space and time for several years.” 

According to documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court last spring, Mavis Leno’s court-appointed attorney said that during his investigation into Jay Leno’s effort to be a permanent conservator, he learned that Mavis has “major neurocognitive disorders,” cognitive impairment and “sometimes does not know her husband, Jay, nor her date of birth.” It is unclear when Mavis was diagnosed, but the documents said that she was being treated for advanced dementia and a mood disorder. 

In late April, Mavis Leno joined her husband at the premiere of the Netflix film “Unfrosted” and said that she feels great: “We have a great time. Forty-four years [married], so we’re doing good.”

A few weeks later, Jay Leno, a two-time Emmy Award winner, said marrying Mavis was his greatest achievement and “the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

“I am part of her legacy and that’s what I’m proudest of,” Leno said at the Feminist Majority Foundation’s 16th Global Women’s Rights Awards Gala, where he presented the inaugural Mavis Leno Award for Global Women’s Rights. The award is dedicated to the philanthropist for her Nobel Prize-nominated work as chair of the nonprofit’s Campaign for Afghan Women and Girls.

Times staff writer Meg James and fellow Malia Mendez contributed to this report.

Full Article & Source:
Jay Leno gets a kick out of wife’s $847 sneakers: ‘Find your moments where you can have a laugh’

See Also:
Jay Leno granted conservatorship of wife Mavis Leno’s estate

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Jay Leno Files for Conservatorship Over Wife Mavis Amid Alzheimer's Battle

75-year-old man with dementia who went missing in Hesperia found

Story by Brian Day

A 75-year-old Hesperia man suffering from dementia who went missing over the weekend has been found safe, officials said Thursday.

Ira Shepard disappeared about 11:30 a.m. Sunday after walking away from his family's home in the 8600 block of C Avenue in Hesperia, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials said.

"Shepard's family revealed he may suffer from Alzheimer's and dementia, and he has a history of leaving his residence in the past," according to a missing person alert issued by the department.

The missing man was unfamiliar with the area, as he "still believes he lives in Los Angeles," according to the alert.

Sheriff's officials announced Thursday morning that Shepard had been found. No further details were available.

Full Article & Source:
75-year-old man with dementia who went missing in Hesperia found

MTV Host Suffers Stroke, Conservatorship Sought: Update on Matt Pinfield

The former MTV personality’s daughter says she fears her father’s griflriend will take advantage of him.

By Brenda Medley

Former MTV host Matt Pinfield’s daughter Jessica is pleading with a judge for a temporary conservatorship for her dad. The media personality and former music executive reportedly suffered a massive stroke on January 6, 2025, with Jessica stating he’s been incapacitated since. As for why she’s requesting a conservatorship, Jessica claims she’s afraid his girlfriend will drain his bank account, per TMZ. She says the conservatorship will help her make important health and financial decisions on behalf of her dad, with the help of her sister, Maya. The daughters also want temporary conservators to oversee his bank account and apartment.

Pinefield was one of MTV’s biggest names in the 90s, hosting shows like 120 Minutes and making appearances on TRL. He eventually landed his own TV show before becoming vice president of A&R and Artist Development for Columbia Records. Recently, he began working in radio again.

According to Smart Asset, a conservatorship “is a way for someone to assume legal guardianship over an adult. Families often use conservatorships to help deal with the mounting medical, financial and mental health needs of a parent. The status of a conservatorship is dependent on the capacity of the individual to make decisions on their own.”

In recent years, conservatorships have become a topic of interest and contention. The biggest conservatorship battle of discussion was initiated by the #FreeBritney movement after the pop star was held under a strict conservatorship for 13 years. Now, attention has turned to former queen of hot topics, Wendy Williams, who was placed under a conservatorship in 2021 with minimal access to her loved ones. 

During a recent press run, Williams insisted she’s not mentally incapacitated and is being held against her will. “I am not cognitively impaired but I feel like I am in prison,” Williams said. “I’m in this place with people who are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. …. These people, there’s something wrong with these people here on this floor. I am clearly not,” she told the hosts of The Breakfast Club.

Full Article & Source:
MTV Host Suffers Stroke, Conservatorship Sought: Update on Matt Pinfield

West Bloomfield Woman Second to Be Charged with Embezzling from Vulnerable Adult

LANSING – Yesterday, Shelley Letzer, 67, of West Bloomfield, was arraigned before Magistrate Marie Soma in the 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills on four felony charges for allegedly financially exploiting a vulnerable adult, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Letzer’s co-defendant, Kirk Lanam, 52, of Hartland, was arraigned on charges stemming from the same alleged scheme last week.  

It is alleged that Lanam and Letzer fraudulently obtained from the 87-year-old victim legal power of attorney in March of 2024, knowing the man to be a vulnerable or incapacitated adult with a court-appointed guardian, and that Lanam embezzled significant funds from the victim. It is further alleged that Letzer embezzled thousands of dollars from the victim by, among other means, writing checks to herself from his funds. 

“Abusing the authority granted by a power of attorney to exploit vulnerable adults is an egregious violation of trust,” Nessel said. “My Department will continue to investigate and prosecute those who would embezzle funds from people entrusted with their care.” 

Letzer is charged with three counts of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult $1,000 or More but Less Than $20,000, a 5-year felony, and one count of Fraudulently Obtaining a Signature, a 10-year felony. 

Letzer will next appear in the 52-3 District Court on February 10, 2025.

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Source:
West Bloomfield Woman Second to Be Charged with Embezzling from Vulnerable Adult

Why Wendy Williams Reportedly Fired Attorney Amid #FreeWendy Battle

By Jane LaCroix

Wendy Williams is shaking up her legal team as she continues her fight for freedom from her guardianship.

The former talk show host, 60, has reportedly fired her court-appointed attorney, Linda Redlisky, amid her ongoing battle to have her guardianship trial heard by a jury, as reported by TMZ on Wednesday, January 29. Sources close to the situation told the outlet that Williams decided to part ways with Redlisky after the attorney failed to file necessary paperwork to move forward with the trial.

This dramatic legal shift comes just weeks after Williams' family stated they were searching for a more reputable attorney to represent her in the complex case. Previously, Williams claimed she had never even met her court-appointed guardianship attorney, Robert Kaplan, who had argued that she needed lifelong care due to her diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

The media personality, who currently resides in a New York City assisted-living facility, likened her living situation to a luxury "prison." "I'm in this place where the people are in their 90s and their 80s and their 70s. There's something wrong with these people here on this floor," she shared during a call to The Breakfast Club on Thursday, January 16. She also called the treatment "emotional abuse" and that the "system is broken."

Amid Williams' ongoing legal and financial struggles, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support her in her fight for independence. Part of the broader "#FreeWendy" movement, the funds raised are intended to help the former Wendy Williams Show star secure the legal representation needed to challenge her guardianship and regain control over her assets and has raised over $30,000 so far. This comes after William's claimed on The Breakfast Club that she has little money to her name at the moment due to her guardian, Sabrina Morrisey, having control over her finances. "I have $15. I have $15. What does that do? ... My money is in prison," Williams said.

Full Article & Source:
Why Wendy Williams Reportedly Fired Attorney Amid #FreeWendy Battle

See Also:
Britney Spears Steps in to Help Wendy Williams Get Out of 'Abusive' Conservatorship

Wendy Williams Guardianship Controversy Spurs N.Y. Lawmaker to Push Visitation Law

Wendy Williams

How an alleged predator tried to keep an elderly rape victim quiet | 7NEWS

A man accused of sexually assaulting an elderly woman twice in two years allegedly warned her he would come back every week. The claims emerged as the suspect faced court over the decades-old crimes. 

Source:
How an alleged predator tried to keep an elderly rape victim quiet | 7NEWS

Britney Spears' Ex-Husband Sam Asghari Reveals the 'Most Difficult Thing' He Witnessed During Their Marriage

By Matt Richards,

Sam Asghari openly addressed the conservatorship Britney Spears was under. @samashgari/Instagram; MEGA

Sam Asghari recently addressed his marriage to Britney Spears in an interview, opening up about her conservatorship and the challenges it placed on their relationship.

Sam Asghari called Britney Spears' conservatorship the 'most difficult thing' he ever witnessed in his life. @samashgari/Instagram

On Kate and Oliver Hudson ’s “Sibling Rivalry” podcast, Sam claimed one day he started learning about the guardianship Spears was under.

“I was like, ‘Wait a minute. I thought I’m in America,’” the "Toxic" singer’s ex said. “'What do you mean someone over the age of 18 needs permission from their parents?'”

Sam was referring to the conservatorship Britney was placed under from 2008 until 2021. Her every move was controlled by a team, all spearheaded by her father, Jamie Spears . Eventually, a “Free Britney” movement picked up steam, leading a judge to finally terminate the guardianship.

Britney Spears openly wrote about her conservatorship in her book, 'The Woman In Me.' MEGA

Sam, who claimed he supported her as it was the “best thing” he could do, called his ex’s conservatorship the “most difficult and weird spiral thing that I’ve witnessed in my life.”

Though he provided support for Britney as “much” as he could, he noted he had to go through the experience “very gently” out of caution to say or do the wrong thing.

“One of the hardest things , I think, to deal with when you go into entertainment is your parents and the people around you, and everything that happens, and everybody that comes into your life that’s taken advantage — that damages you because those are the people that are closest to you,” Sam added of his experience with Britney. “Usually, the people that are around you, the people that you allow into your circle, you kind of are vulnerable to them.”

Sam Asghari said he remains 'grateful' for the relationship he had with Britney Spears. @samashgari/Instsagram

Sam and Britney married in June 2022, but ended up divorcing in May 2024. Regardless of the experience , Sam says he remains “grateful and happy that it ever even happened.”

In her book, The Woman In Me , Britney addressed the guardianship she was placed under.

“I remained shocked that the state of California would let a man like my father — an alcoholic, someone who’d declared bankruptcy, who’d failed in business, who terrified me as a little girl — control me after all my accomplishments and everything I had done,” she wrote.

Britney Spears was shocked the state of California allowed her father to be her guardian. MEGA

The “Me Against The Music” crooner also noted even though she is free from the guardianship, she still has a lot of side effects from the torture she was put through.

“Migraines are just one part of the physical and emotional damage I have now that I’m out of the conservatorship,” she wrote in her tell-all. “I don’t think my family understands the real damage that they did.” 

Full Article & Source:
Britney Spears' Ex-Husband Sam Asghari Reveals the 'Most Difficult Thing' He Witnessed During Their Marriage

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Britney Spears 

David Furbush Indicted for Financially Exploiting Elderly Adult

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Date: January 28, 2025

Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella announces that the Strafford County Grand Jury has returned an indictment charging David Furbush, age 46, of Manchester, with one class A felony count of financial exploitation of an elderly adult.

The indictment alleges that between June 22, 2023, and March 15, 2024, Mr. Furbush served as trustee for an elderly adult (aged 60 or older) and, during that time, he took $1,500 or more in trust funds for his own profit or advantage. The indictment further alleges that the trust did not authorize Mr. Furbush to take these funds and that he breached his fiduciary obligations as trustee in doing so.

The allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and Mr. Furbush is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mr. Furbush is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in the Strafford County Superior Court on February 4, 2025, at 12:30 p.m.

This matter was investigated by Calice Couchman-Ducey of the Attorney General’s Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit, with assistance from the Lee Police Department and the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant Attorney General Bryan J. Townsend, II, of the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, please contact your local police department or the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Adult and Aging Services (1-800-949-0470). 

Full Article & Source:
David Furbush Indicted for Financially Exploiting Elderly Adult

Alice man arrested after admitting to killing his elderly mother

43-year-old Howard Harris, of Alice, was out on bond after being indicted in the June 2021 murder of his wife.

Source:
Alice man arrested after admitting to killing his elderly mother

Britney Spears Steps in to Help Wendy Williams Get Out of 'Abusive' Conservatorship

Pop icon Britney Spears, who fought a lengthy conservatorship battle herself, has reportedly reached out to former talk show host Wendy Williams, who claims she is being mistreated under a court-ordered guardianship.

AceShowbiz - Wendy Williams, the former daytime talk show host, has reached a breaking point in her court-ordered guardianship and is seeking assistance to break free. Williams recently opened up on "The Breakfast Club" podcast, claiming she was being emotionally abused and held against her will.

"I am not cognitively impaired, you know what I'm saying? But I feel like I'm in prison," Williams revealed, expressing her frustration and calling for help from her fans. The former TV host once earning millions of dollar from her self-titled show claimed she was only left with $25 amid her conservatorship.

Britney Spears, having won her own highly publicized legal battle against a conservatorship, took immediate notice. Spears wasted no time in reaching out to the same attorney who successfully helped her end her conservatorship.

According to popular gossip influencer Janet Charleston, the legal expert is now preparing to assist Williams and uncover the details behind her guardianship.

Williams had entered into the guardianship voluntarily in 2022 to protect her finances amidst various health issues, including Graves' Disease and Lymphedema. However, insiders and Williams herself now fear she is being exploited and abused by her court-appointed guardian, Sabrina Morrissey. 

Comparisons have been made to Britney Spears' own former conservatorship ordeal, drawing concern from those familiar with both situations.

Williams' niece recently confirmed that efforts to end the guardianship are underway, and a GoFundMe page titled "Support Wendy Williams' Fight for Independence" has raised more than $13,000 of its $50,000 goal under the hashtag #FreeWendy. Fans and supporters are rallying behind Williams, hopeful that Britney's involvement can bring meaningful change.

The circumstances surrounding Williams' guardianship have been murky. A complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights revealed that Williams' bank, Wells Fargo, acted on a letter from a doctor without her knowledge or consent, raising questions about the legality and ethics of the proceedings.

Williams' former lawyer suggested she might not have fully understood the implications of the guardianship when it was established.

With Britney Spears in her corner and increased public support, Williams is fighting to reclaim her freedom. The story is still developing, but there's a renewed sense of hope that Wendy Williams may yet find the independence she is seeking.

Full Article & Source:
Britney Spears Steps in to Help Wendy Williams Get Out of 'Abusive' Conservatorship

See Also:
Wendy Williams

Britney Spears settles long-running legal dispute with estranged father, finally bringing ultimate end to conservatorship

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Hartland Man Charged with Embezzlement from Vulnerable Adult

January 23, 2025

LANSING – Today, Kirk Lanam, 52, of Hartland, was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Marie Soma in the 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills on five felony charges for allegedly financially exploiting a vulnerable adult for the enrichment of himself and his non-profit organization, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Lanam’s bond was set at $150,000 cash/surety.

It is alleged that Lanam fraudulently obtained from the 87-year-old victim legal power of attorney in March of 2024, knowing the man to be a vulnerable or incapacitated adult with a court-appointed guardian, and that he embezzled significant funds from the man. Lanam is accused of diverting more than $400,000 from the victim toward his own personal benefit and to the benefit of the purported non-profit he controlled, Veteran’s Service Dog Organization based in Howell.

"Exploiting unsuspecting victims or those who rely on others for support for personal gain is unacceptable," Nessel said. "My Department takes reports of elder abuse very seriously. We will thoroughly investigate allegations of wrongdoing against our vulnerable adult population and prosecute those who prey on them."

Kirk Lanam is charged with four counts of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult, $100,000 or More, a 20-year felony, and one count of Fraudulently Obtaining a Signature, a 10-year felony. A pre-exam conference is set for February 3, 2025, and a preliminary examination is set for February 10, 2025.

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Please note: For all criminal proceedings, a criminal charge is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Department does not provide booking photos.

Source:
Hartland Man Charged with Embezzlement from Vulnerable Adult

Elderly UWS Resident Fights Back After Guardianship Wipes Out Her Life Savings

by Brendan Mohler

After a court-appointed guardianship drained Upper West Side resident Paulette Kohler of more than $800,000 in savings, those closest to the 95-year-old are helping her fight back. NBC New York first reported the story’s most recent developments.

Without any living relatives, Kohler designated her best friend, Inga Eggerud, as her power of attorney and sole beneficiary in 2021. The following year, the management of Kohler’s condo building at 500 West End Avenue (and West 84th Street) filed a petition stating Kohler was incapacitated and potentially a victim of elder abuse at the hands of Eggerud. The petition claimed that Eggerud, who had been close with Kohler since 2011, was also the subject of a criminal investigation, though the petition did not provide evidence to substantiate this claim. The New York Post reported that the petition was filed while Kohler was in a rehab center recovering from surgery.

Despite the lack of evidence, the New York County Supreme Court supported the petition and designated a stranger to take control of Kohler’s care and assets. Shortly thereafter, Kohler’s friends–including Eggerud and Barbara Goodstein, a former corporate executive who also employed Eggerud as a housekeeper–were barred from visiting the then 92-year-old.

Kohler had about $870,000 when the guardianship began in 2022. The guardianship was ruled “improper” and overturned 16 months later, but Kohler’s nest egg dwindled to just $27,000 in that time.

“The avarice of the building has only been rivaled by a predatory court system that has marshaled Ms. Kohler’s entire net worth, which is being used to pay the people the court has imposed on her against her will,” Goodstein told the NY Post in 2022. “She has lost her civil rights, her voice and access to proper medical care. And now she will die alone, while her friends watch helplessly from a distance.”

Goodstein uncovered that more than $500,000 of Kohler’s money went to home health aids hired by the guardian, but that Kohler was not receiving adequate care. Eggerud told NBC that Kohler was wearing the same clothes for a week and her diapers were not changed for three or four days during the guardianship.

Kohler has lived in a two-bedroom apartment at 500 West End since 1957. Goldstein says the potential sale of Kohler’s rent-stabilized apartment–which Kohler rents for less than $2,000 per month–was the motivating factor behind the building’s actions.

Eggerud is now suing those responsible for the guardianship for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Kohler. A court recently ruled that the lawsuit may move forward against the firm that represented 500 West End. NBC reports that the defendants deny any wrongdoing.

Full Article & Source:
Elderly UWS Resident Fights Back After Guardianship Wipes Out Her Life Savings

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

N.J. audit finds no visits for 44% of incapacitated people under state care

By Susan K. Livio 

Employees from the New Jersey Office of the Public Guardian for the Elderly are expected to routinely visit people a judge has found to be unable to make their vital decisions and don’t have family to take on this responsibility.

But a new state audit of the Public Guardian’s records found no documented visits for 44% of these incapacitated people, meaning the employees either skipped the visits, didn’t bother to record them, or a combination of both, according to report released Thursday by the Office of the State Auditor.

The records showed that for 11 of 25 people chosen at random, their care managers were absent from five months to 2-1/2 years, according to the audit.

People 60 and older a judge finds legally are assigned supervision by the public guardian, which oversaw 1,423 active clients in August 2023. Care managers must visit every three months if people live in a nursing home, monthly if they are living in an assisted living or another form of supervised housing or weekly if they live at home.

“A client should be seen more frequently as issues arise, such as hospitalizations and increased behavioral issues,” according to the 19-page audit report.

The audit also found the guardian’s office failed to close the bank accounts for 2,452 people who had died. Collectively, there is $16.9 million that should have been paid to relatives or reimbursed to government entities. One account for a person who died in 2014 held $1.1 million.

The guardian’s office had oversight responsibilities for a couple and their daughter, who should have received $101,700 when her parents died about a decade ago. At the time of the audit, the daughter’s account contained just $143, the audit said.

The audit also found:

• Twenty care managers are given cars to visit people on their caseload, with the expectation they will drive a minimum of 1,250 miles a month. But 10 workers logged less, ranging from 435 miles to 1,206 miles a month. There was no record at all of how much five employees drove or who was using the vehicles.

“By not monitoring state vehicle usage, the Office of the Public Guardian risks being unable to determine if vehicles are needed or whether Care Managers are visiting clients in accordance with statutory requirements,” the audit report said.

• Care managers are permitted to make pre-authorized purchases for clients but receipts are required. Of the 232 purchases made during a period in 2023, 21% lacked a receipt and 43% lacked documentation showing the client received the purchased goods.

The Office of the Public Guardian for the Elderly, overseen by the Department of Human Services, agreed with many of the auditor’s findings. Some of the problems during the audited period — from July 1, 2021 to Sept. 4, 2024 — have been corrected, Helen C. Dodick, the Acting Public Guardian, said in a response to the report.

A new supervisor was hired to oversee the system documenting visits and reports are now generated on a monthly basis, Dodick wrote. Care managers were given laptops and WIFI hotspots so they can enter notes after visits “in real time,” she added.

“Temporary care management staff has been added in order to lower caseloads and increase time for documentation,” Dodick wrote. “Caseloads of senior care management staff are also being reduced where possible to permit them to monitor documentation by more junior care managers.”

Items bought with purchasing cards “are now subject to enhanced review,” Dodick’s statement said.

Full Article & Source:
N.J. audit finds no visits for 44% of incapacitated people under state care

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.

Full Article & Source:
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.

Full Article & Source:
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.

Full Article & Source:
Dubuque man sentenced to probation for financially exploiting mother